Varan was still numb. He could barely bring himself to say anything much less move after what he’d seen.

After what Adelina had done.

He felt nothing but quiet satisfaction. The horde was dead. They’d saved who they could. And Khara was theirs.

They’d succeeded.

And survived.

All thanks to his wife and queen.

But that moment she’d bowed to the Neprijat king haunted him – that moment he’d moved to keep his promise wouldn’t stop replaying in his head. Varan had sworn an oath he’d kill her before letting the king take her – and he had never planned to live longer than the second it would take to confirm her death before taking his own life.

The king hadn’t taken her though. She had given herself to him.

And it had been a ploy. A dangerous, heartbreaking ploy.

The king had bought it through and through even if Varan had seen it for what it was.

Adelina had given them the time they needed – an opportunity.

By putting herself in the most dangerous position. One wrong move and the king could have taken her. And if that power of persuasion had worked on her…

Varan closed his eyes for a moment to try and clear his head.

The Jasmine and the Royal Rosanera led the fleet back to Khara Prime – inspecting the battlefields as Adelina organized vid footage of the king’s death as well as the absolute obliteration of the horde.

Varan watched in utter, immovable silence as she selected a public channel and every device they could access throughout the Khara System. Adelina had been right. There was still much work to do yet.

But she was alive. And so was he.

Despite his best efforts.

Varan didn’t regret keeping his promise even if it might have been for nothing. So much could have gone wrong. The chances that the king would murder them all and keep Adelina for himself had been too high for him to risk.

Then Adelina set up a public transmission. “Your king is dead,” she stated ruthlessly—mercilessly. “The horde of reinforcements are gone by my doing.”

Adelina let that sink in and Varan felt a flicker of pride that all his lessons on drama had taken.

“Any Neprijat remaining in the Khara System can surrender to me and live. But only if you’re willing to live by your old ways and remove your power of persuasion.”

Another pause and Varan studied the spot on her throat where the knife would have landed had Kaita not blocked him.

Adelina was alive. She was free. And she’d squirreled away a weapon so powerful it had wiped out trillions of enemy ships in a few moments.

“If you accept, fly the symbol of surrender and land before the palace on Khara Prime. Those of you who don’t will be eliminated.”

Cold fury from a queen that had just taken two systems and had protected the innocents of her enemy. Those who would not follow her command would not live to see the next day and Varan snarled in satisfaction.

“Do I get to take their eyes?” he asked.

Kaiden and Nash stared at him, no doubt feeling the cold that had taken over his body through the bond. Varan needed to wrap his hands around throats, pluck eyes with his bare hands, and feel the blood of his enemy.

But he would have to settle for taking his anger out on his wife. The one who’d sent his instincts to this place to begin with.

Adelina turned to face him. She nodded slowly and then clasped her hands behind her back. His wife would take whatever it was he needed to say.

“You lied to me,” he said quietly.

“To us,” Nash corrected.

She tilted her head ever so slightly. “I did not lie. I simply did not inform you of the plans I had in case everything fell apart – a last resort.”

“You promised not to give yourself up to the king,” he snarled.

Varan didn’t give a rat’s ass about the horde or what she’d done. His mate was a queen and he could accept the choices she had to make. But he could not accept her risk with the Neprijat king.

“What if he had overpowered us and taken you?” Nash asked. “What if he’d been able to command you?”

Kaiden’s wings rustled, but he kept quiet. They hadn’t been able to tell him the whole story as he’d been manning the cannons.

“Then you would have killed me,” she stated matter-of-factly, eyes on Varan.

“I almost did,” Varan roared, breathing hard. He couldn’t contain his anger anymore and he didn’t care who saw him bloody lose it. He’d nearly lost the only person in the world he couldn’t live without.

“Thank you,” Adelina murmured, stepping forward to take his hands in her much smaller ones. “For keeping your promise. I was hoping you would.”

And that confession – the realization that she had been just as unsure as he…Varan’s anger deflated and he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in close. He needed to touch her, hold her, and feel her breathing against him...

A tear escaped and dropped into her blacker-than-night hair. “I will never forgive you for scaring me like that,” he grumbled.

“I know,” she whispered so quietly he was the only one who could hear her. “I’m so sorry, Varan. But I don’t regret it. I would have given up everything for you, for them.”

He didn’t care that everyone could see him cry. Varan was grateful when they averted their eyes though. This moment…he needed his wife – his mate. Not his queen. “I would have done the same for you,” he whispered back.

Adelina nodded, her face pressed into his chest. Then she looked up and held his face gently. Varan stared into those amethyst eyes that had always entranced him. Before she could say anything else he kissed her hard, biting her lower lip so it would bruise and his claim would be there for all to see.

