by Emma Dean
“I don’t know, my love,” Varan said, voice tight. Then he sighed and stepped closer to her. “Perhaps he meant…his fate would have been much different with a different ruler.”
Adelina felt herself collapse and Varan caught her. He looked down at her with so much fear and pain she reached up with her good hand to caress his cheek. “A sedative?” she asked.
“Yes, Princess,” the physician told her. “It is best if you get some rest. You will feel much better when you awake.”
Adelina wasn’t so sure about that, but she closed her eyes and didn’t try to fight it.
When she awoke the room was dark and she was alone. Adelina rolled over and knew from the feel of the sheets and the lack of smoke on the air that she was in her starship.
Then she sensed him. “How long have you been watching over me?” she asked. Her words were muffled by the pillow and her voice hoarse – as though she’d been screaming in her sleep.
“Since you were put under,” Varan replied from the chair in the corner of the room. “The physician said it would be best and it allowed him the quiet to completely heal your wrist. But I didn’t want you to wake up alone.” His voice was thick and she could have sworn he’d been crying.
Adelina felt her heart break for him. This had been just as terrible for him as it had been for her in a completely different way. “Would you like to come here?” she asked.
Varan was on the bed and holding her before she’d even finished her sentence. He pulled her to his chest and apologized over and over for failing her. Adelina gripped him tight – feeling that bond between them deepen. Just touching him gave her relief and some of her emotional pain eased as he stroked her hair.
“It wasn’t your fault,” she told him. The knot in her throat threatened to choke her. “I should have known it wasn’t Alpha weeks ago. I am the only one to blame.”
“I refuse to let you shoulder the responsibility for this,” Varan growled into her hair, soothingly running his hand up and down her spine – such a contrast to the anger she could feel in him. “You are not the only one who grew up with him. Any one of your siblings should have noticed a difference. And even then…these Neprijat spies were trained to infiltrate and blend in until they are exactly who we think them to be. How could we have possibly known to watch for that?”
Adelina knew he was right, but it didn’t make it hurt less. She still thought perhaps if she’d made the time…but her life had been in danger and her galaxy at war. The Neprijat were crafty enough to know right when to strike – they always had. “We need to find out if there is a way to detect the Neprijat Snatchers,” she said.
“We’ll worry about that tomorrow,” Varan murmured. “How is your wrist feeling?”
She twisted her hand this way and that. There wasn’t even a twinge or a hitch to remind her of what had happened. “It’s better than perfect.”
“Do you feel up to reassuring the other two? Varan asked, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
“They’re here?” she asked, surprised they would wait so long.
“I made them wait in the sitting room. I’m sorry – I couldn’t control myself. You were so vulnerable and my instincts were riding me hard.”
She kissed her husband’s cheek. “Thank you, Varan. It gave me time to gather my thoughts.” Adelina slipped from the bed and grabbed her robe.
There was a hitch in Varan’s breathing. “Lina…are you all right?” he asked, still holding his chest where her head had rested.
Adelina didn’t bother smiling. Varan deserved the truth. “No, I’m not. But I will be, my love.”
He nodded, accepting her answer like he did everything else about her.
Adelina opened the door. Light hurt her eyes and instantly someone adjusted the intensity. When she refocused both Kaiden and Nash were standing in her sitting room, inspecting her from head to toe for injuries or…whatever else they thought could harm her.
“Kaiden,” she said.
The massive winged warrior crossed the room in a blink of an eye and then dropped to his knees before her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his forehead into her chest – that’s how tall he was. Adelina murmured gentle words in the Ancient language and held onto him.
Kaiden was her mate and even without it being permanent she could feel it between them. It healed her even further – taking away some of the pain in her soul. Adelina had to assume the bond did the same for the dragon prince. He sighed and then released her. When he looked up into her eyes she could see the brilliance of the blue clearly for the first time.
“I have duties to attend, but I will be back in a few hours to check on you…if that is all right.”
Adelina nodded and kissed him on the forehead. “I appreciate everything you did for me,” she told him. “You were willing to die for me. I’ll never forget that.”
As Kaiden rose she was struck again by the sheer size of him. He made Nash look normal when they were together. The dragon prince briefly touched her cheek, barely more than a phantom, and then he turned and left her suite.
Then it was just her and Nash.
Adelina felt the muscles in her neck tighten. After their last conversation she didn’t know what he wanted from her now. A confirmation she was still alive?
Nash opened his mouth, but she beat him to it. “Does the fact that I am part courtesan disgust you?” she asked.
The thought hadn’t left her alone since her proposal and explanation. After everything – she was done waiting. Life was too short and precious to waste.
Immediately he closed his mouth and Nash shook his head. “No. It’s not the same with you. You don’t have that wretched scent.” The Corinthian took one step toward her and then stopped.
