The rules be damned.

Adelina ran across the balcony for Nash. She slid the last few meters on her knees to avoid any projectiles. Her hands fluttered over him, too frightened to actually touch him as she tried to find where he’d been injured.

“Nash, can you hear me?” she asked. Adelina pushed his hair back to see that his eyes were closed. The blast was bad. His entire shoulder and part of his chest were ruined and burned. A little more to the left and it would have hit his heart.

The panic inside mounted as he remained unconscious. “Nash!” She finally yelled, furious. There was no way in all the hells she would let him leave her right now. “Wake up!” Adelina allowed herself to cup his cheek, the skin smooth and uninjured. Tears pricked her eyes and she felt so helpless.

Alpha turned to the prince once the palace shield was fully secured and tapped his implant. “I need medics to take Prince Nash to the hospital immediately.”

Through all the chaos one voice pierced the din like an arrow to the bulls-eye.

“Enough!” Raena’s voice rang like a bell and it was thick with her dominance. All the power of the Draga genes was laced into those words and they cracked over the mic like lightning. The silence that instantly followed was like answering thunder. “You will cease this madness now,” Raena demanded.

Alpha and Adelina, everyone around them except for the king and Asher flinched at the power, at the weight of her dominance pressing down on them all so strongly their foreheads nearly hit the floor.

“Prince Nash is not the reason for your fear. The Neprijat are. Do not confuse the two. We as a galaxy have been known for our strength!” Thousands of people stared in hushed awe at their crown princess, the heir apparent to all the power of the Draga galaxy. Even Adelina was shocked at the change in her sister. “We are known for our honor and we will fight with teeth and claws for those that are ours!”

Guards arrested rioters with weapons as the others stood dumb-founded at Raena’s magnificence. The transformation made her radiant. Adelina knew it had taken much for her sister to reach this state of being, but she was thankful it occurred when they had needed it the most.

“Will you stand with me? Will you fight with us to keep our people free?” Raena demanded; the question a mere formality. Her form was displayed on the massive vid, livestreamed to the entire Draga galaxy.

Cheers rose and the thick fear dissipated to something more delicious and fierce. Vids of their people on each planet in the Draga galaxy was displayed across the massive display on the balcony, showing the solidarity and loyalty of their people across such vast space.

Satisfied Raena had the people under control Adelina turned back to Nash and held his hand, waiting for the medics to arrive. Bile rose in her throat as she inspected the damage. The small favor was the heat of the blast had cauterized the wound and there wouldn’t be much blood loss. Then people in white coats and pants rushed to her and practically pushed her out of the way as they sealed the wound with a healing device. Some checked his stats and another looked into his sightless eyes.

Adelina watched with growing fear as they said nothing. “Is he going to be all right?” Adelina asked, fearful that even the royal Draga physicians could do nothing.

“We need to move him to the hospital. The male will need surgery for the internal damage and only the head physician is familiar with the differences in the Corinthian makeup,” a female answered.

The medics were purposeful and quick. A hov-gurney was activated and the prince was gently moved. Before she could blink the medics ran into the palace. Adelina stood and looked for Alpha.

Nadyah tugged on her hand. “I will go with you,” she said, pulling Adelina towards the medics.

She didn’t have to be told twice. With Nadyah by her side she would not be breaking Raena’s rules. Adelina was going to that hospital no matter what her sister had to say about it.

They ran, even in heels they moved through the palace with speed and purpose. When they reached the massive hospital Nash was already in surgery and another physician tried to calm Adelina down, explaining the prince was in excellent hands. The male then tried to convince her to retire to her rooms until Adelina bared her teeth at him, explaining in no uncertain terms she would wait as long as she needed to for him to wake up.

After the first hour a set of Corinthian soldiers came to stand guard over their prince. Nadyah watched Adelina nearly pace a trench in the floor from her comfortable chair. She didn’t even bother trying to get Adelina to relax, knowing it was useless.

Adelina’s feet began to hurt after the second hour, but she had too much restless energy to sit down. What were the chances Nash would survive? Would there be damage, and would the physician treat him correctly with the difference in the Corinthian makeup? None of the hospital personnel had ever had to treat a Corinthian for more than a simple headache before. Visitors were not common and Nash’s people tended to stay away from all of Draga’s rules and protocol unless they were in the Draga galaxy for trade.

“Princess?”

Finally.

Adelina turned on the physician so fast the woman took a step back. “Yes, how is he?” Adelina cared more than she ever thought she could. This male had managed to worm his way into her heart and the prospect of that part of her being empty terrified Adelina.

“He is awake and healing. The surgery went well. I doubt there will even be scars.” She looked tired and her smile was pleased.

Adelina looked for the physician’s name and made a mental note to thank her properly at a later point in time. “Take me to him.” Nadyah stood and quickly followed as they were led down winding hallways. The Corinthian guards were close behind but they halted when Adelina glared at them.

“Please give me a few moments alone with him?” she asked as politely as she could. These soldiers could not be allowed to see her weak.

They hesitated, but then nodded.

Adelina hesitated on the threshold. Would Nash even want to see her?

Nadyah pushed her gently. “Go,” she whispered.

The clack of Adelina’s heels on the tile warned him of her presence. Nadyah stood watch in the doorway, giving them as much privacy as she could without breaking Raena’s rule.

Nash turned to Adelina and the smile on his face rid her of any further doubt. Adelina pulled up a chair and sat as close to his bed as she could. “How are you feeling?” she asked. Nerves fluttered in her belly and the draining adrenaline left her shaky and exhausted.

“Better. Your science and medicine is far more advanced than ours,” Nash admitted.

