Jasmine of Draga

by Emma Dean

  “Lady Veri,” he said, loud and clear for all to hear. “I crown you Queen of the Hunt.”

  She looked up into his dark eyes and Asher was the only person in that forest. He was all she saw as he placed that crown of bleached bone and the single, fat ruby on top of her head. Asher smiled down at her and she grinned back. Somehow, Asher had given her everything she’d ever wanted, just not in the way she thought she’d get it.

  Chapter Ten

  Nadyah

  Stella di Draga

  Planet Draga Terra

  Nadyah kept a close eye on Adelina. After watching the Game of the Wolf she was—concerned. That Game always left one…restless. Letting the wolf out like that was a risk, no matter how fun and free and wild it could be.

  It wasn’t only that either. Adelina was on edge and hurting. Nadyah had seen the way Joslynn had shied away from her and the pain in her princess’s face when she’d realized Joslynn actually feared her after what she’d seen during the Game of the Wolf.

  Nadyah hoped their friendship could overcome this. Joslynn was dominant enough to play with royals, but the shock must have been too much. The red-haired countess would come to understand, and Nadyah prayed Adelina would forgive her.

  Adelina needed Joslynn. A wolf couldn’t survive without a pack.

  Nadyah wore leather pants, identical to the ones Adelina wore. Her princess was silent ever since they left the palace. Their cloaks fluttered behind them as they walked towards the palace gates. The boots Adelina had lent her kept her footsteps quiet and they were sinfully comfortable. It was no wonder her princess preferred them. She couldn’t keep from adjusting the loose shirt, or touching the black hair.

  It was so strange to see. Nadyah had never worn a disguise before.

  Despite all the drama, her princess looked rather…sated.

  Nadyah had feared Adelina as the Wolf would further distance her from Raena and put her in danger after everything that had transpired that morning, but oddly it seemed to have done the opposite. During dinner Raena had chatted with Adelina and there was a strange – almost recognition between the two of them. As though Raena had looked inside Adelina and saw a part of herself there and instead of reacting as if it were a threat, she’d embraced her youngest sister like Adelina had been missing for cycles. Even Asher had smiled at Adelina, in public; blood running down her face.

  In that moment Nadyah had seen them all click – all three of them became one when they recognized the merciless creature Adelina harbored so deeply no one had ever seen it before. Those Draga genes had bred true and Adelina was most definitely one of them. The realization somehow cracked Asher’s viciously bored mask and the beauty of the three of them together…

  Asher and Adelina had taunted and teased Raena, hunting with her as she searched for her prey as the Wolf. They cornered and held onto those running from her, and all the while Veri had tagged along – blending perfectly amongst them.

  It was enough that Nadyah had been silent ever since, watching as they all interacted during the dinner in the Banquet Hall. What she knew had to realign with what she’d seen. As a courtesan the Wolf was a game she would never play, she simply didn’t have that same instinct. It was one of the drawbacks of being able to move up and down the dominance spectrum.

  If someone had asked her what she thought of Veri before the Game of the Wolf, Nadyah would have said she was a vain and vapid creature with no sense of loyalty. Lady Veri was still vain and selfish, but there was a kindred spirit in her that harmonized with Asher, with Raena and Adelina. How Veri ever thought Hayden was a good match for her was beyond Nadyah.

  Veri was utterly made for Asher.

  It made her shiver as she contemplated what those two could do together.

  Perhaps—perhaps they should wait to see Varan. The wolf still roiled under Adelina’s skin, so close to the surface Nadyah wasn’t sure what would happen with the thief. Nadyah glanced at her. The playful look was gone from Adelina’s face and her mouth was a grim line, as though the consequences of the day had settled in. She wanted to ask, but didn’t think Adelina was ready to talk.

  Alpha was already at the palace gates, waiting for them. “Did you enjoy the banquet?” he asked, as though they were any other citizens.

  “Yes, thank you milord,” Adelina said, her whispery voice nearly unrecognizable as she shied away.

  Alpha’s eyes twinkled with laughter. “I’m no lord, but I do hope to see you again for the Choosing Ball.”

