As she buttoned each of the one hundred buttons down Adelina’s spine, Nadyah decided she would tell her friend and lover and pupil the truth. Once they were up in space she would tell Adelina about her tryst with Stefano. She owed her that much, but she would wait until after the wedding, for this was a celebration.

Nothing should mar her love’s happy day. And it was clear to anyone with eyes the goddess had blessed Adelina, for Nadyah had never seen such a smile on her face. The amethyst of her eyes sparkled and twinkled like sunlight on water.

Adelina was content to let them all fuss. She stood still as Adele settled the tiara on top of her head while Elara adjusted the veil that trailed to the floor. The two mated females wore matching gowns of black spidersilk and they were stunning together.

Even Veri smiled as she adjusted the diamonds in Adelina’s hair. She chatted with the princess about the aquamarines Asher had given her. It seemed the princess was a bit jealous she’d never gotten her hands on gems like that before.

Nadyah smiled indulgently as she plopped on the couch next to Roxy.

The last minute wedding might have been a little suspicious had they not been at war and about to depart, but the citizens had eaten up the interview with Adelina and Varan on their reasons for binding their lives together before the departure. The people also seemed a bit disappointed there wouldn’t be a child in the near future.

After so many cycles of pining after the thief Nadyah could confidently say she felt nothing for him romantically any longer. Her heart and mind were at war, but only because she had to watch her lover marry someone who was not her – knowing Adelina wasn’t her mate didn’t help one bit.

Because deep down Nadyah knew Adelina would have thrown out the rules and married her if they’d been mates. A male would have been the mistress for the sake of children. But no, Nadyah’s mate was the quiet prince, the male everyone overlooked, the one lovingly called ‘the scientist.’

And since their discovery he’d kept his word. There’d been no time for a walk in the gardens or a ride through the forest, but Ian had come to her after the funeral. He’d said nothing as they’d watched the sun rise together. Nadyah had felt compelled to comfort him, holding his hand as they stared out over the ocean from the balcony, pretending not to see his tears for his sister and father.

Every few hours she received a cast from Ian asking her some asinine thing or another. The last cast had been to ask what her favorite dessert was. It was so mundane Nadyah had answered, but she still couldn’t decide how she felt about it all.

As she watched her princess sneak looks at her, Nadyah wondered if she would ever feel this way about Ian without the mate bond. That would be her preference. To love him before they were bonded. At least then she would know it was real and not just their genetics.

As Ian would say though, knowledge was power. The knowledge that Varan was not her mate, the understanding that it had simply been lust for the forbidden made this wedding a thousand times easier than it would have been otherwise.

Everything Nadyah had seen between Adelina and Varan told her this had been the right choice for all of them. The Three-Faced Goddess had known those two belonged together, that Adelina needed a male like Varan. Without him Nash would not come into the fold. The thief had to be the first husband – the dominant one. As Nash wouldn’t have allowed multiple spouses with his Kharan culture. But as Adelina grew and flowered, Nadyah knew without a doubt this was the right path for her pupil.

“How are you handling this?” Roxy asked, sipping her champagne delicately.

The female was a vision in bright, scarlet red. Nadyah had caught her assessing stare enough times to know if she proposed the option she could take Roxy to bed. It was something to consider asking Adelina about while she enjoyed her time with Varan.

“What do you mean?” Nadyah asked, looking out the window at the completely full inner courtyard. The guards on all the ramparts eased some of her concern. Nadyah didn’t think anyone would try to take Adelina’s life at her own wedding, but one always had to be on guard.

“I see the way you look at her.”

Nadyah shrugged and smiled as she set down her champagne glass. “We are not mates.”

Roxy snorted. “Yeah, all right, perhaps not, but it’s not like you couldn’t just ignore that bit. You could stay with Adelina if you really wanted to.”

The future thief queen was far more observant than Nadyah had originally given her credit for. The very same thought had been circling in her head over and over. How long would Ian wait for her to agree to the mating bond? How would Adelina take the news that she was mated to her brother?

There were so many variables, and then there was the issue that she and Varan had had romantic moments of their own. Now Nadyah wasn’t interested at all, but if Adelina asked her to join them would she deny her?

“It’s something to consider,” Nadyah admitted to Roxy. “But at the moment I am simply happy for my closest friend. Adelina deserves this and more.”

Roxy said nothing as she finished off the glass of champagne and Nadyah heard the music start to rise. The signal that the event was about to begin set the room into chaos and Nadyah stood as Elara and Adele each kissed Adelina’s cheeks. It was time to check on the males across the hall.

“Nadyah,” Adelina called, lifting up her skirts as she crossed the room.

She waited at the doors for her. “Yes, Princess?”

Adelina took her hands in her own and stared up into Nadyah’s sapphire eyes, unblinking. The way she looked at her had Nadyah’s heart pounding and a blush rose to her cheeks. “I wanted to tell you this marriage changes nothing about my feelings for you.”

Tears pricked Nadyah’s eyes but she blinked them back. It was not the time or place for such silly things.

“I love you and always will,” Adelina confessed, dropping her voice to a whisper and taking a step closer to Nadyah. “I still want you, and I dread the moment you will have to leave me. Just know nothing can change the way I feel about you, not even marrying Varan.”

Nadyah pulled Adelina in for a tight hug. “I know, my love. And I want you to understand that I couldn’t be happier you’re marrying Varan and that he makes you so joyful. A courtesan couldn’t possibly wish for more for her pupil.”

Adelina held her face gently and stood up on her tiptoes to press her lips against Nadyah’s. The kiss was sweet, but so full of passion and promise it made Nadyah’s knees a bit weak.

The scent of jasmine filled her senses. Nadyah smiled and pecked Adelina’s lips before stepping back. “Your happiness is all I could hope for,” she told Adelina before slipping through the doors.

Nadyah took a deep breath out in the hall to steady herself, running her hands over the sapphire silk and lace of her dress. They all had time to figure out the new dynamics once they were up in space and on their way to the Drakesthai dragons. She had time to understand her own feelings and decide for herself what she wanted.

Destiny and fate were fickle. Nadyah didn’t believe her path was already chosen for her. And as such she would take the time to find out what exactly it was that she wanted.