Page 67 of Fate of Draga

Please forgive me, Giselle signed.Let me give you one last gift to try to repent.

Another flutter as Giselle’s nails flicked free.I love you.And I’m proud of you.

Then her sister glared up at the Neprijat king, full of so much Draga fire. “I refuse to let Adelina give up everything for me again. Nice try you bastard,” Giselle snarled.

But instead of turning on the king which he’d expected – shoving her away from him, her sister’s claws went for her own neck. They pierced deep and with one last look at Adelina, Giselle ripped out her own throat.

Blood sprayed the camera and the shocked king.

She didn’t scream or cry. Adelina simply dropped to her knees, letting the tears fall. It didn’t matter that everyone could see her. It didn’t matter to her that people were afraid, wondering what was going to happen to them next while her sister still choked on her own blood.

Giselle slumped to the ground, drenched in red and Adelina couldn’t see her anymore.

I love you too, Adelina signed. Too late even in that.

Even Asher had nothing to say.

And no one moved when the transmission cut out unexpectedly.

She was drowning.

Drowning in all the conflicting emotions that whipped around her like a violent, angry storm. It burned through the fear and indecision. All that remained was her grief, guilt, anger, and…gratitude.

Giselle had made the impossible choice for her. Adelina would grieve for her sister – but she would not be broken. Because Giselle hadn’t let her stain her soul.

Her mates were kneeling beside her, speaking in hushed tones, but Adelina ignored all of them as she let everything she was feeling settle deep into her bones. Asher was still standing, staring at the place where the holo had been – just as shaken as she, if in his own way.

Adelina could taste his grief on the air, could taste William’s as he placed a hand on Asher’s shoulder.

Ian’s emotions were nearly as conflicted and never-ending as her own. Nadyah slipped her hand in his for silent support.

She was aware of all of this and more as she stayed where she was, kneeling on the ground while the others whispered about what they were going to do.

Her sister had sacrificed herself to make up for what she’d done, to apologize to Adelina, and had made it count when they’d needed it most. Adelina would not waste the last gift her sister would ever give her, even if she mourned the reconciliation she’d secretly dreamed about – after all, Giselle had been her closest friend for twenty cycles – almost her entire life.

Adelina had hoped.

She would not let her other hopes and dreams crumble into ash like this one had.

In her mind she opened her arms and hugged that bottomless grief close, silently thanking Giselle and cursing her for not giving her more time to find another way – even if she knew there had been none.

Adelina tucked the grief and guilt away that would live with her for the rest of her life.

There were cracks in her heart, but Adelina was not broken.

The last of her tears dried on her face as the anger turned into a quiet, deadly rage. It was vast and powerful…it would help her end the creature that had taken so much from her.

Adelina stood and shook off her mates’ help. Through everything her crown had stayed in place and she stared at the table where the holo had been. Everyone went silent as they looked to her.

“Ready the warships. We give no quarter. We take no prisoners. Those marked with my crest are allies. Everyone and everything else will be destroyed. Be ready. Soon the beacon will go off and we will take back what is ours.” Adelina did not look at anyone. She just stared at that spot where Giselle had bled to death by her own hand.

It didn’t matter to her what anyone thought or what they had to say in that moment.

She flexed the full strength of her dominance without moving a muscle and everyone dropped to their knees.Everyone. Adelina was the only one in the room left standing.

It didn’t matter what they thought because they would obey.

Adelina turned on her heel and left the War Room.

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