Of course his crazy fiancée would think this sort of thing was a good idea. Veri was nothing if not wild and impulsive. The chances she took left him breathless on occasion, but Asher wasn’t sure this particular risk was worth it.

Even if this monster was surprisingly well behaved—almost normal.

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. “Even you think 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—him a 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.

Adelina was the wolf.

When was the last time any of them had fully embraced 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.”

“Where is William?” 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 of one Neprijat.”

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 the rosanera scent in the entire galaxy now was Adelina…well, when she wished to be that dominant.

But that scent hadn’t wavered since he’d greeted her despite the changes in the conversation. Adelina was queen through and through. Perhaps if they were able to survive this war she would relax. During peacetime she should not have to constantly wield her full dominance.

Watching her though…it suited her. Adelina may never adjust her dominance again now that she’d found her place in the universe. Why when she was so comfortable?

Asher settled his gaze on Veri again as he mentally filed away the information Adelina rattled off.

Why did Veri trust this Neprijat?

His fiancée shrugged a shoulder so slightly only he noticed. And then she gave him a half smile. So the decision was based on instincts.

Asher turned to study Sozav again as he hid his surprise at the number of warships teams were already collecting from the abandoned factories and caches. Something about this specific male had convinced everyone – even Nash – that these Neprijat rebels could be trusted.

He wasn’t a submissive male, but Sozav did keep his eyes down whenever he wasn’t speaking to keep from challenging anyone. That did help ease a lot of tension. Asher didn’t feel the need to put him in his place.

Then there was the fact that their genetics needed strong females – they had a difficult time resisting the urge to chase their prey without them. Asher assumed those vicious traits were praised and rewarded by the king and his minions.

Asher tilted his head and narrowed his eyes ever so slightly and Sozav tensed. He knew Asher was sizing him up, but he didn’t give in to his instincts and rise to the challenge.

The Neprijat weren’t much different than the Kalans had been in Draga five centuries before. Back when their terrible dominance and savage nature had been what led their people. When they’d owned slaves and revered the blood sports.

Nash’s people had been tame in comparison.

If his own people could change, there was no reason why the Neprijat couldn’t.

More than anything though, Asher needed to be sure this wasn’t a trap.

They could easily dangle hope in front of a newly crowned queen with very little training on how to lead. And then turn around and take her for themselves. Either to deliver her to the Neprijat king, or for their own nefarious purposes.

If they were that desperate then why not just take her for themselves?

“Then the Neprijat will sign their system over to me, accepting my rule,” Adelina stated, clicking the presentation. The final page displayed where all the information was listed and organized to see in one quick glance.

Asher whipped his head around to gape at his sister. “What do you mean ‘accept your rule?’”

She slid the device into the pocket of her gown and then fixed her gaze on him. Everyone else in the room was silent, unmoving as the Hand and the Queen discovered how this was going to work between them.

It would set the precedent for the rest of her reign.

“That was the condition for their help,” Adelina said. Her amethyst eyes flashed and Asher could tell he was wearing her patience thin. “I take their system for Draga and rid them of the ones who refuse to give up their oppressive ways.”

“And how are you going to police that?” Asher asked, standing so he could pace. He always thought better when he was moving. “How are you going to decide who gets to live and die? What about when we need to rule them? Who will go there to make sure they’re following our laws? Or will we move an entire people to our system that our own people will not accept?”

Adelina crossed her arms over her chest and outright glared, each of their different rosanera scents filled the room—choking in its thickness.

“How do we rule Brogna?” she countered.

Asher glared right back. “That is a different situation entirely and you know it.”

He started pacing and she watched him, as did the Neprijat.

“Explain to me how we rule Brogna,” Adelina repeated.

Kaiden’s wings shifted and Asher was so bothered he didn’t even care how curious he was about those wings and how they worked. “They essentially rule themselves,” Asher snapped. “We trust them not to raise armies and then attack. How will you get a warrior race to keep from raising their own army?”

Adelina smiled at him, but it was sharp and predatory. She’d never looked at him like that before and it shocked him so much he stopped in his tracks.

“I am not going to attempt any such thing,” she told him. “I want them to have a well-trained army at my beck and call. I want Brogna to have their own army that I can command.”

Those words were like ice in his veins and Asher’s entire body went completely still. “Why?”

Adelina looked to Varan like she couldn’t be bothered to reply. Then she turned to Nash and Kaiden. “Release him.”

And they did. Instantly.

Asher knew this was a test. Not for the Neprijat. But for him.

Even Veri didn’t move. She was trusting their queen – not her friend and soon to be sister-in-law – her queen.

That was the test wasn’t it? Asher wondered if his sister had ever truly believed his support after all the cycles he’d known her as a true submissive.