  “It will be the event of a lifetime,” Nadyah agreed.

  Then they were through the gates and walking the streets of the first-circle.

  Nadyah would have to be very careful around Adelina that night until her wolf settled. The wolf lived in all of them. It could have gone very badly if Adelina had not let it out. Hayden could have turned on Adelina and hunted her, or someone else – even Raena. It was in their instincts and their dominance…now they had to deal with the consequences.

  Everyone’s eyes would be on Adelina now, knowing what hid beneath that golden skin. Thank the goddess they’d be leaving soon. By the time they returned everyone would forget what they’d seen. It would give Adelina the time to decide if she wanted to remind them, or allow them all to remain ignorant once more.

  That infinite silence between them stretched and Nadyah could no longer stand it. “Is everything all right?”

  The white curls bounced as Adelina picked up her pace. For a long while she stayed quiet, and just when Nadyah didn’t think she’d respond Adelina said, “Showing that side of myself, it was a risk and thankfully I made the right call…”

  Nadyah studied her, the purple of the waning Mala moon made Adelina’s skin glow. That flicker of pain she’d seen earlier, it swirled in her now-golden eyes once more.

  “Keeping up the appearance is exhausting,” she went on. “Asher and Raena know that it’s there now, and they expect to see it from time to time. Asher understands that part of me better than I do and it makes me feel…”Adelina grew quiet as the rain started to sprinkle, beating the remaining heat into the ground.

  She stayed silent until they reached the second-circle and her eyes instantly found the Jeweler’s Guild, its spires spearing the sky, glittering under the moons’ light as if it was a jewel itself.

  “It makes me feel like a dirty, lying traitor,” Adelina finally said. Her voice broke on the last word and Nadyah’s heart ached for her. “There are so many parts of my life—I said I didn’t want to think about Nash, but I love him and still do. But I plan to marry Varan if he is not your mate; there are feelings between us, even if it may just be attraction and friendship at the moment. Then there is you…I just don’t quite know how to choose, or if I even can.”

  Those thoughts were so familiar Nadyah could only nod as she recalled her own. It was something all courtesans went through at one point or another, and it was not easy to come to terms with.

  “The people of the Draga galaxy have never been set in our ways when it comes to love,” Nadyah said as they wove their way through the streets, avoiding the larger puddles when they could, and keeping watch on the people passing by them. “Others find true happiness with more than one lover, but to find a union of more than two people who work seamlessly together is not always easy. It is in the instincts of the wolf and the human to be possessive. It can be difficult to share.”

  Adelina said nothing.

  So Nadyah continued on, hoping to explain it in a way that would help. “It is normal for courtesans to feel this confusion,” Nadyah said, trying to help her princess understand. “How you feel for me does not negate your feelings for Nash, or even Varan. Each person you find attractive settles some part inside you, and this is simply what it means to be a courtesan, we have the ability to love many people. It is why when we mate; the bond alters our entire genetic makeup. As there aren’t many mixed-race courtesans, I only know of you and Ian, I cannot say what it will be like as time goes on, with the mate bond never tr
iggering.”

  Adelina would have a difficult time of it. It would not be easy to manage unless her spouse understood or an agreement was made. Even as a courtesan Nadyah felt the strange instinct to possess, the jealousy that flared when she watched Adelina with someone else. She knew she would have to instruct her with another male one day in the same room with them and it would be—hard to watch and not join in.

  They stopped outside the gates to the courtyard of the Ladrole in the slice of warm light from lanterns swaying in the breeze, rain pattering gently on the stone.

  Adelina finally turned to Nadyah and studied the courtesan’s face. “You are saying I am not genetically built to be monogamous.”

  Slowly, she nodded. “As a part courtesan with the mate gene deactivated, no you are not built for that.”

  Adelina cocked her head and inspected Nadyah’s disguise, only the sapphire eyes and white skin remained true. “I love Nash,” she admitted.

