The Prince of Thieves had her cloak in his vise-like grip, pulling Adelina forward and putting her in a vulnerable position. Giselle wrapped her hand around Varan’s wrist and squeezed. Adelina could practically hear his bones creak and still Varan wouldn’t let her go. She narrowed her eyes at him. Something tonight had given her away.

Adelina slid her gaze to her courtesan and Nadyah dropped her eyes instantly. “It was my courtesan wasn’t it?” she asked.

Varan looked from her to Giselle and back again. “Not exactly,” he said. Then he stood and dragged her through the crowd by her wrist, his fingers tight enough to bruise. He even managed to shake her sister off.

“You’re hurting me,” Adelina stated as calmly as she could. She gave Giselle a quick hand signal to prepare for a fight. Perhaps she couldn’t trust Nadyah or Varan after all.

Instantly the Prince of Thieves released her and ran his hand through his hair, mussing it with his stress. “Please follow me then, I need to get you out of here.”

It was such a change in tact Adelina did as he said and gave Giselle a nod to stay close. Her sister was the dominant, but Adelina was the better judge of character. On this she led while her sister followed. They went through a back door and up a narrow set of stairs. Varan practically ran up them and she kept pace. They were in his office on the third floor before anyone noticed they’d left the tavern.

Adelina looked around the familiar room. “I was really looking forward to some of your wonderful alcohol.”

Giselle snorted with laughter and Varan glared at them both. He pointed an accusing finger at Nadyah. “You brought them here! What is wrong with you? You of all people know how dangerous it can be in the thieves’ court.”

Giselle’s hand wrapped around Varan’s wrist and yanked it back. “That is my sister’s courtesan you are yelling at,” she said mildly.

The prince met her eyes and then instantly dropped them. Varan flopped onto his chaise and dropped his head in his hands. “I knew there was some game I was missing, but this?” he looked at them and threw up his hands helplessly. “Never in a million cycles would I have guessed my little cat was the sweet princess Adelina.”

“What gave us away?” Adelina asked.

Varan looked between the three females and winced at the weight of their attention. “It was too much of a coincidence for Nadyah to be out of the palace with two females the same age as the princesses. Princesses who seemed rather put out about the bombing of the royal palace.” He shrugged. “If it were just the two of you I don’t suppose I would have put it together, but Nadyah has been assigned to the palace. Why else would she leave? Gods, how could I have missed this?”

Adelina sat next to him on the chaise and rested a hand on his shoulder in sympathy. “Just because you now know who I am doesn’t mean I’m any different. I’m still Lina, and Lina is closer to who I really am under all the sparkle of being a princess. You don’t need to treat us like royalty while we are dressed like this.” Her shoulder pressed into his again in support and reassurance. “That’s what I liked about our relationship.”

“I could have killed you! You were only sixteen cycles old when you first traipsed in here!” he practically wailed. Everything was beginning to fall into place, both of her identities crashed together and it was too much for Varan.

Adelina looked to Nadyah for help. She didn’t know what to do on her own.

Nadyah instantly went behind the chaise and began to gently massage his shoulders. “You did not kill her, Varan. Gather your wits about you.” Nadyah’s strange mix of sass and honey seemed to soothe him, if only a little.

He propped his elbows on his knees and buried his face in his hands. “This is still your fault,” he mumbled, but this time there was less anger and more helpless resignation.

Giselle propped one hip up on Varan’s desk. “I agree,” she said. Her fierce gaze made the courtesan tremble. “I’m curious how this never came up before we left the palace?”

“How was I to know you would be taking me to the one place we shouldn’t go together?” Nadyah finally snapped, eyes still focused on Varan.

Adelina shrugged and got up to pace. They never did tell her where they were headed. “It’s not her fault Giselle, it was simply poor timing.” What were the ramifications of the thief knowing her true identity as well as Giselle’s? She had invited him to the coming-of-age party; perhaps this would have happened regardless.

“Are you the reason why I was invited to the Choosing Ball?” Varan demanded. His thoughts were on track with hers.

Adelina grinned at him. “I thought it was high time you met the family.” She walked from one bookshelf to another, reading the titles and filing the information away for later. Eyeballs floated in glass jars on the shelf above and stared down at her. “I never did receive a reservation for my party or the ball. How rude.”

Varan made a choking noise, or a laugh. She wasn’t sure which. “I’ll be attending both.”

“Good, then you can escort Nadyah to the Choosing Ball.” Adelina had seen the way her gaze lingered on Varan, the gentle touch she had with him and the sass that told her the courtesan was familiar with him and his ways.

“Did she share what I learned with you?”

