The courtesan gave Varan a long-suffering look and Roxy was so very pale under those gorgeous freckles. Surprisingly Adelina remained as cool as the night, smiling as she waited for a response.

Varan chuckled. He loved riling up the females in his life. They were all so hot-tempered it took almost nothing to do so. The look of utter horror on Roxy’s face was worth it, the perfect payback for insinuating earlier that he had no idea how to handle females, in bed or out.

Nadyah’s look made him think twice about the surprise, but he shrugged. The meeting had to happen. Might as well make it work to his benefit. “Roxy, meet the Princess Adelina. She’s looking for a mechanic to hire.”

The glare Roxy shot at him over her shoulder would have killed him if she had that kind of power. He had the good sense to stay as far away from the trio as possible, eyeing his valuables. Last time he’d had one of Lina’s personal friends in his office it hadn’t ended well for his furniture.

“I admire your honesty,” Lina, or rather Adelina said. That frightening smile remained on her face. Varan felt it in his bones, and that survival instinct which had kept him alive all this time warned him to tread carefully.

The two females stared each other down for a long, uncomfortable silence.

“I do agree the royal family can be rather removed from their people,” Adelina admitted, breaking the tension. “That is something I’ve been trying to fix, but as of right now I need three ships to take me to the Hai galaxy faster than any we have in Draga.”

Roxy hardly moved, knowing that being in the presence of a royal and flaunting that attitude could get her thrown in a cell, if not killed. She allowed herself a frown, those glorious red brows drawing together. “That is not possible.”

Lina’s smile didn’t waver. “And I want it done in less than a week.”

That fire in Roxy crackled and sparked. Varan hid his tension behind his lazy smile and poured them all more alcohol. His princess downed it in one gulp and he glanced at Nadyah who watched Lina like a hawk. He wasn’t the only one who’d noticed her strange behavior then. Normally she only drank one, and hardly that.

Varan’s eyes snagged on that sinful mouth of Nadyah’s, the pert nose, and then finally those deep sapphire eyes that seemed to strip him down to his soul every time she looked at him. He still preferred her natural hair color, but it was fun to see her as someone else for a night. Varan cleared his throat and moved towards his desk, but Nadyah patted the spot next to her on the couch.

He almost hesitated, but he turned the pause into a smooth movement, setting the decanter of his best liquor on the low table. He sat, resting his arms along the top of the couch as if it had been his idea all along and not a silent demand from the courtesan. The fabric of his shirt brushed against Nadyah’s neck and he stared at Lina, ignoring the female next to him.

“What you’re asking for simply isn’t possible,” Roxy griped. She was on the edge of exploding and Varan wondered how far Lina would push her.

“I have gold for a team, and the tech to make it work. Varan will be purchasing two starships for me; I believe your expertise would be of use. You will have the team you need and as many as you require to get it done as well as any tools or supplies. A fee will be paid for the work, including a bonus if you can finish it in less than seven days.”

Roxy gaped, but Lina wasn’t done.

The princess poured some more liquor into her glass, hands trembling ever so slightly. Varan’s eyes were sharp otherwise he would have missed it. Nadyah’s knee pressed into his leg, noting it as well. He shifted so they no longer touched.

“Before you accept, the contract would require your presence on the journey to the Hai galaxy and back as my personal mechanic. That would be paid separately with a public contract from the Crown.” Lina sipped from her glass instead of downing it and Varan took a drink of his own in relief.

His princess demanded much, but this diplomatic mission could save them all, or damn them.

Before Roxy could open that spiteful mouth of hers Varan said, “If it is any consolation love, I will be along for this trip as well.”

Those burning eyes of green fire stared all of them down, even the princess despite their difference in rank. Roxy was just as dominant as Varan and her scent of winterflowers spiced the room even further. Nadyah licked her lips and Varan angled his body so she was no longer in his peripheral vision.

“It is no consolation Varan, as I’d love to see your head on a spike at the moment.”

Lina chuckled and handed her plate of food to Roxy. “Please, you don’t have to be nervous. I’m only Lina right now.” She flicked her disguise back on and his fiery friend actually flinched. “We don’t instate protocol when I’m Lina…it is one of my most treasured secrets,” the princess said, a small shrug and those golden eyes of hers found Varan.

