The ride with Asher had been a glorious distraction. The way he’d taken her in the forest, wild and free – the rumors of the Dragas were true. They said the wolf inside each of them was bigger in the royals. Hiding right under the surface and it made them wilder; more fiercely protective and stronger than an average citizen.

It had been utterly exquisite.

Sex with Asher was nothing like sex with Hayden, and her former lover paled in comparison. How she’d ever thought Hayden was the one for her was beyond Veri.

Now though she was left to her own devices and the council meeting kept coming back to mind. It didn’t sit well with her at all.

Veri walked down the hall, no particular destination in mind. She simply needed to walk off her frustration. The council meeting had been difficult to attend. Not because of the matters addressed. No, Veri wanted to rip her father’s throat out for daring to sit in her mother’s place.

There had been so many times on Priea when her mother ranted and raved about their father. Alock and Veri had hidden while they watched her on a vid-call with him. It wasn’t until cycles later she knew why her father had left them to live on the capitol – on Draga Terra.

Lord Greyson had said he would get them the help they needed to fight the creatures in the waters of Priea, but Veri knew it was because they frightened him. He’d run away right after Alock had been born and ‘represented’ the Marquess and Priea’s interests on Draga Terra. He was not the true ruler of Priea, her mother was.

How he dared to sit in her place, pretend as though he cared about them when he’d left as soon as he possibly could. Lord Greyson was a minor noble from the poor planet of Deytis. He was weak. Her father could not handle what life required on Priea and it disgusted her.

“Lady Veri?”

That familiar voice stopped her dead in her tracks. Veri glanced over her shoulder to see Hayden. She looked around and noticed she was in a part of the palace she didn’t recognize. There were sounds of metal on metal, but it wasn’t the same sound as the sparring she was used to. If she had to guess she was probably near the forge, the barracks, and the wing where the military was housed.

“What do you want Hayden?” she snapped, sick of his pretenses.

Hayden had always used his title against her. He’d used Avvis’s position and favor with the royal family like a weapon, convincing her she should be so lucky to have him consider her as a wife. But when it came down to it, Hayden had been spineless and worthless. He was the worst kind of male; just like her father.

“I wanted to see if you were okay,” he said, frowning at her tone. “I know we’ve had our differences, but I miss you. Maybe if you told me what was wrong I could repair the damage?”

Veri stiffened. Hayden was still under the assumption she gave a damn what he thought. Did he really think he could dangle a possible relationship on forever while he groveled for the scraps of affection Princess Raena threw at him like the dog he was?

“There is nothing to repair, Hayden. We are through. It would be best if you left me alone.” She turned to leave but she’d forgotten how fast he could be.

Hayden gripped her arm hard enough to bruise and yanked her back. Veri whipped around and slapped him across the face, hard enough his head whipped to the side and there would most definitely be a bruise.

Good.

“Don’t you dare manhandle me,” she hissed.

A fire burned in Hayden’s eyes and he glared at her. He gripped both of her arms and shoved her back against the wall. Veri gasped at the pain and struggled to get free. She had been stupid, dumb enough to forget his temper when slighted.

He kissed her viciously, all teeth and possession. She felt his canines as he bit down and her lip bled. Veri brought up a knee hard, and Hayden grunted in pain. It was enough for his grip to loosen and she ducked under his arms; hand on the hidden knife strapped to her thigh.

“We both knew it never would have worked out,” Veri said, ignoring the blood that dripped from her lip. The smell of the copper tang filled the hallway and she snarled. “You had no intention of ever marrying me and I was a fool for believing you. You threw away everything for Raena,” Veri said. “And you aren’t even favored. Alock is.” She felt satisfaction in knowing her brother was the one to beat Hayden.

Hayden snarled and reached for her. Veri brought out her knife, but there was no need when an answering snarl rattled the stone walls. Instantly she stepped back at that sound, laced with so much dominance and power she dropped to her knees. Veri glanced up through her eyelashes and saw Asher with his hand around Hayden’s throat, holding him against the wall. Hayden’s feet didn’t touch the ground, but it didn’t look like Asher even strained with his weight. Goddess, he was strong.

