Jasmine of Draga

by Emma Dean

  Only a building to scale and four more blocks to get through, she thought sarcastically.

  Thanking Fate for her new strength she picked up speed, yelling orders at her soldiers. Kaita pointed and they scavenged what they could in all the chaos. Despite the tragedy it finally allowed her to gain what she so desperately needed.

  They ducked, tucking into the side of a sturdy looking building. The dome was crumbling and the harsh air whipped all around them. Soon people would start to suffocate, unused to so little oxygen as they panicked and ran from the death and destruction.

  Kaita held the tiny child close as she cried and yelled for her momma. She tried to soothe her, but she had no idea where the parents were or if they’d survived and Kaita wouldn’t leave the little one alone in this madness.

  She threw a helpless look at Mak. The male shrugged and ducked as another blast rained down on them, throwing people against buildings, to the ground, or shattering them to pieces.

  “Do we have a spare mask?” she yelled over the screams of fear and despair.

  A young female held a body, crying as the dust and chemicals entered her lungs. Kaita looked away.

  Mak took out a spare and covered the child’s mouth and nose. “Close your eyes, baby,” Kaita murmured, hoping the child wouldn’t see the gore all around them. “We’ll get you somewhere safe.”

  The child clung to her as Kaita stood and ran hard and fast towards their starships. Gravity wasn’t as dense on Seprilles, and she flew. Another blast had her flying and she held onto the child tightly. A shard of metal tore through her shoulder and pinned her to a building. The little girl screamed as Mak tried to get to them. Blood ran in rivulets down her suit and over the child.

  “Keep your eyes closed,” Kaita said. “We’re almost there.”

  Mak finally reached her and yanked out the metal pinning her to the wall. Kaita fell to the ground, somehow managing to keep from dropping the child. The rest of her soldiers picked themselves up from the ground. Not all of them had made it.

  Then a hair-raising screech bounced off the walls and the sound made her shudder. They were in the city, and the hounds had her blood-scent.

  “Here,” she told her second, shoving the little girl into Mak’s arms. “Get her safely on board. I’ll hold them back while you take a group and fuel up the starships. Have them ready by the time we reach you. It’ll be a hard and fast launch with these assholes on our trail.”

  Mak protested but she screamed out orders and the others dragged him down the street. Kaita turned back to her remaining soldiers and flung off her coat, exposing the plasma swords at her back. She reached up with both hands, grabbed the hilts, and drew the deadly blades. A flick of her finger and the plasma activated. They would cut and burn through just about anything.

  “Get ready,” she warned her people. They hunkered down into crouches, ready to fight bloody and rough. This was not their first experience with the hair-raising monsters.

  With a nasty grin Kaita twirled the shimmering blue blades. Her hair fluttered in the wind and as the monstrous hounds burst through the street in a glittering black mass of limbs and teeth, they scurried over bodies and chunks of buildings.

  Kaita threw her head back and let out a screeching war cry before diving into the slaughter.

  Chapter Two

  Adelina

  The War Council

  Planet Draga Terra

  Adelina stood outside the council room with her hands clasped in front of her. There had been an emergency summons from Raena and she was terrified of the reason for her presence. Alpha was on one side and Nadyah the other. Her guard had fetched her in the midst of studying those discs Varan had given Nash.

  At the thought of Prince Nash her heart constricted in her chest and she had to breathe through the pain. Adelina had no word from him since he’d left Draga Terra three days ago. Such a short time, yet it had felt like an eternity to her.

  Despite the presence of Nadyah, Joslynn, and occasionally Alpha – she felt alone. It had made her anxiety resurface in ways she hadn’t anticipated. Her control was impeccable thanks to Nadyah’s training, but if she let herself think about her sister or Nash and the danger they were in…the danger she could be in if Raena selected Marcel of Ushanov as her husband, or even Prince Ajax.

