Kaiden couldn’t help his laugh and threw his arm over Varan’s shoulders.

  They were all still learning how to be a family. But it was a good family, one Kaiden knew would only grow closer with time.

  “Thought you two would impale yourselves on my nice floors,” Roxy drawled.

  Even her constantly irritated state couldn’t bother Kaiden that night. He turned and hugged her close. “Good to know you care, sister,” Kaiden teased. “I’m sorry you won’t be surprised to see it tomorrow.”

  “You’re going to the ball?” a rogue asked, staring at Roxy in disbelief. “In a gown?”

  Roxy grumbled and Adelina watched it all with those eyes that saw everything. “Formal wear. Doesn’t have to be a gown. And everyone in Roxy’s court is invited to the Winter Solstice Ball! After all, we’re family. But steal anything and all bets are off!”

  The cheers turned into chuckles as more music started, couples danced vigorously, and more drinks were brought from the bar. Kaiden could see why this place had been a home for Adelina. It was a dark glittering place full of fun and warmth – a reflection of her true self she’d had to hide for so long.

  His wife pulled him into a dance he didn’t know the steps to, but it was fast and exciting and Kaiden tried to follow along anyways just because it made her laugh and smile. Varan yanked Roxy into a dance and some gorgeous female thief asked Nash who declined, but she pulled him onto the dancefloor anyway.

  Kaiden watched Adelina’s eyes sparkle as she watched Nash look at them, imploring for some kind of help. Kaiden knew that despite how different he was – this was exactly where he was supposed to be, by Adelina’s side.

  And there was nothing he would change.

  Chapter Six

  Adelina

  The Queen’s Suite

  Draga Royal Palace

  The Draga System

  Adelina woke up with a gasp as an orgasm rippled through her. Her whole body felt relaxed and her clit was pulsing with the sensation and pleasure of someone’s mouth between her legs. She sat up and pulled the covers back, wondering who she had to thank for such a pleasant alarm.

  Nadyah looked up at her from between her thighs and grinned. “Happy Winter Solstice Eve.” Before she could say or do anything, Nadyah slipped a finger inside her and Adelina groaned. “I convinced your husbands they would be best suited elsewhere and sent them to fetch you breakfast in bed.”

  She couldn’t help but laugh despite the pressure already building again under Nadyah’s skilled fingers. “The four of you spoil me,” she managed.

  Nadyah laughed and the feel of her breath on Adelina’s bare skin made her shiver. One of her hands caressed Adelina’s bare hip, then up her ribcage until she was at her breast. Adelina pressed herself into Nadyah and groaned as her breast filled the courtesan’s hand, goosepimples rising along the sensitive skin.

  “I disagree. It’s hard to spoil someone with love,” Nadyah murmured, pulling herself up so they lay next to each other. She gripped Adelina’s hip tight. It turned her breathing ragged as Nadyah gently stroked the top of her breast with the other hand.

  Adelina’s fingers trailed down the edge of Nadyah’s robe, sliding it off as she went. Then her fingers touched silky skin, tracing the curve of Nadyah’s luscious breasts. Adelina kissed her hard, tongue sliding in Nadyah’s mouth to taste and explore.

  Goddess she’d missed her over the last few months. Despite the conversation they’d had about mistresses it had taken some time for things to settle and find a rhythm.

  None of her husbands had seemed to mind when Adelina had told them she was declaring Nadyah her mistress. It wasn’t the same as marrying her. There were complications though. Nadyah was not interested in any of her mates. She had a male—two now, who satisfied her well enough.

  The courtesan was Adelina’s.

  Nadyah’s thumb stroked the tender flesh of her nipples and the sensation overwhelmed Adelina. She wanted more as the ache grew. Adelina needed her touch – she needed relief even after the way she’d woken up.

  Reaching for Nadyah’s hand, Adelina slowly moved it while Nadyah kissed her senseless. Her chest heaved with each ragged breath as Nadyah slowly took her mouth, trailing her tongue over her lips, nibbling them, and taking such care with her – as if they had all the time in the world.

