“How dare you?” Adelina demanded.

The second they were outside in the private gardens she’d ripped out of his grasp. The gentle gurgling of the fountains was a sharp contrast to her anger. Adelina crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Varan. Her nails ached to feel skin rend, but violence wasn’t the answer here. Not this time.

“Darling, I’m not even sure why you’re angry,” Varan said, holding his hands up in surrender.

“Don’t pretend as if you don’t know. The vid of our offer to the pirates is everywhere! You were the only one with a copy.” Adelina narrowed her eyes and dared him to try and deny it again.

To her surprise he closed the distance between them and gripped her biceps hard. Suddenly he had her pressed up against a marble pillar. The stone at her back was cool despite the summer heat. “Yes,” he hissed, getting in her face. “Giselle threatened you that night in your father’s rooms. She hurt you. I will not allow for my wife to be harmed,” he spat.

“I am not your wife yet,” Adelina stated, but the sting was gone from her words. Her anger and annoyance vanished as the predator and warrior Varan hid so well beneath his charm came out for all to see. Perhaps it had been a mistake to tell him what Giselle had said during her vigil at her father’s bedside. But no, he was going to be her husband in a day. They had to be honest with each other.

“Semantics,” Varan growled. “You are mine and I refuse to let her tarnish your reputation. She has hurt you enough. This vid? The people adore it. They love you even more, if that were even possible. They love how you put your life and name on the line for them.”

His passionate words made her blood boil with desire. Adelina breathed hard as he pressed his face into her neck and then bit down. Varan didn’t break her skin or bruise, but it was enough she felt the sharp canines. Instantly she went limp and submitted to his dominance.

Varan felt her relax and it settled his wolf. He kissed the slight sting on her neck and pulled her in close. He breathed deep and sighed. “I’m sorry I didn’t ask you,” he murmured into her hair. “I was so furious I wasn’t thinking.”

Adelina stroked his back and just held him. “I understand, Varan. Next time though, talk to me beforehand so I am not taken by surprise?”

He nodded and then took a step back. “Will you do something for me?”

Adelina didn’t agree or deny, unsure what he could possibly need from her.

“I’ve decided I’m renouncing my throne as the Prince of Thieves once we return from the Hai Galaxy.” Varan turned away from her and stepped into the cool shade of the temple. He studied every statue of every god and goddess. “Roxy has agreed to take my place. Though she said something about the title of ‘queen’ instead of ‘princess.’ She will fight every challenger when the time comes, and win.”

Adelina trailed after him, enjoying the respite from the heat, but his words made her heart pound as she considered all the possibilities and implications of Roxy being Queen of Thieves. Something about it felt right and true, and also terrifying.

“I’m going to announce this tonight at the party I’m holding at my personal estate.” Varan turned to her then. “My request and wish is that you attend the party with me.”

Adelina took his outstretched hand without hesitation. “Of course.”

“As Lina.”

At that she hesitated. “Why?”

Varan tugged her forward and then let her go as a game. He slipped his hands in his pockets and smiled that charming, cocky smile of his. “You don’t have a statue of Ladra.”

Adelina grinned at that. She took another step closer and trailed her nails down his arms. “I will have one commissioned for your wedding present. Now tell me, why do you wish for me to be disguised at your party?”

He bent down without touching her, their noses only a breath apart. “I want you to reveal yourself as the Princess Adelina. Then I will tell them of our secret love story and how I couldn’t resist you. How you’ve always put your people before everything. You serve the Crown, but you never forgot the rest of us.”

Her sharp inhale was loud in the silence, the birds and fountains fading away as she realized what he meant. “You want my reputation to grow among the people, to challenge Giselle?”

“Yes.” His grin was feral and wolf-like.

Her nails went up and over his shoulders and met the bare skin of his neck. They were sharp, but she was ever so careful. “I won’t take my sister’s throne.”

Varan turned his head ever so slightly and brushed his lips against her cheek. “I’m not asking you to take it from her. I’m asking you to make yourself invincible. Giselle is unstable as queen. She knows it’s an ill-fitting title and she doesn’t like what you are. If she decides to tell the galaxy about your parentage…”

Adelina looked up in surprise as sudden understanding dawned on her. “It won’t matter because of what I’ve done to serve them.”

