Page 76 of Fate of Draga

Adelina refused to think of the odds of their success. She refused to consider the signals of her ships going dark all across the Khara System. There was no room in her head for the fear and terror. There was no room to wonder who would live and who would die.

There had been no pretty speeches this time. Adelina had simply ordered the entire fleet to move andnowto their designated positions the moment Kaita’s beacon had gone off. They didn’t have time for a speech no one cared about – not when they were still angry with her about the Neprijat rebels.

Varan, Kaiden, and Nash followed her without another word. Adelina knew Ian and Nadyah were already on the transport ship, making sure it was prepared to launch the moment she needed it. Her Queen’s Guard was there as well and all the other warriors – anyone not essential to making the starships fly – were on the hundreds of other transports that would land on Khara Prime in ten minutes.

Adelina hadn’t given a speech for more than one reason. But the most important was it didn’t matter what she had to say. Everyone knew what they needed to do. And they would win or they would die.

There was no other option.

At least they were holding their own based on the reports she tallied in the back of her head as they came over the fleet-cast. She’d lowered the volume on her suit so she could think and process.

Adelina looked at Varan.

Then Kaiden.

And finally Nash.

All three stared at her as they stood in that massive hangar with too many transport ships to count. This was it. They would take Khara. If they won…

She didn’t want to think what else the gods and goddesses would make her sacrifice for this victory.

“I love you,” she told them. “Don’t die.”

Varan grinned at that. “Nah, we’re too stubborn to die.”

Adelina still felt that ruthless cold suffusing her system, but she couldn’t help the way the corner of her mouth lifted in a tiny smile. “Isn’t that the truth.” She looked to Nash and Kaiden, both still snickering at the joke – but they all knew truer words had never been said. “Nash, you get to lead point. We will follow you until the king is dead. Then I will take over.”

She still hadn’t told them of her plan if all went to hell when they reached the king, or for the horde. And Adelina had no plans to. Only she could carry that burden, and she couldn’t afford to let anyone make her question this decision. Even the males she loved with her heart and soul – her entire being.

The ramp lowered as she tapped her gauntlet and Nadyah peered down at them from the top. “Ready?” she asked, eyes only for Adelina.

Another shard of hope for the future. Adelina had no plans to squander the possibilities she’d worked so hard for.

“Let’s go,” she said, walking up that ramp – knowing it could be the last time she saw her flagship – the home she’d made with the people she loved and cared about.

It may be manned by thieves and assassins, but they were her thieves and assassins – they were willing to die for her and probably would.

“Queen Adelina?” a voice she didn’t recognize asked over the fleet-cast.

Adelina looked to her mates, feeling the now familiar prickle of warning. “Yes?”

“A signal has been sent to the Neprijat horde. They’ve picked up their pace and will now be here in an hour. Maybe two.”

Of course they would. The Goddess was testing her. “Noted,” Adelina stated. She checked to make sure every ship she commanded was selected. “If you cannot defeat the Neprijat in that time, push as many as you can to the borders.”

Confused agreement. No one questioned her. Adelina nodded at Ian and he went to the cockpit to tell the pilot.

The ramp closed behind them with a final clank and Adelina breathed deeply. Then they were off.

VARAN

He hated fighting in the sky. Unless he was on a fighter or manning a weapon, Varan felt goddamn useless and he hated that more than anything.

But now they were seconds from the drop and he bounced on his toes. Ready.

He glanced at his wife again, but he sensed nothing from her. If he dug deeper he could feel her swirling rage, but that was it. On the surface she was calm, cool, and collected.

Adelina was the perfect leader. Nothing fazed her.

---