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Asher would be there by morning – only a few hours away. Adelina had waited all night to hear from them.
Were they all right?
Vitto rushed into the solar and gave her a nod, tossing an encrypted shreve to her. “The king consort has sent a transmission requesting to speak with you.”
Adelina caught it without looking and let out a breath slowly. So Varan was alive. At least there was that. She placed her golden palm on the shreve, unlocking it. A moment later Varan’s beautiful face appeared.
“Hello love,” he murmured, drinking in the sight of her.
She blinked back tears and just waited, needing the answer, but not trusting herself to ask without breaking.
The vid moved and then she saw Kaiden and Nash behind Varan.
Adelina drew in a shaky breath and closed her eyes as she let the knowledge that all three of her mates were alive and well settle. Then she opened them, glaring at Varan. “What took so damn long I thought you weredead, dear husband?”
A strange chuckle that didn’t come from any of her mates came over the transmission and both Nadyah and Ian stiffened at the somewhat familiar sound.
“It seems there is something more important to be discussed,” Adelina stated. “Your punishment for worrying me sick will have to be decided later.” She flicked the vid to the large window with Vudu Shaa visible in the background.
Varan’s grin widened and Adelina took a seat next to Nadyah, shoving down her fear and irritation. Instincts told her she was needed as queen at the moment, not wife or lover.
Her king consort placed the simulcast up on something and then stepped back so Adelina could clearly view the scene. She stiffened when a Neprijat bound to a chair came into the frame.
Adelina clasped her hands in her lap and made sure her shoulders were back. Thank the Goddess she still wore the crown she’d had on from the meeting with the Unchanged.
“Nash will explain,” Varan said, stepping back even farther to give the Corinthian prince room.
Something had changed, Adelina realized as she flicked her gaze to each of them – the males she loved so desperately. They seemed more cohesive. The three of them were working as one. She hid a smile and gave Nash a nod to explain.
“This is Sozav,” Nash said without a hint of disgust coloring his words. “He and other Neprijat have been squirreling away factories, weapons, and supplies. For you.”
Vitto spilled the tea he was pouring at the words and apologized profusely. Adelina waved off his apology – most would have done the same.
She narrowed her eyes.
The Neprijat kept his gaze down on the floor, but he didn’t look afraid. He didn’t appear vicious and violent either. He wasn’t trying to get free of the bonds.
But more than anything it was Nash who convinced her that at least this one Neprijat male meant her and her people no harm. Not only had her Corinthian referred to him as a ‘he’ instead of an ‘it,’ Nash had spoken his name.
“Elaborate,” she ordered.
So they did. And while they spoke Adelina watched each of them closely. Once she was satisfied with what her mates truly thought on the matter she fixed her gaze on the Neprijat, Sozav.
“Look at me,” she ordered, cutting off Kaiden’s explanation about the factory being reported abandoned incorrectly.
Sozav slowly lifted his gaze and met her amethyst one. He didn’t flinch, but she could tell he was uncomfortable. Those endless black eyes held more life than she’d ever seen from her enemy. The one she’d interrogated had only despair. This one though…
“What do you want from me?” Adelina demanded, ignoring the way Ian and Nadyah shifted uncomfortably.
Neither of them wanted her to entertain this idea but she was desperate.
And then there was the matter of what she’d told the Unchanged. Adelina had already decided to take the Neprijat system for her own. The Three-faced Goddess must have heard her and delivered this opportunity.
Now Adelina would have to prove she was worthy of the favor and assistance. Her first test would be to convince Ian and Nadyah that this idea was a good one. Then Asher and Veri.
She could do this.
“My queen,” Sozav murmured, bowing his head.