“I forgive you,” he told her. “And I am so very proud of you.”

Varan loved her so deeply that he could do nothing but forgive her despite how that moment would haunt him. How could he stay angry when he would have done the same for her?

Adelina stepped back with a watery smile, unshed tears filling her eyes at his praise. She turned to Nash then and hugged him close. The great brute lifted her up with the force of his hug and then kissed her as well, muttering words Varan tuned out.

He only had eyes for his wife. She would be the death of him – but oh, how glorious would that death be?

Kaiden wrapped his wings around Adelina, giving them a tiny bit of privacy as the Jasmine began its descent back to Khara Prime.

“What now?” he asked, tracing her face – pushing back the knowledge of how close he’d come to losing her.

What she’d done for them…Kaiden wished he could take that burden from her. He wished he could shield her from all the bad, but that’s not what she needed. She needed his support and his help.

Kaiden could do that.

He pressed a kiss to her forehead, barely registering as the Jasmine landed.

“We make sure Khara is safe for now, and then go home,” she told him. “I need to be officially crowned. Then we can travel – repairing and restoring. They will need help and I don’t plan to stay sheltered in the palace.”

Kaiden smiled slightly and tilted her chin up so she had to look into his eyes. “I look forward to it.”

Adelina hugged him tight and then stood on her toes to kiss him. “Thank you for everything. From now on I’ll be more forthcoming.”

He snorted a little and released her. “We shall see about that my little trickster.”

“She gets that from me,” Varan stated proudly as the four of them waited for the ramp to lower.

“You both are going to give me a heart attack one day,” Nash grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest.

Adelina gave the brute a wink and strode forward – the first to walk out of the Jasmine followed by all her troops behind them.

Kaiden watched her and brushed the tip of his wing against Nash to comfort him. “We’ll have to be the voice of reason.”

“You still haven’t said anything nice about me to her. I was there. You said nothing.” Nash eyed Kaiden, a small twitch at the corner of his lip.

He couldn’t help but laugh. “I’ll make sure it’s something far better than the size of your cock,” Kaiden promised.

They walked in tandem with Varan slightly ahead of them, but behind Adelina, up those damn stairs. Kaiden eyed the white marble that went up and up again. He wished he could fly up to the golden doors where Adelina was clearly headed.

Where Kaita stood with all the Kharan royals and a female he didn’t recognize.

Millions of people were in the streets, pushing to get closer to the palace, but warriors held them back as the Neprijat procession went through. That no one tried to murder them before they could surrender was a testament to what they thought of Adelina.

There was still blood on the stairs, both black and red. Kaiden didn’t bother avoiding it as they climbed. More and more people gathered and those blasted recorders started flitting about, taking in everything – every tiny detail.

When Adelina reached the top of the stairs she turned and stared out at the city – at the people gathered below and the Neprijat making their way to them.

So few left – so few who had taken her offer.

They were led by their own – Neprijat who wore the queen’s crest and the red and gold that identified them as rebels. Kaiden was proud of them for being willing to change their ways – for those who’d seen the evil and had done something about it.

At the front he spied…a female.

Whispers flew and grew into a roar as she climbed the steps first, leading the Neprijat who planned to surrender.

And Adelina stood before them all with the three of them a few steps below – a warrior and a conqueror.

A goddess.

William, Asher, and Veri came from the sides, standing on the same level as Nash and Kaiden. Varan was one stair above them, but two below Adelina.

Ian and Nadyah stood to the side, below the princes and Veri. All the Drakesthai were there that had fought in Khara. All the Unchanged and those who’d come from Brogna.

They’d all come to see their enemy surrender and they didn’t jeer at the Neprijat. They didn’t throw things or try to take any of them out. They were here to witness.

Adelina kept her eyes locked on the Neprijat female – as they all did.

The king had been terrifying but she…she was the same – but not. Kaiden could sense her strength and her wildness. She was a warrior and all the rebel Neprijat stared at her and Adelina. Kaiden could sense the relief of an entire people in the way they looked at those two females.

When the female was five steps below Kaiden she stopped. “I am Princess Dejah, daughter of the king you slaughtered. Hidden away the moment I was conceived. And I am here to swear my allegiance to you, Queen Adelina.”

Then the Neprijat princess knelt before Adelina and Kaiden watched as all the rebels behind her did the same.

“We swear allegiance to Adelina – the Queen of Draga,” thousands upon thousands said in unison.

Adelina watched them all, unimpressed despite what she’d accomplished. Kaiden spread his wings wide. She was perfect.