  Or maybe the jilted male Raena did not choose for her own husband. It would pacify their family to be given at least one princess if not the next queen. That meant Hayden and Alock could be options. Alock would not be so bad, but something about Hayden set off her warning bells. Her instincts told her to run as far as she could from him.

  “What are they waiting for?” Alpha muttered. “Where are Prince William and Prince Asher?”

  “They are already inside,” Nadyah hissed. “They always attend War Councils.”

  Adelina ignored their bickering. Raena would request her presence when she was ready and no sooner.

  Panic rose as her thoughts raced, considering all the terrible reasons she could have been sent for. Had her sister somehow found out that she’d disobeyed her order? Had she learned of Adelina’s relationship with Nash? The anxiety threatened to choke her. Adelina breathed and pushed back the dizziness. The nausea was difficult to ignore, but vertigo was better than difficulty breathing.

  Nash had been a distraction. A wonderful, beautiful distraction she had desperately needed to forget about the reality of her life. Now that he was gone she couldn’t ignore it any longer. And her feelings for him hadn’t dissipated as she thought they might. Perhaps she needed more time, but ever since Nash left she’d felt a bit…empty. Despite the burning purpose she felt to do anything in her power to help her people. There was a piece of her heart missing. She felt it like a hole constantly seeping.

  Adelina only hoped he would find his way back to her soon.

  The studies of the Drakesthai had been helpful and the reason she felt comfortable with her request. She was supposed to make a formal plea to travel as an ambassador the next day, but she supposed she could bring it up during the War Council if there was an opportunity.

  The doors flew open and Caspian looked harried as he ushered her in. Adelina’s heart jumped into her throat, but she slipped on her small smile and let Alpha escort her. Her grip on his arm was tight as she took in the terrified faces around her. The War Council was different than those every day council meetings she attended and her people were inexperienced with war, floundering and struggling.

  King Orion was present, but he looked brittle and hollow compared to the strong male he had been only a few months before. It made her heart ache to see him so sick and weak. The hours they spent in the royal library together were precious, but it was like watching him waste away right in front of her.

  All eyes instantly went to Adelina when Raena motioned for her to stand before the dais.

  Asher and William were seated, even Ian was present. Queen Adele strangely sat in Raena’s chair, and Raena sat in the Queen’s throne…Giselle’s throne was empty and then Adelina’s breath came in short bursts and it was difficult to fully fill her lungs.

  The pounding of her heart grew louder and Adelina felt nerves flutter in her stomach, tightening the muscles in her shoulders and abdomen. Still she held her shoulders back and her chin up. Those eyes around her noted the difference in her appearance with the darker makeup, the black lacquer nails that had become her signature.

  The amethyst swung heavily between her breasts as she took a step. The gauzy white spidersilk of her dress split to show her thigh and the gold heels she wore. The gold torque necklace at her throat was plain, but pure and glittering. The diamonds dangling from her ears were the only other jewels she wore. It was simple, yet elegant. Two more steps and she took a slow, deep breath.

  The hushed silence made Adelina want to curve her shoulders inward, protecting her from the stares and the whispers, from the recorders zooming in on her. Without looking up she curtseyed so low it was nearly an insult. Adelina carefully t
oed that line and held the position.

  “Princess Adelina, you may rise.”

  Raena watched her like a hawk and Adelina tried not to swallow too hard as she clasped her hands before her again.

  “I’m told you have intel on the dragons no one else possesses.”

  It was difficult not to flinch. Who in all the hells had told her?

  “Yes, Crown Princess. I have managed to acquire some intel from the Prince of Thieves.”

  Raena grinned. “I quite like that male. Now, tell me what it is you plan to do with it?”

  Recorders zoomed in, but there was a crackle on the blank screen, one that usually displayed the livestream. It wasn’t allowed in War Council meetings, but it powered to life on its own and every single one of them turned to look at the display as screams and explosions flickered.