He nodded and cupped her cheek tenderly. “There are no laws against what you are, but you are also a royal. The people hold sway over your life. If William and Asher are unaware I would tell them. It’s best to hear it from the source rather than from an outsider. And if they feel as Giselle does, it would be best to get ahead of the problem. The people will need the royal family united as things become more dire.”

Adelina blinked and pressed her palms flat against his throat, the pad of her thumb caressed his Adam’s apple. So much trust and love for him to allow her such an intimate and vulnerable touch.

“You do so much for me, protect me in ways I never would have thought I needed. Is it because you love me?” Her heart was his, yet she felt so frightened of the future. Adelina was only twenty cycles old and the only relationship she’d ever had, had not been a relationship at all. And Alpha had only been hers for one solar day. Then there was the issue that she and Varan had never had the opportunity for an actual courtship. “We’ve never spent time together like couples do, how can you be so sure?”

“Because I know you, I’ve seen all of you.” Varan took his hands out of his pockets and pulled her hands from his neck. He placed a kiss in one and tugged her into his arms. “I know you better than any of the cula’ting people in this palace.” Then he grinned. “Except perhaps Nadyah.”

Then he kissed her soft and sweet. Adelina melted into his arms and breathed in his spicy scent – like cinnamon. He’d settled that small, niggling doubt somehow and he’d never once asked her why. “You’re too good to me,” she murmured.

“You’re mine now. For the rest of my life I’ll strive to be more than just good to you.”

Adelina nodded and took a step back, ignoring the slight heat on her cheeks. Varan was hers, and would be officially for the entire galaxy to witness in less than twenty-four hours. “Are you ready for our first war council meeting?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” Varan offered her his arm and Adelina took a deep breath before taking it.

Giselle was not Raena. To her knowledge there was no one who needed a beheading. There wasn’t some drama to reenact, and the current concern was getting the two inner shields erected and all of their people out of the Outer Rim. Soldiers would be deploying the same day Adelina and her warriors left. It would be a sendoff to remember.

The two of them were quiet as they made their way through the palace. Signs of the upcoming wedding were everywhere. Servants rushed to and fro with flowers and chairs and what have you. It reminded Adelina of her coming-of-age party, when her father and Raena had still been alive…

So much could change so quickly and if Raena’s death hadn’t been a suicide, then none of them were safe.

“Princess!”

Adelina paused and waited for Alpha to catch up. She smiled at him and wished she could give him a hug, but there were too many eyes and everyone knew of their past relationship. “Alpha, I’m glad to see you. Things have been a bit of a mess lately, haven’t they?”

His expression was serious, eyes unblinking, but he nodded. “I wish I could still guard you.” Alpha glanced at Varan then. “I know you have plenty of protection with your fiancé, and you are quite capable yourself after everything I’ve taught you…but after what happened with Raena I worry.”

Adelina’s smile faltered and she tried not to think about how he’d lied to her that day before he’d beheaded a traitor, spraying her with blood before the entire council.

“Yes, well lucky for me I am able to hold my own, though I’m never quite alone. Varan and Nadyah are always nearby.”

Alpha nodded and followed after her when she headed to the lift. The three of them entered when a footman opened the doors. They rode up to the twelfth floor in silence. Adelina had nothing more to say to Alpha. Their paths had diverged so dramatically since her coming-of-age party.

The doors slid open and voices made their way down the hall. Adelina stepped out first, practically pulling Varan along despite him being the one escorting her. She wanted to know what Giselle had planned for their people, what would happen while she was away, and what she could do to assist when she returned.

Because Adelina had no intention of going back to the safe confines of the palace before the war was over. Not until she knew her people were safe from the Neprijat. She would lead what forces she could whether the Hai Galaxy gave them aid or not.

“Princess Adelina, I’m so glad you could join us,” Giselle said. There was that sharp tone to her voice that Adelina had never heard directed at her until her sister had returned from the border.

A few nobles winced at that tone – different yet similar to Raena’s.