Finally her hands stopped shaking and Adelina felt like crying she was so flooded with relief. The announcement was over, he was officially their ally in the eyes of their people and he was alive despite opposition. Raena had managed to stop a riot with her words alone and the balcony did not explode.

Despite everything it had been a pretty good day.

A tear slipped out and she felt ashamed. Nash frowned and tried to sit up. “What’s wrong?” he demanded.

Adelina stood and pushed him back down as gently as she could, and tried not to stare at the parts of his bare chest that weren’t covered in bandages.

She failed miserably.

“I thought you were going to die,” she admitted.

Gently Nash pulled her to his side on the bed and kissed her so softly Adelina felt as though she would melt. “Nash,” she murmured against his lips, trying to gather her thoughts. “I need to show you something.” She pulled back and slipped her bracelet from her wrist, using her nail to pop out the disc. Adelina handed him the smooth piece of metal with a shaky hand. He would leave the second he could and it would break her.

She switched to his native Kharan tongue to keep the words private. “This is from Varan. He found three princes and princesses. One princess is here in the Draga galaxy, on the planet Seprilles.”

Nash took the disc and simply stared at it.

Adelina took a deep breath and pressed on. “There are two others in the Hai galaxy. I have the cypher to break the code when you are ready for it.” Adelina watched him study the disc with something like disbelief on his face.

When he finally looked at her Nash didn’t seem to know what to say.

“There’s more,” she said as she tried to figure out what he thought.

The disc looked so tiny in his palm, so innocent despite its life altering news.

“King Orion activated Draga’s defense shield. The outposts are powering up and the entire galaxy will be shrouded in a few weeks with only four exits. Once the shield is secured any travel outside the Draga galaxy will need to be approved by the reigning monarch.”

His brow furrowed with a frown. “So if I receive permission to leave in search of my people, the king may not grant my request to return.”

She inclined her head in agreement. “Yes, that is the risk. Raena may also deny you even if you do bring back an army.”

Did Nash understand that if he left they may never see each other again? What was between them was more than just a passing attraction. This news forced him to consider his personal feelings for her as well as his sexual need. Adelina had no idea if they were even there. They’d barely talked about anything regarding matters of the heart. Only the physical pull had been answered. Whatever it was they had between them, it was too soon to really know what it was.

“So what do you need from me on this?” Nash sounded angry, his deep voice barely more than a growl.

Time, she needed more time.

Adelina wondered if Nash felt as confused and conflicted as she. She twisted the fabric of her skirts in her hands as she tried to find the right words. “I am not sure,” she finally said. “I just needed you to know I received that. You had to have the information so you could make your own choice.”

He made a sound of frustration and Adelina looked down at her hands, trying to ease the thundering of her heart in her chest. She didn’t know why she tortured herself. Even if Nash stayed she had to limit their contact. Adelina had to live every day with the knowledge she could be sold into marriage at any moment.

“This is happening too quickly,” Nash protested. “I only have weeks before the entire galaxy is closed off from the rest of the universe?” The twisty, guttural words of his language hit her hard. Adelina winced and prayed no one listened in despite the foreign language. “There isn’t enough time.”

Her heart skipped a beat as she heard him echo her own thoughts.

“Even in the fastest starship it would take me at least a week to reach Seprilles. Where would I go then?” He glared at her as though it were her fault. “The Hai galaxy with the broken dragons?” Nash grabbed her hand and gripped it fiercely while he searched her face for an answer.

No matter how much she wanted to shrink back Adelina held his gaze. Nash was just as lost as ever and he needed her help. “If the intel is correct you would find more of your people there,” Adelina said gently, soothingly.

“And leave you here to deal with the Neprijat alone?” Nash demanded.

Adelina swallowed. She had to stay cool and calm. Nash needed her to balance his anger and fear, and the reaction it had on his protective, predatory nature. “The shield should hold for long enough. I will learn the answer to King Beo’s victory before then.”

The green in his eyes flared for a second and then the red dominated again. “That shield will make this place a tomb. It cuts you off from any ally available. Communications to other galaxies will be limited and travel scarce. It could take months for you to send me a message and once again I would be too late.” Finally Nash’s gaze softened and he reached out to cup her cheek as he looked at her. “I am drawn to you Adelina m’Ella d’Draga. Everything I am demands to protect you at all costs.” Nash pulled her forward until she was curled in his arms and he pressed his forehead against hers in defeat. “We need more time.”

Adelina smiled and held the hand against her face. There was something attractive about a man who could speak his feelings.

“You don’t have to leave right away,” she whispered. “A princess is in this galaxy. We can send word to Hai for confirmation of the other two. We can make time for a proper plan.”

Nash’s hands trembled as he finally released his anger. “I’ll stay for now,” he said. He held her close, like she was the only thing that kept him anchored to this realm, tucking her into his side. “There is something between us isn’t there, something more than attraction?”

His blunt question shook her into honesty. “I believe so, but I do not know what and you know as well as I do that it cannot be.”

Nadyah glanced over her shoulder at them and the courtesan’s devastated look made a tear slide down Adelina’s face. It wasn’t fair, but it was her life.

“I told you, I will get you your choice back whether it is me you love or not.” Nash’s thumb brushed her bottom lip and he bent to kiss her with a gentleness that made Adelina’s breath catch. “But if it was me, whatever you need I will do. I would wait until the stars changed if you asked it of me.”

Those words ruined her.

Tears streamed down her face and she pressed into him, feeling safe and secure in the warmth of his arms with his strong body next to hers. Adelina kissed him like it was the last time. And he returned that kiss with rough possession. Adelina lost herself in the sensation.

Until the stars changed, he had said.

She hoped it didn’t come to that.

* * *