Page 66 of Fate of Draga

“We do not recognize Giselle as a true royal,” Asher stated, and most of those lords and ladies nodded their agreement, but too many were silent and unmoving.

There were too many people in the room for Adelina to get an accurate reading on them. She glanced at Nadyah and the courtesan was pale enough she knew it was the same for her. Her people could easily turn on her if they were frightened enough.

“You would have to take Draga by force,” Varan agreed, stepping forward so his shoulder brushed hers ever so slightly.

The king ran his knuckles down Giselle’s face. “Oh I could if I really wanted to, but wouldn’t it be easier to simply bow before me with your own queen by my side?”

Adelina could see his words worming their way into the more frightened of her people and allies. All her ships had been outfitted with the wavelength that nullified the persuasion from the Neprijat, but could the king convince them regardless? Was he somehow different, a race apart like the courtesans or the Draga royals?

“I would rather die than be your queen,” Giselle spat, struggling to get out of the king’s grip, but it was clear how strong the male was. He barely even noticed and Giselle was no weakling.

Adelina was proud of her sister for refusing to give in, but those words…she closed her eyes for a moment, already knowing what the king would do next and she stupidly hadn’t anticipated this situation.

What would she do? Which path would Adelina choose?

“That is fine with me,” the king said with a chuckle. “Adelina, beautiful sweet Adelina, you have two choices.”

No one in the War Room even breathed as the king paused. Adelina knew she couldn’t get air in her body if she tried. Her heart was pounding too hard as her mind raced. Was there a way out of this?

“Bow before me, and be my wife, reign at my side as true Queen of the Galaxy. You may have your only sister back unharmed, and your people may live. If you do not, I will marry your sister regardless and rape her until she produces my offspring. Once the child is born I will feast upon her flesh. But more importantly, I will hunt down every single one of your people and exterminate them. Even the ones who are hiding inside those paltry shields. It won’t be long before I find a way to crack them like an egg to suck out the yolk inside.” The king chuckled as he eyed Giselle again. “It’s up to you, Adelina. Only you can decide their fate.” He eyed the others in the room with her and stressed his words. “Onlyyou.”

Thank the Goddess that power of persuasion didn’t work over transmissions. After dealing with the king all these months…he liked to play power games. Everything he did was to force her into making a choice that would break her.

But he wanted it to be her choosing – so she couldn’t ever blame it on him. That was the kind of games he liked to play. Forcing Giselle to wed him was no fun. But having Adelina choose…

She was frozen. Adelina had no thoughts, no ideas, nothing in her mind but static as panic started to take hold. What in the bloody hells should she do?

There was still a small chance they could win this war. Kaita was still undetected or the king would have mentioned that as well as any rebel factions of Neprijat.

Their biggest assets were still a secret.

Adelina looked to Giselle and held her sister’s gaze, unblinking as she weighed that life against all the others. Could she live with herself if she sacrificed Giselle, even after everything she had done?

Would this make her any better than Giselle – taking the coward’s path?

There was still so much she wanted to say to her sister. Adelina had still held out hope that over time they could overcome their issues and become sisters once more, if not the close friends they’d once been. She would never have the chance to help Giselle grow as a person if she let the king have her.

And it may be selfish, but Adelina had wanted that time if only to hear her sister’s apology. If only so she could have that closure as they worked to rebuild their kingdom together – still there for each other, even if it would be different.

Could she lose another piece of her family and survive it?

Giselle stared into her eyes as well, completely still as Adelina contemplated her fate. Her sister kept all expressions from her face, and Adelina gave silent thanks she wasn’t trying to manipulate her decision. Giselle was smarter than that.

No one breathed while Adelina quietly stared at Giselle, not even Asher. The weight of her mate’s eyes on her back made her want to roll her shoulders, but she held so still she could be mistaken for a statue.

She needed more time – there was no possible way she could make this decision. Either way she lost. There was no good answer and Adelina’s heart hurt knowing that both choices would break her.

Then Giselle lifted her hands up, still bound, and scratched her chin. The king didn’t seem to notice, he was too busy studying Adelina. Then a slight flick of her sister’s fingers as she then moved to scratch under her ear.

I’m sorry for everything, Lina.

No.

Adelina almost said it aloud, but she was frozen – her body would not move or speak even as horror started to fill her, rolling through her body in waves. She was so very cold as Giselle’s fingers fluttered in those familiar movements before she scratched the scab on her chest.

I wish I had been better.If I had, I could have protected you from this.ButI failed.

Adelina’s throat closed as tears pricked her eyes. She needed to open her mouth andsaysomething, but she still didn’t have a response for the Neprijat king. Either way her sister died, just in different ways and at different points in time. There was no good answer, but whatever Giselle had planned would be so much worse.

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