That little bit of extra the royals had been given set them apart in ways peace had made everyone forget. Everyone but the Draga royals.
Adelina had expected it, had known the risk when she played the Wolf, but losing Joslynn had hurt more than anything. More than Alpha telling her it would never work between them. In a time when it felt as though everyone either betrayed or abandoned her, this female’s retreat was like a knife to the heart – already cut open and bleeding, twisting every time Joslynn hadn’t responded to a cast, or avoided her gaze during meetings.
If Joslynn didn’t want to be close friends any longer, Adelina would understand, but she would be devastated. Regardless, she would help Joslynn. Lines had to be drawn because Adelina was tired of the pain. Joslynn had to accept the lines she drew and agree.
“Princess,” Nadyah said in warning.
Adelina looked up and Joslynn was nearly unrecognizable. If her hair and her eyes weren’t the same she’d think it was any common worker in the warehouse. Sirus though looked like a soldier despite his clothes. It was the way he held himself, the way both eyes darted around the room. Adelina was glad he’d kept the scar, it made him look unique and dangerous.
Joslynn looked outright shocked to see Adelina working at a table with nothing but a band covering her breasts. Even that was held up by the chair as the Sealer had cut it in half so he could access the full expanse of her back.
“Why am I here?” Joslynn asked. Then her face went white when she saw Roxy. “Do I know you?”
Roxy glared and flipped her goggles down, ignoring the countess as she worked. It was a legitimate question. Roxy’s warm brown skin was all that set her apart from the countess. They could be sisters, if not twins, apart from that.
“As you can see I’m busy preparing for my departure,” Adelina said, redirecting Joslynn’s attention. That was Roxy’s business and the female wasn’t interested in talking about it. “These are the ships that will take me to the Hai galaxy.”
The Sealer dug into her spine and Adelina had to close her eyes for a moment. Varan stood from his chair and got her a fresh glass of water without a word. She sipped it when he returned and then set it down on the table in front of her. Varan crossed his arms and stayed as close to her as he could without getting in the Sealer’s way. She didn’t blame him with the way Sirus glared about the warehouse. She’d put his fiancé in danger and the male had every right to be annoyed.
Adelina slid the box towards the pair before her. “This is the ring you requested.” It took only a few moments to pack up her tools, remaining gems, and gold.
“You made this?” Sirus demanded, flipping the lid of the box open.
“Per your instructions,” she responded, tilting her head to watch the pair of them.
Joslynn did a fabulous job maintaining eye contact despite the tinge of fear Adelina could smell. Her drab clothes had the scent of Pedranus soil on them.
Adelina smiled wider than necessary and Sirus took a step closer to Joslynn.
The countess’s fear made her wolf angry.
“We will reach the border in four days without additional stops,” Adelina informed them.
“Three,” Roxy corrected. “I’ve improved upon the design.”
“Excellent, three then.”
It was almost cruel how much she enjoyed the way both their mouths dropped open in shock and disbelief.
“How?” Sirus asked.
Adelina shrugged delicately, careful of the Sealer’s work. “Corinthian tech and a brilliant mechanic who’s willing to work her employees to death to fit my timetable.”
Roxy snorted, but didn’t stop working. Nadyah flanked Adelina’s other side, not bothering to offer the pair chairs. Nadyah’s anger flickered and Adelina knew it would be hard for her courtesan to forgive Joslynn for the slight after the Game of the Wolf.
“If I take you to Pedranus you can be there in two days. I cannot help you evacuate, but if you can agree to keep all of this a secret, I don’t see the problem. This is who I am Joslynn, who I really am even though it frightens you. My first duty is to my people and the Crown. The sooner I reach the Hai galaxy the better. You can still be my ally without being my friend.”
It was difficult to figure out exactly what to tell the countess. It would be too much to try and hide it all from her on the trip, or tiptoe around the ravine between them after Joslynn had made every excuse to avoid her since the Games.
“Prince Varan has gathered mercenaries and they will be on my flagship with us,” Adelina told her. “But only the most loyal and trustworthy of them; thieves, mercenaries, assassins, and pirates Joslynn. These are the ones who will be risking their lives for my safety, and the safety of Draga. If you can handle that then you can join us on this trip. The coronation is tomorrow, and then the moment Roxy is finished we will depart.”
Adelina closed her case and leaned forward so the Sealer could finish the bottom of her mark. For whatever reason, the back was nowhere near as bad as her palm or her front. It was almost relaxing once he’d finished along her spine.
“They have all been vetted?” Sirus asked, tucking the box with the rings in his pocket.
“They have,” Varan replied. “Adelina will be meeting with them soon so they may take their oath.”
Her simulcast chimed again. Adelina felt like she was being pulled in a million different directions at once as she read both casts. “The armor has been tested and there will be enough for our soldiers ready in two days. Then the manager will ship out the rest to all the armies of Draga. I’ve put her in charge of all the factories on Draga Terra for the time being,” Adelina informed Varan and Nadyah. “Keep an eye out for that armor. It’s priceless at the moment.”
“Taj has sent enough food for six months, plus the protein cubes, Jael has sent weapons and ammunition.” Nadyah crossed her arms and frowned. “All we have left is to pack.”
Adelina couldn’t take her eyes off the second message from Giselle. “I can’t stay with you tonight Varan. If we can, please move up our timeline? I need to sit with my father. The doctors are saying it’s unlikely he’ll make it through the night.” She closed her eyes and set the simulcast on the table, ignoring Sirus and Joslynn for the moment.
The silence among the sounds of the workers was heavy. No one spoke until the Sealer grunted and tapped her back one last time. Adelina looked up and took the shirt from Nadyah. It was loose and only buttoned once at the back of the neck to keep the fabric off her skin and the gold for a few hours as she healed. The front was loose as well and Adelina felt exposed despite how much it covered.
“I can set up a vid-chat with the warriors,” Varan told her. “After we will do the recording for the pirates, and then you can put on your disguise to see Calix at the Guild.” The thief shrugged. “I don’t think we need you here for anything else.”