Crown of Draga

by Emma Dean

“I don’t like to be manhandled,” Adelina snapped.

  The yellow and red in Nash’s eyes sparked and he took a step forward and pressed her back against a shelf. His arms planted on either side, effectively trapping her. “Are you sure about that?” he asked, his low voice suggestive.

  The spark of desire settled deep inside her and Adelina tried to ignore it. “You risk both our lives coming here,” she said instead, trying to figure out how to get past him without having to touch him.

  Nash leaned forward, bending so his head was nearly level with hers. Scars trailed up his neck, so white they were nearly invisible; as beautiful as a spider’s web and nearly as delicate. Was that a tattoo? Her eyes widened when she realized how intently he studied her.

  “I was careful, no one saw me.”

  Finally Adelina looked up into his eyes and saw conflict there. He was still angry with her, but he didn’t want to back off. Knowing what she did now, she could pay him back for all the grief he’d given her. There was no risk in playing with him anymore. Nash must have sensed the change somehow because he suddenly looked wary and pulled back, putting distance between them.

  “I came to apologize,” Nash said.

  If he had said he could grow wings and fly that wouldn’t have shocked her as much as those words did. “For what?” Adelina asked.

  He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. She couldn’t help but watch the ripple of muscles. Nash was a gorgeous male, and with his broad shoulders and strength Adelina would have nothing to fear by his side. She cleared her throat to focus. Those thoughts would only drag her down into a special hellish place where she could never really have what she wanted.

  “I want to apologize for assuming you owe me anything. We hardly know each other. Other than my attraction for you we have not had a chance to learn about each other.” His eyes raked over her body and Adelina shivered as she wondered what thoughts were hidden behind those eyes of his. “We have not been able to learn about more than what is on the surface. You know nothing of me and there is much you haven’t confided in me. A kiss does not mean you owe me your secrets.”

  A kiss he said. Adelina knew it had been so much more than that, but she kept her mouth shut.

  “You’ve done nothing more for me than an ally is supposed to,” he continued. “I understand the danger and challenges you’ve faced to uphold that honor, but it does not somehow mean you are mine.”

  His words sounded like a goodbye, and it hurt.

  Adelina knew it was for the best. The two of them should stay apart and not get more entangled than they already were. She’d delivered what he needed. The rest was simple battle tactics she could easily relay through Nadyah. Despite all this she hesitated to release him completely.

  “Right,” she finally said when she realized he expected a response. “You are precisely right.” What else was she supposed to say?

  Nash took another step back as if he didn’t trust her words. “I came to tell you that, and to let you know I will be leaving soon to retrieve Kaita from Seprilles. As soon as my ships are repaired, refueled, and readied I will leave. I am not sure if I’ll be coming back to Draga Terra, or going on to the Hai galaxy while I still can.”

  “You can reach the border before the shield closes?” she asked in disbelief. It was less than a week before their galaxy would be sealed.

  Adelina knew their tech was more advanced, but she hadn’t realized how much more. It took a little less than two weeks to reach the border of their space on an average spaceship. With the fastest starship in the fleet Giselle would barely make it to the border in time to see it seal to the outposts there. The shield would be fully closed in about six days if her calculations were correct.

  Nash only nodded in response. “Do you have any advice before I try to speak with the dragons? I hear they’re violent and cantankerous, but they could be valuable allies in a war where we are outnumbered.” His smile was half-hearted.

  Something bothered the Corinthian prince. Adelina could see it plain as day, but she wasn’t sure what to say or think. He’d apologized and she shouldn’t have been overly surprised. The male had always been chivalrous and respectful despite his hotheaded temper. Nash’s ability to admit when he was wrong was what had endeared him to Adelina in the first place.

  “Well, I’ve learned everything I can of them including their language,” she said. “But a few hundred cycles ago the borders were permanently closed and we don’t know anything after that, at least nothing official.”

  Nash slipped a hand into his pocket and pulled out a strange box. He held it out to her. Adelina glanced between him and the box with suspicion. “What is this?” she asked. Hopefully it wasn’t another gift after the rough road they’d had. It would be too much for her after everything he had just admitted they were not.

  He shrugged and placed both hands in his pockets. Nash glanced over her shoulder and checked to make sure there was still no one even remotely close to their hidden alcove. “It’s all of Varan’s intel on the Drakesthai for the last fifteen cycles. Those are copies. You can keep them. Anything you feel I should know you can relay through someone else such as your guard or courtesan.”

  Adelina’s lips parted as she opened the box and saw all the discs. It had never occurred to her to ask Varan for old information and here the bastard had been sitting on cycles of priceless data. Her lips curled into a snarl. Oh, she would tear into him the next time she laid eyes on him. The damn thief should have handed this over when she’d first requested his help in keeping the alliance together.

  The prince raised an eyebrow and one side of his mouth turned up with a smile. “Are you angry with me?” he asked.

  “No,” Adelina said, her words clipped with irritation. “I’ve been studying the Drakesthai, their culture, and language most of my life and Varan has very competent spies. He withheld this from me.”

  Nash chuckled. “To be fair he was shocked to learn of your true identity, and then he was too busy making sure he would be considered a candidate for your hand.”

