Prince Kaiden caught up to them and then led her and Nash’s group to a room that was well furnished. It appeared to be some sort of fancy waiting area. “I will get you those files now Princess Adelina, while the Council discusses their options. I doubt you will have an answer before tomorrow. In the meantime you will be served lunch while rooms are set up for your people. Please, give me numbers and I will have it done.”

Adelina glanced at Varan, and then Roxy and Nadyah. The engineer surprised her when she nodded in agreement. She would stay in the castle then and not the ship. “Just three rooms, and please have them attach if at all possible. The rest of my warriors and crew will stay on my starships. My guards will rotate and head back to the ship when their shift is complete.”

Kaiden nodded and then left them. It was a strange contrast to when Nash had been welcomed on Draga Terra. Kaiden didn’t ask to vet her guards or her warriors. They hadn’t even asked about the Ravager which clearly did not match with her armada. Adelina wasn’t sure what to make of it.

She turned to inspect the room they’d been thrust into, hiding them from curious Drakesthai eyes. Adelina purposefully ignored Nash so she could figure out what to say.

This room was also made of rock. The entire eyrie was actually the mountain and its various caves and caverns. Only some of the outside had been carved into turrets and towers and ramparts. It was oddly beautiful if a bit cold.

A fire raged in a massive, ornate gold fireplace with strange winged and scaled carvings. Jewels set into the stone glittered in the warm light. Adelina’s gaze inspected the velvet and satin couches and armchairs in deep jewel tones of sapphire and emerald and ruby.

The door slid open right when Nash opened his mouth. A servant set out food and drinks on a dining table and then disappeared. Adelina noted the male and his wings. The second he disappeared she smiled at Kaita.

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, I’m Princess Adelina.” She stepped forward and gave Kaita the traditional kiss of greeting just to put the other female on unsteady ground. “I am relieved to see you are alive and well.”

Kaita glared and yanked back, but she didn’t say anything rude. “Yes, and I’m sure you know I’m Princess Kaita.”

Adelina introduced Varan, Nadyah, and Roxy. Then she sat down on an armchair and finally looked at Nash.

The room was tense, stifling, and awkward. Adelina would give anything to leave, but she had to see this through. Nash had to hear everything. She only hoped he would listen and it wouldn’t be their end.

“I’m truly happy to see you, Nash. Please, sit.”

Nadyah was the first to sit on the couch near Adelina, and Roxy sat as close to the courtesan as possible. Varan pulled an armchair closer to hers and then slumped into it, lounging in that way of his.

Kaita glared at every single one of them. Adelina didn’t know why the female didn’t like them, or what Nash had told her. Perhaps the warrior princess simply didn’t like Kalans after her time spent on Seprilles. But she finally sat on the edge of the opposite couch so she wouldn’t be required to take off her blades.

Nash sat as well, but he didn’t look happy about it. He kept glancing at Kaita, and Adelina wondered what she’d missed while he was away on his mission. When he wasn’t looking to his princess his gaze flicked between her and Varan. There didn’t seem to be much pain in his expression, mainly anger and betrayal.

Nadyah and Roxy looked so innocuous together, so easy to overlook, but that’s why they were backup. Everyone had prepared for this reunion in one way or another. Even Adelina. It was why she’d been training with Varan and Nadyah, flexing her newfound dominance like a muscle until she could use it when she needed like Raena had during the riots.

The anxiety she could feel from Varan was well hidden, but Adelina had courtesan genes. She could read everyone in the room like a book and she clenched her teeth as she smiled pleasantly at Nash, waiting for the coming explosion.

“It seems much has changed since I left Draga Terra,” Nash finally said, crossing his arms over his chest, making his muscles bulge. “Care to explain?”

Internally Adelina sighed. Goddess, why did he have to be so gorgeous and also so bull-headed?

Varan bristled beside her and sat up, but she was the one who snapped. “Not that I owe you an explanation, Prince, but we both knew this was a possibility, that Raena – goddess protect her soul – would force me to marry. I’m sure you saw her offer me to the Neprijat.”