  Then there was a hair-raising screech she had only heard once before in her life.

  Adelina felt sick, but she couldn’t look away from the carnage. Those Neprijat hounds tore her people to pieces as they tried to run. A flag fluttered in the wind as glass rained down from the domes. Seprilles – there was an attack on Seprilles.

  The lord and lady of Seprilles jumped to their feet and guards had to hold them back as they pleaded with Raena to do something.

  Adelina looked up at her sister and the look of horror on the Crown Princess’s face was not reassuring. She seemed frozen in shock.

  Asher stood and looked around, as if searching for someone to blame. “Caspian, what is the meaning of this?”

  “Hello princeling.”

  That voice made Adelina shudder and it took everything she had not to vomit. It was the same voice she’d heard on the vid six months ago when the royal family of Khara Prime had been raped and slaughtered for all to witness.

  The voice was dry and crackled. It was a whispering sound of death, and even Asher froze.

  “I am the Neprijat King.”

  The violence and destruction gave way to a male’s face in a room, one Adelina hadn’t seen for six months. Her knees went weak as his eyes found hers. “Goddess, protect me,” she whispered. This wasn’t a recording, this was a transmission. How could they send a transmission so far?

  “My forces are currently stripping the life from Seprilles. Congratulations on your victory with Treon though.” The Neprijat King gave a mocking nod. His skin was so pale, and his hair was so white. His eyes were a deep black, and the contrast disturbed her.

  “What do you want?” Raena snapped.

  Her dominant voice wavered though and Adelina glanced at Asher. The grim look on his face told her he’d felt it as well.

  “I’m here to ask you for your hand in marriage, dear Raena. Make me your King and I will make you my Queen.”

  Raena became white as a sheet.

  The entire council room hushed and Adelina could barely breathe as the recorders sensed the change in emotions and flew around the room in circles, trying to catch everyone’s reaction.

  “If you accept my proposal I will retract my forces and let your people live. If you deny me I will let my hounds finish their feast.”

  Bile rose up and Adelina couldn’t help how her hand held her throat in pure horror and terror. She’d never felt anything like it before. She couldn’t even run. Her feet were frozen to the floor and if the Neprijat King had prowled towards her right then and there she would have done nothing.

  “Crown Princess,” Caspian whispered, reading the display on his shreve. “I’m getting reports corroborating the…King’s statement. Seprilles is asking for aid, and black ships are destroying every outpost they can find. The shield is stuttering. It won’t close if all the outposts in that area have been eradicated.”

  Adelina wanted to collapse, but she looked to Asher. He would know what to do. Her brother took the steps two at a time until he was by her side. Instantly his warmth leached into her and Adelina pressed her shoulder against his.

  “What promise do we have that you will not murder my sister on your wedding night?” Asher demanded. Somehow he managed to glare at the Neprijat King, never once blinking or looking away.

  The King grinned and his mouth was full of sharp, glittering black teeth made for ripping and rending. “None at all.”

  Raena stood slowly and Adelina’s grip on her throat tightened. Mala, please protect her sister.

  “As future queen I cannot accept such an offer,” Raena said. “I’ve already chosen Lord Alock as my future husband and king.”

  Gasps and murmurs. So, Adelina wasn’t the only one who hadn’t known. Had she even made it official with the contracts?

  “But I can offer a marriage to a royal. My sister Adelina just came of age.” Raena waved her arm and the Neprijat King’s smile turned on her, as did the horrified gaze of everyone in that room.

  Adelina dropped to her knees. Her entire body shook and she couldn’t look up. Asher’s hand gripped her shoulder tight and she could hear him snarling through the roar in her head.

  “You dare, Raena?” Asher demanded.

  The Neprijat King chuckled. “As much as I love a good bit of drama, I need a queen not a princess. If you and Giselle are willing to give up your lives for this one to be queen…” The Neprijat shrugged. “Then I’d be happy to marry the quivering princess.”