“I believe the lady said she wasn’t interested,” Asher whispered. “You know what the punishment for rape is.”

Dismemberment.

It was difficult not to grin at the thought of Hayden without his favorite toy.

Asher let Hayden go and he dropped to the floor in a pitiful heap. Without a second glance Asher turned and held out a hand for her, the other behind his back in the perfect image of a gentleman. She took it with trembling fingers.

Veri was not afraid of Asher, but she felt his power and it shook her to her core. Everything she was demanded that she make him hers. When Veri met his dark purple gaze she shuddered with desire, remembering what he felt like inside of her. “Thank you,” she breathed.

“Would you like to walk with me?” Asher said, ignoring Hayden as he got up and skittered away like the trash he was.

Veri slid her knife back into its sheath and rearranged the slit in her skirt to hide her bare legs once more. “I would love nothing more than to spend time with you, mia principe.”

Asher’s eyes twinkled as some of his rage dissipated. He kept her close, one hand on the small of her back as he directed her to one of the many gardens. “I quite enjoy how you use my title in the old language.”

These gardens were different from most of the others. The rosanera covered everything in its deadly vines and there were pools of water, fountains, and waterfalls at every turn. It was magnificent and Veri breathed in the smell that reminded her of Asher. “We use the old language on Priea more than most planets from what I’ve heard.”

Asher nodded and let her lead them through the water gardens. She wanted to touch one of the black roses, but they were sacred. Her prince must have sensed the desire because he flicked out a knife with obvious skill and grace, and then cut her a single rose. Asher handed the beauty to her and flipped the knife before tucking it away.

Veri admired the perfect rose, careful of its vicious thorns and then buried her nose in the blacker-than-black petals. The scent wasn’t sweet. It was musky and aromatic, like vanilla and smoke and sandalwood. It was heady, but it couldn’t compare to the same scent on Asher laced with his dominance and power.

Only a Draga royal could possess the rosanera scent.

“I wanted to apologize for Lord Hayden’s behavior,” Prince Asher said, his hands clasped behind his back as he meandered by her side through the gardens. “He gives males a bad name.”

Veri shook her head, trailing one hand through the water. She sat down at the edge of the pool and sighed. “A jilted lover is an ugly thing, but Hayden only pretends to care. He was quick enough to take the favor Princess Raena offered.”

Asher didn’t sit, but he looked down at her thoughtfully. “I can’t say that I understand the situation as I’ve never had a relationship before. There have been trysts and visits to the House of Kismet, but I prefer to avoid the complications, especially as most females only want me for my title and power.”

Veri tilted her head in consideration. It was a rather personal thing to admit, and Asher was a very private person. That he trusted her enough to tell her even that was a good sign. “What if a female wanted you for your beautiful face, attractive muscles, incredible wit, and your power?” she asked.

Asher took a step closer and his eyes narrowed. “But not my title?”

Veri smiled and tugged Asher even closer by his belt. “Hm, the title is like icing on a cake, but the rest is what matters.”

The prince sat down next to Veri, smiling slightly as she sidled closer to him. “Is this female you?”

It was difficult to keep her hands to herself, but Veri wanted him to confide in her, to trust her, to know how she felt. “Maybe it is,” she admitted. “I’m not going to lie and say your power doesn’t tease me, but I like the way it makes me feel when you’re around. I feel safe and protected.”

Asher reached out and traced a thumb down the side of her face gently. “It doesn’t frighten you?”

Veri shook her head and leaned into his touch. “No, it doesn’t. It’s delicious and intoxicating.”

Those purple eyes danced with an inner flame and Asher leaned in and gave her a sweet, gentle kiss. It was appreciative and tender. “You may be the only one then,” he admitted. “Even my own family is frightened of me. My sister worries I may overpower her rank as queen one day, and the others worry what I could do with my dominance.”

She frowned. “All of them?” Veri wouldn’t say Giselle or Adelina were afraid of him, but she understood what he meant. People were tense around her at home as she was one of the most dominant Priea’s in a long while.

Asher shrugged. “Most of them. Adelina has always needed my protection with her submissive status and she feels as you do, safe when I’m around, but she’s starting to come into her own and show some of her Draga fire. On occasion I feel as though I will not be needed. Useless as a fourth-born even with the dominance I possess. I’m a threat to anyone on the throne, and only good for battle and war. Until recently I was nothing.”