Adelina stood then, flexing her claws and ignoring the way Kaita tensed. She had too much restless energy with the wolf still so close to the surface. Working it off was imperative to a civil conversation. “There were situations beyond my control, and as such I set things into motion to allow myself to regain that control. When I asked Varan to officially request my hand I was not prepared to fall in love with him. But I did. That does not mean I don’t love you.”

Nash practically growled at her words, obviously disbelieving.

“Before you say something you’ll regret,” Adelina cut in. She stopped next to Varan’s chair and placed her hand on his shoulder. “We’d like to make an official proposal for your hand in marriage.” Varan nodded at her words, but she could still feel how tense he was.

One could hear a pin drop in the silence that followed.

Kaita’s mouth dropped open in shock as did Nash’s. His arms fell to his sides and he looked to Varan as though she may be making some ridiculous jest at his expense. The serious expression on Nadyah, Roxy, and Varan’s faces made the blood drain from his face.

“How can you possibly be okay with this?” Nash demanded, jumping to his feet.

Adelina was irked he addressed her husband instead of her, but they’d all known it would come down to this. She took a step to the side as Varan slowly got to his feet with that lazy smile she adored so much.

“I’m okay with it mate, because I love her. And she loves you though I’m having a hard time seeing why at the moment.”

Adelina rolled her eyes at those last words. Varan hadn’t needed to goad Nash into a fight.

It was no surprise when Nash charged. Varan was up and out of his chair in the blink of an eye. Adelina watched warily as Nash tried to get ahold of Varan, but her husband was quick. She took another step back to give them space and clasped her hands behind her back.

This needed to happen. Nash had to vent his frustration and Varan needed to prove his strength and dominance as first husband. But that didn’t mean Adelina had to like it. She especially didn’t like the way Nash grabbed Varan’s arm and twisted it behind his back hard enough she worried he would dislocate his shoulder.

The instincts to step in and protect Varan were nearly impossible to resist. Adelina felt her canines prick her bottom lip, and her sharp nails stung against her palm, but she was careful not to break the skin.

The males crashed into the low table in the center of the room, shattering the wood. The sounds of fists and grunts and general curses filled the room and still no one moved. Every female waited to see what would happen, even Kaita.

In Khara a male could challenge the husband and if he won, then he earned the right to the female if he killed said husband.

It was a fine line to tread. The two needed this, but Nash could not officially challenge Varan. Adelina would lose out either way if that were to happen which is why she watched closely as Nash smashed Varan into a wall, her weight on the balls of her feet.

Varan ducked out and punched Nash in the ribs a few times in rapid succession before spinning and punching his kidneys. Nash was slower and Varan was so quick on his feet. His new strength showed when Nash staggered back, shock on his face as actual pain registered.

Enraged, Nash charged again and Varan tripped him up. Before anyone could react there was a simple, sharp blade at Nash’s throat.

Adelina slowly let out the breath she’d been holding as everyone froze. Now it was her turn.

She stepped forward and walked around the two so she faced Nash. His eyes glittered up at her, the red blazing with his fury. Only when she had his full attention did Varan re-sheath his knife and step away.

“Varan is the more dominant,” she said softly. “You would be near equals, but he is the first husband and thus holds a higher rank.” Goddess, she wished he could understand. Perhaps this wasn’t meant to be after all.

Nash’s outraged yell didn’t surprise her. She’d felt him with that string that had always connected the two of them, bound them together in ways she didn’t understand. Her courtesan genes only made the move more obvious. When Nash tried to go around her and charge Varan yet again, she let him.

Then Adelina snagged the back of his collar and yanked – like she had with Hayden, like she’d trained to do over the last week. Adelina released all her Draga dominance and strength; she released her wolf and slammed Nash onto his ass.

She would never forget his look of shock.

“You’ve lost Nash. Now stop before you do something unforgivable.”

“Take your hands off him,” Kaita snarled, unsheathing one of her plasma blades.

The threat made the air thick and time seemed to slow as both Nadyah and Roxy reacted.

Before Kaita could take a step Nadyah had one of her curved blades pressed to the princess’s throat. “Keep out of it or it’s your neck. Did you think I make idle threats?”

