Chapter 13 See Me In A Crown #2
Valerius’ was black on black. Black exterior, black embroidery in a shining, metallic thread, and black silk interior that looked like cool, night water.
A line of rubies was sewn into a fire pattern on top of the sleeves.
Caden’s coat was also black on the outside but there was icy silvery thread embroidery along the collar, cuffs and edges.
The interior was a pure snowy white silk.
Diamonds were sewn into a snowflake-type design on his sleeves.
Illarion’s coat, too, was black on the outside, but with forest green embroidery and interior silk.
Emeralds formed a stylized smoke symbol on his sleeves.
The pants were fitted and black, which would show off Valerius’ long legs very well.
There were knee-high boots of polished black leather.
Silk wrap shirts, again, in the colors of their Dragons with Chinese-style collars were also provided.
And to complete the look were black belts that had curling, dragon buckles.
The dogs whined as they looked from Valerius to the clothes to Valerius again. Couldn’t they take just a teensy, weensy bite? Maybe shred a boot? Or maybe chew a sleeve? Would Valerius really pull Mephous’ wings off?
Valerius gave the dogs a hard look. They sighed and went back to biting the heads off of their stuffed toys. Caden wondered why Illarion didn’t mind them chewing on the voodoo doll versions of Mephous, but Illarion seemed to love the dogs’ destruction of the plushies.
More power to him.
Caden leaned down to finger the material of the shirts. Raw silk. Beyond high quality. It was light and cool. It would likely feel like they were wearing nothing at all. He looked up at Anwar with a grin.
“You knew you scared us with the fuschia, didn’t you?” Caden asked Anwar.
The Silver Dragon King grinned. “Oh, yes, and it was so fun!”
Illarion slapped Anwar’s back, which caused the Silver Dragon King to lift an eyebrow, but then smile as Illarion said, “You had them good!”
“And they were so wonderful about it.” Anwar laughed delightedly. “Fuschia has its place, but not with your complexion, Caden.”
Caden grinned. “What about everyone else’s outfits? Can we see those too?”
“They’re right there.” Anwar pointed to manikins on the far wall.
Tez’s outfits matched theirs except for it being gold.
Mei, Jahara and Esme had fitted silk dresses in the colors of their dragons with a slit up the leg.
Their coats were not black, but white with metallic stitching and jewels as well.
Kaila’s was a mix between the men's and women’s outfits, but hers had wide, flowing raw silk pants that shimmered with her Dragon’s colors.
There were also pieces of elaborate jewelry for each of them, including crowns.
Caden went over to the nine crowns that were nestled on velvet pillows. Though he had never seen Valerius wear a crown, he recognized which one was the Black Dragon King’s immediately. It was a stark black-gold crown with three sharp points that speared towards the sky.
And then there was his own. It was silver so pure that his eyes almost ached with the shininess of it. Three large diamonds encrusted the top like ice. He lightly ran his hands over it. He turned back to Anwar.
“This all looks amazing. The crowns… What made you think of those?” Caden asked.
“We’ve all had them since the War,” Valerius said. “Yours was the only one newly found.”
Caden touched it again. For a moment, he had a vision of Raziel and Iolaire working together to forge this somehow. The diamonds were as cold as ice and he pulled his fingers away. Valerius’ crown was warm to the touch and Caden could well imagine it being forged in a great pool of magma.
“Did the Dragons make these?” Caden asked finally.
“Yes, we think so,” Valerius said.
“You think so?” Caden’s eyebrows lifted.
“Believe or not, I just put the pillow out and waited,” Anwar said. “And there was your crown this morning.”
Caden looked at the two sleeping Dragon Spirits. No wonder they were tired! They’d been working on this! He smiled at them with affection even as his eyes watered a little bit.
“That’s--that’s so cool,” Caden admitted.
Valerius came over and put his hands on Caden’s shoulders, squeezing gently, until Caden felt those tears subside. He leaned back into Valerius’ embrace and breathed.
“Why don’t you wear them?” Caden asked, referring to the crowns.
“Because… until now it never…”
“Felt right,” Illarion finished for Valerius.
He was leaning one hip against the table and staring almost moodily at his crown which had an almost serpent design with emeralds as big as pigeon eggs.
“I wanted to wear it. Make myself look--if not be--king of my territory, but the crown never fits properly.”
Caden lifted Illarion’s crown from the pillow and gestured for him to lower his head. “Let’s try now.”
“Caden.” Illarion looked distinctly uncomfortable. “I do not need to wear it again to know that it will feel the same.”
“I don’t think it will. Do you, Anwar?” Caden asked the Silver Dragon Shifter.
He knew it would be different, because Illarion was different.
Illarion who never did anything for anybody had saved Valerius, had helped save the world, and then--when he didn’t have to--had risked himself to find Fadel for Anwar.
He had done it without even telling anyone. The crown would fit.
“No, I think it will fit perfectly. Here, let me put it on you. I will adjust it,” Anwar said as he gently took the crown from Caden’s hands and he gestured for Illarion to lower his head.
Illarion grimaced, but he did as requested. “It will not fit and you will see that it is--”
“There. Fits perfectly,” Anwar said as he simply placed it atop Illarion’s head.
And it did fit perfectly. Illarion frowned and slowly lifted his head. He reached up and ran his fingers along the scaly band that encircled his brow. The metal was dark like old bronze, but it made Illarion look like an ancient king of old.
“Let me get you a mirror,” Caden said and he grabbed a hand mirror and held it up for Illarion to see.