The room went so still and so quiet one could hear the formaldehyde splash as the eyes bobbed. Giselle and Adelina focused on Nadyah as one; attention sharp and predatory. Her knife was in her hand before she even realized what she was doing and Giselle had her army-issued pistol pointed between the courtesan’s eyes.

Varan finding out about their true identity was a misfortune of fate. Passing on intel about the royal family and their private life? That was treason.

“What did I promise you?” Giselle hissed.

The prince froze as he realized he had said something wrong.

“You will be the death of me, Varan,” Nadyah said, closing her eyes for a moment. “I also work for the Spider,” she confessed.

Giselle and Adelina shared a look. The Spider was loyal to their family, but that didn’t explain why Nadyah wouldn’t tell them she was a spy. Giselle cocked her head in question, leaving the matter to her. Adelina gave an imperceptible nod and focused on her courtesan. Hers to punish if need be whether she wanted to or not.

Adelina closed her eyes for a moment and slid back into the part of her that was Princess Adelina and turned to Nadyah with her shoulders back, chin up, and spine stiff with her rank fully claimed once more. As she studied her trembling courtesan she considered whether this should wait or if Varan could be trusted. “Prince, you swear fealty to the Draga House and all those in it?”

Varan dropped to his knees from the chaise and bowed his head, fist over his heart. “I swear fealty to you Princess Adelina. I swear fealty to Princess Giselle, and I swear fealty to the House of Draga from now until the end of my life. May the three-faced goddess have mercy on me and witness this oath.”

“Your life is mine.” Adelina invoked the ancient words. She may not be the dominant but she was royalty and no one outside her family outranked her.

“My life is yours,” he whispered. The prince’s entire body responded to the words and the ancient call to arms. Their genetics built to ensure this oath and promise. “Mia vitae se tya.”

“You may stay then. Rise and witness the courtesan’s punishment.” Adelina hated this part of her life. She was a royal and it was her burden to bear from birth, but she did not have to like it.

Giselle had given her the responsibility. She would not shirk her duty. If Adelina couldn’t ensure the loyalty of those closest to her, how could she be confident they would be loyal to Raena and the Draga family?

“Nadyah d’Lara. Your submission is demanded.”

Her courtesan came swiftly around the chaise and dropped to her knees in front of Adelina. She bowed so low her forehead touched the floor. When she came up her hands went flat against her thighs and she kept her eyes down and head bowed.

“I submit to your will,” she said, her entire body shaking, but so slightly one who hadn’t been trained by a courtesan wouldn’t notice.

Adelina had felt that fear many times. She knew exactly what Nadyah was going through and it left a bad taste in her mouth. Still, protocol was what it was and the courtesan owed her an explanation.

“Explain,” Adelina said simply. “I demand it.”

Nadyah shuddered at the command as it rippled through her. Whatever her previous order was Adelina had just overridden it with her rank. If Nadyah were truly loyal she would answer truthfully.

“I am the best courtesan in the House of Kismet,” Nadyah said. “Mistress Jael is the mistress of the House of Kismet. She is also the Spider; the Spymistress, the Mistress of the Spymaster’s Guild. She ordered me to keep the royal family safe and to bring back information from the palace. There have been rumors of an assassination scheme. I am supposed to find out why and where and for whom, and then eradicate the threat.” Finally, Nadyah met her eyes and they pleaded for understanding. “I am loyal to Draga. I am loyal to you, Princess.”

Adelina didn’t miss the inflection. Her eyes narrowed. “That’s all well and good, but are you loyal to the Crown?”

“Jael owns my life, but I am loyal to the Crown first, and then her.” Nadyah pressed her hands into her thighs harder and waited for the punishment.

There was a glittering chain around her neck. Adelina stepped forward and slipped her finger under the white-gold, caressing Nadyah’s neck gently. The courtesan shivered, but from pleasure rather than fear. Slowly she lifted the gem out of Nadyah’s dress and recognized the sapphire she had acquired for Varan in a white-gold wire-cage.

She looked up at the prince and quirked an eyebrow. He shrugged at her and the pained look in his eyes told her everything she needed to know. This jewel was a love-gift whether Nadyah knew it or not and it had cost Varan much. He still owed Adelina for it.

The pain in his face told her whatever had occurred between the two of them, it hadn’t been pleasant despite the gem hanging from her courtesan’s neck.

The gem slid back into Nadyah’s dress and Adelina clasped her hands behind her back. She had to ensure all suspicions were cleared. “Why did you not inform me of your relationship with the thief prior to entering the tavern? Your misjudgment could have cost me my life after I trusted you with this secret. Regardless, someone now knows who I am without my permission.” Her sharp words made her courtesan flinch and Adelina felt terrible. She truly thought Adelina was about to beat or whip her for the transgression.

