Nadyah watched Lord Greyson sleep on her massive and luxurious bed. She gently brushed his hair back from his forehead and smiled softly. He was one of her favorite clients, and was always so gentle and sweet to her. Greyson was not as dominant as he liked to pretend but Nadyah found it easy to submit to him – which was what he wanted from her. He was a good lover and never failed to ensure she had just as much pleasure as he. As one of her favorite clients she always made time for him whenever he came to the House of Kismet.

Nadyah was the most highly respected and sought after courtesans on Draga Terra and she had a long list of clients, but who she took on was her choice. Courtesans always chose whom they sold their services to.

It was in her genetic makeup to enjoy her work and Nadyah thrived on the sex. She formed an emotional bond with each of her clients and they all had a small piece of her heart. It couldn’t be helped, it was in her nature. Courtesans were the one sub-race descended from the Ancients – the humans of old – that were neither submissive nor dominant. She was whatever her client needed her to be.

A time-keeper floated above her nightstand, it chimed softly telling her it was midnight. The sun had finally set. Nadyah slid off the dark blue, satin sheets of her bed and padded silently across the plush carpet of her room. She reached for her spidersilk robe as she passed her vanity and wrapped the sheer material around her naked body. A backward glance at Lord Greyson lying on her massive four-poster bed confirmed he was still asleep. The outline of his body through the silk shrouds accentuated his strong shoulders. He was one of the nobility – the Marquise of the planet Priea, and he slept deeply after the hours she’d made him work.

Nadyah slipped into her closet. Beautiful gowns lined the space in various sumptuous fabrics. Shoes and accessories were displayed in a way that caught the eye and allowed her to easily choose combinations to suit her coloring. All of her possessions were gifts from her clients. Her income allowed for such luxuries but it was a point of pride that she wasn’t required to purchase her own accoutrements.

All the way at the back of the massive closet Nadyah slid aside a few garments. Her fingertip pressed into the hidden panel and a small door slid aside noiselessly. Waiting outside the House was the Prince of Thieves. There was still a smidge of purple in the sky and the ocean breeze chilled her. Varan turned to Nadyah and when he met her sapphire gaze her heart clenched and then began to pound in her chest. Those emerald eyes of his glittered playfully.

His broad shoulders always caught her eye without fail and every time she wondered what it would be like to be surrounded by them. Varan’s tanned skin begged to be touched. The roguish smile on his face made her want to slap him even though it tantalized her. Varan was the Prince of Thieves and he had stolen her heart cycles ago. Nadyah held the secret close. He had no idea how she truly felt about him and it would remain that way. She could not afford to put her position in danger.

“Nadyah,” he said softly, taking her hand and dropping a kiss on it. Never once did he stare at her naked form through the sheer spidersilk robe.

She kept her face impassive despite the flutter in her heart and the feel of his lips on her skin. “Greyson is asleep. Be quick, before he wakes.”

Varan grew solemn. He nodded and went to work. His large form grew slinky just like a deadly galina and he slid past her. His arm brushed against her breast and she couldn’t decide if it had been on purpose or an accident.

Regardless the touch left her breathless.

Nadyah watched him work as she leaned against the black velvet wall. There was a reason he was the prince of all the thieves in Stella di Draga – the capitol city of Draga Terra. His fingers were light as they sifted through Lord Greyson’s belongings. The piece of tech in his hand scanned the personal devices for any possible keys and passwords. This small favor to the thief made her uncomfortable, but the stakes were high and he was an excellent source of information.

Varan’s fingers moved to Greyson’s hand and held it gently to be scanned and copied. Nadyah wondered what those light fingers would feel like against her own skin, trailing down her stomach…Warmth spread down her abdomen and set her skin to tingling. She felt her wetness drip onto her thighs and she pressed them together, hoping Varan wouldn’t notice her arousal. Nadyah shook her head. She needed to collect herself because Varan could never be hers.

The Prince of Thieves prowled across the dimly lit room towards her and his eyes flicked down her body and then up again so briefly she wasn’t sure he’d actually done so. “I am finished.” His warm rumble was quieter than the Gentle God of Death.

Nadyah’s nipples tightened against the soft fabric of her robe, obvious to anyone with a set of eyes. Varan didn’t react at all. Nadyah knew he figured it was all part of her job as he brushed by her once more. He couldn’t be more wrong. Varan could see her plain as day and not even a tiny reaction from him. She had wondered if he preferred men for many cycles until she saw him kissing a female in his tavern one night.

Nadyah activated the closet door with a flick of her finger to be safe. It shut behind them silently. “Did you get what you needed?” she asked softly. She couldn’t help herself. Nadyah let her hand reach for his bicep, thick with muscle. She wanted to squeeze but managed to refrain.

The hood over his head cast his face in shadow, but she could still see the emerald of his eyes practically glow in the dark. “I did get everything. Thank you, Mistress Nadyah.” He tucked his scanner in a hidden pocket. “Have you heard? The royal family has sent me an invitation to their ritzy little ball.” His cocky grin did wicked things to her.

