Page 80 of Fate of Draga

“She’s not easy to keep up with,” Kaiden agreed. “But the path to the palace will be clear in a few moments.”

They both glanced at the building that jutted up into the sky. Then Kaiden took off and Varan threw himself back into the battle.

KAIDEN

Kaiden watched with one eye as the fight raged below him. The other was on the anti-aircraft cannons firing at their transports and the legions of Drakesthai taking to the skies.

“Take care of the cannons around the palace first,” he ordered. “Then circle out until all of them on Khara Prime have been taken care of. Spread the word to the other legions.”

His group nodded, but someone piped up as they all beat their wings in tandem. “What about the warriors on the ground?”

“Only engage if it looks like too many of our forces will perish. Getting rid of these cannons first is of the utmost importance. Only when they are taken out may you engage on the ground. Now go!”

Kaiden wasted no time as he swept over his mate once more, wishing he could fight alongside her. But he would do a better job of keeping her safe if he cleared the path for her as much as he could.

That he’d broken his own orders only moments before was something he wasn’t going to address. And he shouldn’t have to. Saving their queen was not the same as aiding one of the commanders.

At least not for him.

He dodged plasma blasts the size of his entire body as he aimed for one of the palace anti-aircraft guns. He landed hard enough the ground shook and then he ripped the thing from the cement with brute force. The power cut off and the sound of the electricity whirring died away.

Satisfied, Kaiden checked the holomap and located the next.

And then the next.

Some he blasted with his personal cannon, large enough it made staying in position difficult. Every time he fired it threw him back a few meters and he’d have to adjust midair.

The legion of Drakesthai around him made quick work of the rest of the cannons.

When he landed at the last location he didn’t try to dismantle it. No, Kaiden had no such plans. He pulled out one of the discs Varan had given him. A present from a thief. He shoved it into the console on the anti-aircraft cannon and watched as it ripped through layers and layers of protection.

Then he was in. Kaiden selected his legion’s channel. “I’ve got the last cannon on the palace and I’ll provide back up. Take out the rest in the surrounding city.”

They didn’t argue or question this time, not when Kaiden knew they were already getting tired. The muscles on his back ached with how much flying he had to do. And it was only the beginning.

He’d provide cover for his mate and queen, and pray to anyone listening that they’d make it through this bloodbath.

Kaiden glanced down and saw her – a fearsome warrior cutting her way through the hounds and the Neprijat like the skilled predator she was.

All the training she’d done and all the fury he could feel through the bond made her quick as death and just as merciless. Adelina somehow kept her allies clear from her enemies as Kaiden watched rebel Neprijat and slaves join her path of destruction towards the palace.

They were nearly at the bottom of the steps…

Soon, she would be with that monster.

Kaiden hoped Kaita had already killed him. He didn’t feel weak or selfish for the thought despite how much he knew Adelina and Nash wanted that kill. If he could keep his mate from danger he would.

The few females left in his home system were manning the planets and supplies – far too valuable to be fodder for war.

He felt the same about Adelina – but Kaiden had known from the moment she’d challenged him to spar that Adelina wouldn’t stay safe in Hai, or even on her flagship which would still be more dangerous than he cared to think about.

Finding the sight on the cannon he directed it toward the hounds and sent a blast once he knew allies were clear.

There were so many hounds.

Kaiden kept firing. When the Neprijat warriors took to the skies he took those ships down as well. Then he fired at the debris crashing to the planet’s surface from space so it would break up. The smaller pieces caused less damage – less chaos and death for both sides.

Still fires raged across the city. Explosions from the various slave pens and military outposts rocked the earth. The smell of smoke started to burn his throat and still Kaiden fired at the enemy.

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