  A few weeks ago there had been a lull after her weddings to Nash and Kaiden. Nadyah had knocked on their door a few days later and the look on her face had all of Adelina’s mates scattering to give them privacy.

  Placing the courtesan’s hand between her legs, Adelina reached over and rubbed her thumb over Nadyah’s clit. At her gasp, Adelina groaned. They stroked each other in tandem, speeding up as the need between them grew – as Nadyah’s slickness covered her hand.

  It only made Adelina want more of it.

  She slid two fingers inside Nadyah, making sure to hit that spot deep inside that the courtesan had taught her about during her camerraleto as she stroked. Adelina’s thumb rubbed circles around Nadyah’s clit and the two together had the courtesan whimpering in response.

  “How much time do we have?” Adelina asked, lips brushing against Nadyah’s as their short breaths came in pants together.

  “I told them to take the long route,” Nadyah gasped, rubbing herself against Adelina’s hand shamelessly. “So perhaps another ten minutes. I asked for the full spread.”

  Adelina felt the telltale cresting as Nadyah’s skilled fingers brought her right to the edge yet again. “I want you to come right now,” Adelina demanded, flexing her dominance. Nadyah’s reaction to it made her pulse around the courtesan’s fingers.

  Instantly Nadyah obeyed her command, shuddering and crying out as the orgasm took hold. Adelina quickly followed and the two of them held onto each other as they caught their breath.

  “Happy Winter Solstice Eve,” Adelina murmured, kissing Nadyah one last time before she stretched luxuriously. “That was certainly a good start to the day.”

  The courtesan chuckled as she propped her head up on her hand to watch Adelina. “I thought you might like it. But that wasn’t your solstice gift.”

  She sat up and rolled her eyes but couldn’t help her smile. “I am queen. There is nothing you need to get me.”

  Nadyah shrugged but didn’t respond. “I think a lot of people feel differently if I’m not mistaken. But only the gifts under the tree could really tell you.”

  Adelina stood and eyed her courtesan. “Which tree?”

  “The one in the royal study. Where you asked us all to be at dawn after the ball for our family solstice.” Nadyah’s eyes twinkled. “There are quite a few.”

  It would be her first solstice as Queen. Her first solstice without her father, sisters, or Alpha. Adelina had asked to keep the personal event small, but as usual her new family saw fit to do whatever they pleased if they thought they could get away with it.

  She hadn’t been sure what the holiday would be like without them. The ball itself was rather impersonal even if Alpha had escorted her every cycle prior. The only comfort was knowing that even if he was alive, Varan would be her escort this cycle.

  Thus far she’d been too busy to really notice the absence except those small moments she had time to breathe and rest. Another reason she’d insisted on the solstice ball. It would keep her too busy to wallow in her grief. Those she loved dearly could not be there, but new love and new family would.

  Adelina supposed that was the way of life.

  “No one needed to get me anything,” Adelina repeated, heading toward the washroom for a quick rinse. “I have plenty.”

  “Oh, is that why there is a gift for everyone under that tree from you?” Nadyah called out. “Everyone but your husbands oddly.”

  “Hush!” Adelina admonished before turning on the water. “If they find out where I’m keeping it then that would ruin the surprise.”

  “Oh so it’s one gift for all of us?” Varan asked, his voice coming from the main living space.

  He didn’t try to come into her bedroom – not while Nadyah was in there. Neither did the other two. All three of them had always been extremely respectful about her time with Nadyah since it had started back up again.

  Adelina pretended as though she couldn’t hear Varan and turned on the spray. “Nadyah, what did you decide to wear to the ball?”

  “Something red and delicious,” the courtesan replied, coming into the washroom completely naked. “It will offset your emerald green quite nicely.”

  “Solstice colors indeed,” Adelina murmured.

  Nadyah stepped into the spray as well and began washing Adelina’s back.