Nadyah nearly crossed her arms over her chest, but she decided against it. Let him be teased. “I have not. This is a big step for you.” She gave him a small smile. The royal family didn’t approve of his work as a thief, but they respected him and his position among their people. Varan took care of the citizens of Draga Terra. They were his people too as Varan would say.

“Perhaps I will see you there,” Varan murmured. He tapped her bottom lip gently and then turned to the secret panel in her closet that would lead him outside and towards the ocean.

She placed a delicate hand on her hip and it pulled the sheer fabric tighter across her breasts. Nadyah arched an eyebrow. “My payment, Varan?”

The thief turned back and grinned. Then he prowled towards her. The move was so unexpected she stepped back and he followed until he had her pressed up against the door to her room. Varan planted his hands on either side of her, so close she could smell the spicy scent of winterflowers identifying him as dominant. His legs brushed the outside of hers, effectively trapping her between his well-muscled thighs. She smoldered where he touched her. He made her squirm and her breathing quickened when he leaned in. What in the spider’s name was he doing?

His mouth found hers and he was hungry, voracious.

Her heart pounded harder in her chest and she tried not to moan aloud. He had never kissed her before. It made her want to drag her nails down his back and rip his shirt off so she could show him exactly what skills she possessed. One of his large hands held her face gently and he nibbled on her bottom lip. Liquid fire poured from between her legs in response. She wanted him. She would take him in her closet with a client in the other room, the gods be damned.

His tongue parted her lips and he pressed his large muscled form against her body, allowing her to feel every inch of him. Varan’s hard cock nestled between her thighs and rubbed in exactly the right place. She gasped and something hard, smooth, and round slipped into her mouth.

Varan pulled back with a grin, but it wasn’t the same playful grin it was before. His eyes were too dark and hungry to be playful. “Your payment, milika.” He bowed before he disappeared through the secret door.

Nadyah spit the item into her palm and inspected the perfectly dark sapphire exactly the color of her eyes. Varan had left her burning from the inside out. The sapphire went into her stash and then she opened the door to her bedroom. It was time to wake Lord Greyson and let him ease her frustrations.

Because despite how much she wanted Varan, he was the only person she could not have sex with.

* * *

Mistress Jael – the head of House of Kismet –summoned Nadyah the second Greyson had left sated and with promises of more diamonds.

Nadyah felt nerves coil in the pit of her stomach as she quickly made her way through the opulent House. The thick, blood-red carpets muffled the sound of her slippers and the folds of her spidersilk gown whispered in the early morning silence. The gold embroidery of her dress caught the light of the candles adding to the romantic atmosphere of the House.

Nadyah stopped in front of the double gold-leaf doors that led to Mistress Jael’s study. Mistress Jael was not only the head of one of the most respected and revered courtesan Houses, but she was also the Spider; head of the Spymaster’s Guild and Nadyah was one of her most trusted and skilled spies.

Gently the doors opened as she waved her hand over the pad. The smoky dawn light filled the study. The candles in the Jael’s study were left unlit and the Spymistress was a mere shadow at her desk. “Please sit, darling.” The Spider beckoned towards the velvet chair before the desk. Nadyah sank into the soft fabric without hesitation.

“What is it, Mistress?” Nadyah whispered. A tinge of fear tickled her spine.

Was she speaking to the Mistress of the House or the Spider?

She wondered briefly if Mistress Jael knew of her dealings with the Prince of Thieves. If she did, Nadyah doubted she minded. They all had their sources of information and rarely did the Spider care how the web was woven as long as it brought her the buzzing of flies.

The smoky, silky voice wove through the room as she spoke. “There have been whispers of an assassination brewing; an enemy in the court.”

Fear struck Nadyah hard and fast. Their royal family was in danger? How had she heard nothing until this moment? The Spymistress stood and the rising sun struck her golden hair. It glittered in the morning light. The Spider was forty cycles old but hardly looked a day over twenty. With such an expanded lifespan each person tended to age differently and Jael did it with magnificence.

“I am assigning you to the youngest princess, my little spider. She has finally come of age, twenty cycles old and in need of her training in the bedroom from only the best. You will teach her the camerraleto and ensure the House of Kismet’s reputation is upheld.” The Spymistress glided around her desk, the picture of elegance and grace. Her soft, delicate hand briefly touched Nadyah’s face in affection.

“We must protect the royal family at all costs. You are now officially a royal courtesan, Nadyah. Teach the little princess everything you know about the bedroom arts and make sure to stay close to her. Learn what you can in the palace.”

“The palace, Mistress?” Nadyah was confused. Normally a royal came to the House to be taught.

“After the bombing six months ago, the king and queen have agreed it is safer if you are living in the palace for her training. Princess Adelina will visit the House just once for your initial meeting. They asked me to find their enemy and safeguard their children. You will not be the only little spider in the palace, but you will have the most freedom. Keep a sharp eye out, love.” Mistress Jael bent down and brushed her lips against Nadyah’s and the young courtesan felt the spark between them.