Goddess she was stunning. As Lina she’d always been exotic and gorgeous, tempting him even when he knew she was hiding something. That new sharpness set him on edge, but it also sucked him in – the desire to fall to his knees before her was almost too strong to resist. It called to the dark part of him, begging him to play with her.

His heart had been in his throat the second she’d been nominated during the Game of the Wolf. A weak or submissive Wolf could be ripped to shreds by the stronger members of the hunt. It had been such a risk, one she’d managed to pull off with style, but it had left her changed somehow.

Roxy finally ate some food, her posture relaxing enough to lean against the back of the chair. “Let’s say what you want is even possible, I do not like you, and I do not want to go to the Hai galaxy.” She munched on something despite the tension.

Varan sighed internally. Why were all females so bloody infuriating?

Lina’s eyes grew sharp, that strange flicker returned and Varan smiled, his hand casually resting on his hidden knife when he recognized the threat.

“What if I told you I had Corinthian tech, and planned to make the dragons fight the Neprijat with us?” Lina leaned forward, getting into Roxy’s space. “What if I told you, without them we’ll all be slaughtered as the royal family of Khara was.”

That strange scent of jasmine he’d smelled that night in the tavern when she’d nearly gutted the traitor filled the room. It was unlike any jasmine he’d ever come across before, from a flower or a person. It was almost musky and spiced instead of the sickening sweetness Varan was used to. Roxy glanced between the princess and him, scenting it as well.

Something about that scent changed Roxy’s mind. “I can do the work on the ships but I refuse to travel across the galaxy.” Her arms crossed stubbornly, but Roxy didn’t meet Adelina’s eyes this time.

Varan pinched the bridge of his nose and let out an exasperated breath as he tried not to take his friend by the nape of the neck and shake her like a small galina still in training. “Just tell her how much you’ll pay her for the trip to Hai.”

Lina stated a number and Varan dropped his hand to gawk at her. Had she really saved all that gold over the years from her jewelry and trinkets alone?

“The number applies to you as well Varan. I’ll make sure my sister adds a bonus for you. I realize how dangerous this is, and that not all of us may come back alive. But I can’t sit here and do nothing, leaving the border weak and vulnerable to those monsters,” she spat. Lina stood and she began to pace, surprisingly steady after all the alcohol.

Nadyah’s knee brushed against his leg again and Varan gritted his teeth. He nearly snapped at her, but managed to keep his mouth shut. He was still angry about what had transpired between them at the coming-of-age party. Varan did not appreciate having his emotions toyed with. And if Raena accepted his diamond then Adelina would be his wife. He would be hers and not any other females’.

Roxy finished what was on the plate and then set it down, chewing slowly. “You aren’t what I expected,” she said around a mouthful. Those malachite eyes of green fire watched the princess pace. “You really think you can get these Drakesthai brutes to heel? You think they will even let you inside their borders? They could very easily just kill us all on sight.”

Varan had known how dangerous the trip would be. He felt a twinge of guilt for getting Roxy involved after all their cycles of friendship. They’d grown up together in the slums, always keeping an eye out for each other.

Lina kept pacing, and then made a beeline for his desk. Varan lurched to his feet as she ran a finger along the carved black-wood and marble. “Leave my things alone,” he snarled. There weren’t just jewels and trinkets and gold in there. Kill orders, jobs, and his inner circle were among some of the other tidbits hidden among his trove. Varan didn’t like people touching his things and Adelina knew it by the wry smile she gave him when she sat in his chair.

Varan gritted his teeth in annoyance but rolled his eyes and slouched back into the couch instead. He trusted Lina despite the fact that she wasn’t in his inner circle.

Lina stared at Roxy – just stared at her. The utter stillness of her body was a little alarming and Varan leaned forward to pop a grape in his mouth, careful to keep one eye on her. He didn’t know this new princess, but he was ready to learn.

“Let’s begin with the work on the starships,” Lina finally said. “It will give you time to think about my offer and what we will be doing during our travels. There will be three starships total, and I need them perfect. The tech I’m about to share with you was a gift from a close friend of mine. To demonstrate to you that I am willing to trust you with this secret I’ll show you now, and we can sign a contract at a later point in time.”

