Page 85 of Fate of Draga

For them.

“You’ve come to bow before me,” the king mused, finally regaining his senses. “Then why are your forces attacking my people?”

She bowed so low her forehead touched the floor and the sound of her crown clinking as it struck the marble was loud in the never-ending silence.

To the king no one else existed – only Adelina.

Was she sacrificing herself?

Kaita knew she wasn’t betraying them, not when the bracelet was now in her possession. So what was she planning?

“I have outed all of your enemies, including rebels within your own people,” Adelina whispered, keeping her head to the floor. “There was no other way to bring them to you. I assumed you could manage them easily enough.”

Nash stood so still Kaita wondered if he would even be able to do what needed to be done when the time came.

She had made the offer before – to give herself up for them. That she would do so now…Adelina was going to give them time – give Kaita that opportunity she so desperately needed.

If they couldn’t kill the king then at least they could escape. But only if Adelina stayed.

Kaita couldn’t deal with the level of devastation she felt knowing that.

So she would make sure Adelina didn’t have to stay.

“And your current husbands?” the king asked.

Adelina hesitated then and Kaita’s stomach lurched into her throat.

“Would you spare them?” she asked so softly – that female Kaita knew so well from the livestream. Meek. Submissive. Nothing. “As a wedding present to me? Just send them away to a border post. Keep them as prized prisoners. Just don’t…please don’t kill them?”

The words, the pleading…it made Kaita want to vomit.

Come on, Adelina.

Do italready.

Give her that signal.

That predatory smile widened and the Neprijat king stood from his throne. He licked his lips as he took the three steps down from the dais to where Adelina still bowed in complete supplication and submission.

Her forehead had started to bleed from how hard the crown pressed against her delicate skin.

Varan didn’t even react – completely stricken by this ploy. He knew what she was willing to sacrifice for them—for him.

Live.

Live so they could fight another day.

Then the Neprijat king placed a gentle hand on Adelina’s head. The grip tightened viciously on her hair and he forced her to look up at him. Her face turned up, but she closed her eyes – refusing even now to challenge him.

He leaned down and Kaita tensed, fingers flicking as she’d watched Adelina and Nadyah do when they practiced with the bracelet.

Shield first. Then the weapons. Give cover fire for the others. Take down the guards. Toss the spears to the others.

Kill the king.

Kaita had no plans to run. If Adelina was willing to sacrifice herself for Kaita’s people then Kaita would do the same. At the very least Adelina would not be alone in this.

“I grant your request,” the king whispered into Adelina’s ear. “The moment I take you to my bed your kingdom will be mine.”

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