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“Don’t forget she’s the goddess of all us lowly thieves as well,” Varan said, meaning her. His voice was tight with barely restrained anger. “Ladra doesn’t just take eyes as her trophies. If I break an oath my soul ishers.”
Adelina nodded. If he did as she asked he would be risking his life as well. Varan had always been loyal to the Draga royal family. “Prince Nash didn’t kill his family,” she whispered. There were too many listening ears. “I’m doing this as a favor to a friend. I don’t have the contacts you do,andyou still owe me.” She shrugged. “Ladra doesn’t take kindly to unpaid debtseither.”
Oh, she had made him furious. His face flushed red and his hand snaked across the table, scattering cards to the floor. His fingers wrapped around the fabric of her cloak and yanked her forward. “Why should I risk my life for one of your little games,Princess,” hehissed.
The Prince of Thieves had figured out the truth and in his court her life wasforfeit.
Chapter Eleven
Adelina
Stella di Draga – TheLadrole
Planet DragaTerra
The Princeof 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 heraway.
Adelina slid her gaze to her courtesan and Nadyah dropped her eyes instantly. “It was my courtesan wasn’t it?” sheasked.
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 sisteroff.
“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 afterall.
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 ofhere.”
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 thetavern.
Adelina looked around the familiar room. “I was really looking forward to some of your wonderfulalcohol.”
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 saidmildly.
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 princessAdelina.”
“What gave us away?” Adelinaasked.
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 missedthis?”
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 ourrelationship.”
“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 forVaran.
Adelina looked to Nadyah for help. She didn’t know what to do on herown.
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 alittle.
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 helplessresignation.
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 thepalace?”
“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 onVaran.
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 happenedregardless.
“Are you the reason why I was invited to the Choosing Ball?” Varan demanded. His thoughts were on track withhers.
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 partyorthe ball. Howrude.”