Varan glanced at Nadyah then. He trusted Roxy not to blab her mouth, but he knew the courtesan still wasn’t convinced. Nadyah said nothing but watched Lina and Roxy like a she-wolf with her pups.

Lina placed the tech on his desk and displayed it against an empty wall. She started going over the details but he tuned her out. Varan couldn’t help glancing at Nadyah again. Then he studied his princess, the one he’d gladly sworn his life to protect and serve. With the white hair and the gold eyes that practically glowed, it was difficult to see the royal underneath. She stated facts and declared what she’d need from Roxy with a strength he’d never seen in Princess Adelina until her coming-of-age party.

Varan knew there was a cunning mind under that empty smile, and her party had only been more confirmation. When he’d asked her to dance with him he’d had no idea what he was doing. It had felt like instinct, a bit of his usual dramatic flair, but there was some small part of him drawn to the princess in a way he could not understand or describe.

The liquor burned his mouth and his throat on its way down to warm his belly. After the female next to him had trounced his feelings so soundly, not once but twice, he’d thought it was a good idea to move on. Varan was no fool. The courtesans were mysterious and dangerous in ways no one really knew, and their sexual prowess renowned.

Varan had yet to deliver the diamond to the palace in a formal declaration of his intent to marry Princess Adelina. Another reason why he didn’t want those sticky fingers of hers rifling through his desk, but there was something else going on between him and Lina. He knew it in that part deep inside of him, the instincts which had made him such a good thief, such a good judge of character, and an excellent player of political games. It’s how he’d gotten King Orion to befriend him, and managed to stay off the executioner’s block.

There was an attraction between him and the princess. He’d always felt it when she was Lina, but her visits were infrequent. Varan was not sure if the two of them would make a good match in the long term. He thought they could, given half a chance. His people would love having him as an official prince, and he could do so much from that position. The dreams he had to help the citizens were ones he knew Adelina had as well.

Then there was the issue of Prince Nash.

Varan liked the bloke, and despite his violent temperament he had a solid, dependable personality that would shield the Draga galaxy if only for Princess Adelina. If he made his formal declaration, Varan would be competing with a friend unless the male would agree to share – and he knew it was uncommon in the Khara galaxy to do so.

Nash had asked him to keep Adelina safe, so that’s what he would do.

He glanced at Nadyah again and those sapphire eyes held his. Varan didn’t dare look away when he’d been caught. He ran his fingers through his hair and then refocused on the chatter between Roxy and Lina.

Roxy studied the tech on the wall. She stood in front of it, peering closer in some areas than in others and asking various different questions Lina somehow knew the answers to.

“Are you going to deliver the diamond before we leave?” Nadyah asked as though she could read his mind.

Varan tensed, her husky voice pierced through him like sunlight through smoke. “I told the princess I would,” he replied. Nosy, busybody females.

“I need to ask a favor of you,” the courtesan said, and the hesitation in her words had Varan turning to study her.

What could Nadyah possibly be uneasy about? “As always it depends on the favor,” he said carefully. Varan had no inkling what she could possibly want from him, but he probably wouldn’t like it.

“May I please have a sample of your DNA?”

Varan outright stared at her then. A warning flickered in his chest. “No.”

Nadyah placed a hand on his arm and leaned in closer. “Please, Varan. It is of the utmost importance.”

That warning didn’t wane. Varan hooked an ankle over his knee and tried not to look disturbed by the request. His mind flicked through all the possible reasons Nadyah would ask for such a thing, but none of them made sense. “Why do you even want it?” he demanded. His voice was sharper than he’d meant it to be and Lina slid her gaze to him.

Then the warning flared.

A child? Would they want the DNA to father a babe? But why?

“It is…complicated, but having it would help us plan – for the future.”

Varan shoved away from her. “There is no way I’m giving you my DNA so you can impregnate a royal without my consent. I will not have a child taken from me,” he snarled.

The blank look on Nadyah’s face told him his assumption had been wrong, and he reigned in that blinding anger. “If not for that, then what else could you possibly need it for?”

Nadyah looked away from him, picking at an invisible thread on her shirt as though contemplating whether she should tell him the truth or not. “What do you know of courtesans, Varan?”

