by Emma Dean
“This is Nadyah,” Adelina said. She paused for a breath and Joslynn wondered how she would introduce the courtesan. “She is my lady-in-waiting.”
Joslynn supposed there was no need to scare the poor male off, he was already flustered.
Stefano blushed as he bowed over Nadyah’s hand, kissing her knuckles. Joslynn wondered if that was a custom among the commoners. Rarely did they mingle with royalty so she was not sure.
Stefano stumbled over his words under the heat of Nadyah’s sexual appreciation. The lust in her eyes as she looked Stefano up and down made the muscles in Joslynn’s thighs tremble.
It seemed Adelina took pity because she threw him a life-line. “She is a courtesan, Stefano. I apologize if you did not know.”
The poor male mumbled something as Adelina made sure to place her hand in the crook of his elbow in reassurance. She gently traced her thumb over that sensitive skin. “What do you do for a living Stefano?” Adelina asked, watching as he poured her tea.
He nearly spilled the drink at her soft touch, but recovered quickly. “I build starships,” he replied, handing her the ice-cold tea.
Adelina sipped and her eyes trailed over Stefano’s muscles.
Stefano turned away from Nadyah and faced Adelina. It was the most respectful thing Joslynn had ever seen a male do around a courtesan. It also showed his inner strength and control. To ignore the feelings a courtesan evoked required intense discipline. Even Nadyah’s brows rose in surprise.
The courtesan kept them at a distance from the pair as they went on to gather tea and snacks. She leaned over to whisper as they watched the princess. “Putting him on uneven ground helps her soften him to her attentions, since her rank did not overly impress him. Creating a strong connection as quickly as possible is one of the most difficult, but truly wondrous courtesan traits. We use knowledge for power and persuasion in the subtlest of ways. I’m trying to teach this to Adelina.”
It was a lot to think about and Joslynn was glad she did not have to worry about such things. From the outside, the life of the third-born princess was easy and frivolous. Joslynn never thought she would do more than marry some lord, but the princess had other ideas in mind if what she’d seen during council meetings was any indication.
Then the personality Joslynn was allowed to see in private told her life as a pretty wife would never be enough for Adelina and she wondered how the princess would manage in such a restrictive situation.
“What Games will you participate in?” Adelina asked, her voice making its way back to Nadyah and Joslynn.
“I signed up for all of them,” Stefano replied.
“Even the galina races through the forest?” Adelina asked.
“Yes, we raise and train them on Priea for hunting. They protect us from the creatures living in the waters. Almost everyone knows how to ride.”
Joslynn had known about the monstrous things living in the oceans, lakes, and rivers of Priea but she hadn’t known they used the galinas to hunt them. On Pedranus very few rode, mostly the nobles as they tended to be more dominant.
“Many on your home planet must be dominant then,” Adelina said, echoing Joslynn’s own thoughts.
The pair stopped a few meters away and Nadyah stopped Joslynn, pointing at one of the males readying for the Games. It looked like the most natural movement in the universe, but Joslynn knew it was to stay within listening distance of the princess, still close enough to protect Adelina if need be. It really was impressive how subtle Nadyah was. Joslynn doubted anyone even really saw the courtesan unless she wanted them to.
Adelina took a step closer to Stefano, close enough her breast brushed against his arm. His entire body tensed as she leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Then I suppose you will need this for good luck,” she said. The glittering black scarf hidden in her pocket caught the light and looked like the night sky. Her fingers trailed over Stefano’s arm as she took her time tying it around his bicep.
Joslynn couldn’t look away. This was the girl she saw in private, and it worried her that Adelina planned to put herself in the spotlight more and more. At least for now it did. What Raena might see as a threat would be anyone’s guess.
Stefano bowed low and the tips of his ears were a bit red, but he seemed rather pleased with the princess’s token. He took her hand and kissed Adelina’s golden palm. “Any Game I win will be in your name.”
“Thank you Stefano, it pleases me you will wear my token. They’re about to start the Games, don’t be late,” Adelina teased.
