Crown of Draga Read online

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Crown of Draga

  the Draga Court series

  Emma Dean

  Jillian Ashe

  CROWN OF DRAGA

  THE DRAGA COURT SERIES

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  Copyright © 2017 by Jillian Ashe as Emma Dean

  ASIN: B075LYSVJY

  This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, locations, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Contents

  Books by Emma Dean

  Dominance

  Houses of Draga

  The Draga Galaxy

  The Khara Galaxy

  The Hai Galaxy

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Do You Like to Be Teased?

  Do you like Space Opera Adventure Romance?

  About the Author

  Books by Emma Dean

  The Draga Court Series

  Princess of Draga

  Crown of Draga

  Jasmine of Draga

  Prequel – Royal Guard of Draga*

  *Can be read as a standalone before or after Princess of Draga.

  Want updates on when the books are released and my progress with them?

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  Dominance

  Each Kalan is born with a scent marker that identifies their level of dominance. There is also a range within each level. Two people who are at the same level, such as the black rose, can have a different amount of dominance.

  The genetic alterations used these scent markers to reflect ability and position in a pack or society like the Ancient wolves.

  *Spicier/muskier means more dominant. Sweeter is more submissive.

  From most dominant to least:

  Black Rose

  Winterflowers

  Orange Blossom

  Lilac

  Jasmine

  Houses of Draga

  Deytis – Barony

  Baron Kace and Baroness Lyria

  Heir – Leo

  Second-born – Lora

  Draga – Royals

  King Orion and Queen Adele

  Heir – Raena

  Second-born – Giselle

  Third-born – Adelina

  Fourth-born – Asher

  Fifth-born – William

  Sixth in line to the throne – Ian, Elara’s son

  Brother to the King – Prince Solomon

  His wife Princess Mara

  First-born – Ajax

  Second-born

  Avvis – Archduchy

  Archduchess Indra and Archduke Chet

  Heir – Hayden

  Second-born – Masha

  Indra’s Sister – Lady Tine

  Her husband Lord Berter

  First-born – Sonya

  Second-born – Hewayn

  Indra’s brother – Lord Keve

  Priea – Marquis

  Marquess Delia and Marquis Greyson

  Heir – Veri

  Second-born – Alock

  Third-born – Cindra

  Cousins – Adam

  Alfonso

  Ushanov – Duchy

  Duchess Odette and Duke Mikel

  Heir – Marcel

  Second-born – Rashad

  Third-born – Raphael

  Pedranus – Count-ship

  Countess Joslynn

  Scyria – Count-ship

  Countess Malaya

  Heir – Anatoly

  His wife – Elena

  Second-born – Peter

  Third-born – Sirus

  Treon – Marquis

  Marquis Peter and Marquess Wendy

  Heir – Lucas

  Second-born – Grady

  Seprilles – Barony

  Baron Jarvis and Baron Romeo and Baroness Leslie

  Heir – Jayden

  Second-born – Rory

  The Draga Galaxy

  The race of Humans living in the Draga galaxy under the Kala sun is called Kalans. Only the ruling family of each planet holds the name Draga, Avvis, etc.

  Planets in the Draga solar system from first to last:

  Deytis – Barony

  Draga Terra – Capitol; Royal Planet

  Avvis – Archduchy

  Priea – Marquis

  Ushanov – Duchy

  Pedranus – Count-ship

  Scyria – Count-ship

  Treon** – Marquis

  Seprilles** – Barony

  **Seprilles and Treon have elliptical orbits around the sun. Half of the cycle one planet is on the border of one side of the galaxy, and the other half is on the opposite border. Twice a year they are closest to each other than any other planet.

  The Khara Galaxy

  Sun – Corinth

  The race of Humans living in the Khara galaxy under the Corinth sun is called the Corinthians.

  Planets in the Khara solar system from first to last:

  Capuli – Panthera House

  Prince Milagros and Princess Lilja alive

  Arcadius – Neofilis House

  Princess Kaita alive

  Khara Prime – Capitol, where the current ruling family resides

  Royals Dead

  Minara – Tigris House

  Prince Valdis alive

  Lithios – Jaguar House

  Princess Svana and Princess Tawney alive

  Leva – Leo House

  Royals Dead. Prince Nash’s home planet

  Kepri – Serval House

  Royals Dead

  The Hai Galaxy

  Sun – Drakesthai

  The race of Humans living in the Hai galaxy under the Drakesthai sun is called the Drakesthai. This does not apply to the Humans who remain Unchanged.

