Kaita surveyed the holo map shoulder to shoulder with Nash. Their kingdom – their home was completely overrun by the Neprijat. So many of their people had been turned into slaves or breeders. So many had been decimated in the initial takeover and so few had survived.

It sickened her and made bile rise to her throat. Kaita also felt…guilty. She’d left her people to this fate. Even if there was nothing she could have done, it still made her feel worthless. She did not deserve their forgiveness.

The other two royals, Lilja and Milagros, were preparing their small forces for the next phase of this war. Kaita knew the reason they never came to these council meetings. It did not matter to them what was decided. They would bow to her and take whatever order she gave.

She didn’t know what they’d gone through after the invasion, but neither of them wanted to rule.

Kaita glanced at Nash and crossed her arms over her chest, still finding it hard to believe he wouldn’t even battle her for the right to rule Khara. He would hand over that birthright and yield to her without bloodshed when the time came.

She wondered if the others would as well. Is that why the other two royals never bothered to question her other than to ask where they were needed next?

Part of her felt she had earned it in her mission to regain their kingdom – earned their yielding. But another part of her wanted to fight and come out the other side in blood and victory. It was their way after all. The strongest among the royals ruled.

Even if she knew it would never ease the guilt that she’d survived when others had not – that she had not been subjected to the horrors most of her people have endured.

And Nash was so bloody stupid for giving up the chance to join their two kingdoms and systems. If he won the Crown in the trials and became king then he could make Khara and Draga one with his upcoming marriage to Adelina.

But perhaps it was for the best to simply have an unbreakable alliance. Their two very different peoples could thrive in their own ways. It would be better than having to conform to a life they did not believe in—had not fought for.

Their people had bled enough. Forcing them to embrace the Draga way of life would be a punishment for those who did not wish it.

Kaita’s gaze slid over to the Queen she knew would never force such things if she ever did rule over three kingdoms. Adelina studied the holo map in silence with the rest of them. The weight of their victory lay heavy on her – as did the news they were all so desperately waiting for.

Would Asher send another message or would someone else to relay the news that he was dead and they had lost? There hadn’t been time for the Hand to give them any details, not to mention the risk that the transmission could be intercepted.

Kaita feared for the prince’s life even if she had never met him. He was a capable leader in Adelina’s place and commanded the loyalty of the Draga people just as effectively. Her allies had been there for her and her people when they’d needed it.

Never would she forget that.

Chewing on her lip as she watched the holo, wondering how the battle was going. It was no easy thing to sit here and wait – to find out if Delphine had made it through enemy lines, if any of the other royals had survived, if…Fate forbid it, the Core’s shield had broken and Draga was ravaged and pillaged as Khara had been.

At least they had the true Queen of Draga. She would be safe from that pillaging. Only for her to fight and possibly die in the next phase of this war – an enemy horde on its way to them.

The scientists had confirmed the horde would be at Khara’s border in a week or two. A few days after that they would be on Khara Prime’s doorstep.

Kaita knew they had to take Khara before then. There could be no army or king waiting for that horde. Even if the king were dead they most likely would not stand down. They would have to raze that army to the ground.

But there were innocents…

Another problem for another day.

“We have enough Neprijat ships to silently infiltrate Khara,” Kaita murmured to Nash. “P’draic has written up instructions for the pilots and they’ve been practicing. Between those unholy ships and the pirates we may be able to get most of our forces to the surfaces of our planets. Taking out the Neprijat there would cripple any reinforcements that could take to the skies.”

Nash nodded, studying Khara Prime with his mouth twisted in distaste. She wasn’t sure if it was because of the memories he no doubt had of living in the palace there – the same palace that was now infected. Or was it because he hadn’t been there when his family had been slaughtered?

Like hers had been.

Kaita rolled her shoulders back and tried not to remember what running had been like, those harrowing weeks when they’d desperately fled to the border, praying Draga wouldn’t turn them away.

At the time she’d thought she had been the only living royal, but there were three others now, perhaps more. Kaita had been so relieved to find the Crown had not fallen to her, but now…it seemed like Fate had other plans. She was to wear it whether she liked it or not.

Through blood and victory.

Adelina cocked her head as she studied the numbers and locations. “We need a signal – one you can give without risking your exposure so we know when to advance.”

Kaita was to lead a massive force, hide it among the planets, and tear down the Neprijat from the inside. She was to lead them, most likely to their deaths. Could she stomach it?

Leading people to their deaths was something she’d never wanted. But the end result was worth it. Their home and freedom. It would be her first test as leader she supposed.

“Nash?” Kaita asked. After all, he was the one most experienced with battle despite everything she’d done – all the small battles and skirmishes they’d had getting to Hai.

There had been times Kaita didn’t think they’d make it. So much had been riding on them, on the hope they’d presented. But they’d managed to make it to the Drakesthai and convince them not to murder everyone on sight.

She and Nash had sown the seeds for this alliance. Kaita was proud of that.

The prince looked to her and waited for Kaita to come up with her own answer – reminding her no doubt that he had no plans to rule their home.