Asher and William looked surprised to see Adelina at all, but Asher hid it better than her sweet, barely eighteen cycles old brother could. William may be a soldier, but he had never been able to dissemble well.

The war council was in the same room as every other council meeting but Adelina had never seen it set up in such a way with an actual table and chairs – holograms displayed for everyone to study.

“Sister, there is a place for you here,” Asher said, noting the indecision in her eyes as Adelina studied the table. It seemed only the nobles were allowed chairs.

Those nobles eyed her but they moved to make room for her and Varan. Adelina sat next to her brother and made a mental note to thank Asher later. Then Veri grinned at her and Adelina admired the sharp, predatory gleam the female always seemed to possess. No one would think twice to question such a lady.

Adelina smiled back and tried to emulate the way Veri showed her canines, letting her own lengthen. When Veri’s grin widened she knew she’d accomplished the task. Adelina set her hands wide on the table. “I hope I didn’t miss anything vital, my queen.”

Giselle’s eyes narrowed at the title they both knew Adelina only used out of formality. As the heir protocol didn’t demand such strictness from her, but protocol could also be a weapon. The nobles and courtiers glanced at each other, unsure of the new dynamic between them.

No one understood what had happened during those witching hours the night their father finally slipped from this world. No one but Joslynn knew, her face grim as she put two and two together.

“We were discussing the evacuation orders,” Asher explained. He tapped the large, circular table and more holograms popped up. The entire system was displayed with various colors showing which route each planet in the outer rim should take.

Adelina took a moment to study the holos as Varan leaned in closer too, subtly staking his claim while getting a better look at the set up. It looked like the people of Seprilles and Treon would both be sheltered on Ushanov as the populations were much smaller. Scyria would go to Priea as most of them were warriors and could survive the harsh conditions. Then Pedranus would be hosted by Avvis. It was a solid plan.

“And the new shields?” Adelina asked.

“The shield around the core will be completed in five solar days,” Asher replied. He pulled at the holo and it grew so she could see where each of the host outposts were. “The shield around Draga Terra will be up four solar days after that. Any refugees from Khara or Hai will be hosted on Draga Terra and Deytis.”

Adelina nodded. “May I have a copy of this sent to my shreve? I will also need updates while I’m away.”

“Of course,” Asher said. He tapped his shreve and the answering ping on her own settled some nerves.

Everyone else was quiet, but Adelina knew better. They wanted to know why she was there, what she planned to do after they’d all seen the vid, and then they were no doubt curious how Giselle would take everything.

The nobles who lived at court were the most keen to see the obvious dissonance between her and Giselle. Adelina took too much power during a council meeting she’d never been able to attend previously, and yet neither Giselle nor Asher challenged her. But it was clear from the look of annoyance on Giselle’s face and the constant irritation in her voice that she wasn’t pleased with her last remaining sister.

So many clearly wanted to know the secret drama. Adelina caught their stares and returned them until she won the small dominance contest when they looked away. More than a few looked surprised, but their looks also turned into something close to respect.

The only one who didn’t challenge her was Joslynn. She slid her eyes to the floor with an encouraging smile the second Adelina looked at her.

“My queen, when will the orders be sent out?” Lord Lucas asked, glancing at Adelina and Asher before focusing on Giselle.

“As soon as this meeting has concluded,” Giselle replied. “As for the pirates turned privateers we will leave them be if they fly a royal flag. The evacuation should go off without a hitch and the shield will be up in time to protect everyone from the Neprijat.”

Adelina wasn’t sure about that as the monsters had tech they couldn’t possibly understand. But she left it alone. Pushing Giselle so early in her reign and publicly would not be an intelligent move. At least she’d conceded to the plan Varan had concocted and Adelina had agreed to.

“Thanks to everyone at this table we have accurate numbers for each army.” Giselle pulled up the display that showed names, noble houses, numbers, each squad’s specialty, the weapons, and the ships available.

Without asking, her shreve pinged again with the intel and Adelina squeezed Asher’s hand in silent thanks.

General Tamika took over and described where each army was to be deployed, who would be paired with who, and the strategy to search and destroy any Neprijat within the first shield. Adelina wasn’t as knowledgeable about war strategy and tactics, but she could see the patterns and intentions as the pieces on the holos were moved around.