  “I know you do.” Nadyah had seen it clear as day before Adelina had known it herself. “But you may love others, and love him until you decide what you want to do. Because there is nothing wrong with loving more than one person. Look at your parents.”

  “I suppose that is true.”

  “There is no rule against marrying more than one person either. It’s simply a matter of who will be prince and who will be consort,” Nadyah said. “Nash might agree to that.”

  “Perhaps, but it would not be simple.” Adelina was quiet for a few moments and then, “What would Nash think of what I did today?” Adelina asked. It was nearly a plea for Nadyah to tell her she hadn’t crossed a line.

  The rain started to fall harder, sluicing off their cloaks to the ground but neither of them moved. Nadyah didn’t dare break the princess’s gaze, the animalistic gleam still there, but not as terrible as earlier. “Nash—” she began, trying to think of the right words. “Nash knows that part of you exists. I don’t think he would have been surprised, or—disgusted. Their people are much more in line with their animalistic natures than we are.”

  “And you,” Adelina’s words were sharp and pointed. “Were you disgusted?”

  Nadyah flinched at the accusation she heard in the tone, knowing Adelina had seen a small change in her – and now she had to pass the test after Joslynn had failed. “I am not disgusted, and I was not when I watched it happen.” Truth, she had to tell her the truth. “But I was perhaps afraid. I knew there was more to you, Lina, but I don’t think I ever realized how much of a true Draga you really are. You hide it so well, and…no one else knew it was there either. I was afraid for you, and afraid of what it would do to you. The wolf in all of us can be—merciless, and difficult to resist.”

  Lightning cast strange shadows on Adelina’s face and her breathing was far too rapid. “I feel it now, awake and hungry,” she whispered. Nadyah could barely hear her over the rolling thunder. “I’ve denied it for so long the wolf is…ravenous. There is so much I want, Nadyah.”

  Those hungry eyes devoured her.

  “How do I know what it is I want, what it is the wolf wants, and what is simply a reaction from my courtesan genes? How can I tell what is real?”

  Nadyah took a careful step forward, and then another as those hungry eyes watched every move she made with predatory stillness. When she shared air with Adelina, Nadyah pushed back a white curl from her face and kissed her, soft and slow. The smell of her jasmine, dark and mysterious twined around them and Adelina’s hands went to Nadyah’s waist and those nails, now back to their original length, pricked her skin through the fabric of her shirt. Nadyah shuddered and slipped her tongue in Adelina’s warm, wet mouth.

  The barely restrained lust and violence in her princess set Nadyah’s skin on fire, but Adelina held onto it and didn’t let it consume her. The princess shuddered when she realized it as well. Then Nadyah took a step back, breathless.

  “It is all real,” she murmured. “All these different facets are still parts of you. They are what make up who you are, Lina. To deny one is to deny a part of yourself. Accepting all of the pieces will help you understand who you truly are, and that you are the one who is in control.”

  Nadyah took Adelina’s hand and led her towards the warmly lit courtyard of the Ladrole. “You do not have to do something you do not want to do,” Nadyah told her. “Or something you do not agree with simply because of an instinct. I don’t sleep with every male or female I see no matter how beautiful they are and how much my body tries to convince me to do so. But I do use that part of me to seduce the ones I feel something for – with all the passion and desire I possess.”

  The hunger in Adelina’s eyes flared and then settled. The tension eased from her shoulders and then the raging fire was banked. She saw the female she knew in Adelina’s face once more, but that sharpness remained. Nadyah doubted the wolf would ever be so buried again now that the princess had let it out of her cage.

  As she studied her, Nadyah realized Adelina looked like Asher. Their features were so similar, but with that new gleam in her eyes – the princess could be Asher’s twin. It was the goddess’s blessing the two of them were on the same side.

  Laughter and chatter grew louder as they approached Varan’s tavern.

  “I’m nervous,” Adelina admitted, pausing on the threshold and glancing at Nadyah. “I’m afraid to see Varan.”

  That jealousy flared for a second – Adelina was hers – but then it died. She could deny her princess nothing and would gladly share her so she could still have Adelina. “If you want him, I won’t stop you.”