  There was no anger in those words despite how much Adelina knew it had bothered him during the coming-of-age party.

  She cocked her head at him. “Something’s changed.”

  Adelina wanted to find out what. She wanted to have an actual conversation with him before he left. She took a step forward and this time the prince held his ground.

  “I’m not sure what you mean,” Nash said. He frowned and she could see his jaw tense at her approach.

  Adelina decided to change the subject. Perhaps she could goad him into talking. “I will be sad to see you leave.” She clasped her hands in front of her and stroked the new gold tattoo with her thumb as she watched him. There was hardly any pain anymore.

  “Will you?”

  Adelina nodded. She couldn’t break his gaze even if she wanted to. “Despite everything I’ve enjoyed your company.”

  Nash narrowed his eyes at her. “Really?”

  All she could do was stare at his lips. What was she getting herself into? This was a mistake. She should stop now before they got in too deep.

  “I wish I could go with you,” she whispered. It wasn’t a lie and it wasn’t because of him either. Adelina wanted out of the palace and off Draga Terra. Her life had become intensely restrictive despite gaining her freedoms as an official adult, and there was Raena’s temper to contend with.

  Suddenly Nash was in her space, the spicy cinnamon swirled around her and made her thoughts fuzzy. He had her pinned against the bookshelf and his face pressed to her neck as he breathed her in. “I missed you,” he murmured.

  Those lips of his brushed against her skin and her heart raced as she burned from his touch. His confession brought the sting of tears to her eyes. Nash had actually missed her? Adelina wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head against his chest. Words wouldn’t come and she didn’t want him to see her cry. She breathed in his confusing and erotic scent that always set her blood b
oiling with need.

  Despite how much her body still needed him, Adelina simply wanted to hold him. Was this goodbye, or was this something else? “How can you miss me when you hardly know me?” Adelina asked.

  She wanted to hear him say the words they’d both been avoiding.

  Nash kissed her neck, trailing his lips down and across her bare collarbone. “I don’t need to know everything about you to know how I feel around you, or to know who you are. I’ve watched you these past few weeks and actions always speak louder than words possibly could.” He pulled back and stared into her eyes. “You are honorable and brave, without knowing anything else that would be enough.”

  His words melted her.

  Adelina opened her mouth to talk and he pressed a finger to her lips. “Let me finish. I was serious when I told you I would get you your freedom back, whether it was me you chose or not. But I want a chance to prove to you I could be the one. If you would take my offer I would move the sun and moons to make it happen.”

  It was too much. Adelina didn’t know what to say or how to react. Now she could finally explore her relationship with him without the mate bond hanging over her head.

  There was only one issue. “What about Raena’s decree?” she asked. Her future queen’s wrath terrified her. There were so many ways she could find out about them. Could Adelina possibly keep Nash a secret?

  Would she be able to uphold her honor and duty to the Crown if she let herself love him?

  “Raena will never find out,” Nash promised. “I have my stealth tech. When we want to simply walk through the gardens or take a ride, all we need to do is make sure there is an escort. The only challenge will be keeping my hands to myself when others are around.” His fingers skimmed her waist and Nash bent to kiss her.

  It was gentle and sweet.

  Adelina lost herself in his scent. She lost herself in the power of his body, and the strength and control he possessed just to keep from accidentally hurting her. Her fingers tangled in his hair, and no matter how dangerous she knew this was, or how easy it would be for anyone to walk by and see them despite the deserted area…her heart thundered in her chest as she tasted him, as she sucked the tip of his tongue and pressed her entire body against his.

  The tingling started in her toes and slowly rose. It was pleasant rather than painful this time and her control was a thousand times better than it had been six months before. Her nails raked the back of his neck with just enough bite for him to notice, but not enough to break the skin. Nash shuddered and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Adelina,” he whispered. The way his husky voice sounded as he said her name, it made her toes curl in her shoes. “Give me a chance. I promise I will respect your secrets. You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to.”

  It was stupid and reckless, but for once Adelina wanted something for herself. “Yes,” she said, kissing him between her words. “I will give you a chance.”

  Nash studied her face in astonishment. “You mean it?”

  A smile broke over Adelina’s face and she couldn’t contain it even if she wanted to.

  “Yes, I mean it.”

  Nash touched a curl in near wonder, as if he couldn’t possibly believe his good luck. It made Adelina’s heart flutter to know how much he cared, even if it was still nothing more than learning why they were so attracted to each other.

  “Will you meet me in my rooms?” she whispered, barely breathing. “We could look at the books my father gave me and perhaps make a plan.”

  Adelina’s nerves made her hands shaky and she pressed the pad of her thumb harder into the new gold seal. She would have to order some tea things so she could keep her hands occupied and off of his delicious body. If she couldn’t resist, at least she had Nadyah’s advice on the matter.

  “I’ll be there,” Nash promised. “And be sure, not a soul will know or see me, Princess.” He kissed her again. Hard enough to bruise and with enough passion Adelina wouldn’t soon forget the way he felt and tasted.

  She watched him disappear right before her eyes. A few moments later his scent was gone.