  Planets in the Hai solar system from first to last:

  Anarr – Skye Dragons

  Kuan-Yin – Ruled by the Unchanged

  Imaldi – Ruled by the Unchanged

  Hai Delta – Capitol; Obsidian Dragons

  Tainos – Fyre Dragons

  Argo – Starr Dragons

  Vudu Shaa – Vega Dragons

  Chapter One

  Adelina

  Practice Courtyard

  Draga Royal Palace

  Planet Draga Terra

  “Watch it, Princess!” Nadyah snapped as he
r knife nearly sliced Adelina’s cheek.

  Adelina moved back just in time, the whistling of the sharp blade and the wind on her cheek a warning that she had to focus. Nadyah brought up the second blade so fast Adelina barely had time to block. She needed space to gain perspective. With a kick, Adelina performed a smooth back handspring, all those cycles of dance and self-defense lessons kept her body limber and strong.

  Nadyah’s courtesan fighting arts proved more difficult to learn than Adelina had thought they would be. Alpha was a tough instructor, but he paled in comparison to Nadyah’s vicious demands.

  Her courtesan spun, knives flashing in the morning sun. The whipping whistle warned Adelina just in time to dodge, and then weave. Those sharp blades nicked her practice-wear and sliced through the fabric like butter. The scent of blood filled the air and Adelina rolled just in time to manage only a scratch on her arm.

  “Stop defending and attack!” Nadyah yelled. There was so much frustration in her voice and those sapphire eyes flashed. Then Nadyah moved so fast she was a blur. Adelina barely managed to keep up, her blocks all she could manage.

  The sharp blade nicked her waist and Adelina hissed.

  “Pay attention.” Nadyah was angry.

  It infuriated Adelina. It wasn’t as though she didn’t try her best. Nadyah had cycles upon cycles of practice. With a burst of energy Adelina twisted under the next attack, bending and shoving. Nadyah flipped and landed on her back.

  She didn’t hesitate. Adelina followed through and straddled her courtesan, one knife to her throat and the other to her soft belly.

  They both breathed hard and glared at each other. Adelina was sure she finally had her until Nadyah’s leg came up and wrapped around her in a complicated move, and suddenly Adelina was the one on her back with a knife at her throat.

  Adelina swallowed, feeling the sharpness of the blade just barely break her skin. Blood trickled down her neck. “I yield,” she gasped, chest heaving at the exertion. Adelina was exhausted after only getting a few hours of sleep and it showed.

  “Sloppy,” Nadyah snapped. She stood and Adelina stayed where she was, trying to catch her breath against the hot stone.

  The knives clattered against the floor and Adelina closed her eyes. A mood rode her courtesan hard. She would talk about it when she was ready, but it wasn’t Adelina’s fault she didn’t know much about the fighting style. It had only been a few weeks since they’d started.

  “You need to learn control, without control you will never master the desire. If you cannot master it, you will never be in true control of yourself, and then you will be a slave to instinct.”

  The sharp words felt dull against the heartache Adelina held close. She’d tried to see Prince Nash a few times after his accident, but it had been nearly impossible with Raena watching her so closely. Her only consolation was the reports she kept up with, marking his healing progress. It was so much slower than a Kalan human’s and she’d have thought he could heal himself, but perhaps not. It may be a task only someone else could do.

  “Have you even been doing the breathing exercises I taught you?”

  “You know I have been,” Adelina answered dully, rolling onto her stomach and resting her head on her pillowed arms. It was so nice to lie in the sun and relax.

  “Then why are you breathing like a fish out of water?” Nadyah crossed her arms over her chest, midriff exposed. The woman was pure sex with her loose pants and bare feet.

  Adelina cracked an eye and glared at her courtesan. “Why don’t you tell me what’s really bothering you?” she asked.

  Her question created an instant change in Nadyah. She dropped her arms and her mouth opened to reply before she thought better of it and stopped. Nadyah studied Adelina and then plopped on the ground, legs crossed. With a small shrug, she inspected her nails. “It is of no importance.”

  “If that is true, then it would not be bothering you.” Adelina sighed. “It’s Varan isn’t it, when he asked to escort me to the ball? I know what that means Nadyah.” She made sure her courtesan saw her look of understanding before stripping her top off and closing her eyes again. Adelina let the sun warm her skin; the private courtyard safe from prying eyes.

  “And?” the question was sharp.