  Adelina sighed in contentment and tipped her head back to let the spray soak her hair as well. Having the courtesan back in her life had filled that small piece in her heart that was missing.

  Now life was so full of love and laughter and hopes and dreams. There was so much.

  “Ian suggested sending Vitto to you for a night as your solstice gift,” Nadyah teased. “I told him perhaps next year.”

  Adelina laughed and shook her head. “My brother was always good at sharing.”

  “Are you nervous about the ball?” Nadyah asked. “After all, isn’t this the first time your in-laws will be in Draga?”

  She nodded and started rubbing tonic into her hair. Nadyah took over and clicked her tongue. “Where is your lady in waiting?”

  “I gave her Winter Solstice Eve and Winter Solstice off and then invited her to the ball as a guest,” Adelina said with a shrug. “I washed and dressed myself for cycles before you came along. I can manage.”

  “She means to say one of us will assist her,” Nash called from the living room where sounds of plates being set out made their way to her.

  Adelina grinned at that and shrugged. “I can’t help it if they like putting clothes on me as much as they like taking them off.”

  “The emerald lace gown Gwendoline made is brilliant!” Varan insisted. “She had actual emeralds sewn into it.”

  “Truly?” Nadyah asked. “You’re terrible.”

  Adelina shrugged and turned to face the courtesan. “Perhaps, but at least I won’t be boring.” She kissed the courtesan and stepped out of the spray. “I would do your hair for you but you’re extremely particular.”

  The courtesan gave her that secret smile that made her knees weak. “I have appearances to maintain and I want to be sure I look my best when I see Jael again. It’s been a long while and I still haven’t made it back to retrieve my things from the House of Kismet.”

  “You’ll need to eventually,” Adelina said, wrapping a robe around herself.

  Nadyah grumbled good-naturedly as Adelina dried her hair. She let it fall in long ringlets down her back and then tied off the spidersilk robe that was just shy of sheer. When she came out of her bedroom, all three of her mates turned hungry eyes on her.

  “Is the food not enough?” she teased, taking her place at the small dining table they’d moved inside from its usual place on the balcony. “This all looks quite sustaining if you ask me.”

  “Not when you are on display,” Varan muttered.

  “What if we laid you on the table instead?” Kaiden said mildly, taking a bite of fruit.

  “A much better feast if you ask me,” Nash agreed.

  And just like that Adelina felt her skin prickle – begging to be touched and loved all over again.

  “I’ll see you at the ball in a few hours,” Nadyah called as she left, eyes twinkling. “Sounds like you’ll be busy.”

  All Adelina could do was swallow as the door shut behind Nadyah and Varan stood from his seat.

  “Don’t you dare waste food,” she told him, popping a grape in her mouth.

  “Kyotona we may be starved for you, but we would never waste food,” Kaiden told her, setting a platter on the ground. Nash cleared the rest of the food and set it on the floor as well. Then the three of them stared at her.

  “You can get up on the table or we can put you there,” Varan said, inspecting his nails. “Your choice, love.”

  Her husbands had feasted on her like she was food and they were starved.

  Then they took turns finding their release with her.

  Adelina was sore but happy and completely sated.

  The guests had already started to arrive for the ball by the time they’d finished.

  Varan set the crown Calix had made for her coming of age party on her head. He arranged her curls with an expert eye while Nash ran his fingers through her jewelry.

  “I’ll never understand how you remember each and every piece,” Nash told her. “There are so many.”

  Kaiden came in to her dressing room, fixing his cuffs. “I feel ridiculous,” he muttered.

  The other two were quick to reassure him and Adelina smiled. “I’m sure your parents will be happy to spend more time with you. They’ll be staying for a few weeks yet, right?” she asked.

  Kaiden’s wings rustled and he nodded. “Yes. Though I’m sure my father will not be pleased with this Dragan suit.”

  “You could have worn whatever you wanted,” Nash told him, practically rolling his eyes. “Don’t complain now because it makes you nervous.”

  “Both of you are wearing Dragan suits,” Kaiden protested. “I would look the idiot if I wore Drakesthai formalwear.”