It was almost over, Adelina could slide out of her rank, relax as Lina before the night was through, and forget this all happened.

“I was afraid,” Nadyah answered in Ilashyan so Varan wouldn’t understand. The language of the females rippled through the room. “He found out I was a spy the last time I visited the House to deliver information to Jael, after our sparring lessons. He threatened my life. I didn’t know how to tell you when Jael had me swear my silence.” Nadyah had tears in her eyes as she held Adelina’s. “Varan seduced me and convinced me to trust him with my information, but Varan might also be my mate.”

Those words struck Adelina hard and she slowly let out a breath. Balls, this was cula’ting complicated. The library was a vast mountain of information if one were willing to look. The courtesan sub-race had always fascinated her and the mythical mate was rarely spoken of. It never happened. Or it was never declared and recorded, Adelina wasn’t sure which.

If Varan was truly Nadyah’s mate she would lose her forever to the male. She looked sharply at the thief and he held well under pressure despite having no idea what they spoke of. The prince might love Nadyah and only her, but it was a risk Nadyah could not afford to take at the moment if Jael owned her life.

“I didn’t know how to tell you how we knew each other because I would have had to tell you I was more than a simple courtesan. The Spider would not allow that and there was a very high chance Varan wouldn’t recognize you despite my presence. He shouldn’t have, but he did and that was my mistake. I gladly take my punishment. I only ask for your mercy.” Nadyah pressed her forehead to the carpet once more and placed her hands flat to the floor, waiting for Adelina to decide.

If she forgave the punishment, the transgression could never be brought up again. Adelina looked at the prince once more and decided it didn’t matter. These two were loyal to their bones. “Swear to me on your goddess Amora the mistake will not be repeated. Swear to me you will be honest with me and keep me informed from here on out.”

“Mia vitae se tya. I swear to Amora and the three-faced goddess it will never happen again. Whatever you desire is mine to give.”

Adelina looked to Giselle and she nodded her approval. “It is done. Justice has been taken.”

Nadyah looked up in surprise and confusion. “Mistress?”

Adelina was not her Mistress. “Your fear paid the price.” She bent and kissed her courtesan softly, showing her the truth of her words. “Tonight, the price will not be paid with your flesh.” The look of shock, despair, and relief was a curious mix on Nadyah’s face as she rose. Adelina looked to her sister. Only Giselle could move this along now.

“Lina darling?” Giselle said, smiling wickedly at her sister.

Relief filled her that she could be Lina once more before the night was through. “Enough of this court nonsense, I need my favor Varan.” She plopped on the chaise next to him and gave him a playful pout as she had a thousand times before when he only knew her as the jeweler. Adelina enjoyed shedding the skin she wore as princess. “Shall we go back downstairs for your wonderful liquor and food?”

Varan frowned at her.

“Please, when I am dressed as Lina, treat me as Lina. Protocol will be invoked and made obvious if I or Giselle need to act as Princess and anything before then won’t be punished as protocol.” She sighed and made a face at Giselle who rifled through the prince’s desk.

“I agree. We leave the palace to get away from our titles Varan. Feed us or suffer the consequences.” Giselle pulled out something shiny and held it out to the light. “Is this one of Lina’s?”

Varan dove for it, but Giselle tossed it to Adelina who caught it and inspected the piece. It was the necklace part of a set with matching earrings she was commissioned for months ago. She eyed Varan. He had gone through the guild so she hadn’t known it was him. “Yes, I designed these and made them to the specifications of the order.” She handed the jewels back to the prince and wondered if he had them made for Nadyah or not, and if he had why they were still in his desk.

“I will have the servants bring up the food,” he said in exasperation. The cast went out and he stomped his foot on a small impression in the floor. The chaise moved with a panel in the floor and a table and chairs popped up in its place. “Sit, and don’t touch my things.” He glared at Giselle and she shrugged, pushing past him to the table.

“Males should know better than to withhold food from females.” Giselle took out her shreve and started playing some asinine game as she waited for the servants to arrive.

Adelina’s cloak went over the back of the chair. The night chill couldn’t reach them inside. Events had taken a turn she hadn’t expected and it left her shaken inside. Adelina knew what to do and how to act when required. She could take command even if her natural instincts were to let someone like Giselle tell her what to do.