At least now the Queen would back her up and help her take back her kingdom, finally. Because Kaita and her people couldn’t do it alone. There was no shame in that. Even the mighty Drakesthai had needed assistance.

Now it was their turn to return the favor.

Kaita tugged her necklace. “When the time comes I will set off the beacon. Nash has its twin.” An old system, one meant for lovers and family. Help. Come find me. I am lost. I need you.

In a universe so vast one needed a beacon to find their loved ones before it was too late.

“The Neprijat won’t be able to track it?” Adelina asked, but there was no fear or accusation in her voice. Only curiosity.

At least this war had done that. They were all close – far closer than they had been in centuries past. They were strong together. Even the Drakesthai had come to trust them. Kaiden’s wings rustled as if he could sense she was thinking about him and his people.

“We have something similar,” Kaiden admitted. “The signal only reacts to its twin. Otherwise it’s invisible to scanners. It cannot be intercepted. It’s why they were so popular.”

Kaita nodded, remembering all the charms that had lit up like a rainbow on her necklace and then went dark before help could reach them. It had been what nearly broke her as she ran. First it had been her parents and then her siblings.

Some beacons had never gone off.

Kaita didn’t know what happened to them. But she had Nash’s. The other two living royals were nestled beside his. The ones that had gone dark had been buried on a moon in Khara before she’d crossed the border.

The ones who had never gone live were on a chain dangling from her belt. Kaita still prayed they would go off one day and she could save whoever was left. But until then she had to save her people. Perhaps a royal or two would be among them.

She tried not to think of what she would do if she was crowned queen and there were no royal families left to rule their planets.

“A transmission, your majesty,” a male murmured.

Adelina’s face went carefully blank. They had no idea what that message would contain, and to hope now would be foolish. After how much they’d lost to retake Hai they could not afford for their tiny flicker of hope to get snuffed out by false expectations.

When Asher appeared there was a flicker of relief on Adelina’s face before she hid it once more.

For a room full of so many the silence was absolute.

“My Queen,” Prince Asher, Hand of the Queen, said with a small bow of his head. “Brogna came to our aid before the Neprijat Army managed to take out all our forces. We were forced to use many of our worldbreakers.”

The prince paused and everyone in that room held their breath as they waited.

“Somehow the Neprijat had hidden nearly half a million warships with countless fighters in our territory. They appeared out of nowhere, but the goal was clear. They intended to sacrifice everything and everyone to keep us from reaching you.” The dark prince’s eyes flickered for a moment.

He was still in his armor, hair in disarray and the sweat on his face ran tracks through the dust and dirt. It looked like he’d had a tussle. No one dared ask why he was so dirty when his warship was intact.

Adelina seemed to drink in the sight of him. “William?” she whispered.

“Alive but we lost Prince Solomon,” Asher said gravely. “Our uncle sacrificed his warship and all its worldbreakers to take out so many of theirs.”

Again he paused and Kaita wondered—feared how close it had been. How many of them were even left?

Then Asher relayed what had happened during the battle. How Delphine made it through the lines, breaking the Neprijat apart so they could surround the forces. But the Neprijat had broken them instead. Then Brogna made it just in time. Scyria had swept the battlefield clean and no Neprijat remained in the Draga System as far as they were aware.

“We are already on our way to the border,” Asher said, but the grim set to his mouth made Kaita’s heart pound. “But we’ve lost half our forces. The worldbreakers are nearly depleted. We must find some other way to take out their warships or we will not win this war.”

Adelina was silent for a moment as she took that in – as they all took that in.

Weapons. They needed a weapon that could take out a Neprijat warship, that could be built quickly and with minimal transportation. How in all the worlds would they find something like that?

“I will find a solution,” Adelina said. “Head to the coordinates given and I will have something for you by then. How long?”

Kaita tried not to gape at the female she’d thought to be no more than some airheaded meek little princess a cycle ago. This female before her was no such thing. She was a force to be reckoned with – she was what turned that flicker of hope from a spark into a flame.

Asher didn’t question her, he simply nodded. “As you wish, my queen. We will be there in two days. And Darius…”

Kaita remembered – the royal guard who’d been possessed. She stiffened as did everyone else.

“He remembers nothing. I apologize for failing to get you more information in that regard.” Asher glared as if he could make the information appear out of thin air.

But Adelina smiled sadly and shook her head. “It was a small chance regardless. Get everyone to the border alive and I hope you bring your best battle plans brother. This next one will not be easy.”

Kaita snorted. As if the others had been, but she supposed in comparison…Kaita blocked out the screaming panic that tried to claw its way up her throat whenever she thought too much about what she was about to do.

One step at a time. That’s how they would get through this.

“Of course,” Asher said. “I look forward to it.”

Then the transmission ended and Kaita chewed on her lip, glancing at Nash again. But he was no longer her superior – not in Khara. It was a hard habit to break. Nash had already yielded to her in his mind if not in reality. So when he turned to look at her, Kaita hid her thoughts and worry from her face.