  Those black eyes narrowed and Adelina gripped Asher’s hand hard enough she heard his bones creak. Could this really be happening, could her sister really have offered her up on a platter for the monster to devour?

  “Are you giving up your life?” the king hissed.

  Raena shuddered, but she squared her shoulders. “I’m sorry we couldn’t come to an accord. It looks like we’ll have to battle for the freedom of my people.”

  The king’s laugh was like crunching, cracking bones and the livestream flickered to nothing but the death screams of their people on Seprilles.

  Raena barked out orders, ordering every available soldier in the outer rim to aid Seprilles and protect the outposts until the shield could close. A transmission was sent to Nash and Adelina flinched. Her Prince accepted his orders and went to protect her people. They didn’t have the tech for long distance vid-chats so even his face was kept from her.

  Never once did Asher leave her side, and she refused to stand.

  The roaring in her head was too much and she had to breathe. She’d expected this, but the reality had been more frightening than she ever could have imagined. The only thing that kept her sane was the reminder of Alpha’s promise. He would kill her before he would ever let the Neprijat take her. And Nash would have torn the universe to pieces to get her back.

  If she was still alive.

  But the monster didn’t want a princess, he wanted a queen.

  Finally she looked up at her sister. Their father looked sick and his face was green. Why didn’t he say anything?

  Maybe Raena was the one who had poisoned their father with the hypomalarya. Adelina despised the thought, but Raena was ruthless now. She was cruel.

  Adelina needed to leave Draga Terra. Her life was at stake.

  It took every ounce of strength she had to get to her feet. Asher helped her and one by one the people in the council went quiet as they watched her push back her shoulders once more and gather up every dreg of dominance and power she possessed.

  “May I propose a strategy?” she asked. Her words were barely a whisper but all could hear her. A skill she’d learned from her courtesan.

  Everyone leaned in to watch and listen. Recorders flitted around like mad.

  Raena frowned at her interruption, but waved for her to continue.

  “The intel I’ve received from the Prince of Thieves has given me an idea. You asked what I plan to do with it. As you know I’ve studied the way of the Drakesthai and their language for many cycles now. I plan to request an alliance with them; it would be prudent given our current situation. And I am not needed, considering the Neprijat King was not interested in my hand in marriage.” She let thos
e last words ring and more than one person flinched at the reminder.

  Adelina let her amethyst eyes blaze with the wolf she felt inside, the one she’d always run from. Her gaze held Raena’s and there was no desire to submit to her sister which was unusual.

  “May I be sent to them as an emissary to request an alliance? With the dragons at our backs we may have a chance to keep the Neprijat from slaughtering us all.”

  Whispers grew at her words.

  “The shield will protect us for now, but it cannot stay up forever,” Adelina pressed.

  She stared at Raena as the nobles murmured, no doubt noticing her ability to stand straight before one who was higher in dominance, and outranked her. Adelina didn’t want to challenge her sister’s rule, but she did need to do something before her entire world shattered at her feet.

  “It is not safe for you to travel,” Raena said. “A royal outside the shield is too much to risk. Your life would be in danger.”

  Rage flickered in her veins and the wolf inside snarled. She didn’t bother to push it back; she let it give her strength as she kept her face carefully blank. Asher took a step away from her as if he could sense it.

  This was not a matter she could afford to give up on. All of Draga was counting on her to make this alliance, whether they knew it or not.

  “What if I were able to bring warriors with me that would not take away from the Royal Army? Prince Varan has enough soldiers and mercenaries to accompany me without appearing as a threat.”

  The livestream showed their meeting, and Adelina wondered who had given access to the War Council or if it was the Neprijat’s hack, she wondered if Raena knew all was being broadcast.

  The Crown Princess was silent as she studied her youngest sister. Adelina breathed and endured the assessing gaze.

  “Caspian, tell me how many speak the Drakesthai tongue?” Raena asked.