Page 105 of Fate of Draga

But seeing him on one knee before her – those tears spilled down her cheeks and Nadyah smiled. “You want this despite my contract to the House of Kismet, and my debt?” she asked.

Nadyah wanted to be sure. She wanted there to be no reason for Ian to resent her later.

“Adelina and I have already settled your debt with Mistress Jael,” Ian told her. “I’ve had the receipt sent to your simulcast.”

She fell to her knees before him and took his hands, overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude. “Truly?”

Ian took her hand and slid the ring onto her finger with a small smile. “Truly.”

Nadyah threw her arms around his neck. “Then I accept.”

They’d been friends since her first day in the palace. Then they’d found out they were mates. Ever since then Ian had courted her with an unshakeable focus – like he was with everything he did. That attention and caring had won her over and Nadyah was so happy she’d decided to take him as her mate.

But he wasn’t just asking her to be his mate.

Ian was asking her to be his wife and princess.

Nadyah pulled back and kissed him, slow and sweet. Ian had a gentle soul but it was reinforced with steel. Once he decided something…that was it. She would be his, and he hers, from now until the end of their days.

From the moment she’d discovered courtesans had mates – which it didn’t always end well – Nadyah had been terrified of finding hers. But Amora had truly chosen well. Even if Nadyah never would have guessed Ian would be her mate – she truly felt he complemented her in ways no one ever had or ever could. His sweet temper and never-ending patience were exactly what she needed.

“I love you, Ian,” she whispered against his lips. “And I want everyone to know that.”

He stood and pulled her with him. “Good, now go tell my sister. She’s been pestering me about it all day. How she even knew when I planned to ask is beyond me.”

Nadyah laughed and kissed his cheek. “She’s a true Draga royalanda courtesan. I doubt there’s much she doesn’t see.”

Ian pulled her in for another kiss and held her face with a tenderness that made her want to melt against him. “I love you, Nadyah.”

As she turned to leave – Nadyah felt a lightness in her heart and soul. This truly was a glorious day – a day where they would start their future. And thanks to Adelina and everything she had done…they would have one.

Chapter Twenty-Five

The Fate of Draga

ADELINA

Adelina stood before the mirror and stepped into the exquisite dress Nadyah held out for her. It was the traditional white, but she’d had a few additions made. The gold brocade was handstitched with real gold from the top down. Howling wolves and roses hidden in the embroidery.

The gold trailed down into the white and glittered.

It was a strapless gown and hugged her form until it reached her waist, and then the skirts became voluminous and cloud-like. Adelina rubbed the gold stitching between her fingers gently as Nadyah did the clasps on her back.

So many traditions. So much to remember as she was dressed. Adelina remembered all the preparation for Raena’s coronation – and Giselle’s hasty one. This dress she wore…Gwendoline had it already made by the time she’d returned. Apparently it was something she’d started working on when word reached Draga Terra Adelina would be queen.

It was perfection.

As was the crown she’d found when she’d gone to pick one out. The Royal Jewels were now hers, and hers to allow others to wear. Thousands of cycles of Draga royals had amassed the collection. But Adelina had already known which era she wanted to represent.

The queen who had ruled two thousand cycles ago – a warrior queen who had been the undisputed ruler. No male had taken that power from her. And the crown…

It was something else. Something no one had worn in an age.

There were gold panels that created a fan from ear to ear, pointing straight up with designs carved into it. Every other panel had a small black jewel at the tip that glowed with an inner fire – the blackest opals Adelina had ever seen.

Golden petals formed the base that would sit atop her head with one point coming down over her forehead to reach the golden mark between her eyes. The black opal set into that center piece was what made the ancient headdress crown truly magnificent. It glittered and glowed and would remind all that she was queen – that Adelina had been tested and tried and had succeeded much like that warrior queen all those centuries ago.

“Asher is ready to perform the ceremony?” Adelina asked as Nadyah set the intricate gold chain mail over her shoulders.

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