Before the Corinthian princess could respond the door slid open to reveal Kaiden. He took in Adelina’s claws holding the back of Nash’s shirt, Varan’s disheveled look, the wooden splinters that were all that remained of the table, and Nadyah’s blade to Kaita’s throat. Then his eyes flicked to Kaita’s unsheathed plasma sword and the relaxed way Roxy had her hand on the tool she kept on her belt.

“Here’s the information you asked for, Princess,” he said, wisely not mentioning the current situation. “I’ll…be back…at some later point.” Then Kaiden set the shreve down and disappeared.

If the situation weren’t so tenuous Adelina might have laughed.

When the door slid closed once more Adelina released Nash. “Don’t challenge him, Nash. If you need to challenge someone, then challenge me. There are things you don’t know and couldn’t possibly understand. Now…can we talk about this like people instead of animals, or do I have to punish someone?”

Kaita was the first to sheath her weapon and the action made Nadyah and Roxy stand down. The courtesan slipped her curved blade back into its hiding place and then readjusted her skirts. Nadyah ignored Roxy’s look of concern and crossed to the dining table that was somehow still standing.

She selected a few items and then sniffed at the beverages.

Adelina shook out her hands, trying to ease the ache from her claws, concentrating until they were mostly human once more. The canines retreated ever so slightly, but not completely. It was all she could manage with the wolf so close while so deep in her dominance. She didn’t ease up on it either as she eyed Nash getting to his feet with as much dignity as he could muster.

Adelina wondered if he would indeed challenge her.

“Your explanation is welcome,” Nash said stiffly, flicking a piece of wood from his shoulder. He even kept his eyes down, recognizing her rank and dominance.

Thank the goddess. An outright challenge would have been disastrous.

Adelina rolled her shoulders back and cracked her neck, hoping the worst was over.

Nadyah sat down and handed the plate of food to Roxy. Varan didn’t sit. He leaned against the only door, hands loose and ready to reach for a blade. The one he’d had before gone into one of his hidey holes.

Kaita and Nash didn’t sit either, but they waited. Both of them had their arms crossed over their chests with impatient, unhappy frowns on their faces. Adelina could see the resemblance between them even if they weren’t related. She wondered if Nash could see it between her and Nadyah – a pair even if it wasn’t necessarily physically obvious.

The windows were high and curved, each one twice her height, but narrow. Adelina crossed the room and looked out, scouting their location in comparison to the landing station. She could see her starships as well as Nash’s off in the distance. There was a good amount of them…he must have found the other two royals who’d been hiding in the Hai Galaxy.

Adelina didn’t ask about them, instead she took out one of the anti-spy tech devices she’d stolen from the royal vault over the cycles. It was the same one her mother liked to use in the Queen’s Solar during their weekly tea – not that they’d had one since her grandmother had been banished from the palace and stripped of her title.

The pulse deactivated any spy tech in the room, ran the dimensions, and then created a small shield around them to prevent anyone from listening in on what she was about to say. Adelina wondered sometimes why she kept it a secret. It would be so much easier to simply tell everyone.

At least she could start with the male who had stolen her heart so effectively.

Adelina turned and faced Nash, leaning against the window. She let herself study him, noting the way his fingers tapped on his arm impatiently, but otherwise he was still as the dawn except for the way he studied her.

They both took their time taking in each other’s changes.

There was a new scar that went from his shoulder up his neck and across his jaw. Adelina clenched her teeth and tried not to think about how he’d gotten it or how close he may have been to dying. Tears pricked her eyes as she noticed another marring the bands of ink on his arm. She blinked and took a deep breath.

Nash took in her pants, the strange mix of styles that she wore as Adelina and Lina, and she wondered if he’d seen anything that had been on the livestream the last few weeks. He probably knew nothing about what had happened since he left Draga Terra.

Goddess, it felt like an eternity ago.

“Much has happened since you left,” she murmured, noticing the way he favored his left side. Adelina would have to call in one of her physicians to tend to him and the rest of his people. No doubt they would need much since being on the run for over six months.

Nash snorted like she was being intentionally obtuse. Adelina gave him a slight smile and a shrug to ease Varan’s predatory intensity. He hadn’t once blinked, staring at Nash like a wolf on the hunt.