Mistress Jael had spent the last ten cycles as head of the House and rarely took a client. Still, she had not lost her skill. Nadyah knew these touches were platonic and all part of their life as courtesans; born and bred to be sexual. It was in their genetic makeup to be fluid in ways the rest of the races of humanity were not. They could become what society needed them to be to balance out a crowd, or even a small group of people.

It was difficult to forget Jael’s touch when she had been the one to help train Nadyah since the day she was brought to the House of Kismet after her Academy training.

The two of them had been close for a long time and then things had changed when she became Mistress. The distance only grew when Jael became the Spider, but Nadyah was proud of her and perhaps still a little bit in love with her.

Nadyah looked down at her hands as Mistress Jael turned back to her desk and rang a bell. Within seconds a servant arrived and placed a breakfast order for the two of them. The Spider made as much noise as her namesake.

Jael glided to the chair next to Nadyah, graceful and quiet as the dead. Sitting next to her rather than behind her desk meant the formal giving of orders was over.

Curious what Mistress Jael could possibly want to talk about, she waited as Jael remained silent. Nadyah was the subordinate and always the submissive one in Jael’s presence despite both their ability to adjust when needed. Jael looked out the massive windows behind her desk overlooking the ocean. The morning sun was weak and more yellow than its usual orange.

Rich coffee filled the room with its wondrous scent and a servant poured them both cups before placing the pot on the small table between them. Jael picked up the delicate china cup and saucer and sipped the steaming liquid carefully, choosing to drink it black. Nadyah added some sweetener and a dash of milk before drinking her own. It gave her much needed energy after a night with such little sleep.

“When will I begin the youngest princess’s training?” Nadyah finally asked, breaking the silence. She lowered the cup and saucer to her lap.

Her Mistress gave her a wicked smile. “She will arrive after the midday hour tomorrow.”

Nadyah smiled and took another sip of her coffee. It was short notice but she looked forward to the assignment.

The Princess Adelina was a delicate little thing. She was so sweet, so demure, and loved by the people. Her black hair and lovely amethyst eyes made her more pretty than beautiful. With the right guidance she could be gorgeous.

Nadyah had seen her a few times in her life, but never up close. The pics and vids hardly did her justice per the citizens of Draga. Not much was known about this princess except she liked to read. Entire days were spent in the library or the royal study per the Spider’s intel. Nadyah would have to learn more about the princess to properly do both of her jobs.

The servant returned with a small spread of fruit and nutbread. Following protocol Nadyah waited until Jael selected her food first. Her Mistress then set her coffee on the table and pulled a heavy linen card out of her dress pocket. She handed it to Nadyah before selecting a small plate of fruit.

“We have received the invitation to the royal ball. I sent you a cast with my list of approved courtesans. Any not listed may only attend as guests of nobles. I will update you on any contracts that are made. The number of nobles who have already cast their attendance is astonishing. They are coming from all over the galaxy for this.”

Mistress Jael tapped her long, sharp fingernails on the wood arm of the chair. The clicking noise seemed loud in the quiet office. “It was expected of course with all six royal children currently unwed. The most obvious choice is currently Princess Raena with her upcoming coronation. Ah the prospects of being king…” she trailed off as she contemplated.

“Will the male who marries Princess Raena be King, or Prince Consort?” Nadyah inquired. It was an important distinction.

“He will be called King Consort,” Jael confirmed. “Although from what I’ve seen of the contract his power will be very limited.”

“Has the royal family mentioned who they’re considering?” Nadyah took a small bite of warm bread and tried to keep the look of bliss off her face. The House cooks could not be rivaled.

Suddenly Nadyah was aware of the intense sexuality the Spider exuded as she leaned back in her chair, pushing her breasts out. She kept it contained mostly, but when she relaxed she became exactly what she was. Nadyah felt a flare in her belly and swallowed hard.

“So far Lord Hayden is favored to keep the peace between the families, but you know as well as I that it can be any of the nobles,” Jael said. “The crown princess will be the one who has the last say though. Personally, I favor Ajax, but if Raena wanted him she would have proposed already. He’s lived at court for a few cycles now.”

Nadyah agreed. Ajax was a fantastic warrior and extremely handsome. He frequented the House enough they all knew of him, but he was also a cousin. It wasn’t outlawed, but there were so many other options.

Please Mistress, will you send me a list of the nobles traveling for the ball?”

“It has already been done.” The Spider set her food down and stretched luxuriously; a smile on her face as though she had caught a particularly tasty fly.

“Enjoy the palace dear one, and please say hello to Elara for me. She’s done well as the official mistress of the King, but I still miss having her at the House.” Jael stood and her spidersilk dress became nearly see-through in the sun’s light. Her fingertips brushed Nadyah’s shoulders as she sashayed towards her desk.

“I will, Mistress.”

Nadyah made sure there were no crumbs on her lap before she stood and curtseyed. Jael was already busy looking through her correspondence. When the Spider gave her a nod she left the office as silently as she could.

The time at the palace would be a good distraction for her. It would be a breath of fresh air and allow her the rare opportunity to gain some distance from this life—and Varan.