The male actually grinned at her before he jogged towards the massive open field. Nadyah smiled into her tea, sparkles of amusement in her eyes. Joslynn was amused as well. The princess had the poor male wrapped around her tiny finger.
The courtesan led Joslynn towards Adelina and they stood on the edge of the happy chaos, watching the blue-haired male take his place in the line-up. “Very well done,” Nadyah said. Her elbow touched Adelina’s as they both watched the players ready for the Games to finally start. “I do believe he’d take on the dragons for you if you asked.”
Adelina laughed good-naturedly, but then Joslynn watched her face turn serious. “Lucky for him I will not have to command his life.”
Joslynn shuddered at the intensity in those words. After the request Adelina had made that morning, she had no doubt the princess planned to send many males to take on the dragons for her.
Nadyah released Joslynn and the three of them walked towards the raised platform with the king and queen as friends would. For the first time Joslynn felt she had comrades on Draga Terra, she did not feel as though she had to constantly be on guard, or guess at the thousand different meanings behind every word and touch. She sighed happily. Despite the taint of the Neprijat King, the sadness she felt at no child in her womb, and Sirus’s absence she felt like she was where she needed to be, doing what her people and the Draga galaxy needed her to do.
The king and queen sat in their thrones, smiling at their youngest daughter as she approached.
“Will Prince Ian be joining in?” Nadyah asked the princess.
Adelina gave her courtesan a sharp look and Joslynn wondered what she missed under the surface. “Hopefully he will join us; Ian needs to take a break from his endless work. He’s already created a vaccine they now have in the testing phase, though he won’t stop until he can find a cure to hypomalarya.” Adelina shrugged. “But he’s never enjoyed a Hunt.”
The king beckoned them all onto the raised platform when Joslynn hesitated. Adelina ran up the small steps to kiss her father on the cheek in greeting. “How are you feeling today, Papa?” she asked.
The way she studied his face for any sign of his condition worsening or improving made Joslynn’s heart ache. King Orion would be missed by them all.
“Not any worse than yesterday,” the king replied, patting her cheek. “Come here, lady,” he told Joslynn, moving his daughter aside.
Adelina gave her mother a kiss and then stood in between his throne and Raena’s, leaning against the wooden arm as she surveyed the fields. The king took Adelina’s hand in his as he faced Joslynn.
She quickly dropped a curtsey and kept her eyes on the floor. She’d hosted the royal family during their tours so she was familiar with them, but not close. It was strange to be on Draga Terra and treated like family.
“It’s nice to see you again, Joslynn. Adelina told me about your engagement to Sirus, and I believe congratulations are in order.”
Joslynn nodded and smiled up at the king. “Thank you, your majesty. It means much coming from you.”
The king gave her a small, sad smile. “I apologize I will not be able to see it, or any little ones. I know you’ve been alone for a long time. Though Colin loves you like a daughter.”
Adelina sat in her usual spot, and the king indicated Joslynn should sit next to her. Joslynn gingerly sat next to the princess, feeling odd about taking one of the royal chairs. “I appreciate the kindness, your majesty.
Colin has been a wonderful father.”
With the niceties out of the way, Nadyah sat behind them both with Elara, the king’s mistress. Joslynn felt nervous as the recorders noticed her presence on the royal dais and only hoped it wouldn’t cause her problems later.
“I saw you speaking to that young man from Priea,” the king said, leaning towards Adelina.
King Orion missed nothing it seemed.
“He is a lovely male,” Adelina admitted. “I gave him my token.”
King Orion chuckled. “I’m sure Leo and Jayden are rather put out about it.”
Adelina gave her father a look and the king merely shrugged. “They are the only two you would bother with.”
Joslynn was surprised, but she wasn’t sure about what exactly. The king was far more easy-going when he was with Adelina than he was around any others. She supposed favoritism could be a problem. There were six royal children, and Joslynn didn’t doubt the dominance fights were spectacular. Alone, he didn’t have to worry about upsetting any of his other children.
