AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Nadyah checked the bed, running her hands over the material. Better to be cautious than end up with her princess poisoned. “Tell me what’s bothering you, Varan.”
“Nothing is bothering me,” he snapped.
She rolled her eyes. “Clearly.”
He sighed through his nose and then slumped down on the bench at the foot of the bed. “I am bothered with Nash.”
“Not Kaiden?” she asked, eyebrow raised in speculation.
Her simulcast chimed and Nadyah pulled it out. It was the servants letting her know they were on their way into the eyrie – not Ian. It had been days since she’d heard from him. Nadyah tried not to let it bother her.
“No, I don’t give a single hell about that winged prince,” Varan said, running his hand through his hair with irritation. “If Adelina wants him, then that’s fine with me. He seems decent enough, more submissive which would be a nice balance. It’s that thick-headed brute that’s got me all worked up.”
Nadyah used every single bit of training she’d had to read Varan. It was odd how truthful he was. She knew most males – even Kalan males – had some issue with more than one or two spouses. They could all be rather possessive. But he was right; Kaiden would create a nice balance.
“You won,” she stated. “Why are you still so concerned with him?”
“I did win,” Varan admitted. “But Nash hurt her, Nadyah. When he closed himself off and simply…left. I’ve only felt that kind of despair and resignation from her once and that was when she was a barely functioning mess after three nobles had been executed. He’s breaking her heart and he doesn’t even care. How can he claim to love her?”
Ah, well then. Nadyah watched Varan and was a bit surprised he meant every word. She never would have guessed he’d be so…dedicated. He was everything Adelina wanted and needed, but six months ago she wouldn’t have thought so. Had he always been like this and she simply hadn’t noticed, or was the show he liked to put on for his court too convincing?
“Nash is a Kharan royal, he is Corinthian through and through. They do not have many polyamorous relationships in the Khara Galaxy and so for him he feels betrayed by a half promise,” Nadyah tried to explain.
Varan glared at her.
She held up her hands. “I am simply stating the facts, not siding with him.”
The thief harrumphed his displeasure.
“He knew she might have to marry another,” Nadyah reminded him. “But I believe what bothers him the most is that you were the one to wed her. He feels betrayed by you, not her.” It was a complicated mess, but with her gifts of empathy she could see each side so clearly which did not always make things any easier. “Nash was rather impressed with your new strength, but he was hurt that he found out a male he considered a friend went ‘behind his back’ as he would say. The proposal seemed like another hit while he was hurt I assume,” Nadyah mused.
“Yeah, well…he’s a right bastard,” Varan grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest.
She chuckled at that. “Yes, I don’t disagree with you there. I assume he will have to wrap his small mind around the concept and then consider if she is worth the chafing it would cause to have you rank higher than he. I wonder if he even minds sharing so much as he minds sharing with you.” Nadyah poked him in the ribs and Varan glared.
But he seemed more himself and less likely to explode at any moment.
“I don’t think it’s over yet,” he murmured, the glare easing from his face. “I’ll have to stay on my toes because Nash wants that title of first husband.”
Nadyah scoffed. “Adelina wouldn’t allow it. Don’t be daft.”
Varan smiled at her. “Thank you, Nadyah. This is the first time since everything happened where I feel like we are truly friends.”
It was such a relief to her as well. “I’m glad we could move past all that drama. Thank you for wanting to remain friends, Varan.” Nadyah kissed his cheek.
Varan stood and dusted off the sleeves of his coat. Nadyah watched him putter around the master bedroom, inspecting every nook and cranny until he was satisfied.
The way Varan was with Adelina…it reminded her a lot how Ian had been after they’d discovered they were each other’s mates.
She’d only heard from Ian a handful of times since the wedding and once they’d reached the Outer Rim he’d told her it wasn’t safe to communicate so much. Who knew what the Neprijat would do with the messages they may or may not intercept. If they thought Nadyah was a favorite or could potentially end up a princess she didn’t think they’d hesitate to kidnap her if the opportunity arose.
Surprisingly, she missed Ian’s little messages, the small notes he’d send to her about his day or a small poem he’d read somewhere. Nadyah particularly missed his speculations about the future.
Ian wasn’t a romantic, not really, but the way he approached life with such care and gentleness it was as though romance was his default setting. Somehow he’d managed to get her to admit she’d prefer to live in the palace rather than in a house in the first circle.
Nadyah had admitted it was because she wanted to be close to Adelina who already felt like family. It didn’t seem to bother Ian at all. He’d taken her love for Adelina in stride and just accepted it. She had to admit that his nonchalance about the entire matter had made her heart soften for him.
Well, at least the room was in order. Adelina should be happy with the suite.