“Do you still love me, or did you fall in love with Kaita during your travels?” Adelina asked, studying the space still between them. “I would understand if you did. She’s truly a wonder.”
Nash shook his head and took another step closer. “No, I didn’t fall for Kaita. She is like a sister to me.”
Adelina raised her eyebrow, displeased with his half-answer.
“I still love you,” he gritted out, taking one more step. He was so close she had to crane her neck to look up at him, but Nash was careful not to touch her. “I would even say I’m desperately in love with you. The pain I’ve felt over these last few weeks only eases in your presence and I don’t know what to make of it. By all reason I should have left you when I found out about Varan and then lost the fight before I could officially challenge.”
This time Adelina stepped forward so she was pressed up against him. Nash hissed in a breath and she wrapped her arms around his waist. “You could still challenge me.”
He shook his head. “You and Varan are meant for each other.” The words contrasted with his actions as Nash trailed his hands up her arms to rest on her neck, holding her so gently. His thumb stroked her skin and Adelina felt more of her pain ease with his touch. “It would destroy you to be parted from him and I refuse to be the cause of that.”
“So where does that leave us?” she murmured, leaning into his touch.
“I have no idea,” Nash said, his voice husky. His eyes glittered and she could have sworn there was a rim of silver in them. “Right now all I know is this feels perfect and right. Anything more than that…I have no idea what the right choice is Adelina. The proposal – I can’t give you an answer just yet.”
His body language told her so much more than his words. Nash leaned down to breathe her in. “You still have a hint of vanilla,” he murmured, running his nose along her jaw.
Adelina turned her head to take his mouth. She slipped her tongue between Nash’s lips and relished in his groan. The Corinthian prince would be hers. It was only a matter of time and Adelina knew all about waiting – biding her time for the right opportunity.
Her entire life until recently she’d been powerless…and now she held all the power.
Adelina bit
down hard enough to draw blood and then gently licked the wound on his bottom lip. She stepped back and clasped her hands before her. “I completely understand,” she told him. “The proposal doesn’t expire. Take all the time you need.”
Nash rubbed the drop of blood from his lip, stared at the red, and then looked at her with something close to shock – his desire clear by the bulge in his pants. Yes, she was fully aware she’d reclaimed him. The rest was up to him.
She watched him lick his lips and then he bowed. “Please, let me know if I can be of assistance,” Nash said. Then he straightened and left.
When the door slid closed behind him and she was alone once more. Adelina stared at the door for a long time.
Somehow all three males had taken a piece of her pain and she felt – almost normal. There was still the grief and the devastation she’d been too late, but…Adelina felt clearheaded and the pain wasn’t incapacitating or debilitating any longer.
Adelina wondered what else she could accomplish with all three of them by her side.
She still had to court Kaiden and get the test results from Ian for confirmation, but…there was still so much yet to do and for once Adelina didn’t feel anxious about it all. She had Varan and Kaiden and Nadyah to help her. She had people around her she could lean on – who she trusted and relied upon.
Whether Nash accepted her proposal or not – he was still hers and she still had an alliance to uphold.
Though it wasn’t just about the alliance anymore. The Neprijat owed Adelina vengeance for what they’d done and she had every intention of taking it from them.
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Do you like Paranormal Romance?
While you wait for the next Draga Universe release you could check out my other series. I write in a paranormal/shifter romance world when I need a break from all the intensity of Draga. It keeps me refreshed.
Each series is marked like Draga. If it is unmarked it is straight MF romance. But Reverse Harem, and any others will be tagged in the sub-title as well as on the cover.
Blue Mountain Wolf Pack
Alpha Wolf
Wolf Moon
Klamath Mountain Pride
Spotted Her First*
*Standalone Reverse Harem Shifter Romance.
Do you like Space Opera Adventure Romance?
While you wait for the next Draga Universe release you could check out my other series which is a space opera adventure like Star Wars or Killjoys with a slow burn romance.
The two different works are separated by heat levels, but if you do like slow burn romance I’d recommend these written under my non-steamy name, Jillian Ashe. Currently they are only available on Kindle, but will be on all platforms in 2019.
The Wolfegang Series
My Delicate Destruction
Riding on Whispers
When Elements Collide
Far From Safe
Give Me Chaos
Steal the Stars
Feels Like Falling*
*This is a standalone. It can be read before or after the first book in the series. It takes place after Riding on Whispers in the timeline.
Volumes 1-3 Boxset (10% off)
The Wolfegang Archives
Capt. Chase Wolfe
Access Granted
Red Team
Charlie Foxtrot
The Wolfegang
Big Damn Hero
About the Author
About the Author
Emma Dean lives and works in California with her husband and son. She loves romance but needed something different so Draga Court was born. The stories in the Draga Universe have filled the writing schedule through 2019 as well as two new, unrelated series. When she’s not writing she’s reading, or spending time with her family. Writing has given her the best excuse for not folding the laundry ;-)
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