The question made him wary. “The usual,” he replied. “Courtesans are bred for their sexuality; they are born outside the dominance spectrum so they can be fluid and flexible for the needs of others. Courtesans hold an equal rank to the nobility and are bred for their strength, empathy, and beauty.”

Those sapphire eyes he admired so much looked – haunted. Varan was suddenly nervous to find out why.

“Yes,” Nadyah agreed. “Though a few details are missing, we also scan each client’s DNA for diseases, compatibility, and—” she broke off and looked away.

Suddenly Lina was there and not even Varan had heard her move. He jerked when her hand touched his shoulder. “And for a possible match as mates,” Adelina finished.

The disguise dropped and so did Nadyah’s. The way his princess looked down at him, the way she studied him made him so incredibly nervous he wondered if he’d finally know what it felt like to have his eyes plucked from his body like he’d done to so many traitors, murderers, and rapists.

Then Lina—no Adelina now – her words sank in. “Mate?” he inquired, raising one eyebrow in speculation. Carefully he kept his mask of nonchalance in place while being circled by a pack of hungry wolves. Even Roxy stared down at him from across the room, arms crossed as she glared.

He needed more male friends in his life to save his hide before he opened his damn mouth.

“Courtesans can be genetically mated. We need to know if you might be a match for any courtesan,” Adelina said carefully…so carefully.

Varan looked to Nadyah in alarm. “You think I might be someone’s mate?” he asked in disbelief. There was only one possible option, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it out loud. “That’s ridiculous.”

On some level Varan knew his words could be considered hurtful, but inside he was panicking. Mate sounded so permanent, a label that took away the right for one to choose.

“A mate bond will only be activated if the two parties have intercourse,” Adelina explained, watching him with something like pity in her eyes.

Then pieces clicked into place and he frowned at Nadyah. Was that why she’d refused him? Had she worried they could activate a mate bond since he’d never been scanned by the House of Kismet? It explained a lot, and yet explained nothing. If he wasn’t her mate would their relationship mean anything at all to her, or would he be just another client she enjoyed spending time with?

“What makes you think I could be her mate?” he asked, standing so he wouldn’t have to look up at them. He walked to his desk and fiddled with some of the controls, knowing his knives and pistols were close if things suddenly got ugly.

“It’s genetic, Varan,” Nadyah said quietly. “You have as much chance of being my mate as Roxy.” She shrugged. “There is no other indication until it’s activated. If it makes you feel better, we would need to scan Roxy’s DNA as well if she decides to travel with us.”

For some reason the clarification only made Varan angrier. He felt lied to and betrayed, but even he didn’t know why. “Do you plan to have sex with everyone on the ship then?” he demanded.

Nadyah flinched.

The second the words left his mouth he instantly regretted them. Even Roxy looked at him in shock and disgust. He couldn’t take them back, even though he hadn’t meant them. Varan was so focused on Nadyah he made the grave mistake of letting his guard down.

Adelina’s hand wrapped around his throat, and with enough strength and brutality to make him shake inside, she slammed him against the wall behind his desk; pinning him like the filth he was. Her nails pricked into the skin at the back of his neck and Varan could smell blood. Adelina’s nostrils flared and she bared her teeth at him in a silent snarl. Those canines of hers were longer than they had been a moment ago.

“I understand males are rather stupid,” Adelina drawled. “But I didn’t realize quite how dumb they can be. Even if Nadyah had sex with every single person we bring along with us, all fifteen thousand of them, that is her right and her choice and that doesn’t make her less of a person because it pisses you off.”

She was right.

Varan lowered his gaze, and shame filled him.

“Nadyah is trying to spare me from your judgment as well, and I will no longer allow her to sacrifice her dignity because of your idiocy.” Adelina’s hand squeezed tighter and he could barely breathe, but still Varan didn’t struggle. He deserved this punishment.

“Princess,” Nadyah said softly, soothingly. “You don’t need to tell him anything.”

The courtesan flicked a glance at Roxy who stubbornly crossed her arms and glared. The red-head had no intention of leaving.

Adelina ignored her. “Nadyah asks for herself, and for me. With partial courtesan DNA, a mate bond would be rather confining for a royal don’t you think?” she growled. “Lucky for you Varan, it only applies to the courtesan. Your choice would not be taken from you, only ours.”