“Raena tried to pawn me off on the Neprijat King when he called to request her hand in marriage. He stated her acceptance would cease fire on Seprilles and bring peace once more. She denied him and he would not accept me unless she abdicated as well as Giselle, or they both died.” Adelina inspected her black lacquer nails, focusing on them until they were completely human. Nash had to understand every change, and until she showed him firsthand…he had to know exactly what he was getting into.

Then she hoped he would choose her regardless, that he would still love her enough to accept her as she was.

“I decided it was too much of a risk to stay unwed and in Draga I am free with at least one husband as that husband would hold the rank of prince. Anyone else is a consort.” She glanced at Nadyah and her courtesan gave her a reassuring nod. She was here for her as she always was. “Or an official Mistress.”

Nash looked between her and Nadyah as did Kaita. Both of them relaxed a bit, if only because of their surprise. Adelina slipped her hands into her coat pocket to hide their shaking. She’d known Nash disliked Nadyah, but she’d promised herself and her courtesan a male’s opinion would not change who she was.

“Varan had already danced with me at my coming-of-age party and due to our previous friendship; I was inclined to marry him. At least he was someone I could trust.”

Adelina swallowed hard and looked at Varan – her Prince of Thieves, her husband, and the friend who had saved her in so many different ways. She didn’t try to hide the tears rimming her eyes or the love she felt for the male who had fused with her very soul.

“Raena…lost control…after that incident with the Neprijat.” Her heart rate picked up and damn all the hells, it was still difficult to talk about what had happened in that council meeting. “She executed three nobles in front of everyone – and I had to kneel in their blood to gain permission to leave as quickly as I did; to come here and request aid for the war after so many of our people were already dying. I don’t – know what would have happened to me…if not for Varan.”

Finally Nash looked less angry and instead he appeared – apprehensive. As though he almost didn’t want to know what else had led her to this very moment, to the female she was now.

Adelina cocked her head, wondering if the Corinthians would even understand the ramifications of what she was about to tell them. “Do you remember when I told you to stop the night of my coming-of-age party? How angry you were when I wouldn’t tell you why?”

Cautiously Nash nodded, looking at Varan and then Nadyah.

“There were some issues with my biology. Ian ran a full diagnostic which revealed my genetic condition.” Adelina narrowed her eyes at Kaita, warning the girl without words this was something that had to stay in the room. “I am one quarter courtesan,” she admitted.

She let that sink in for a moment, watching the two Kharan royals closely. Kaita didn’t seem to understand, but Nash had some idea because he looked at Nadyah and then at her with some dawning comprehension.

“Yes, that’s why my jasmine scent can be sweet or dark, and why I am no longer submissive. I choose not to be,” Adelina told him, trying not to hunch her shoulders under his possible judgement.

But Nash kept his face blank as he processed her words. It gave her the courage to continue.

“Courtesans can be mated when they copulate with another who matches them genetically. I was afraid you were my mate so I had to test your DNA first before we could safely…” she trailed off and shrugged again, looking out the window. For some reason this was the most difficult part of her confession and the rapt attention of everyone in the room was a weight she wasn’t used to.

“It turns out my mother, Adele, and Elara are mated. I am the result of a desire for a child borne of them and my father. A physician deactivated the gene that bound my body and soul to another after intercourse while I was still in Adele’s womb. So I chose not to have anyone tested, not wanting to live my life that way. But it does mean I possess the same needs as the courtesans without a possible mate bond to tie me to one and only one.”

Adelina held out her hand for Nadyah and instantly she rose to come to her side. Nadyah took her hand and kissed her cheek. She needed her courtesan’s strength now more than ever because she could see Nash shutting down as he finally started to truly understand who and what she was.

“Finding out I could move up and down the dominance spectrum as a courtesan could have awakened the wolf inside that I’d long since denied. I’d shoved her down so deep I’d convinced myself I was indeed a true submissive and only that. But in fact I can be that and a true dominant – as dominant as, or more, than Asher even.” Adelina smiled a little when she remembered the way her brother had deferred to her out of respect and love.

