Page 94 of Heir of Draga

Alpha turned and bowed to Adelina and then Varan as protocol dictated. He took in Kaiden but his gaze was skittish and the small tang of fear on the air made Varan’s lip curl in disgust.

“Princess Adelina, I have an emergency message from Prince Asher.” Alpha pulled out his simulcast.

Before he could play it, Adelina slashed her hand across her body in obvious displeasure. “Stop, Alpha. Kaiden, seal the door. Varan check the room and Nadyah send a cast to Roxy and ask her to go stay with our ships.”

Varan watched as everyone instantly obeyed. He gave Alpha a feral snarl as his device scanned the room for spy tech. The other male was the first to look away and it pleased him. He was the one with Adelina now. Not Alpha. And for some petty reason he wanted to rub it in the male’s face.

“All’s clear, love,” Varan murmured, kissing Adelina’s cheek before releasing her hand and stepping back.

Alpha grimaced.

“Why did my brother send you rather than a personal cast?” Adelina demanded. Her demeanor didn’t allow room for their old friendship. This was a princess commanding her guard. “You could have ruined my negotiations with the Drakesthai by intruding. Your arrival could have been seen as a threat. What is so important that it could not be done with tech?”

Asher straightened his shoulders and cleared his throat. “Asher couldn’t allow anyone to infiltrate or view the message before you saw it. He thought it best to send me on the fastest ship he could find. I flew straight from the border. Even I don’t know what’s in the recorded message.”

The silence that followed those concerning words settled heavily on Varan’s chest and he had to fight the urge to step forward. Kaiden’s wing brushed his shoulder briefly and kept him from giving in. Varan gave the male a silent look of thanks.

“Kaiden,” Adelina said with deadly calm. “I trust you to witness this message as my ally and mate. Betray me and it’s your wings.” The ice in those amethyst eyes made even Varan shudder.

The male next to him brought his wings in closer to his body, but he nodded. “I swear whatever is revealed stays in this room until you deem otherwise.”

Adelina seemed satisfied with that and waved her hand at Alpha. The guard seemed a bit too intrigued at the changes in the princess for Varan’s liking. It set his teeth on edge. He made sure his weight was on the balls of his feet, fingers brushing the hilt of one of his blades.

Alpha set the simulcast on the brand new table and played the message.

Asher’s hologram appeared, the colors a bit off, but otherwise it looked exactly like the dark prince. “Princess Adelina,” Asher began.

Adelina’s shoulders tightened at the formal title and Varan wished he could do something – anything to prevent whatever was going to happen next.

“I have a message from Giselle.”

Then Asher was replaced by a recording of the queen. It looked formal and as though it had been prepared for the livestream. Varan clenched his jaw. Well, at least she was still alive.

“As you all have seen by now Seprilles and Scyria have fallen. Treon is barren. We’ve lost nearly a quarter of our forces on the border because we were unprepared, and then half the civilians evacuating from the Outer Rim.” Giselle paused. Then she stood from the makeshift throne, stepping down the three steps to the main floor.

She clasped her hands behind her back and looked straight into the recorder. “I have failed you. You are all aware I am not suited to rule. There is no future for Draga with me as queen.”

Varan felt his gut roil as he realized what exactly Giselle was getting at.

“I believe the Princess Adelina would be a better ruler than I. She has been one step ahead of the rest of us since the very beginning and you all saw her success today. Adelina has done the impossible and is meeting with the Drakesthai as we speak. I don’t doubt she will be successful in her endeavors.” Giselle nodded as though she were speaking right to Adelina, reassuring her little sister.

But this…Adelina wasn’t ready for this – not when they were so far from the Draga Galaxy and totally unprepared to rule.

But Giselle didn’t stop. She took the crown from her head and offered it to the recorder – to Adelina. “I formally abdicate as Queen of the Draga Galaxy and pass my crown to the rightful heir and ruler.”

The message cut out and there was no time to absorb everything Giselle had said. Asher reappeared and his face was grim. “This message has yet to be aired on the livestream. I wanted your response so that both could be sent at the same time – easing whatever fear and panic we can. Please, Adelina send me your response as quickly as possible. I will run interference here on the border and continue to search and destroy any Neprijat remaining in our territory. My life is yours – mia vitae se tya.” Then Asher bowed as a prince to his queen before the vid cut off.

To her credit Adelina didn’t show one ounce of emotion. Her face was a perfect mask and she looked so calm and regal, Varan had never been more proud of her than he was in that moment.

“Nadyah set up the recorders please.” The words were a command and the dominance laced into them was so deep and delicious Varan bowed his head even as he smiled.

The courtesan did as she was asked without hesitation and she pulled the aubergine curtains closed. Adelina strode across the room and then turned so she was framed by the purple velvet and she lifted her chin, staring right into the main recorder.

He had no idea what she was going to say, but what came next certainly came as a shock.

“I, Crown Princess Adelina, accept the responsibility given to the Draga family all those millennia ago.” Then Adelina pulled a knife from her dress pocket and Varan flinched when she slid it across her thumb quick and hard. Blood welled and one could hear a pin drop as the recorders zoomed in and the scent of royal blood filled the room.

Adelina drew the mark on her own forehead that she would later receive in gold across her brow. “With royal blood I mark myself as the ruler of our people. I swear on my life that I will rule with the people in my heart and mind. The Three-Faced Goddess, witness my oath to protect the people and serve the Crown.”

---