  “And I would have to consider a marriage proposal from Varan,” Adelina admitted. “I like and know him. If Raena would accept him as a husband for me, then I would consider the possibility. An alliance with the thief would open doors to the people we’ve never had before. And there are much worse choices than Varan.”

  Varan’s offer to escort Adelina was no small matter, no matter how flippantly he’d asked. It meant the prince of thieves considered asking her to dance during her coming-of-age party. The significance of that wasn’t lost on Adelina. All eligible males who requested a dance began the arduous process of asking for her hand. If she accepted then they would present a diamond for formal consideration.

  No matter what she felt for Nash, Raena still held her marriage rights in her tight fist and Adelina would consider any option she didn’t detest. Varan was a friend, he was someone she knew well and had even toyed with the idea of taking him to her bed over the cycles. She’d decided against it time and again because of their work together.

  There’d only been one night when she’d nearly done it, a night she was feeling particularly lonely and sad about Alpha.

  Adelina looked up at the swaying palms and felt guilty for putting her friend and courtesan in such an uncomfortable position. “If Nash could propose and request my hand formally, I would choose him,” she told Nadyah quietly, throwing an arm over her eyes to hide the tears rimming them. “I will wait for as long as I possibly can before getting married. I will drag it out at every opportunity until I have no other choice, just to give Nash the time to regain his kingdom and convince Raena to rescind her order.”

  If Nash could somehow make their union a requirement for furthering their alliance, perhaps Raena would concede.

  “But as I have no real choice in who I marry, the proposition needs to be considered. Raena asked for my opinion once the requests come in and if Varan is among them…” she trailed off and then forced out the next words, no matter how much they felt like a betrayal. “Varan is the only other male I have feelings of any kind for, and if I could end up with a friend for the rest of my long life and not Lord Marcel, or the Neprijat King I will be more than grateful.”

  Adelina had no control over her future, none at all. If she could sway Raena to a choice she could live with…it would be Mala’s miracle.

  Nadyah’s sharp intake of breath said enough. “I’m sorry, Adelina. Sometimes I forget the restrictions you face.”

  She peered at the courtesan and saw the same heartbreak she was far too familiar with herself. “If you love him,” Adelina said. “Get him scanned. Ask him if he would wait for you to finish out your contracts. Do not make the same mistake I did with Alpha. Had I mentioned a promotion?” Adelina shrugged a shoulder. “Who knows, perhaps we would already be engaged.”

  “What about your own genetics?” Nadyah asked. “Have you gotten the results yet?”

  Adelina rolled onto her back and exposed her bare breasts to Kala. The sun would turn her skin a darker shade of gold and Adelina always liked how the lack of clothing lines looked in her more daring gowns. “I have to go back to have samples taken.” She had been putting it off, terrified to know the truth.

  “You haven’t even had samples taken yet?” Nadyah practically screeched.

  Adelina turned her head and glared at the courtesan. “I’m not sure those in the House of Kismet heard you, perhaps you should say it louder.”

  Her courtesan actually blushed. “I’m sorry, Adelina. Varan has me all out of sorts.” Nadyah crawled over and lay down next to her, taking her own shirt off to sunbathe as well. Those on Draga loved the sun almost as much as the galinas did.

  Adelina couldn’t help but look at her courtesan’s large, perky breasts. Na
dyah’s skin was a rare crème. It was pale enough to worry her. “Should you be so exposed?” Adelina asked. “Won’t the sun burn you?”

  Nadyah turned to her side and propped her head up with a hand, smiling wickedly. “Why, am I making you uncomfortable?”

  Adelina closed her eyes. “No.” It definitely wasn’t making her uncomfortable, but it did make her want to touch those tight little nipples and maybe see what they would taste like. She most definitely understood a male’s obsession with breasts.

  “You need to have those samples taken today, Adelina. I saw you with Nash in the hospital, remember? I understand the attraction, believe me I do.” Nadyah’s husky voice made Adelina look once more.

  The courtesan’s eyes were half-lidded with desire as she looked at Adelina, eyes trailing over her bare breasts, her belly, and lower. “Once you know the truth you can have Nash’s DNA scanned, though I am not sure if the slight differences in our races will affect the results.”

  Nadyah trailed a finger down Adelina’s side and over her waist.

  Thank the goddess for private courtyards. Adelina felt feverish at her touch. There was so much she wanted to do with Nadyah, but hadn’t gotten up the nerve. “Does the mate bond apply to those of the same sex?” she asked, barely breathing.