The king made it sound like Adelina was being picky with her choice of males for the recorders, but they all knew the real reason. Any others could be ones Raena considered for a husband, and any sign of competition from Adelina would not be wise with her marriage rights held by the crown princess.
As if she heard them speaking about her, Raena strode towards them from the field and she looked glorious.
Her raven hair was braided to enhance the small, golden crown atop her head that glittered with black opals. She wore black pants with her supple, well-worn riding boots. They looked recently polished and told everyone who could read the signs she wasn’t just a stuffy princess. Raena rode in the forest regularly. There were no skirts as Adelina had, Joslynn noticed. The top of her outfit was fashioned like one of the military jackets, but instead of the normal trim there was gold embroidery. Golden roses glittered under the summer sun, bringing attention to her tiny waist and the slim muscles on Raena’s body.
It was a bold statement, one that said she could handle what was about to come. That Raena knew how to get dirty when need be, and she could be relatable to the people. Though Joslynn didn’t think an outfit would make much of a difference after that morning. Perhaps the Games would help Raena’s reputation among the people.
Those dark amethyst eyes swept over Adelina and instantly the younger princess dropped her eyes, inclining her head in a small bow. Joslynn bowed lower, taking her cues from Adelina. This was the last place she wanted to be with the crown princess still in a mood after the council meeting.
Raena greeted the king and sat in the empty throne next to him.
Carefully Adelina crossed her legs and placed her hands on the arms of the small throne. She kept her eyes down, but her spine was straight, and her head held high. Joslynn could see how difficult it was for Adelina to keep that submissive mask on at times, but Adelina also knew how precarious her freedom was with Raena.
Joslynn watched the two sisters in her peripheral but kept her gaze forward on the events.
“No Games today?” Raena asked, turning to Adelina.
Joslynn’s muscles tensed between her shoulders as that predatory attention swept over her.
“No, sister,” Adelina murmured. “I will enjoy watching you win though.” A sweet, soft smile as she kept her eyes down on Raena’s lips so as not to challenge her.
Joslynn had never admired Adelina as much as she did in that moment. It took a lot of hidden strength not to wilt under someone like Raena. Even Joslynn had difficulty and she was only one level below Raena in the dominance spectrum.
“I see you gave a token,” Raena teased her younger sister, playfully tapping the top of Adelina’s hand. “Wish me luck, dear sister.” A kiss on Adelina’s cheek and Raena was up and striding across the field with purpose.
When the crown princess was out of earshot, Joslynn heard Adelina slowly let out a breath. This was a dangerous game, and she could see how hard it was for the princess to pretend Adelina and Raena were as close as they’d once been.
Relief flooded Joslynn. For the first time she was grateful Princess Adelina had chosen not to participate in the Games.
Chapter Seven
Adelina
Palace Grounds
Draga Royal Palace
Planet Draga Terra
Adelina watched as the staff directed each player to their designated target. Archery would be the first Game and Raena had always excelled at the sport. They watched in companionable silence as Raena won the Game of Archery, then Asher won the Game of Mounted Archery on the galinas. Raena came in a close second.
She and Joslynn chatted about nothing really as they watched, smiling when a recorder came by to check the reactions of the king and queen. It was no surprise royals had won but the livestream had to feed the masses.
Ian was still absent from the Games and the events, no doubt he lost track of the time in the labs. Adelina found it interesting Nadyah thought so fondly of Ian. The two couldn’t be more opposite, but they’d become friends over the weeks and Adelina loved that. Her brother needed someone like Nadyah to pull him out of his tiny little world.
William was wisely on patrol, wearing his Army uniform and standing with the other soldiers guarding the people and the palace with all the new strangers roaming about. He also didn’t like competing against their more dominant siblings. He, like Adelina, didn’t think it was a good idea and had kept out of the recent activities as much as possible.