With that she released him and Varan slid to his knees in complete submission, bowing his head to expose the back of his neck. He made himself completely vulnerable to the princess in every way.

The hurt he’d caused lingered in the room.

The secret Adelina had just laid bare…it made him sick. No doubt she’d planned to keep it to herself given the ramifications of such information, and Roxy had heard as well. He dared a glance at the red-haired female.

Roxy had a thoughtful look on her face. “I’ve heard of that rumor about mates, but didn’t realize it was true.” She shrugged. “You can test my DNA if you want, but if I’m either of your mates don’t expect me to drop everything for you,” she said, pointing at both females with enough sass Varan could almost smile.

Adelina ignored the statement, staring down at Varan, her hands clenching and unclenching until he saw the nails look a bit more normal though his blood still covered the tips on one hand. “I could order you to give up a sample of your DNA, but I believe in the right to choose,” Adelina said. The boredom in her voice warned Varan to be ready, for what he wasn’t sure.

Varan was ashamed of himself. His mother and father had taught him better, and he’d let his temper get the best of him. His word was worth nothing if he spouted lies. “I apologize, Mistress Nadyah. Princess Adelina, I will gladly give a sample of my DNA. What can I do to repair the damage I’ve done?”

“I would suggest you grovel,” Adelina said, her voice sharper than he’d ever heard it before. “But I also know I’m rather – affected at the moment. I leave it to Nadyah to decide as she is the one you hurt.”

The dark jasmine scent eased and he no longer felt choked by it. With all this new information he had no idea how to feel, and then somehow Adelina was part courtesan…he would have to wait to ask about that one.

The princess didn’t replace their disguises, but she turned to Roxy and dragged the female onto the couch with her, both of their heads bent over a shreve, purposefully ignoring Varan and Nadyah, but that sharp attention didn’t wane.

It took effort to stand gracefully. Varan brushed nonexistent dust from his sleeves to buy more time to gather his thoughts. He didn’t want to know if he was Nadyah’s mate or not – or Adelina’s. It would only cause complications, but he understood why it was necessary, even sympathized with it. But asking for his DNA meant one or both of them had thought about sex with him.

“Mistress,” he said, sliding his hands into his pockets. “What can I do to make up for my stupidity?”

Nadyah shook her head and the hurt look on her face was like a knife between his ribs. Varan didn’t know what to do or how to fix this sudden rift between them he’d caused. He slid into the seat beside her, but didn’t touch her. “I didn’t mean it. It was inexcusable regardless of my feelings or the confusion clouding my judgment.”

Those deep blue eyes found his and they were as dark and mysterious as the ocean. She searched his face, looking for something. “I believe you,” she admitted after a few moments. “There is nothing I want from you Varan, I simply need answers.” She sounded so exhausted.

He couldn’t help himself. Varan scooted closer and took one of her delicate hands in his. It was all the comfort he felt allowed to give her. “I don’t want to hurt you further or ruin any chance our friendship can be salvaged.”

She shook her head and pulled her hand out of his. “Depending on the mate test – I know this will work out between you and Lina, and I am happy for it. I’d rather you marry Adelina than any other male, Varan. It’s…frightening to think who else Raena could force on her.”

Like Marcel Ushanov, a male with serious accusations. Varan was still waiting on proof before he moved on that one. And the Neprijat King, though Raena’s offer had been denied.

“Please, deliver the diamond; speak with her before we leave for the Drakesthai—just not today. She’s still…not herself.”

Varan risked a glance at the princess. She seemed to be getting along with Roxy like he’d known they would. He considered the courtesan’s statement. “Or she is more herself than she’s ever been before,” he admitted.

Nadyah gave him a strange look but said nothing.

“I’ll deliver the diamond tomorrow when I fetch the royal starship,” he said. Talking with Adelina privately would help. They needed to settle any awkwardness before the trip where they’d be confined for weeks in space.

Those delicate fingers of Nadyah’s ran through her soft, blonde curls as though she found the normal color strange. “As to your…punishment, I suppose I should come up with something suitable as retribution.”

He wondered what she would choose, but knew he deserved whatever it was.