She’d gained so much…if Nash couldn’t handle it all then at least she would still have the people she’d brought into her inner circle. A broken heart could easily be healed with the love of a male like Varan and a female such as Nadyah.

“The Games released my wolf and forced me to use every skill I possessed. Then all knew I was a true Draga Royal.” A simple flick and her claws extended. She’d been practicing the control of her claws so she could have them on demand, or not. Then they eased back into her hand and both Kaita and Nash looked intrigued. “I don’t know if your people have similar features but in Draga only the royals can shift. Others are capable if they have strong enough wolves, but they don’t possess the same length a royal does.”

Roxy flicked her own fingers and revealed the same claws Adelina had, but only half the length. Then they were gone and the engineer looked bored once more, having done her part.

Nadyah took the coat from Adelina’s shoulders and laid it across the back of a chair before leading her to the armchair she’d been in before. And Adelina let her. She felt wrung out and exhausted after revealing so many truths. Then Nadyah brought her some hot tea and Varan crossed the room to stand by her side, but he said nothing and never once took his eyes off Prince Nash.

Roxy ate as though none of it mattered to her at all, and it probably didn’t; not really. But the way she kept Kaita in her sights eased some of Adelina’s anxiety. She had good people around her she could trust, she could rely on. There was nothing more she could have asked for during a trip to another galaxy while war waged and so few could be trusted.

“Now, as my mate bond will never be activated it means I am not built for monogamy. There is a pull I feel that I can’t deny, and my heart needs the connection I have with Varan…with you. Please, before you decide…think about what I said, about our proposal? I know it is not customary for your people to share, to be wedded to more than one person, but you would only be marrying me. You would not be required to do anything you aren’t comfortable with.”

Adelina looked up at Varan then and finally he looked at her, ripping his feral gaze from Nash. His nod was more than enough. It filled her with warmth and happiness and she smiled. This male was truly a soul mate in every way. She supposed she would find out if Nash was as well.

The silence between them wasn’t as awkward as before, but it was thicker and tenser if that were even possible. Kaita stared at her in disbelief and shook her head. Nash didn’t reveal anything though. He just gave her a brisk nod and headed for the door with Kaita following close behind.

A piece of her heart broke as she watched him go. Adelina didn’t try to stop him. She didn’t try to force an answer from him. Everything she revealed needed time to be absorbed. Her proposal went against his very nature and Nash had to decide for himself. If he wasn’t one hundred percent sure of his own choice he would resent her. And no matter how hard it was to let him go, she knew it was the right choice.

Adelina slumped into her chair and propped her chin on her hand to stare into the fire. She was exhausted, straining her dominance and strength to the breaking point. A move like she’d done with Nash was a lucky, one time deal. Never again could she pull a stunt like that with him. He was stronger and only the surprise had forced his body to the ground.

She started to shake as the nerves and the release of so much power took her. It was too much strain and she was so very tired.

“Lina, darling, please…look at me love.”

Her weary eyes found Varan’s and she smiled weakly at him. “What would I do without you?”

“Are you all right?” he asked, touching her face briefly and frowning when he found her clammy. “Here eat something.” He took the plate from Nadyah and tried to hand her a morsel.

Adelina smiled slightly and pushed it away. “If you don’t mind I’m going to take a walk.” She kissed him softly on the lips and stood. “I need time to think.”

Varan didn’t look happy about it but he nodded, putting a hand on Nadyah’s shoulder to cut off her protests. “Whatever you need, darling.”

Adelina flashed him the bracelet he’d gifted her. “Don’t worry; you’ll know exactly where I am.” She slipped on her jacket and left the room, taking the shreve Kaiden had left with her.

The corridor was filled with more Drakesthai than she’d expected, but Adelina ignored them all as she took in the carvings on the stone and the windows that looked out over a fiery, barren landscape.

Nash had been so careful to keep his thoughts and emotions from his face, no doubt knowing she could probably read him as Nadyah could. He’d purposefully cut her off and Adelina was frightened that it could really be over, that love wasn’t enough in this instance.

Because she knew he loved her, knew he wanted her. That kiss before he’d scented Varan had been more than enough to reconfirm their attraction and desire – and the pain of their separation.

Now…she simply had to wait for him to make his choice.