  “Boys,” she warned, standing from her vanity. “You all look lovely in gold and black. Please, we have the longest night ahead of us. Let’s try to enjoy it?”

  “You look lovely in the emeralds,” Kaiden told her. “I apologize.”

  Adelina wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a sweet, chaste kiss. “I’m nervous about seeing your parents again as well. Your mother quite likes me, but your father is still difficult.”

  Kaiden’s grip on her tightened briefly before he let go. “I don’t care what he thinks to be honest, you’re my mate and absolutely perfect.”

  “You do look ravishing,” Nash agreed. “Save a few dances for me.”

  Varan as king consort was the one to officially escort her. He held out his arm with a grin and Adelina took it with a smile. Despite the strain of so many varied guests, she looked forward to the festivities.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to dance with everyone.”

  “Everyone?” Varan inquired with a playful quirk of his eyebrow.

  “Most everyone,” she amended. “Ready for your first royal ball as consorts?”

  All three of her mates looked a bit nervous, but they smiled for her.

  “Of course,” they murmured.

  She grinned. “Then let’s be off.”

  Eight hours to eat and drink and dance and talk and then there was the midnight performance. It would all end at dawn when everyone would go to their own small celebrations. Adelina couldn’t wait to enjoy the festivities.

  It was their first Winter Solstice as a family after all.

  Chapter Seven

  Nash

  Crystal Ballroom

  Draga Royal Palace

  The Draga System

  Watching Varan escort Adelina down the stairs of the Crystal Ballroom reminded Nash of her coming of age party. It had only been a little over six months, but it felt like so much longer than that. So much had changed since then. For one he was not the one escorting Adelina down those stairs, Varan was.

  Who would have thought that he, a possessive and jealous male, could learn to grow and accept sharing his female with two other males?

  Nash shook his head. He wouldn't have believed anyone who had tried to tell him back then – and ironically he was happier than he ever thought he could be.

  Kaiden and Nash descended the stairs after the queen and king consort. He took in the guests watching the four of them. Recorders flitted around, capturing the sparkling ballroom. They sent everything to the new livestream so one could watch the ball, even on Seprilles, in real time thanks to all the recent advances in tech.

  The Chancellor of Brogna smiled up at him as did Kaiden’s parents. Nash didn’t bother to mark who else was there. Instead his mind catalogued potential threats, exits, and the spiders dangling from above. It didn’t matter that there was a shield to keep them from dropping on his head. They still made him wary.

  Evergreens decorated everything, adorned with holly and berries. The large tree in one corner had gold baubles on it and various other glittering decorations. Nash had never celebrated Winter Solstice like this. It wasn’t a holiday in Khara, even if it was recognized.

  They usually spent the longest night drinking and feasting but they didn’t have evergreens or presents. It was a strange custom but one Nash felt like he could get used to. It made Adelina so happy and people were just nicer in general.

  Adelina stopped at the second landing and paused before her people. Varan stood beside her if still slightly behind. “Welcome to the Winter Solstice Ball,” Adelina said loud and clear. Her voice was strong and sure.

  The cheers from the packed ballroom echoed and people smiled at each other.

  That was the biggest difference between this ball and her birthday event. Adelina had fully come into her own. She’d grown from princess to queen so gracefully. And she was strong. A light in the dark.

  Nash smiled ruefully. So much about his wife defied all odds. She made him so proud to call her wife. The changes she was making were for the better, and she plowed through any resistance with a stubbornness that was endearing.

  One day soon, things would be easier.

  Adelina waited for the chatter to die down before she spoke again. “Enjoy the food, the drink, the music, the dancing, the games, and the pageant at midnight. Happy Winter Solstice. May all your hopes and dreams for the new cycle come true.”

  Adelina and Varan walked the rest of the way down the stairs; he and Kaiden trailing close behind. Nash couldn’t help but notice the stares, but the Drakesthai was becoming less of a novelty. Especially after the night before.

 

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