Page 28 of Heir of Draga

Varan would do anything and everything in his power to keep them all alive for Adelina’s sake.

“Are all of you ready?” Nadyah asked, poking her head into the dressing room. Varan didn’t miss her glance toward Ian.

Varan smiled at her and was relieved to see how happy she looked. They’d managed to come back to some kind of friendship due to their vested interest in Adelina, all the plans for the trip, and Nadyah was truly glad to see the both of them happy. Something had happened to her he couldn’t explain in the interim, but whatever it was he was thankful for it.

“My bride?” he asked.

“Oh, she was ready ages before all you peacocks,” Nadyah teased. “Now Varan, come with me to the dais. Everything starts in five minutes. You all know the cues. I’ll be back before it’s my turn to walk.” Again her eyes strayed toward Ian.

The three Draga princes nodded and gave Varan encouraging smiles, even Asher.

Now that the moment was upon him Varan’s heart raced. There were no doubts or regrets, but he did wonder how the galaxy would take a thief as their official prince.

Varan grinned at Nadyah and slipped his hands into his pockets, and bumped her shoulder gently with his as they walked. “You and the prince?”

Nadyah blushed furiously. “It’s none of your concern, Varan.”

“It’s not.” He couldn’t stop grinning. She would be perfect for the quiet male who locked himself in his labs even if they were only friends, but he had a sneaking suspicion it was more than that. His instinct was almost never wrong.

“Don’t say anything.”

“Of course not. And you’re all right…with everything?” he asked.

“It is better this way,” she murmured as they stepped outside. “For everyone. I know things were heated between us for a while, but there was no real future for us. This future you have before you – it is what you were born for Varan.”

Nadyah looked up at him and Varan paused. The setting sun cast a rainbow of colors on the cream-white stones of the courtyard, the two moons bright in their dim part of the sky. The thief and the courtesan had danced around each other for a bit, but he was as relieved as she they’d never taken that final step into a courtship. There would have been only heartbreak for them.

Even without knowing about mate bonds, Varan knew as the prince of thieves a courtesan would never marry him. Not because of his title, but because of hers. The breakup would have been disastrous.

Varan tried not to see how many people waited in the seats, in the courtyard, spilling out into the outer courtyard and all the way to the first circle of Stella di Draga. Adelina had insisted everyone be invited to the actual wedding, seats and standing room by rank. “You truly think the people will accept me after my well-known history?”

The whole ceremony and celebration would be on the livestream. And his bride had invited his entire court to this ball with the promise they behaved themselves. It was the first step toward the blending of their two worlds.

“I know they will for her, Varan. Now don’t mess this up or I’ll gut you myself. You know the words in the Ancient tongue?”

They stopped just behind the dais, hidden from as many people as possible but he could still hear the recorders flitting about, the nosy things.

“I’ve memorized them, Mistress. I promise this will go smoothly on my end.” He hesitated for a moment. “She’s not regretting this is she?”

It was unlikely Nadyah would tell him the truth, but it was something he needed to hear.

Her face softened and she placed a gentle hand on his cheek. “No she’s not regretting it at all, my friend. You two will be fine. I know it. But she did tell me to warn you her spiders will be in the ballroom as before.”

Varan smiled despite his dislike for the creatures. “Anything for her. Now go before we’re late.”

He watched Nadyah slip back into the palace for the wedding and then squared his shoulders. Varan took the stairs up and onto the main dais before thousands of people and countless recorders. He felt a bit ridiculous in his outfit, but knew it was what his soon-to-be-wife had requested and he could deny her nothing.

Then the music started and he stood to the left – the submissive position.

Pounding drums, wailing violins, and eerie flutes filled the space. Whether it was a live performance or not Varan didn’t know. His eyes were glued to the main doors of the palace – the place where she would come from.

The anticipation built and Varan felt light-headed. Never had he been so nervous, so full of expectation and longing. He wished the ceremony could be over and done with already. All this formality was chafing because all he wanted was Adelina. But for her he would wear the flashy outfit and swear whatever oath she asked of him.

Because at the end of it all she would be his. Varan would always be her first husband, and there was something intensely satisfying about that.

William exited the palace first with Roxy and Varan had to grin. His friend and adopted sister was as graceful and elegant as any noble with her stern expression and exotic beauty. Adelina had dressed her in scarlet red, so suiting for the fiery female.

The dress colors Adelina chose were a fabulous contrast to all the black roses. There wasn’t a red one to be seen. The thick spicy scent filled the courtyard with the roses covering the palace, the inner courtyard, and placed strategically from the temple to the ballroom where they would walk after the ceremony.

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