“I want those who took this system and others to come forward.”

Princess Dejah stepped aside and watched with hatred in her eyes as those males came forward. The same hatred that was in so many Kalan and Corinthian eyes. Kaiden wondered if he was the only one who saw the similarity.

Those warriors knelt as well, bowing their heads before her as they waited for her decision.

“Swear allegiance in blood,” she demanded, eyes narrowed as she waited to see if they would obey.

All their weapons had been taken and Kaiden watched in sick fascination as they ripped their palms open on their teeth and let that black blood fall, staining the stairs once more. “We accept your terms and we swear our undying allegiance to the Queen of Draga.”

She nodded and sliced her own palm open. “I swear to keep your people safe and treat them as I would the ones born into my system.”

Princess Dejah led the Neprijat back down to where Adelina had warriors already waiting for them. No doubt she’d already planned which ships would bear them and where they would go. Kaiden hadn’t bothered to ask.

By this point he blindly trusted her. She’d planned for everything and more. Kaiden would follow her to the ends of the universe and back if she asked it of him.

But Adelina still wasn’t done. “I have taken back the Khara System with my allies. We release any claim to it. Khara is yours once more,” she said to Kaita and the other royals.

Only five other than Nash.

So few.

Kaiden let his wing brush Nash’s arm.

He could only imagine what the Corinthian warrior was feeling. Kaiden knew a fraction of it. After all, his people had been ruled by the Neprijat but it hadn’t been the same. They hadn’t come into Hai with violence and destruction.

The Neprijat had been content to let his people die out from their infertility.

Kaita stepped forward. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for us.” The princess smiled at the other royals. “We look forward to continuing our alliance. Any who wins the Crown will re-sign our treaty.”

Kaiden smiled and knew Adelina’s reign would be one of peace and prosperity. The first few cycles would be difficult as they rebuilt, but they would come out the other side better and stronger.

They would grow together.

The humans descended from the Ancients reunited at last.

Watching Adelina take control made Nash vibrate with need. She was everything and more. The power she wielded was nothing short of awe-inspiring.

Adelina had given him his home back. She’d kept the promise she’d made to him when she barely knew him – when he was nothing more than a stranger begging for sanctuary. That quiet little princess had kept that promise and then some.

When Kaita hugged Adelina, Nash stepped forward.

This was the moment.

He needed the entire galaxy to know he was serious about his new position.

Silence rippled through all those who had gathered when Nash dropped to a knee before Kaita. Then he said loud and clear for all to witness, “I, Prince Nash of Khara, yield my right to rule to Princess Kaita. I ask only that I retain my House and the planet Leva.”

Kaita stood in front of him for a long moment, and Nash wondered if she would accept. He wondered if Adelina had known, or if he’d managed to finally surprise her.

“I accept,” Kaita finally said.

He looked up and she gave him a nod. Much would need to be worked out, but Nash didn’t want any chance at the throne. He looked to Adelina, who indeed had a slightly shocked look on her face, as did Varan.

“I swear allegiance to you my queen, my future wife.” And Nash placed his fist over his heart. “From now until the end of my days.”

Adelina smiled at him with tears in her eyes.

He stood and moved aside when Princess Svana and Princess Tawney climbed up the steps. Someone had given them clothes instead of the slave rags they’d been wearing when they’d been freed. Both twins knelt together. “For what you’ve done for Khara, we yield our right to rule to Kaita of Neofilis House.”

Princess Lilja and Prince Milagros came up next in their battle armor – blood streaked and sweaty. They too knelt before Kaita. “For finding us when no one else could. For freeing our home. We yield our right to rule, to you.”

Nash smiled up at Kaita, enjoying the look of utter shock and terror on her face. Then she regained her composure. “I accept what you offer and I will do my best to rule with strength. Will you do the honors?” she asked, turning to Adelina.

His future wife grinned and even though he had no idea what Kaita meant, she did. Adelina snapped her fingers and one of her Queen’s Guard came up. A few whispered words and the female disappeared.

The guard came back with a crown – he recognized it too. It was one of Adelina’s favorites. Nash couldn’t help his smile as she took it from the guard.

Silence once more as the fervent whispers about the events unfolding ceased.

Kaita knelt before the crown Adelina held. And despite the differences in their culture – their coronations…it was perfect.

“It seems only fitting that a warrior princess of Khara be crowned in her armor moments after battle,” Adelina stated loud enough for everyone to hear.

Nash couldn’t agree more.

“Kaita of Neofilis House, do you accept the mantle of Queen of Khara – to protect your people and kingdom?” Adelina asked.