  Adelina sat down on the nearest chair, next to a table stacked with ancient books. Her fingers brushed her lips as she considered everything this could mean. Adelina couldn’t deny the attraction and the insane desire she felt for the prince.

  Exploring it was only natural. If Raena hadn’t expressly forbidden it and stripped her marriage rights from her Adelina would have every right to see the prince whenever and however she wanted. This was the first time in her life she was explicitly disobeying the Crown and the consequences weighed heavy on her mind.

  It also put the alliance at risk.

  If Raena decided to execute the prince for treason his people could rally against them along with the Neprijat. If they were discovered Adelina could be tried for treason, royal status or no. Were her feelings worth the possible consequences?

  Adelina stared at the wall as she contemplated. Raena could easily change her mind. If Nash did reclaim his kingdom then they would need an ambassador for Khara Prime, as the last emissary was murdered by the Neprijat. A marriage to Khara Prime royalty would solidify a shaky alliance and Adelina knew Giselle refused to marry outside her own choices. If such a choice was even presented to Giselle she would outright refuse.

  There was one other option Adelina hadn’t considered before. Raena could choose Nash as her husband…would he deny her? And if he did, what would she do to him in retaliation?

  Adelina pushed the dark thoughts away. It didn’t matter at the moment. No, she resolved. She would take the gift Mala gave her and learn if the prince was more than a passing flame. She stood on shaky legs and smoothed her dress, knowing when she got to her rooms he would be there waiting.

  Adelina only hoped it would not be strained and awkward.

  A cast to a servant would have the tea and food in her sitting room by the time she arrived. Adelina picked up the books from the secret library. Her feet sped up of their own volition.

  Nash would leave Draga Terra soon. If she wanted to learn what exactly it was between them, this would be her last chance.

  Adelina silently thanked her father for his promise to help her and headed down to the fifth floor.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Nash

  East Wing

  Draga Royal Palace

  Planet Draga Terra

  Nash stood outside Adelina’s doors and hesitated. He had never expected her to forgive his rash stupidity, let alone take the risk to invite him to her sitting room so they could spend some uninterrupted time together. Having a real conversation with Adelina, where she would focus the entirety of her attention on him made his palms sweat.

  What was he, an untested warrior who had never seen the sight of blood before? Nash shook his head in disgust and phased through the wall into Adelina’s sitting room. Nash kept his sight shield up. Until Adelina was there to give him the go ahead it made sense to be cautious.

  He took in the surroundings with a keen eye. The last time he’d been in her rooms they’d been pressed for time. A person’s private space always gave so much insight into their mind, and Adelina had clearly decorated the space. It was simple, but elegant. The true luxury was in the details. The balcony and the carved archway, the gold lattice shutters, and the spidersilk drapes all cost a small fortune on their own.

  Nash wasn’t all that interested in the sitting room though. He walked silently towards her bedroom. It felt very much like spying, but Adelina had sent him here and she must have known he’d be curious. The massive bed in the center of her sleeping space made his mouth water. Nash shoved thoughts of what Adelina would look like naked and waiting for him to the back of his mind.

  Just because she said she’d like to give him a chance did not mean he would have the right to seduce her. The last time they’d gotten close it had made her pull back from him and Nash wasn’t sure they’d make it through a second retreat.

  Something glitt
ered and Nash stepped closer to her massive closet. The space didn’t have a door which was strange. Jewels shimmered on her vanity like forgotten toys. He toed the line, but he didn’t cross into that space. It felt too personal.

  His eyes did skim over the dresses, the shoes, and the tools of her trade. The items she needed to uphold her role as princess. It was rather sterile of her personality even if the items did say something about her. Nash craved to know more, to find out what he could about Adelina.

  Marrying her had been a whim, a means to an end, and a half-formed thought. The attraction to Adelina was real, but the marriage was a promise of salvation. Better him than some awful male she didn’t know, right? Nash smirked. He was such a fool. Now he wanted that marriage more than he’d ever thought possible, or rather the chance to find out if they could have a good one.

  He closed his eyes as a thought of her in the traditional Corinthian wedding gown came to mind. Blessed Fate was trying to ruin him. His control was tenuous already when it came to her. His nature was fierce, protective, and possessive whenever he caught her scent and her rooms were saturated with it. It wasn’t something he’d ever been able to help around her. Adelina triggered his instincts hard.

  A soft noise caught his attention and he turned to inspect the room. The washroom was empty, but there was another door and it was open. He caught movement in the adjoining room before the door in Adelina’s sitting room opened. Nash moved to get a better look and then froze.

  A small, sweet maid backed into the sitting room and the hov-cart of tea and snacks made him smile. Adelina could be adorable in ways he could never anticipate.

  Steps sounded behind him and Nash leapt into the sitting room, whirling around but his nose caught the scent first and he barely kept himself from snarling. Nadyah walked past him, her skirt brushed against the toe of his boot and Nash froze in alarm. Did she know he was there?

  Nadyah didn’t appear to notice and she thanked the maid before escorting her out of the room. Adelina’s delicious scent started to disappear under the stink of courtesan and he bared his teeth even if she couldn’t see him.