Sozav didn’t move from his seat, but he did shake out his arms, as though the grip that had held him in place had been so tight it kept blood from his hands. Then he cracked his neck and settled back against the chair with a sigh of relief.

Relief.

Asher’s gaze snapped to Varan when his king consort began speaking – not brother.

“We want to encourage trade and travel once this war is done. It would enrich our kingdom and open the eyes of our people to other ways of life. The Unchanged have agreed to send people to man the embassy we will build for them. As will the Drakesthai. One for Brogna will be built so their voices may be heard – after all our decisions affect them.”

Adelina nodded, picking up her cup and sipping.

All of this decided and done without a single advisor or Hand to suggest otherwise. But she hadn’t needed them. Adelina had secured three alliances all on her own when previous rulers were content to ignore the other people in the galaxy.

“Based on this we would like to ensure no one else gets the idea that they can conquer our kingdom, or those of our allies. If someone calls for aid we will answer,” Varan said, emerald eyes glittering as he focused on Asher. Again that challenge from another male who’s dominance was slightly lower than his, but his rank outweighed Asher’s own. “Nothing like what happened to the Drakesthai will happen again. The queen will not allow it.”

Asher didn’t know what to say. “And we will have embassies on the capitols in the other systems?”

Veri rested her chin on her hand as she leaned forward, elbow on her knee. She was thinking and absorbing. She’d made her decision about the Neprijat, but she was considering everything Adelina was presenting to them now.

“What about their persuasion?” Asher finally asked, feeling his reasons for disagreeing crumbling away and it left him scrambling. “We can’t know they aren’t forcing you to do this, or any of us.”

Sozav smiled and looked up at Kaiden then Nash before angling his neck just so – a thin white scar glittered just below his ear. “Part of our agreement is that we are willing to have that trait removed,” the Neprijat explained. “Prince Ian already performed the procedure on me. I am not capable of making anyone do anything ever again, and let me tell you Hand, it is a relief to know that a queen this powerful agreed to this of her own free will. I will never have to doubt that.”

And Asher believed it with his heart and soul.

To willingly give up that kind of power for a better future for his people, that was something he could understand. What would Asher sacrifice for his people? Right at that moment Adelina was asking him to sacrifice his pride and his prejudices.

Could he do that?

The picture Adelina had painted was everything he’d wished for and more when he’d wanted to be king – if only to make those changes. And here she was offering it to him—asking him to help her.

He held the Neprijat’s gaze without blinking.

If he couldn’t give up his prejudice and pride, this Neprijat was a better male than he was. There was no denying that.

Asher blinked and the tension in the room eased as he turned to Veri. “I did hand over this choice to you, my love. How would you suggest we rule them once their power of persuasion has been removed?”

Veri grinned at him, knowing he’d given in already even if he hadn’t been so explicit. Somehow this female knew him better than he even knew himself. She’d known he’d concede. Asher smiled ruefully. He supposed that was one of the things he loved about her, even if it did get under his skin on occasion.

“Someone will need to be appointed as our point of contact,” Veri said, voice eager. This new proposition was exciting for her, and just once Asher wished he could hear her thoughts. “We need to maintain a presence in their system as well as having some of them live among us. Our people will be slow to adjust, but we will implement laws to protect both peoples. Once the persuasion has been removed from their genetics the next generation won’t possess it. So that matter will be handled.”

Veri paused as she thought. “We need to share our tech with each other, without secrets or holding anything back. We need to improve signals and transmissions as well. Seeing things occur in real time is important with such distance between us and our allies. If they called for aid we would not be able to answer in time – like what happened with Nash’s people.” Veri shot the Corinthian prince an apologetic look.

Nash shrugged – he did not blame them. After all, even he had not made it in time.

Adelina’s smile grew with each of Veri’s words. “My brother has chosen well. If you would like to be made an official advisor I can draw up the contract. You may review that when you review my alliance proposition with the Neprijat.”

Sozav was still quiet. He didn’t ask for anything, and he didn’t try to interrupt with his own opinions despite the fact they were discussing the fate of his people. It was rather impressive.

Asher wondered if all in the rebels were like this, or if it was simply this male.

“I’ll support this,” Asher said, looking at Sozav again. “But I want to meet with the other rebels. I want Veri with me when we send out the request for them to come to us. And they have to be fast, or this alliance won’t matter. None of us will be here to keep it.”

The queen stood and Kaiden’s wings spread slightly. The movement was protective and Asher was glad to see that despite this entire situation, one of her males was acting with her safety in mind.

Adelina raised her brow at him. “You don’t think I can take him if he attacked me?”

