Page 15 of Fate of Draga

“Prince?” she asked, coming alongside him a moment later.

Asher knew what Veri really asked, but it wasn’t a conversation he wanted to have in detail just yet. “Congratulations Draga, a decisive victory,” he said instead, glancing out of the cockpit to meet those turquoise eyes of hers. The pain there reflected his own.

But Veri just nodded. “I’ll see you on theRosanera, Prince.”

He still owed her that kiss.

Chapter Five

Kaita

Outpost Base

The Hai System

Kaita surveyed the holo map shoulder to shoulder with Nash. Their kingdom – their home was completely overrun by the Neprijat. So many of their people had been turned into slaves or breeders. So many had been decimated in the initial takeover and so few had survived.

It sickened her and made bile rise to her throat. Kaita also felt…guilty. She’d left her people to this fate. Even if there was nothing she could have done, it still made her feel worthless. She did not deserve their forgiveness.

The other two royals, Lilja and Milagros, were preparing their small forces for the next phase of this war. Kaita knew the reason they never came to these council meetings. It did not matter to them what was decided. They would bow to her and take whatever order she gave.

She didn’t know what they’d gone through after the invasion, but neither of them wanted to rule.

Kaita glanced at Nash and crossed her arms over her chest, still finding it hard to believe he wouldn’t even battle her for the right to rule Khara. He would hand over that birthright and yield to her without bloodshed when the time came.

She wondered if the others would as well. Is that why the other two royals never bothered to question her other than to ask where they were needed next?

Part of her felt she had earned it in her mission to regain their kingdom – earned their yielding. But another part of her wanted to fight and come out the other side in blood and victory. It was their way after all. The strongest among the royals ruled.

Even if she knew it would never ease the guilt that she’d survived when others had not – that she had not been subjected to the horrors most of her people have endured.

And Nash was so bloody stupid for giving up the chance to join their two kingdoms and systems. If he won the Crown in the trials and became king then he could make Khara and Draga one with his upcoming marriage to Adelina.

But perhaps it was for the best to simply have an unbreakable alliance. Their two very different peoples could thrive in their own ways. It would be better than having to conform to a life they did not believe in—had not fought for.

Their people had bled enough. Forcing them to embrace the Draga way of life would be a punishment for those who did not wish it.

Kaita’s gaze slid over to the Queen she knew would never force such things if she ever did rule over three kingdoms. Adelina studied the holo map in silence with the rest of them. The weight of their victory lay heavy on her – as did the news they were all so desperately waiting for.

Would Asher send another message or would someone else to relay the news that he was dead and they had lost? There hadn’t been time for the Hand to give them any details, not to mention the risk that the transmission could be intercepted.

Kaita feared for the prince’s life even if she had never met him. He was a capable leader in Adelina’s place and commanded the loyalty of the Draga people just as effectively. Her allies had been there for her and her people when they’d needed it.

Never would she forget that.

Chewing on her lip as she watched the holo, wondering how the battle was going. It was no easy thing to sit here and wait – to find out if Delphine had made it through enemy lines, if any of the other royals had survived, if…Fate forbid it, the Core’s shield had broken and Draga was ravaged and pillaged as Khara had been.

At least they had the true Queen of Draga. She would be safe from that pillaging. Only for her to fight and possibly die in the next phase of this war – an enemy horde on its way to them.

The scientists had confirmed the horde would be at Khara’s border in a week or two. A few days after that they would be on Khara Prime’s doorstep.

Kaita knew they had to take Khara before then. There could be no army or king waiting for that horde. Even if the king were dead they most likely would not stand down. They would have to raze that army to the ground.

But there were innocents…

Another problem for another day.

“We have enough Neprijat ships to silently infiltrate Khara,” Kaita murmured to Nash. “P’draic has written up instructions for the pilots and they’ve been practicing. Between those unholy ships and the pirates we may be able to get most of our forces to the surfaces of our planets. Taking out the Neprijat there would cripple any reinforcements that could take to the skies.”

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