“Hm, Jayden d’Seprilles is certainly handsome.” Nadyah’s forehead wrinkled as she considered. “There is also Leo d’Deytis, and Rashad m’Ushanov.”
Adelina shivered. Nadyah understood. Marcel of Ushanov had grabbed her at the princess’s coming-of-age party, but his younger brother Rashad had been nothing but polite. Flirting with Rashad could cause issues though after Adelina had denied Marcel.
“Jayden and Leo could be fun to play with,” Adelina mused. “I wonder who will respond to my attentions.”
Nadyah shrugged and eyed the ensemble. She kept the rest of the princess’s jewelry to a minimum. There were gold strands in her upswept hair, the small bits of gold in her ears, and the thick kohl rimming her eyes for decoration. Despite the lack of her usual jewels, Nadyah had made Adelina look like a fierce, princess warrior.
“You do amazing work, Nadyah,” Adelina whispered, staring at herself in the mirror.
Pleased, Nadyah fussed. “It’s not the jewels and the dresses. It is the person wearing them who truly draws the eye. The decorations merely accentuated the beauty already there.” She winked at her friend, pupil, princess, and lover.
Adelina turned from the mirror and hugged Nadyah. “We will attend the Games, the dinner, and then when the sun sets we will cross Stella di Draga to see Varan,” she said. “Tomorrow I have plans to visit the spidersilk factories to see if there isn’t something I can do to help with the war.”
Nadyah could see the plans whirl in Adelina’s mind like paint in water.
“Keep me apprised, Adelina,” Nadyah said. “Are you going to participate in any of the Games?”
Nadyah knew with Giselle gone and the king unable to join in there would be few royals in the games. But Adelina shook her head.
“I don’t plan to.”
“You haven’t even signed up for your favored Games?” Nadyah inquired.
“Raena is now the center of attention,” Adelina explained. “If I win any of the Games it will detract from the Guest of Honor. The Choosing Ball is for Raena, and the Coronation will be the highlight of her reign for many cycles.”
Nadyah muttered under her breath. The anger still simmered under the surface, testing the wall she’d put up. It would not be smart to compete, she supposed even if she didn’t agree. If Raena lost against Adelina, things would not end well. Somehow losing to a prince was different, and Giselle would not be there so if Adelina did manage to win…
“I doubt Veri will feel the same, that one is viciously competitive,” Nadyah said as she adjusted here and there, tucking hair back in the ornate bun on the top of Adelina’s head. “You look gorgeous as usual.”
Adelina gave Nadyah a small peck on the cheek and thanked her.
It flustered her and she turned back to the dresses, pushing them aside. She hesitated before the hidden panel. “Should I bring your weapons?”
Adelina paused at the threshold. She cocked her head. “Bring one for each Game, I would rather be prepared than not.”
A simulcast chirped and Adelina grabbed hers from the vanity. She tapped a quick message and then slipped it into her pocket. “Joslynn just asked if I’d like to spend some time together at the Games. She’s probably worried.” The princess shrugged and the shadow of the council meeting darkened her face once more.
“She has a right to be concerned,” Nadyah said.
She placed her palm on the panel and it released, hissing as it slid aside. There were swords, bows, arrows, pistols, and a variety of guns. The first time she’d seen it Nadyah’s mouth had dropped open in shock. It must have taken cycles for Adelina to quietly accumulate it all. Everything in the closet and more would be going with them.
With what they would need selected she turned back to the princess. “Joslynn is a wonderful lady and would make an even better companion.”
“I know. I only hope I don’t put her in danger.” With that, Adelina turned and strode out of her rooms.
Nadyah shuddered and closed the panel. There were more hidden storage spaces where Adelina kept her jewels that she worked with, her tools, her programs, and tech. Once the panel slid closed there was no seam in the wall and nothing to give away the hiding place.
Nadyah still didn’t know if the hidey holes were already there or if Adelina had hired someone to build them. She shook her head and placed all the weapons in a case and carried them out to the sitting room.
A knock on the door and Nadyah sighed in relief. She hated that Alpha had been reassigned. It left Adelina more vulnerable whether her princess liked it or not. Nadyah set down the box and bow and answered the door.
Alpha stood waiting in the hall. His eyes inspected Nadyah first and then flicked back to the princess. They travelled from the top of her head to the toes of her boots. “Ready for war are we?” he asked, stepping into the sitting room.
Nadyah handed Alpha the weapons and followed Adelina and the guard out into the hallway, listening to their easy conversation with a small smile. This was what she would miss the most when she returned to the House of Kismet. The easy friendship she had with Alpha and Adelina and the time they spent together.
“We may have had peace for centuries, but the political warfare has always raged,” Adelina said.
Nadyah knew the tiniest thing would send a message, and Adelina had to pick and choose what message she wanted to send. After everything with the council meeting, Nash, and the rumors swirling about the reasons why the sweet, Princess Adelina had been punished…Nadyah could see Adelina was ready to remind certain courtiers and nobles who had the higher rank.
She could hardly wait.
Chapter Five
Varan
Ladrole
Stella di Draga
Planet Draga Terra
Varan leaned back in his chair at his unofficial table. The Ladrole was packed despite the early hour. Many were there to eat and drink the day away while they watched the infamous Games at the palace. The bets alone would pad his income for months.
Every year the people participated in their own Games. The winner in each category or game won gold and popularity. They could take weeks to complete when hosted on each planet for the people. But when the royals threw their own version for celebration, it was an extravagant event where one could watch their favorite nobles and see what they were like under pressure, what skills they possessed, and see who would let out the Wolf.
He’d seen them a few times, but not often. There had been a set of Games to celebrate King Orion and Queen Adele’s wedding in the weeks leading up to their wedding, but he’d been very small and didn’t remember much. The royal Games held for the king’s brother was cycles later and that had been a sight to behold.
Varan was sad his friend, King Orion, wouldn’t be able to participate. The last time he’d seen the male compete he’d won in almost every category and event.