Somehow she’d known what he’d been thinking and Asher went completely still. He’d made a mistake, but there was no way to take it back now.

Sozav bowed his head so low his forehead touched his knee. “I would never, my queen.”

“Yes, I know that. When was the last time you ate?”

The look of shock on the Neprijat’s face was almost comical. “It’s been a few days, your majesty.”

Adelina tapped out a message on her simulcast. “Your request is granted, Prince Asher. But you will be working closely with Sozav. Is that going to be a problem?”

The Neprijat straightened slightly, but still kept his gaze on the floor. He was trying so hard to be the perfect example for his people. Asher could do no less.

“No, I don’t think it will.”

And just like that the tension in the room eased.

Veri took his hand and squeezed – Asher could practically feel her pride.

“All right then, let’s bring in William and I’ll have Vitto bring in food as well,” Adelina said, turning back to her simulcast. “It’s going to be a long day and you should all eat something.”

Nash sat down in the chair near Sozav, but Kaiden stayed standing, wings spread wider now that he had more room.

“Do you all sleep in the same bed?” Veri asked. “How do your wings fit? What if someone rolls on them?”

Asher nearly choked. “Veri, I don’t believe those are polite questions.”

Kaiden’s blush was intriguing though.

“But they’re all going to be my brothers. I know who sleeps in Alock’s bed.”

Adelina looked up at Asher with a twinkle in her eyes. “Are they?”

Asher sighed, but he couldn’t help the smile that spread across his face. “I was going to wait until there were more people to embarrass you with, but this will do.” He knelt before Veri and she went completely still. Then he slid a hand into his pocket.

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Don’t you dare,” she hissed.

“Perhaps you should have thought about that before announcing we are all going to be kin to validate your nosy questions.” Then Asher pulled out a velvet box and opened it. “Veri of Priea, will you officially accept my proposal for marriage?”

“I already have,” she snapped. “A ring doesn’t make it any more official. I knew I should have worn a gown.”

Asher chuckled and slipped the ring on her finger. “Perhaps, but flustering you was worth it.”

“Adelina didn’t kneel when she proposed to me,” Kaiden stated, frowning in confusion.

Nash slapped him on the shoulder, careful of the wings. “She didn’t for me either. But women don’t usually propose in Draga, so be grateful she gave you a ring at all.”

Adelina smirked at Nash. “He’s just sore he hasn’t gotten one yet even if we did get our marriage tattoos.”

Standing, Asher kissed Veri’s scowl. He loved when she got all riled up. “Well, less gold on a wedding once we get home then,” he said, sitting beside her.

His sister rolled her eyes. “You’ve always been rather stingy.”

“I still want to know if they sleep in the same bed,” Veri grumbled.

“Sometimes,” Kaiden told her. When he smiled Asher could see how his sister would fall in love with him. Kaiden was quite beautiful. “And I tuck in my wings at the edge of the bed so no one can roll onto them…sister.”

Sozav looked at each of them with a frown, but then looked back down at the ground.

“Something to say, Neprijat?” Asher asked, louder than necessary. If they were going to be working together he wanted to know who this male was.

“No,” Sozav admitted. “I was simply wondering why you gave her a rock to symbolize love and the Corinthian has a tattoo.”

“It’s not just any rock,” Adelina said rather defensively. “It is a jewel, and precious.”

“What do your people use to symbolize marriage?” Asher asked, genuinely curious.

Sozav studied Nash’s tattoos again. “Nothing. I’m not sure what was done before, but in our current cultural climate a female is purchased. There is no gift.”

Asher mentally recoiled at that idea. “So you don’t feel love?”

The Neprijat shrugged. “I do not know. It’s not been encouraged. To love as your people do is seen as not only a weakness among the more vicious of our kind, it is considered disloyal. If I were to love someone more than I love my kingdom or king…it is akin to treason. They say we would choose the one we love over our ruler.”

The thought was…depressing. It made Asher appreciate the female beside him that much more. He looked down at Veri and rubbed his thumb over the sapphire on her finger. She was everything to him.

“I hope one day you get to fall in love, Sozav,” Asher murmured.

Veri’s scowl finally eased and she leaned over to kiss his cheek. “So do I.”

Varan clapped his hands together loudly. “All right, let’s win this war then! I have too many plans for the future to lose. So…everyone on their best. We need to convince everyone else this is a good idea. Are we all ready?”

Adelina smiled up at her husband and Asher was glad she had him through all of this. But now he was there, and William…they were all there to support her. His sister and queen was no longer alone in this.

Then the doors opened and William strode in, heading right for Adelina. They embraced each other with tears in their eyes and Asher squeezed Veri’s hand. His family was finally all together again.

He would do anything to make sure it stayed that way.