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 toed 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.”