Page 92 of Fate of Draga

But it didn’t matter, because even if this was the end for him. Sirus knew in his heart Adelina would lead them to victory. Somehow she would win. And Joslynn would be safe. For that he was willing to die.

ADELINA

Varan was furious with her – she could tell.

But Adelina was too focused on what she still had to do to care, or take the time to comfort him.

Nash was rattled, but Kaiden…he hadn’t been there. Thank the Goddess for that at least.

Adelina could still feel the blood on her nails, sticky and thick. She squeezed her hand into a fist and relished the king’s death.

The debt had been paid.

Now she had to make sure they would all live to see their victory.

Weapons were primed and ready to fire on her forces. Reports said the Neprijat horde was locked in on every planet in Khara. As well as the border planets in Hai. Not to mention every damn warship they had.

Three minutes and they would fire.

Adelina couldn’t wait until she reached the border. “Is everyone behind that line?”

No one really understood the reason for her orders, but regardless they had obeyed as best they could.

More reports flooded the channels and the captain gave her a grim look – speeding through the Khara System at the same reckless speed they’d used to reach the capitol. “Most of them yes, others still are on their way back after holding those lines.”

“Good.” Adelina pressed the seal on her palm to her chest and the panel slid open to reveal a tiny pocket. Just large enough to hide something of importance. Everyone stared at her as she pulled out the key P’draic had given her.

It was nothing special. About the same size as a disc, but it had two buttons on it which only her DNA could use.

All three of her mates zeroed in on it and she could feel the way they bristled behind her. No doubt they felt irritated she’d left them out of her final plan, but Adelina had really hoped it wouldn’t come to this.

And if she failed…they could blame only her.

“Adelina, I’m aboard theRosanera. Where are you?” Asher demanded over the channel – cutting across all the other voices.

“Stay behind the line,” she ordered, hiding the relief that he was alive. Then she pressed her thumb to the first button and waited.

Shouts over the channels as the shield began wrapping around the Khara System. Khara was a little smaller than Draga, and she’d had P’draic improve this shield. It spread like a roaring tidal wave – covering in minutes what had taken her father weeks in Draga.

“What the bloody hell is this?” Asher demanded over the transmission.

And then theJasminereached Kepri and pulled up alongside theRoyal Rosanera.

No one on Command said a word as they beheld the sparkling shield covering the entire system – protecting them from the horde.

Those weapons fired regardless and Adelina watched as the shield shuddered but held. They couldn’t take much more of those hits. P’draic had only enough time to make her what she’d needed for a desperate chance – not a long term solution.

“Adelina, please explain?” Kaiden said, always the peacekeeper.

“I need a report on those females, children, and rebel males that were on the horde ships,” Adelina said instead. “Sozav, Asher?”

“Adelina!” Asher yelled over the fleet-cast. “This is a death trap! We cannot sit behind this shield forever.”

Still, she didn’t answer. Her hands trembled as she tapped the side and a tiny holo popped up over the small device.

“What is going on?” the captain finally asked, cutting through the chatter on the fleet-cast and the various channels between the squads. “Are we making our final stand?”

More shots fired against the shield and it started to buckle. Adelina didn’t have time to waste answering questions that would keep until they survived – or they didn’t.

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