  Adelina licked her lips, and then stepped over the threshold. “He is a delicious male, and would make a good prince. We need to find out if he’s your mate, Nadyah. I can’t take a mate from you.”

  Nadyah squeezed Adelina’s hand. “I want you both,” she said simply, shrugging one shoulder.

  Adelina’s gaze whipped to hers. “Don’t say things like that,” she gritted out. “My control is very—tenuous right now.”

  If Nadyah were honest with herself, she wanted Adelina more. Ever since they started having sex together Varan was almost a distant memory. The feelings were still there when she remembered to think of him, but at the moment what she felt for him as a friend was mixed up and confused with how she felt for him romantically.

  “We’re going to be on a ship together for weeks,” Nadyah reminded her.

  Weeks in space, away from all those watching eyes…oh what they could do to fill the time.

  “Stop it,” Adelina hissed.

  She couldn’t help her laugh. Her princess desired her…and even loved her. It didn’t matter that Adelina wasn’t her mate; Nadyah would selfishly enjoy her while she still could.

  Some of the Ladrole patrons nodded when they recognized Adelina. She’d been there enough she was considered part of Varan’s court, if not his inner circle. He kept the details of who served him close. Adelina’s personal shreve had a few profiles, but the rest were guesses.

  Nadyah wanted to know who those others were, but doubted Varan would tell her. She followed close to her princess as they wove through the tavern towards the large table in the back, where the ancient fireplace burned away the chill of the night.

  “Lina darling!” Varan’s voice rose above all the others. Cheers followed his announcement when Adelina took his outstretched hand. “So lovely of you to visit us. Do you have anything for me?”

  Adelina slipped her hand into her pocket and pulled out a hunk of raw ruby. Varan made to snatch it from her fingers, but she was too quick. Nadyah smiled at the two of them. They put on a good show. Lina the thief couldn’t come to her Prince empty-handed. Varan tugged Adelina into his lap and Nadyah saw her stiffen.

  “Could we perhaps take this upstairs?” Nadyah asked, using her most sultry voice. Anyone listening would assume they’d go upstairs to a private room for pleasure rather than a meeting to make plans for war.

  Varan’s eyes snapped to hers and she shook her head ever s
o slightly, hoping he understood how on edge Adelina was.

  As if he’d planned it, Varan stood smoothly with an arm around Adelina’s shoulders. “Let’s see if this is as good as you say it is. Want to make a bet on how much the beauty weighs?” The Prince of Thieves steered Adelina towards the exit behind his unofficial ‘throne’ and Nadyah followed, weaving her way around the furniture and patrons carefully.

  Nadyah wasn’t sure how much teasing Adelina could stand at the moment, and she wasn’t sure if Varan was even aware of what had occurred during the Games. It was safer to talk in his office where distance between them all wouldn’t look suspicious.

  Varan’s footsteps on the stairs made no noise, and Adelina was just as silent. Nadyah watched the two of them and wondered if Varan had ever given Adelina lessons in stealth. As she trailed behind them Nadyah couldn’t help but notice how tight his pants were and how they accentuated the curves of his ass. She let herself admire him for once. He truly was a fine male specimen.

  All those weeks they’d be alone together in space, it would be a true test. Her mouth went dry at the thought. Adelina was right. She needed to scan Varan’s DNA. The last time they’d been in his office after he found out Lina was really a princess, she’d kept her distance. But the time before when he’d asked who she worked for…Nadyah had almost let him take her.

  Varan gave her emotional whiplash and she was fully trained. She couldn’t imagine what it must be like for Adelina. When Nadyah had gone through the courtesan maturing she’d been sixteen like all the others. There had been no one for her to love, and only her training to focus on to help her with all those desires.

  By the time she’d found someone to have feelings for, Nadyah had unflinching control. It had been a shock the first time she’d met Varan. Of course she had feelings for each of her clients, but those were somehow different. What she felt for Varan had tested her control in ways she’d never anticipated – that is until she’d been assigned her first camerraleto pupil, Adelina.