It made her wonder about what Nash had said regarding his ‘light’ rulers. Did they have someone telling them what actions to take or could they manage on their own with the knowledge and skill they had? It would be an enormous mental shift, but the relationship between the dominant and submissive was a delicate dance. It was as she had said to Nash, she served and whether serving meant protecting or not she had to be flexible. It had to be the same on the reverse.

Adelina tapped her nail against the lacquer of the table, enjoying the clicking sound as she tried to ignore her grumbling stomach.

“I will never withhold food from you again, ladies.” Varan opened his office door with a flourish and servants flooded the room with fragrant dishes.

Giselle dug in as soon as the trays touched the table and mumbled through a mouthful her thanks to the cook. Adelina took a plate and filled it up, but let it sit untouched in front of her while she waited for Varan and Nadyah to take what they wanted. Drinks were poured and she took a small sip from her glass. Varan already knew what she wanted and needed, pressing the matter now wouldn’t help.

“So,” he said, tossing a bit of food into his mouth. The prince couldn’t stop staring at her and Giselle as if they’d grown two heads. “You two are actual royalty. Can we talk about this for a moment?”

Adelina narrowed her eyes. He was stalling. She tapped a command on her bracelet and her silver-white hair turned back to her own black. The film over her eyes ended the camouflage program and allowed her Draga amethyst to shine though. Varan’s mouth dropped open. “Satisfied?” she asked.

Giselle didn’t even bother. If Adelina looked like she did under the disguise then it would stand to reason so would Giselle. She activated her programs again and sighed. “As I told Nadyah, when we are dressed as Elle and Lina treat us as such and use those names. Keep this to yourself or Giselle will take matters into her own hands.”

Giselle grinned a rather terrifying smile at the prince and took a swig of the powerful alcohol. Her sister hated the politics and the game of power, but Adelina had always played it well. Her sister was the force of strength, and she the one to direct it.

How it had come down to trusting two relative strangers was beyond Adelina. Cycles of being careful and suddenly it seemed everyone knew their secret. She glanced at her sister, though there was one other who knew, one Giselle hadn’t approved.

“Can you get the information I requested or not?” Adelina snapped; her patience thinning.

Nadyah pushed Adelina’s plate towards her in a silent request to eat. Apparently, her attitude was thought to be caused by lack of sustenance. She wasn’t so easily distracted and Adelina needed an answer.

Varan traced the rim of his glass as he thought. “I think I could get what you need, or at least part of it. The princes and princesses of Khara are scattered to the solar winds. There is a large chance they aren’t even in the Khara galaxy anymore. What you require would be massively expensive. I would need to send out ships to every corner of the known universe. Sending men and women into the Khara galaxy, or the Hai galaxy, would be giving them a death sentence.” The thief shrugged. “Don’t get me wrong, I can always find people willing to throw their lives away for the promise of the right price, but if they return they will want riches beyond their wildest dreams.”

Adelina tapped her fingernail again as she thought. She didn’t have access to the royal treasury and even if she did she wouldn’t spend that kind of gold on a fool’s errand. “You don’t have spies already in those galaxies?” she asked.

Varan took a bite and grinned at her. “Oh I do, I was simply testing you.”

The playful banter eased the tension between her shoulders and she smiled briefly in acknowledgement of the kindness. This was the man she knew and loved. “The information could be retrieved securely?”

The Prince of Thieves stared at nothing as his mind worked through all the possibilities. This was no easy task no matter how it was done. The need for gold was still there, but it wouldn’t cost as much as Varan claimed. Adelina had her personal income she could tap into and it was substantial. She would have to ask Nash if he had anything to spare.

Nadyah reached for more food and filled her plate a second time. “Adelina, if you don’t eat I will force-feed you.”

Adelina glared at her courtesan who glared right back. Not willing to test it she put a small piece in her mouth and chewed.

This was no easy matter. Say they found the Corinthian princes and princesses, how would they then get them to safety? Moving them would be a risk. The Neprijat had conquered galaxies before; they knew what they were doing.

There were whispers that the Hai galaxy had fallen before Khara, and Draga had been willing to ignore it all as long as they were left alone. Those whispers had been the catalyst that had Adelina gathering her own intel on the matter. Once she started Adelina realized how much she enjoyed it. Raena would be queen, and if she did nothing against this threat they were all doomed.

“What about the Spider’s contacts?” Adelina asked Nadyah. This was a whole new avenue she hadn’t thought she had access to. “Does her web extend to Khara and beyond?”

Nadyah shrugged. “I only know as much as she tells me and what I can scrounge from her shreve when she isn’t looking. What she leaves for me to find is most definitely calculated. I know she has spiderlings on Khara Prime and a few of the other planets, but I do not know what became of them once the Neprijat took over. The Hai galaxy though? They’ve been under Neprijat rule for a few cycles now. I don’t know more than that, and we weren’t even aware of that until whispers started spreading like wildfire about the monsters headed our way.”