Illarion stared at his reflection in the mirror. His expression went from confused and uncertain to a broad, almost wicked smile. He actually did gun-fingers at his reflection. Caden rolled his eyes.
“I don’t understand what you did, Anwar, but it definitely fits now,” Illarion said with an awkward laugh.
“Well, your head certainly didn’t get smaller,” Valerius murmured, but there was the curl of a smile on his lips.
“My head should get bigger because I saved you, Valerius!” Illarion sing-songed. He pinched Valerius’ cheeks and said, “You were so cute when you were weak and mortal. So sad! But there I was! The great Green Dragon King who saved you from being turned into a melting pile of flesh and bones!”
Valerius replied dryly, “Imagine how sad you’d be if you weren’t able to tell this story again and again and again? You should be thanking me for surviving.”
Illarion patted his pinched cheeks. “Again, with the cuteness!”
Caden, recognizing that Valerius was a hair’s breadth away from wing-ripping comments, asked, “Does Vozyth really not have any hard feelings after you ripped off her head?”
Illarion shrugged. “She appreciated the show of strength. I rather think it was like… courtship? I mean Raziel and Iolaire fought the first time they met.”
Caden frowned, but then shrugged. “You could be right. After all, we did ice Raziel that day.”
Illarion threw an arm around Caden’s shoulders. “You, too, know the joy of besting the great and powerful king of kings.”
“I was lucky,” Caden said. “I caught them off guard. I don’t think it would work a second time.”
“You sent the Behemoth on its way,” Valerius reminded him. “Your strength has nothing to do with your size.”
Caden beamed.
“Everyone, you must try your clothes on so that we can make any adjustments before the wedding,” Anwar said and clapped his hands together.
“Uhm, you might want to make sure there’s a little room for me in the stomach as I intend to eat my weight in food between now and the wedding,” Caden admitted.
“Have you guys seen the spreads that have been set out by the staff? It’s like a sideboard of beef.
Piles of roast potatoes. Mountains of ham and those sweet rolls! Bacon wrapped everything!”
Caden tipped his head back and made a gurgling sound of pleasure. The others merely laughed and shook their heads.
“New Dragons are always hungry.” Illarion patted his flat as a washboard stomach. “Though Mephous wouldn’t mind some ham. Oh, and a few roast chickens. And those lamb chops--”
“I will make sure that all of your clothes have some give,” Anwar murmured.
They all stripped down and dressed in wedding clothes. Caden was shocked at how well they fit. And unlike his fears, they were comfortable. In fact, so comfortable, he could have simply walked out of there wearing his.
“No, no, no,” Anwar said. “These are to remain a secret from the press. They won’t be seen until the wedding day.”
Caden sighed, but nodded. “The helicopters have been buzzing High Reach all day.”
“I am going to have Chione put a stop to that. They have enough footage,” Valerius remarked as pulled on the black coat to finish his outfit.
Caden’s mouth fell open. Valerius looked… Well, Valerius looked like the Black Dragon King. Anwar brought over the crown and Valerius easily placed it upon his own head. Caden blinked. He was stunningly handsome. Strong. Virile. Everything. Caden definitely needed some alone time with him.
Illarion, who had managed to keep his crown on the entire time he undressed and dressed, chuckled as he caught sight of Caden’s expression. He did not seem surprised at how well Valerius looked. Valerius looked amazing all the time, but this outfit just… Caden couldn’t put it into words.
“I think I’m getting excited for this wedding,” Caden said a little breathlessly.
“I think you are looking forward to what happens after the wedding,” Illarion laughed.
“We’re not waiting that long,” Caden told the Green Dragon King.
That just had Illarion laughing harder.
Valerius stepped over to one of the floor to ceiling mirrors and regarded himself seriously within it. He lightly touched the crown and then smiled and nodded. It was as if he were approving himself.
“My crown fits now as well,” Valerius said softly.
“It always did!” Illarion scoffed.
“It was very heavy before, but now, I hardly feel it,” Valerius said.
Illarion opened his mouth to make a joke, but instead, he simply nodded.
Valerius turned to look at Caden in the mirror. His eyes blazed with admiration for Caden. Caden found himself blushing and unsure of where to put his hands. Anwar really had outdone himself.
“Now it's your turn to try on your crown,” Valerius said.
“Oh, I… I guess so!” Caden laughed awkwardly. He’d been so eager to have other people wear theirs, but now he had that momentary doubt again that he was worthy of one. But a single look in Valerius’ eyes and Caden nodded. “Yes, I agree. Let’s put it on.”
Anwar had brought it over to him. Caden took the crown from the Silver Dragon King’s hands. The metal was cool to the touch. He turned it so that the crusted diamond top was in the front. And then he set it upon his head.
“How weird!” Caden gasped. “I don’t feel it’s weight at all.”
Anwar placed his hands together in front of his face, almost as if in prayer. Illarion let out a whistle and nodded as he looked at Caden. Finally, Caden turned towards Valerius.
“What do you think?” Caden asked him.
“What do you think?” Valerius took Caden’s hand and had him stand in front of the mirror.
Caden hardly believed it when he stared at his reflection. There stood the White Dragon King. There was no doubt who it was that looked back at him with his glittering icy crown. He was meant to be here, to wear this mark, to be this person.
“Wow,” Caden breathed.
“Wow, indeed,” Valerius said and kissed his temple.
Iolaire opened a tired eyelid just a crack and hooted its love and admiration. Caden grinned.