Page 96 of Heir of Draga

Tatsuo nodded. “Then we approve your request to court Prince Kaiden. As for the alliance and the armies, details will need to be hashed out.”

Adelina didn’t even blink. “We will make the alliance official as soon as possible.”

Tatsuo looked to the oldest Drakesthai female and Serilda stepped forward, leaning on her cane. Varan craned his head to get a better look, curious as to how the dragons truly ruled. No male moved to question the females and they all waited for the eldest to speak – as though her word was law.

“We will make the alliance official,” Serilda agreed in her querulous voice. “It is always awe-inspiring to see a female come into her true power.” She paused to inspect Adelina from head to toe, giving her an approving nod. “But I do have one request.”

Wisely Adelina said nothing as she waited and Varan’s fingers itched for his knives as the tension in the cavern rose.

“This alliance must be done in fire and blood. It will bind our two people in ways I am not sure you are ready for. There are things you don’t know…but clearly you are aware of some. The Drakesthai rarely mate outside our race. If you bear a child of Kaiden’s…this isn’t an alliance that can be undone. Not without starting a blood feud.”

“Any child I bear is mine, regardless of the father,” Adelina snapped.

Serilda smiled, but it wasn’t pleasant. Varan signaled Nadyah to keep watch as he moved through the crowd. No one even noticed he was there until it was too late. He could have slit all their throats without even trying.

Varan took his place at Adelina’s side and eyed the Drakesthai females while keeping tabs on the males. The females were always the threat no one anticipated, but he’d been surrounded by the opposite sex his entire life. Varan knew better.

“It depends, doesn’t it?” Serilda asked with her head slightly tilted. In that moment she looked more reptilian than human. “If the child is winged he should be with us. If it is a female then she needs to live here and be instructed in our ways. There are too few of us to let foreigners have one.”

That dark, sweet jasmine filled the room to the point of choking on the scent, but Varan breathed it in like it was oxygen. He thrived on it as did Kaiden. Everyone else slammed to their knees – all but Serilda.

The old crone chuckled. “That trick doesn’t work on me, child, but your strength is impressive – even more so than your great-grandfather’s I’d say.”

“The child would be mine,” Adelina growled, baring her canines and flexing her claws that had grown a few centimeters, just barely holding on to her humanity. “Regardless of how they are born. Though I would ensure the instruction of their Drakesthai heritage.”

Everyone flinched when Adelina glided across the room – so wickedly fast it was as though she’d transported from one position to the other. She caressed the air just a millimeter above the female’s delicate, paper-thin skin. “Try to take it from me and you would be the one starting a blood feud. When the child has come of age they may decide for themselves what they want to do. Until then they stay with me with regular visits to the Hai Galaxy. All other points I concede to.”

Serilda grinned and her canines were just as sharp as Adelina’s if not quite as long. Varan was wary of that one. She was craftier than she let on. “Ah, I’ve forgotten how vicious and feral a true royal can be. A mother and queen at that…I agree to your terms. The exact details will be drawn up and the ceremony will be performed at midnight at the center of the volcano.”

Without further ado the old crone turned on her heel and walked out. She didn’t limp. Her gait was smooth and graceful. The cane was for show, and most likely hid some kind of weapon. The rest of the Council bowed slightly though they didn’t look happy about the outcome, and then they walked out.

Varan eyed his wife and tried to gauge her mood, but she was still clenching and unclenching her hands. The abnormally long claws were a warning. Adelina was barely human at the moment and he knew firsthand how protective she could be when babes were brought up.

It was similar to how she’d been after the Games, but a hundred times worse. It made her difficult to read, and Varan couldn’t find any emotions other than rage after all that had happened with the message from Giselle and the impromptu Council meeting. Her eyes were cold and distant.

“I’m going for a walk. No one follows me.”

Varan bristled at that. “Lina, it is not safe—”

“Alone, Varan. I need to think.” With that she stormed out of the cavern.

Varan went hot and then cold as he clenched his hands into fists. He knew Adelina needed space, but she wasn’t just a princess anymore – she was a cula-tingQueen. Anything could happen to her.

He stalked to the door and out into the main foyer. Not once did she look back at him. She walked away as though she had all the time in the world – no doubt in her mind they would obey. Varan bared his teeth at her retreating back in frustration.

Kaiden’s wing brushed his shoulder and Varan glared at the other male. Kaiden just shook his head and all the fight left Varan’s body.

He sighed and crossed his arms over his chest as he watched Adelina’s back disappear around a corner. She was well-trained and wore his bracelet among a race of dragons that were overly protective of females, and currently allied with them.

Not much could happen to her with the entire eyrie ready to drop everything for her simply because she was female. No doubt the news of her engagement to one of their own would spread like wildfire which would only be to their benefit.

Varan turned to Kaiden. “Well then.”

A muscle in the winged male’s jaw twitched. “I don’t even think I can have offspring.”

“Mate, I like you, but she’s bearing mine first,” Varan slapped Kaiden’s shoulder a bit harder than necessary.

Kaiden looked down at him then and the tension in his face eased. A slow smile spread across his face. “Yes, brother. You’ve earned that right. If she agrees to it.”

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