Page 42 of Princess of Draga

Those words struck Adelina hard and she slowly let out a breath. Balls, this wascula’tingcomplicated. The library was a vast mountain of information if one were willing to look. The courtesan sub-race had always fascinated her and the mythical mate was rarely spoken of. It never happened. Or it was never declared and recorded, Adelina wasn’t surewhich.

If Varan was truly Nadyah’s mate she would lose her forever to the male. She looked sharply at the thief and he held well under pressure despite having no idea what they spoke of. The prince might love Nadyah and only her, but it was a risk Nadyah could not afford to take at the moment if Jael owned herlife.

“I didn’t know how to tell you how we knew each other because I would have had to tell you I was more than a simple courtesan. The Spider would not allow that and there was a very high chance Varan wouldn’t recognize you despite my presence. He shouldn’t have, but he did and that was my mistake. I gladly take my punishment. I only ask for your mercy.” Nadyah pressed her forehead to the carpet once more and placed her hands flat to the floor, waiting for Adelina todecide.

If she forgave the punishment, the transgression could never be brought up again. Adelina looked at the prince once more and decided it didn’t matter. These two were loyal to their bones. “Swear to me on your goddess Amora the mistake will not be repeated. Swear to me you will be honest with me and keep me informed from here onout.”

“Mia vitae se tya. I swear to Amora and the three-faced goddess it will never happen again. Whatever you desire is mine togive.”

Adelina looked to Giselle and she nodded her approval. “It is done. Justice has beentaken.”

Nadyah looked up in surprise and confusion. “Mistress?”

Adelina was not her Mistress. “Your fear paid the price.” She bent and kissed her courtesan softly, showing her the truth of her words. “Tonight, the price will not be paid with your flesh.” The look of shock, despair, and relief was a curious mix on Nadyah’s face as she rose. Adelina looked to her sister. Only Giselle could move this alongnow.

“Lina darling?” Giselle said, smiling wickedly at hersister.

Relief filled her that she could be Lina once more before the night was through. “Enough of this court nonsense, I need my favor Varan.” She plopped on the chaise next to him and gave him a playful pout as she had a thousand times before when he only knew her as the jeweler. Adelina enjoyed shedding the skin she wore as princess. “Shall we go back downstairs for your wonderful liquor andfood?”

Varan frowned ather.

“Please, when I am dressed as Lina, treat me as Lina. Protocol will be invoked and made obvious if I or Giselle need to act as Princess and anything before then won’t be punished as protocol.” She sighed and made a face at Giselle who rifled through the prince’sdesk.

“I agree. We leave the palace to get away from our titles Varan. Feed us or suffer the consequences.” Giselle pulled out something shiny and held it out to the light. “Is this one ofLina’s?”

Varan dove for it, but Giselle tossed it to Adelina who caught it and inspected the piece. It was the necklace part of a set with matching earrings she was commissioned for months ago. She eyed Varan. He had gone through the guild so she hadn’t known it was him. “Yes, I designed these and made them to the specifications of the order.” She handed the jewels back to the prince and wondered if he had them made for Nadyah or not, and if he had why they were still in hisdesk.

“I will have the servants bring up the food,” he said in exasperation. The cast went out and he stomped his foot on a small impression in the floor. The chaise moved with a panel in the floor and a table and chairs popped up in its place. “Sit, and don’t touch my things.” He glared at Giselle and she shrugged, pushing past him to thetable.

“Males should know better than to withhold food from females.” Giselle took out her shreve and started playing some asinine game as she waited for the servants toarrive.

Adelina’s cloak went over the back of the chair. The night chill couldn’t reach them inside. Events had taken a turn she hadn’t expected and it left her shaken inside. Adelina knew what to do and how to act when required. She could take command even if her natural instincts were to let someone like Giselle tell her what todo.

It made her wonder about what Nash had said regarding his ‘light’ rulers. Did they have someone telling them what actions to take or could they manage on their own with the knowledge and skill they had? It would be an enormous mental shift, but the relationship between the dominant and submissive was a delicate dance. It was as she had said to Nash, she served and whether serving meant protecting or not she had to be flexible. It had to be the same on thereverse.

Adelina tapped her nail against the lacquer of the table, enjoying the clicking sound as she tried to ignore her grumblingstomach.

“I will never withhold food from you again, ladies.” Varan opened his office door with a flourish and servants flooded the room with fragrantdishes.

Giselle dug in as soon as the trays touched the table and mumbled through a mouthful her thanks to the cook. Adelina took a plate and filled it up, but let it sit untouched in front of her while she waited for Varan and Nadyah to take what they wanted. Drinks were poured and she took a small sip from her glass. Varan already knew what she wanted and needed, pressing the matter now wouldn’thelp.

“So,” he said, tossing a bit of food into his mouth. The prince couldn’t stop staring at her and Giselle as if they’d grown two heads. “You two are actual royalty. Can we talk about this for amoment?”

Adelina narrowed her eyes. He was stalling. She tapped a command on her bracelet and her silver-white hair turned back to her own black. The film over her eyes ended the camouflage program and allowed her Draga amethyst to shine though. Varan’s mouth dropped open. “Satisfied?” sheasked.

Giselle didn’t even bother. If Adelina looked like she did under the disguise then it would stand to reason so would Giselle. She activated her programs again and sighed. “As I told Nadyah, when we are dressed as Elle and Lina treat us as such and use those names. Keep this to yourself or Giselle will take matters into her ownhands.”

Giselle grinned a rather terrifying smile at the prince and took a swig of the powerful alcohol. Her sister hated the politics and the game of power, but Adelina had always played it well. Her sister was the force of strength, and she the one to directit.

How it had come down to trusting two relative strangers was beyond Adelina. Cycles of being careful and suddenly it seemed everyone knew their secret. She glanced at her sister, though there was one other who knew, one Giselle hadn’tapproved.

“Can you get the information I requested or not?” Adelina snapped; her patiencethinning.

Nadyah pushed Adelina’s plate towards her in a silent request to eat. Apparently, her attitude was thought to be caused by lack of sustenance. She wasn’t so easily distracted and Adelina needed ananswer.

Varan traced the rim of his glass as he thought. “I think I could get what you need, or at least part of it. The princes and princesses of Khara are scattered to the solar winds. There is a large chance they aren’t even in the Khara galaxy anymore. What you require would be massively expensive. I would need to send out ships to every corner of the known universe. Sending men and women into the Khara galaxy, or the Hai galaxy, would be giving them a death sentence.” The thief shrugged. “Don’t get me wrong, I can always find people willing to throw their lives away for the promise of the right price, but if they return they will want riches beyond their wildestdreams.”

Adelina tapped her fingernail again as she thought. She didn’t have access to the royal treasury and even if she did she wouldn’t spend that kind of gold on a fool’s errand. “You don’t have spies already in those galaxies?” sheasked.

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