Page 89 of Heir of Draga

Chapter Twenty-Four

Nadyah

The Royal Eyrie

Planet Hai Delta

Nadyah stood and shook out her skirts after a servant came with instructions from Prince Kaiden to lead them to their suite of rooms. She walked around the pile of tinder no one seemed inclined to talk about. She was still on edge after the horrific display Nash had put on.

Really, she couldn’t believe he’d be so ridiculous.

Roxy followed close and Nadyah felt a bit unsure of their relationship at the moment. They weren’t exactly friends or companions really. Not like her and Adelina were, but they were lovers. Roxy’s dominant instincts were pushing her to stay by Nadyah’s side, to protect her.

Her loyalty was without question, but still Nadyah wondered if Roxy would ever really let her walls down and allow Nadyah and Adelina in all the way.

Even after the incredible sex, Roxy had kept Nadyah at arm’s length. It was a strange situation for Nadyah. She wasn’t used to being in the same living space as a lover – other than Adelina, but Adelina was also her pupil and princess. In any other situation her client would leave and the only time Nadyah would see them again was when they booked her for another day.

When a client came back for more Nadyah was able to really assess them, help them open up until she could find what it was they hid behind their walls. With Roxy it was a constant struggle to get her to open up, and Nadyah truly didn’t think she would be able to.

“You’re really not worried about your wife?” Roxy asked Varan as they walked through the stone corridors; taking flight after flight of spiraling stairs with the contingent of Draga guards close behind them.

Varan didn’t smile. He was more serious than Nadyah had ever seen him before, except perhaps when he’d found out Lina was a princess. He shrugged with his hands in his pockets, still so very much the Prince of Thieves, but with his look slightly elevated. “She is more than capable of handling herself,” Varan said. “And I do not believe one male here would dare harm a hair on her head.”

Nadyah nodded in agreement, assessing the silent servant leading them through the maze of the eyrie. The males seemed to view all females as precious, not just their beloved Drakesthai princesses.

They went up another spiral staircase and despite the chill of the stone castle, Nadyah’s forehead had a sheen of sweat on it from the exercise. No doubt they would be on one of the top floors to make it difficult for them to escape, or move about without being seen. But did these dragons not even possess lifts?

Just then a Drakesthai male darted through the window from the outside, barely sparing them a glance as he disappeared farther into the castle. No, she supposed with wings they didn’t need lifts with the way the eyrie was built.

Finally, the servant stopped before a set of doors. He placed his hand on them and the scan was much like the ones in Draga. Once he keyed in the code he had each of them do the same and handed Varan a slip of paper with the key code on it. “Please, scan Princess Adelina’s hand when she returns so she may have access.”

Varan agreed and took the paper. The servant walked to the nearest window and leapt out, probably finding a quicker route to where he needed to go. Nadyah’s heart stopped as she watched him plummet, but then he rose and banked as graceful as any bird of prey. She doubted she would ever get used to such a thing.

She and Roxy were ushered in by Varan and then he locked the door behind them with the small contingent of guards staying outside in the hall.

Instantly Nadyah inspected the space, pulling out her simulcast. She sent a cast to the servants on The Jasmine requesting a trunk of clothes for each of them. With no clue how long the proceedings would be she was glad she’d already set one aside for everyone.

The main suite reminded her of the waiting room downstairs near the Council’s cavern. Everything was cut from the rock of the mountain: the walls, the fireplace, the windows along the farthest side, carved pillars, and even the dining table rose from the floor. The dining area was set before open doors that led out to a large balcony and Nadyah went to close them against the wind.

Varan pulled out a small device and activated it. It popped up out of his hand and began its scan of the rooms.

Nadyah nodded once in approval, best to be safe before they said anything damning especially when the dragons could speak their language. She never would have thought…did they understand Ilashyan then? She put it on her mental list to test at some point.

There were three rooms attached and even though she and Roxy occasionally had sex she was grateful for her own space. The trip to Hai hadn’t been as difficult as she’d anticipated with newlyweds on board. Nadyah had worried with Adelina’s attention so focused on her husband – as it should be during the honeymoon phase – she would feel depressed or angry.

But thanks to Adelina’s careful handling of the situation and Roxy’s attentions Nadyah felt more settled than she had in a while, more in tune with herself. There was no jealousy and no strange yearning. She was truly happy for the female she loved and the male she had foolishly thought was her mate.

Roxy claimed the room closest to the door and Nadyah claimed the one that was obviously meant for one person as the third room was massive and clearly a master suite. She went in, eyeing the way Varan puttered around the small kitchen space.

She was concerned for him. The fight with Nash had been a success, but something was still off about him and Nadyah let herself absently focus on Varan while she inspected her princess’s room.

The bed was large enough for at least three people or two if one had wings. The closet was smaller than Adelina was used to, but the washroom was decent. Nadyah was surprisingly happy with all the stone. Even the large bathtub was carved from rock, but had running water just like Draga. It was strange to see so much old world charm mixed with real tech.

And the designer had balanced all that rock and stone with velvet and satin and fur. It gave texture and depth to an otherwise monotone space. The jewel tones set off the real jewels and gold that was set into each pillar and every door frame. The gold filigree carved into the windows glittered in the dim red light, making the space feel a bit brighter than it was.

Nadyah had never been outside the Draga Galaxy, but Hai was a fairy tale and a nightmare blended together. The fiery landscape and gloomy atmosphere made it impossible for her to relax completely, but the males weren’t as terrifying as she’d thought they’d be, and the décor was so delicate and gorgeous – so very like the palace on Draga Terra in a way.

Varan strolled into the room and gave it a cursory once over. “No spy tech and the suite is sealed against future attempts. I’ve also set up a few appetizers if you’re hungry.”

---