One side of Nadyah’s mouth quirked up. “Your punishment is to escort Adelina to the spider farms tomorrow, and stay by her side the entire time no matter where she goes or how long it takes.” Finally, that glorious sparkle in Nadyah’s sapphire eyes was back.

Varan hated spiders, hated them more than just about anything else. He felt his face pale but nodded regardless. Every moment spent under that mountain would make him sweat, but he deserved it. “Of course, Mistress, I will gladly escort her.”

“Excellent,” Adelina said. She tugged gently on Roxy’s hair and Varan was shocked when his friend didn’t slap her hand away. “Roxy has agreed to my terms with the starship remodels even if it is only to get her hands on never-before-seen tech. Pick your team carefully Roxy, and make sure to hire as many as you need to get the job done in my timeframe, but only tell them what they need to know.”

Roxy rolled her eyes, still poring over the tech Adelina had given her. “Yeah, I will, like I said five times before,” she said without looking up. “No one will have the full schematics but me. I’ve already sent out casts, and should have the rest of the team by tomorrow night. Now leave me alone. Varan can relay any other information.” Roxy stood up and grabbed the last of his grapes. “I’ve got work to do.”

Adelina grinned at Roxy’s back. “I can’t wait to come by and visit!”

The red-haired female didn’t respond but threw a look over her shoulder as she left. When the door closed behind her there was a moment of silence.

He and Nadyah raised their brows.

The princess shrugged, nursing the liquor in her glass. “She doesn’t like me much, but I think I’m growing on her. If Roxy believes I’m not going to come see her progress, she’ll quickly learn otherwise.”

Those sharp canines glinted when she sipped and Varan would never forget what they’d looked like so close to his jugular. He could never forget the Dragas were something – else. Their DNA was a little different despite having the same genetic map.

Varan studied the princess he was about to deliver a diamond for. If he could get her to open up to him, confide in him, they could easily enjoy a marriage. There had always been attraction between them, and he didn’t think sex would be an issue. Perhaps he would find out on this trip what things could be like for the two of them. He slid his gaze to Nadyah, not that any of this would be easy. Their complicated relationships could turn on them. They all had to tread very, very carefully.

“Could you arrive early tomorrow, Varan?” Adelina asked. She looked tired and worn out, as though the nervous energy and excitement had finally started to leave her.

“How early?” He still needed to look for two suitable starships, though he supposed he could do that after she and Nadyah left.

“As early as possible, there is a lot I must do tomorrow, plans for the citizens in the outer rim that need to be put into action, and preparation for the trip.” Adelina swirled the liquor in the glass, staring down into it like it held all the answers she might need. “I have a bad feeling. I don’t think things are going to go as planned and as such I want everything ready as quickly as possible. If you can get Roxy to finish in less than a week I would be forever grateful, if that is even feasible.”

Varan contemplated. There was a lot he didn’t know about courtesans, but they were extremely intuitive and empathetic. If there was something Adelina was unknowingly tapping into, he would be a fool not to listen.

“I feel it too,” Nadyah whispered. “The sooner we speak to the Drakesthai, the better.”

“I can be there after breakfast, say the seventh hour?” What would he need to finish up to be there so early?

Adelina shook her head. “Be at the palace by five thirty and eat with me, attend the council meeting, and then once I’m done with the spider farms you can leave to attend to your own affairs. It would be a good way to see what life as a Draga is like.” She shrugged but those amethyst eyes regarded him in a way that made Varan feel like she wasn’t sure he could handle it as a true royal.

“Princess, we have training in the morning,” Nadyah said quietly.

It was uncomfortable to think about Adelina and Nadyah training with them in his office, but Varan said nothing. The thought of the princess and the courtesan in bed together wouldn’t leave him though and his pants started to get a bit tight.

“We’ll have to postpone it,” Adelina said. “Once everything is in motion we can focus on the training.”

“I’ll be there at five thirty,” Varan said. He would have agreed to almost anything to get the two of them out of his office before they noticed his reaction.

“Good, we will see you then.” The princess stood and set down her empty glass. “Do not be late, Varan.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek and then went for her cloak.

Nadyah said, “Don’t forget that sample.”

Then the two of them were gone, but their scents lingered in the room.

He breathed long and slow, letting the tension out of his body a small bit at a time. It was going to be a very long night.