Veri was flattered Asher would confide so much in her. She ran her fingers through his hair and wondered if he actually cared for her, or if he was simply drawn to her because of her exotic differences.

“You are not nothing,” she murmured. “You will never be nothing. Adelina loves you Asher; I saw it today in the council meeting. I don’t believe she’d ever be threatened by you, and I think she sees your value outside your truly marvelous musculature.” She ran an appreciative hand up his thick and corded arm.

“I couldn’t protect her against Raena,” he said, heaving a huge sigh. “I’ve never truly felt powerless until that moment. We were always there for each other, so close in age if not as close as she and Giselle. We’ve talked a bit since Raena’s coronation was moved up six months ago and we’ve spoken about the state of things, how we both would like to change the situation in the outer rim and really help our people, but we have to do it together. She takes the quiet route, pushing Raena gently when I outright challenge her. It’s worked so far, but in that moment when Raena had full control…”

Veri hadn’t heard the details of that incident though everyone knew something had happened and Nash was forbidden to the youngest princess. Some said the Princess Adelina had sacrificed her right to love so she could uphold the Draga honor. The female had a cult following among the people Veri doubted any of the royals knew existed.

If Raena ever found out, Veri wouldn’t be surprised if Adelina had some kind of an ‘accident.’

Asher needed her reassurance, she could sense it. Although Veri wanted his power and the title he could grant her more than anything, she also wanted the man. She wanted Asher to truly trust her and to know she was the only one who held his heart in her hands.

“What can I do to help?” she asked, wrapping her arms around his neck, letting the prince rest his head on her shoulder. Veri stroked his shoulders, working out some of the tension and a plan began to formulate.

Asher adored his sister and if she could help Adelina perhaps he would trust her more. It would not be an easy task. The young princess was closed off and secretive for the most part. No one really knew anything about her other than what they saw on the livestream. And as a master dissembler Veri recognized one of her own.

“I don’t know that there’s anything you could do,” Asher said. “I am what I am, and I must serve the Crown.”

A growl escaped. Veri couldn’t help it. “To serve the Crown and the people does not mean absolute obedience. You said you and Adelina work together to help Raena…what about Giselle? What about the plans to protect the people?”

Asher nuzzled her neck. “I’m a trained warrior. I can fight in the war to come.”

Fear trickled down her spine. “Then I will fight with you,” she said, her lips brushing against his neck. “I’ve trained for cycles with my warriors. We’ve fought the creatures my entire life. I can hold my own.”

“Mmm,” he purred against her neck, licking from her collarbone to her earlobe. “I don’t doubt your skill, Lady Veri.”

Her grip tightened on her prince. “I won’t let you fight alone. I will stay by your side until we come out the other end. Once the war is over, we can make plans for your future.”

Asher pulled back and eyed her. “What do you mean?”

She shrugged one shoulder delicately; suddenly nervous she’d gone too far too soon. “If you don’t think you have a place here, I will need someone to help me rule Priea. You would be able to use your power for good there.”

Asher’s dark gaze pinned her to her spot. “I’ll consider the offer, Lady Veri. But there is something else for you to consider.”

She pushed back the fear, knowing he could smell it if she gave in to the feeling.

“If I was needed here, would you give up your right to rule your beloved planet to stay with me?”

Veri thought she may faint. It was everything she wanted to hear and more, but she knew what he was asking. Never did she think she would give up her right to rule. Veri hadn’t thought such a thing could exist. Now, here he was before her.

She smiled instead, hiding the tumultuous emotions going on behind the mask. “I’ll consider the offer, mia principe,” she said, echoing his own words.

Asher grinned and pulled her forward, crushing her lips with his own. “I enjoy your fire,” he said as he kissed her senseless.

Veri’s heart fluttered with a strange emotion she found difficult to describe. Giving up Priea was the last thing in the universe she wanted, but this male tempted her to hand it over to her brother on a silver platter. Oh, he was as dangerous as he’d said, but not for the reasons he thought.

She kissed him back, letting him devour her from the inside out.