Page 55 of Fate of Draga

Without all the threats and jeering and eerie predatory motions, it was easy to see they were all originally cut from the same cloth.

“This is a terrible idea,” Asher muttered, unable to take his eyes off the Neprijat. Occasionally he looked to the other three males in the room, but they said nothing—clearly they’d made their decision already. “Evenyouthink this is the best route to take?” he asked Nash.

Of all the people in the galaxy he’d thought the Corinthian would have a bone to pick about this.

“What would you have us do with the horde otherwise?” Adelina asked when the silence stretched. “What about their home system once the probe has confirmed its location?”

Those questions had already pressed on him ever since Veri had refused to keep the Neprijat for torture, giving it—hima mercy killing instead. Asher had no idea, but the threat couldn’t remain…they could not go unpunished. It was not their way.

And his bloody sister seemed to sense that. She tilted her head slightly as she studied him and Asher stilled as the weight of that Draga dominance fell on him. He had not seen this new Adelina.

Asher had not anticipated what it would be like to feel his queen’s dominance in person.

It pushed him to look down at the plush wine-colored carpet, but she did not force him to bow his head. Asher doubted she even realized she was doing it.

But that wasn’t what intrigued him the most.

Something else about her had changed. It reminded him of how she’d been after the Game of the Wolf. But rather than the twitchy, predatory movements—as if the skin didn’t quite fit, Adelina was smooth and settled. Her wolf wasn’t simply unleashed.

It had been set free.

Adelinawasthe wolf.

When was the last time any of them hadfullyembraced that creature that prowled beneath their skin?

Goosepimples rose on his arms underneath his clothes and Asher shifted as he carefully considered her question. If he actually had an alternative, he knew his sister would consider it. But Asher needed more information first.

“Who else knows about this?”

“Just those of us in this room, plus Nadyah and Ian though I did not ask for their approval,” Adelina said quietly. “I wanted the Hand of the Queen to support me on this matter. If you agree, then I will tell the others.”

“WhereisWilliam?” Asher asked, realizing for the first time since the bomb was dropped on them that their youngest brother should have been there already.

“Vitto is giving him a tour of my starship until I send him a cast that we’re ready to receive him. On their way he would fetch Ian and Nadyah,” Adelina explained, eyeing her fingernails.

She really was a completely different person. Not only had she admitted to the manipulation – she didn’t give a rat’s ass about his opinion on it either.

Asher actually laughed. He’d known she would be different obviously, but seeing it in person made it clear just how much. Oh, working together would be fun. “All right, lay out the facts. I will consider the risks and then make my decision once everything is on the floor. But I want to make it clear, Lina. I will be making this decision based on the numbers. Not the personality ofoneNeprijat.”

His sister grinned. “I would expect nothing less of you, dear brother. This is why I’ve prepared a presentation for you. If you don’t mind, I would like Sozav to stay.”

Asher considered his enemy once more. “Fine, but I will kill him the moment I think he might betray us.”

Veri stiffened beside him, but didn’t disagree.

Adelina waved her hand as if she didn’t care and stood. “Whatever makes you feel better, but listen with an open mind.”

His future wife wanted to trust this Neprijat and all the others like him. Aside from the facts, Asher needed to figure out why. Veri wasn’t unintelligent. She was more than capable of dealing with these sorts of problems. After all she’d been doing it her whole life on Priea.

But she didn’t know the numbers these Neprijat rebels were promising.

So why trust their enemy?

Asher turned to consider Veri as his sister took a small device from Varan and tapped it. The great white shark on the large window dissolved and numbers displayed in its place.

The female beside him was stunning even in her armor. Her large turquoise eyes, blue hair, and golden skin always drew the eyes. But it was her mind he’d been interested in since the first time he’d spoken with her.

As time had gone on it was clear she was his equal – or as close to it as anyone who was not royal-blooded could get. The only other with therosanerascent in the entire galaxy now was Adelina…well, when she wished to be that dominant.

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