Adelina tossed back the alcohol and let the sharp burn clear her thoughts. “Great-Grandfather fought those monsters back two hundred cycles ago?” she asked Giselle. Her sister studied battles like Adelina studied the movements of their nobles.

Giselle nodded and pushed her empty plate back in satisfaction. “Varan, I may very well steal your cook for the palace.”

He glared at her and crossed his arms. “I dare you to.”

She laughed and laced her fingers over her full belly. “Great-Grandfather fought the Neprijat back to wherever they came from about two hundred cycles ago or more. He saved us from that destruction, but there are planets that still have winterflowers that bloom red instead of white. We lost so many warriors to their monsters. This is all that’s written, but so much of it was fantastical no one really believed it was as told. The monsters became legend, a scary tale to tell naughty children.”

Adelina shuddered as she remembered the first time her sisters had told scary stories at night. She couldn’t sleep for a week. “Where did they go after that? Have they been hiding this entire time? How did he get them to leave?” There were so many questions she feared they needed the answers to and fast.

Giselle frowned. “The texts don’t say, but there is a lot in that library of ours. If you’d like Lina we can make a project of it, and see what we can find. There has to be something in our history, maybe even in King Beo’s tomb or the study?”

She nodded. “We can do that.”

“I will see what I can find out from the Spider. The wording will have to be as careful as possible, though she favors you for the lost prince,” Nadyah said with an inclination of her head in Adelina’s direction.

Her face flushed with heat and Adelina had no thought to reply. Her finger stilled and she glanced at Varan who wisely kept his face blank as he ate slowly. The Spider wanted her to court Prince Nash? She was already wildly attracted to him, but doubted he felt even remotely similar. Now that the Spider was behind the idea she wasn’t so sure it’s what she wanted.

Courting Prince Nash was practically out of the question for her regardless. Raena would never approve the marriage. It was too much of a risk with his being deposed and trying to get his kingdom back…

“Then she won’t be suspicious as to my inquiries,” Adelina finally managed.

Giselle’s eyes laughed at her though she kept a straight face. Adelina gave her sister a look that warned her off the subject. This was not something she wanted to discuss, or even consider with anyone.

“I will see what I can find of the princes and princesses of Khara. It won’t be a quick matter to verify them all,” Varan warned. “The other information will be easy enough to obtain. I will be sure to let you know when the debt has been paid. A payment, after all this is said and done, may be required.”

Adelina stood. Her full plate was practically untouched. She felt too worked up and the nerves settled into a knot in her stomach. “Remember I can pay in favors as well as gold and gems.” She gave the prince a brief kiss and looked at her courtesan. “Stay and speak with him. Ensure he understands the importance of this secret,” she ordered in Ilashyan.

Nadyah nodded as Giselle stood.

“Are we going to have some fun at last?” Giselle asked, taking another drink of the liquor. Her sister smiled and walked to the door with a swagger that had no intention of going home before dawn.

Adelina wrapped her cloak around her neck and fastened it. She shook her head. “I am going to head back to the palace. I need to think. After all I have to be up when the sun rises in a few hours. I have my party to oversee.” She gave a wink to Varan and left with her sister.

Giselle hopped down the stairs with nimble grace despite the amount of liquor she had consumed. “Are you really going back to the palace already?” she asked.

The two of them left the massive courtyard, shoulders pressed against one another. Giselle walked with her to the tunnel entrance, allowing her the silence. “I need to think, Elle. There is a lot to digest. Strategies need to be made. There will be a war, and Draga is not prepared. How are we going to convince Rae?”

The stars glittered against the dark night and groups of people passed them, laughing and chatting without a care in the world. Giselle crossed her arms and stared soberly at Adelina. “I am a warrior. I will protect what is mine.”

Adelina shook her head. “I don’t doubt that for a second. But will Rae be ready and willing to protect against a threat she doesn’t believe is there? She is so wrapped up in the crown and good impressions. Mother is forcing her attention to marriage and not the safety of our people.”

Giselle sighed and hugged Adelina. “We will do what needs to be done little sister. Rae will listen and if she doesn’t we will make our own backup plans. I promise I will help.” She pulled back and inspected Adelina. “Now, rest while I work off all the wonderful food I just ingested.”

“Go, enjoy your secret lover.” Adelina gave her sister a wink and then watched her sister disappear down the street.

Giselle deserved every moment she could manage with her lover. It wouldn’t be long before war would taint everything it touched.