“Are you ready?” Nash asked.

Adelina turned to her then – everyone did. Kaita made sure her spine was straight and her shoulders back. She lifted her chin just slightly despite her lack of height. Kaita may not be Queen of Khara, but she may be soon. And if Nash and Adelina were going to treat her like the queen, she had to respond in kind.

“We will leave in 12 hours,” she told them. “That’s when the next Neprijat patrol is supposed to fly from Hai to Khara. If Delphine is already on her way she should be here at the border before then. Then she will join me on Khara Prime. We’ve already split up the forces and assigned planets to each legion.”

Adelina nodded in grim approval. “Is there anything I can do—any of us can do to assist you?”

Kaita held the female’s gaze for a long moment – queen to queen.

What that simple offer meant to her – Kaita didn’t let it show on her face, but she knew Adelina could see the depth of her gratitude in her rose-colored eyes. “Once I activate the beacon everything will depend on when you arrive. My people will die if you are one second late. So don’t be late. And perhaps find a way to deal with the horde?”

Kaita tilted her head and gave the other queen a playful smile to hide the real fear and desperation roiling beneath her skin. Everything depended on their allies coming to their aid at the precise moment she needed them.

Would they abandon her like they had the Drakesthai?

The Neprijat may have had a hand in that, but it still made her wonder.

She shoved that thought down deep and was reassured by Adelina’s answering smile. “Of course. May your hunt end in blood and victory, Kaita.”

Even though she was still a princess Kaita bowed only slightly, queen to queen. “May Fate guide your sword,” Kaita said in Kharan – the ancient words rolling over her tongue.

Then she left the makeshift council on an outpost on the edge of the Hai System – so close to home it hurt.

“Twelve hours, eh?” Mak asked when she relayed the information. He scratched the back of his neck and Kaita studied her second while he contemplated everything she’d told him. “You think a weapon like that even exists?”

Fate help him, he looked exhausted. They all did after months on the run – then weeks battling through Draga and then Hai. So much death and destruction. Repairs to armor and warships had been hasty, but thorough. Those weeks on Hai Delta had allowed them to fix much, but the ensuing battle on the border to retake the system – it was as though they were back at the beginning, making sure they had enough fuel to get to their next location while praying nothing broke along the way.

At least now they had allies and help.

Kaita walked through the Neprijat ship she was to take and tried not to scowl at everything. “Yes I think if we were to combine the knowledge of three systems such a weapon could be created. But it’s out of our hands now.”

Mak eyed her warily. “Yes, it is. And Prince Nash is not to join us?”

She shook her head and sat down in the pilot’s chair. Fate had seen fit to make the build of the Neprijat nearly identical to that of her own people. Born of humans once, long ago. Knowing they shared ancestry somehow made it all worse.

Her hands fit on the handles of the steering as if it had been made for her. “No, Prince Nash is engaged to the Queen of Draga now and has ceded his right to rule to me.”

The revelation had been one she’d kept close, but now…the news would quietly spread. “Nash will make sure we are not abandoned. He has my beacon.”

Mak nodded and sat down in the co-pilot’s seat. He would be flying with her plus a small squadron, along with five other Neprijat ships. She was to take Khara Prime. Kaita tried not to shudder at the thought of running into the Neprijat king.

No one had claimed his death for their own, but Adelina had granted it to Nash. Kaita wondered if she would have to fight him for it. But Fate would hand his death to whoever was destined.

There was relief in that knowledge. Fate would see fit that the Neprijat king paid his debt to Khara, whether it was by her hand or Nash’s.

“Is everyone ready?” Kaita asked. Delphine would go with her as well. The rest of the pirate army would be split up among her forces and the other royals’.

Those who’d been with her from the beginning would accompany her. So many had come so far with her and never once had their loyalty wavered. Kaita only hoped she would do that loyalty justice.

“Yes, everything has been packed, repaired, resupplied, and cloaked. Everyone who is to pilot the ships has been trained. They have all been ordered to sleep since we are not sure when we’ll be able to again.”

Kaita nodded. Her natural fire felt a bit dim after so long battling for her freedom, but they were close – near the end. Soon, soon she would be back home. Soon they would free their people and make sure the Neprijat paid for what they had done.

“Twelve more hours, and then we’ll be home,” Kaita murmured, looking out at the stars through the hangar of the outpost. Twelve more hours and they would be in more danger than ever before.

Footsteps on the metal floor had her turning. Kaita was shocked to see the dusky-skinned redhead glaring at her from the ramp. Roxy – Adelina’s genius mechanic, sister-in-law, and the future queen of thieves. “Delphine flies with you?” she asked.

Kaita nodded.

“Then I fly with you.”

Kaita grinned. “Another warrior is always welcome as long as your queen permits it.”

“She does.” Then the female was gone.

Love and loyalty was what would get them through this war. Love for her people – for those who still needed vengeance to put their souls to rest.

Kaita sent a silent promise to Fate. She would make sure the debts were paid.