The words echoed those she’d sworn herself.

Kaita nodded, taking out her blade and holding it up. “I swear my sword to the Crown. I swear my soul to this kingdom. And I swear my life to my people.”

Adelina placed her crown on Kaita’s head gently. “A gift – from one queen to another.”

Kaita sheathed her sword, tears streaked through the blood and sweat on her face.

“Rise, Queen of Khara.”

When Kaita stood, Nash knelt before her once more as did every single Corinthian.

“Long live the queen!”

He echoed the words of his Corinthian brothers and sisters. Then Nash stood and stepped back into line with his new brothers. The ones who he would share a kingdom and a wife with. Perhaps one day even children.

It had been a dream of his. To have children one day. And Nash had always known the chances were slim. He glanced at Varan. But this way…he’d get them anyway. It didn’t matter that they wouldn’t be his by blood.

Nash was ready to go home – to Draga.

Kaita touched the crown atop her head again. Not because of what it meant, but because a female notorious for her taste in jewels and how she coveted them—had gifted it to her. That meant more than Kaita could ever put into words.

She would still need an official coronation, but she would be able to start the reparations without waiting for the results of the Royal Battle.

Adelina promised she would be back soon once she was officially crowned as well to help. “You’ll be at my coronation?” Adelina had asked as they walked towards the Jasmine – everyone not planning to stay in Khara was already loading up.

Some of the Drakesthai would stay to help her guard her system until things were sorted. But most were leaving – including all the Neprijat. No one in Khara was ready for that yet, but Kaita would make sure to welcome them as the cycles passed.

It would take time to heal and rebuild. But they would heal. And they would rebuild.

They’d survived this long. She had no plans on wasting everything that had been sacrificed.

“I’ll be at your coronation,” Kaita promised. “We can re-sign our alliance and treaty as well. I’ll even draft a few trade agreements.” She paused and then groaned thinking of all the paperwork to be done. “Or I’ll have someone else do it.”

Adelina chuckled at that and gave Kaita a sweet kiss on the cheek. “Yes, paperwork over the next cycle will be truly horrific. I expect to see you in a few days’ time. Don’t be late.”

Kaita nodded, feeling her throat ache as the time came upon them to depart after working together for so long. It would be strange to rule a system on her own…separate from the queen she’d been used to serving.

Then the Queen of Draga and all her warriors packed up and left. The warships blotted out the morning sun as they flew up and up until they disappeared in the crowd cover.

Kaita sighed and turned back to the palace jutting up into the sky.

There was so much to be done. And she didn’t even have any of her clothes. What she would find in that palace…Kaita almost didn’t want to know. But she had to start collecting their dead and sorting them, making lists, figuring out who would rule which planet until offspring of each House could be born.

“Thank you,” Vivienne murmured, stepping forward through the crowd of remaining royals. “I wanted to thank you for everything.”

Kaita inspected the girl – somehow alive despite everything. Her warriors had found her in the king’s bedchambers along with a few other females. They’d brought her here and Kaita studied her – her strength.

“Valdis died trying to free you,” she told her.

Tears filled Vivienne’s eyes and she nodded. “I will never forget it either.”

Tilting her head she inspected the female. “I want to grant you his lands and title. You would have inherited them had you been wed.”

Her gorgeous eyes widened and the other royals shuffled but said nothing. She was queen now.

“Rule Minara?” Vivienne asked. “But I don’t possess royal blood.”

“No,” Kaita agreed. “But you could carry the offspring of Tigris House if you are willing. That child would inherit Minara.”

Tears ran down her cheeks and Vivienne threw her arms around Kaita. “It would honor me to serve Valdis in this way. It is the least I can do for him; take care of his home after what he sacrificed for me.”

Kaita returned the hug and led the female up the stairs, jerking her chin at the other royals. “Good. We have much work to do. But first, let’s check to make sure our royal DNA has been preserved.”

“The king never found it,” Princess Svana told her. “We managed to keep that secret at least if only for the fact he never asked us where, or demanded we show it to him.”

Relief filled her and her knees felt weak with the strength of it.

The king had tried to wipe Khara’s royal blood from existence, but he’d failed no matter how much destruction and death he had caused. They could rebuild and a new generation would be there to inherit.

She smiled and walked through the golden doors of her new home.

For the first time in a long time, Kaita felt excitement and joy when she looked to the future rather than fear and doubt.

She’d saved her people as she’d set out to do the moment she’d entered the Draga System. Kaita had saved them and she would make sure everything they’d lost wouldn’t be for nothing.

The Queen of Khara promised herself she would make a future for them that was worth living for.