Varan studied the map with intensity and Adelina knew he saw more than she did. There was something she wasn’t seeing, but the strategy seemed sound. The warriors from Priea would be led by Asher, and William would help lead the Avvis Army since Masha had no previous experience. Lucas would stay by William’s side as a mentor with what little of his loyal forces remained.

As they were the largest forces they would go to the border and search in intersecting patterns while the rest of the noble armies protected the shield that separated the core from the outer rim. Three quarters of the forces would stay outside that shield and the rest in. The Draga Royal Army would stay in the core as well; ready to defend if another evacuation was required.

It would be relatively easy to push forward or retreat depending on what was needed. There would always be a layer of protection in the Draga Galaxy and if Adelina could bring another billion fighters to the front lines, skipping from Hai into Khara; it would ease the strain on her brothers and Veri.

Because the female warrior wouldn’t let Asher go alone. Adelina saw it in the way Veri watched the dark prince, hanging on his every word as he spoke and directed with Tamika.

Adelina memorized the map and the small bit of intel they had on Neprijat forces in Khara, though they were woefully behind. There was almost no intel on the enemy and that alone could ruin them all. It didn’t matter how well they planned and strategized. If the Neprijat had double the Draga forces, with tech they couldn’t match – it would be a slaughter.

The cloaking tech alone meant there could be entire legions hiding in Draga space and no one would know.

“Have the scientists been able to use the tech Prince Nash gave us to detect the Neprijat?” Adelina asked.

From the sudden silence and the looks on everyone’s face it seemed no one had thought to check up on that. Even Asher frowned. Adelina didn’t blame anyone. After Raena’s last council meeting and the unexpected deaths, a lot had fallen to the wayside.

“Caspian?” Giselle demanded. He was the head advisor after all. He should have updated her when the power had transferred.

Even the royal guard surrounding them shifted uncomfortably at the tone in her voice.

“My—my queen,” he stuttered, stepping forward.

Adelina noted her cousins Ajax and Vasara among the war council and then noted Ajax’s name with her brothers in the deployment orders. Vasara would be stationed with the forces on the outside of the outer rim shield to assist with the evacuation. Adelina didn’t think it was smart to have so many royals on the front lines, but her uncle’s name was on the list of soldiers already at the border. Solomon may be a drunk, but he was a warrior through and through. He would help protect her family.

And it would show the galaxy the Draga’s weren’t some stuffy, spoiled little brats. They would fight and bleed and perhaps even die for their people. Adelina knew in her heart Raena had already bled and died for them. Her sister was a lot of things, but she wasn’t a coward.

Even Giselle’s name was up there but she was staying at the outside of the core’s shield. Fear stabbed Adelina’s heart. It didn’t matter her sister thought she was a genetic monster. After so many cycles of love and friendship – Adelina wanted her to come home safe.

It was clear the Neprijat wanted a way into their royal family, and Giselle wouldn’t be as protected at the core’s border as she would be on Draga Terra. But her sister had never cared about her safety, about being royalty. Being queen now only made it so she could do whatever she wished. There was no one to tell her no any longer, not when she was the one who made the final decisions.

Varan squeezed her hand and Adelina gave him a weak smile. He must have seen what she’d been staring at.

“Scientists have been working on it, but there doesn’t appear to be a solution. The tech is too different.”

Adelina gave Varan a look. The subject had given her an idea. Discreetly she took out her simulcast and sent a silent, private message to her fiancé. ‘Can you get your hands on the Neprijat cloaking tech?’

‘Don’t insult me, love.’

It was difficult not to grin when Adelina could hear the cocky words even through the typed cast.

‘Send it to my main ship and label it something no one would think twice to inspect. Tell no one but Roxy and Nadyah. There is someone who I think might be able to help us.’

‘Your mind is so cunning. It makes you incredibly irresistible. One more night before I can show you what it does to me.’

Adelina blushed and selected P’draic’s name and tapped out a quick message. After the news of his split with Ian she hoped he would take her up on her offer. It would be the trip of a lifetime after all. And if they weren’t very, very careful it would be the last.