Page 43 of Princess of Draga

Varan took a bite and grinned at her. “Oh I do, I was simply testingyou.”

The playful banter eased the tension between her shoulders and she smiled briefly in acknowledgement of the kindness. This was the man she knew and loved. “The information could be retrievedsecurely?”

The Prince of Thieves stared at nothing as his mind worked through all the possibilities. This was no easy task no matter how it was done. The need for gold was still there, but it wouldn’t cost as much as Varan claimed. Adelina had her personal income she could tap into and it was substantial. She would have to ask Nash if he had anything tospare.

Nadyah reached for more food and filled her plate a second time. “Adelina, if you don’t eat I will force-feedyou.”

Adelina glared at her courtesan who glared right back. Not willing to test it she put a small piece in her mouth andchewed.

This was no easy matter. Say they found the Corinthian princes and princesses, how would they then get them to safety? Moving them would be a risk. The Neprijat had conquered galaxies before; they knew what they weredoing.

There were whispers that the Hai galaxy had fallen before Khara, and Draga had been willing to ignore it all as long as they were left alone. Those whispers had been the catalyst that had Adelina gathering her own intel on the matter. Once she started Adelina realized how much she enjoyed it. Raena would be queen, and if she did nothing against this threat they were alldoomed.

“What about the Spider’s contacts?” Adelina asked Nadyah. This was a whole new avenue she hadn’t thought she had access to. “Does her web extend to Khara andbeyond?”

Nadyah shrugged. “I only know as much as she tells me and what I can scrounge from her shreve when she isn’t looking. What she leaves for me to find is most definitely calculated. I know she has spiderlings on Khara Prime and a few of the other planets, but I do not know what became of them once the Neprijat took over. The Hai galaxy though? They’ve been under Neprijat rule for a few cycles now. I don’t know more than that, and we weren’t even aware of that until whispers started spreading like wildfire about the monsters headed ourway.”

Adelina tossed back the alcohol and let the sharp burn clear her thoughts. “Great-Grandfather fought those monsters back two hundred cycles ago?” she asked Giselle. Her sister studied battles like Adelina studied the movements of theirnobles.

Giselle nodded and pushed her empty plate back in satisfaction. “Varan, I may very well steal your cook for thepalace.”

He glared at her and crossed his arms. “I dare youto.”

She laughed and laced her fingers over her full belly. “Great-Grandfather fought the Neprijat back to wherever they came from about two hundred cycles ago or more. He saved us from that destruction, but there are planets that still have winterflowers that bloom red instead of white. We lost so many warriors to their monsters. This is all that’s written, but so much of it was fantastical no one really believed it was as told. The monsters became legend, a scary tale to tell naughtychildren.”

Adelina shuddered as she remembered the first time her sisters had told scary stories at night. She couldn’t sleep for a week. “Where did they go after that? Have they been hiding this entire time? How did he get them to leave?” There were so many questions she feared they needed the answers to andfast.

Giselle frowned. “The texts don’t say, but there is a lot in that library of ours. If you’d like Lina we can make a project of it, and see what we can find. There has to be something in our history, maybe even in King Beo’s tomb or thestudy?”

She nodded. “We can dothat.”

“I will see what I can find out from the Spider. The wording will have to be as careful as possible, though she favors you for the lost prince,” Nadyah said with an inclination of her head in Adelina’sdirection.

Her face flushed with heat and Adelina had no thought to reply. Her finger stilled and she glanced at Varan who wisely kept his face blank as he ate slowly. The Spider wanted her to court Prince Nash? She was already wildly attracted to him, but doubted he felt even remotely similar. Now that the Spider was behind the idea she wasn’t so sure it’s what shewanted.

Courting Prince Nash was practically out of the question for her regardless. Raena would never approve the marriage. It was too much of a risk with his being deposed and trying to get his kingdomback…

“Then she won’t be suspicious as to my inquiries,” Adelina finallymanaged.

Giselle’s eyes laughed at her though she kept a straight face. Adelina gave her sister a look that warned her off the subject. This was not something she wanted to discuss, or even consider withanyone.

“I will see what I can find of the princes and princesses of Khara. It won’t be a quick matter to verify them all,” Varan warned. “The other information will be easy enough to obtain. I will be sure to let you know when the debt has been paid. A payment, after all this is said and done, may berequired.”

Adelina stood. Her full plate was practically untouched. She felt too worked up and the nerves settled into a knot in her stomach. “Remember I can pay in favors as well as gold and gems.” She gave the prince a brief kiss and looked at her courtesan. “Stay and speak with him. Ensure he understands the importance of this secret,” she ordered inIlashyan.

Nadyah nodded as Gisellestood.

“Are we going to have some fun at last?” Giselle asked, taking another drink of the liquor. Her sister smiled and walked to the door with a swagger that had no intention of going home beforedawn.

Adelina wrapped her cloak around her neck and fastened it. She shook her head. “I am going to head back to the palace. I need to think. After all I have to be up when the sun rises in a few hours. I have my party to oversee.” She gave a wink to Varan and left with hersister.

Giselle hopped down the stairs with nimble grace despite the amount of liquor she had consumed. “Are you really going back to the palace already?” sheasked.

The two of them left the massive courtyard, shoulders pressed against one another. Giselle walked with her to the tunnel entrance, allowing her the silence. “I need to think, Elle. There is a lot to digest. Strategies need to be made. There will be a war, and Draga is not prepared. How are we going to convinceRae?”

The stars glittered against the dark night and groups of people passed them, laughing and chatting without a care in the world. Giselle crossed her arms and stared soberly at Adelina. “I am a warrior. I will protect what ismine.”

Adelina shook her head. “I don’t doubt that for a second. But will Rae be ready and willing to protect against a threat she doesn’t believe is there? She is so wrapped up in the crown and good impressions. Mother is forcing her attention to marriage and not the safety of ourpeople.”

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