Stefano actually won the galina race with Lady Veri hot on his heels. Adelina laughed and cheered with the other spectators when Stefano leapt over the finish line after bursting out of the forest. Veri and her galina had pounced from the trees, the massive paws outstretched and those claws gleamed in the bright sun. For a heartbeat Adelina thought she would take down the male with brute force, but she pulled up right after Stefano with no harm done.
Her galina pranced around as she laughed with the male commoner, talking about some race on Priea and the various techniques each had used. Veri even saluted him as she rode, picking up speed. When she reached the hostlers, she jumped from the back of the galina and with eerie grace she rolled and then managed to walk right out of the roll, back towards the playing field. One of her servants rushed up with a soft towel and iced water.
Those aquamarine eyes shifted and found Adelina staring. For a split second she debated dropping her gaze, but something about this female intrigued her. The turquoise hair was up in a tight ponytail, contrasting with the cobalt blue of her riding outfit. She wore pants as well and the cognac boots looked well-worn. A sea-foam green shirt fluttered in the wind, so thin and see-through under the open jacket.
Veri raised an eyebrow at her inspection and Adelina merely smiled. The Lady Veri blew her a kiss.
Adelina outright laughed at the show.
Then Asher prowled towards Veri after delivering his own galina to the hostler. He glanced between the two of them and gave Adelina a tiny quirk of his lips in his version of a smile before turning to the lady. His body language practically screamed his possession and desire of her, but he kept it leashed and Adelina doubted many could see it when he slipped his hands in his pockets and put on that bored expression he favored so much.
If Asher saw something in the female, then maybe there was more to her than Adelina first thought. Veri didn’t like many of the nobles per the rumors and from what Adelina could see. For whatever reason, Veri liked Adelina. It made her wonder what the lady saw in her.
Stefano approached on his galina, slow enough not to set off the guards but he looked sure and confident, as if he were born in the saddle. He bowed to the king and queen first from the waist down while the galina pulled on the reins. A quick yank and the beast settled. Adelina couldn’t help but feel impressed. “Princess Adelina, I’d like to present the prize I won in your name.” He tossed the piece of gold toward her in a gamble.
Out of instinct she plucked it o
ut of the air. Adelina inspected the piece. It was small, but solid gold. A magnificent work of art and a beautiful depiction of one of the fierce galinas. She looked at her father and he only smirked, so un-kingly. Despite staying out of the competition, she’d still managed to win through Stefano.
“Are you going to thank the boy?” her father demanded.
Adelina slid a sideways glance to the king and kept her playful snarl to herself. Her father chuckled anyways, knowing her too well.
“Go,” Joslynn teased, her fiery red hair shaking with her repressed laughter.
The galina grew restless when she stood and the nerves she felt around the beasts her entire life rose up to choke her. Then the whisper from her courtesan, “They only react to fear,” Nadyah reminded her.
Since Adelina had been a true submissive for so long, it had been her biggest challenge. The galinas didn’t like submitting to her, and raising the one she had now from a cub helped only a little. It was a constant struggle to make the galina submit, but she supposed now that she knew how flexible her dominance truly was things would become easier.
Her skirts rustled against the black-wood floor as she took a step forward. Adelina jumped down to the soft grass and the galina balked. She snatched the reins with one hand and yanked down. Startled, the galina obeyed. Adelina looked up into Stefano’s beautiful chocolate eyes, ignoring the great cat completely.
“You honor me,” she said, her words low and husky. Nadyah had taught her much.
Instantly the galina settled, even leaned into Adelina at the tenor of her voice. “But I have plenty of gold. I’d love if you’d keep it as well as my token, and think of me.” Adelina took one of his hands and then uncurled his fingers so she could place the golden galina in his palm. With a tender touch she wrapped those callused fingers around the tiny cat and smiled up at him.
Stefano stared down at her, noting the way his feline responded to her. Adelina could practically see the wheels turn in his head, most likely comparing all he knew of her from the livestream to the female before him. The recorders whirred, hungrily taking in every moment. There was one last thing she could do for the male.