Chapter 7 Adele
CHAPTER SEVEN
ADELE
Demi pulled her chair closer to the table and began piling food onto her plate. “So, Adele, I assume Raoul mentioned the Summit of Scales?”
I glanced at my husband, who’d suddenly become very interested in his tea. “No, he hasn’t.”
Demi rolled her eyes. “Typical. The Summit takes place in less than two weeks. It’s when all the dragon clans gather to renew alliances, show off their hoards, and generally size each other up. As the new queen, you’ll be expected to host and impress visiting royalty.”
My bite of honeycake suddenly tasted like paper. “Me, host and impress royalty? In less than two weeks?”
“Don’t panic.” Demi waved a hand my way, taking a big bite of buttered bread and speaking around it. “Our cousin Niles and I have been working on the planning for months. We’ll hand everything over to you this morning and go through the guest list, seating arrangements, entertainment schedule—”
“I’m taking Adele on a tour of the palace this morning,” Raoul said.
His sister paused mid-bite. “We can meet this afternoon then.” She flashed me a smile. “That works perfectly, actually. It’ll give me time to organize my notes.”
She turned her attention to my companion, who’d inched closer to her chair with hope in his droopy eyes. “And who’s this handsome fellow?”
“Fletcher,” I said, watching as the hound immediately transferred his loyalty to the person most likely to give him food. “My companion.”
“He’s adorable.” Demi slipped him a piece of honeycake. “Those ears, and that sweet little face.”
Fletcher grunted. Why don’t you tell me I have a sweet little face?
I do. All the time.
I don’t recall you stating it often enough. He gave Demi another pleading look. Tell her to give me some eggs. I’m starving here.
I slid an egg onto a plate and put it on the floor. He gobbled it up in one bite and gazed longingly at the rest on the platter.
That’s only a snack, he said. Be generous, would you?
You’ve eaten an egg and a honeycake already. That’s enough.
With a huff, he slunk over to the sofa and settled on it, closing his eyes. His snores quickly rang out.
Demi looked his way and shook her head. “I need to get a pet. He’s the best.” She launched into some of the activities that would take place during the Summit.
I tried to focus on what this event might entail. Would I be expected to give speeches or organize meals? Or just preside and smile? I could do that.
If dragon clans from different regions were gathering, they’d be coming from various climates and altitudes.
That meant different weather pattern exposure, which could provide fascinating comparative data.
Perhaps I could set up monitoring stations to track how the influx of dragons affected local atmospheric conditions. The thermal displacement alone—
“Adele?” Raoul’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. “You’re doing that thing again.”
“What thing?”
“Where your eyes glaze over and the temperature drops three degrees.” He gestured to the window, where frost had begun forming on the glass.
“Oh. Sorry.” With a flick of my finger, I warmed the air back to normal. “I was thinking about the Summit. There might be interesting research opportunities.”
Demi grinned. “I like her already. She’s not remotely terrified of the political nightmare we’re about to throw at her.”
“Should I be terrified?”
“Probably,” Demi said cheerfully. “But you seem like the type who stays calm in a crisis. Unlike some people.” She shot a pointed look at Raoul, who ignored her.
We continued eating, Demi keeping up a steady stream of conversation about preparations, dragon clan politics, and which visiting royals were most likely to cause problems. I tried to absorb the information while simultaneously calculating how many weather monitoring devices I could put into place without being obvious about it.
“So,” Demi said, her tone shifting, “not that I’m judging, but why are you wearing only my brother’s tunic while he’s only wearing a pair of his pants? I know for a fact he owns more than one outfit.”
“My belongings won’t arrive until sometime today. I was in a hurry yesterday and neglected to pack. I only have my wedding dress with me.” That was a nice, delicate way to put it.
“She was two hours late to the wedding.” Raoul sounded amused.
“I was tracking thermal patterns,” I said. “It was a breakthrough moment.”
Demi laughed. “I definitely like you. But you can’t walk around the palace in just Raoul’s tunic, no matter how good you look in it. Give me a few moments, and I’ll grab some things from my chambers that should fit you. We’re about the same height.”
“That’s kind of you,” I said. “I don’t want to impose—”
“I have more gowns than I know what to do with. Royal life requires an obscene wardrobe.” She popped another piece of honeycake into her mouth. “Besides, we’re sisters now. What’s mine is yours.”
The casual way she said it, like my belonging here was already settled, made me feel all warm and squishy inside.
We finished breakfast with Demi chattering about which gowns would look best with my coloring. When she finally pushed back her chair, she strode over to the sofa to ruffle Fletcher’s ears. He didn’t even wake.
“I’ll be back shortly,” she said. “Don’t let him take you on a tour without proper clothes.” She nudged Raoul’s arm. “My brother here is usually so absorbed in what the kingdom needs that he forgets the little things.”
She swept from the chambers with the same energy she’d brought in, leaving quiet in her wake.
We finished eating.
“Your sister is wonderful,” I said.
“She’s a menace.” Affection came through in Raoul’s voice. “But yes, she’s wonderful. She’s been managing most of the Summit preparations because I’ve been…” He trailed off.
“Busy being a king?”
“Something like that.” He rose and began placing our breakfast dishes on the tray. “I apologize for not mentioning the Summit earlier. There’s been so much to discuss, and I—”
“Got distracted by me arriving two hours late and then bathing with you?” I said.
His hands stilled on a plate. “Yes, er, that.”
Before I could analyze his tone, Demi burst back into the room, her arms full of colorful fabric.
“I brought options.” She dumped the gowns on the sofa, startling Fletcher awake. “This green one will look great with your eyes. The blue is more formal. The burgundy is my personal favorite, but it’s a bit daring in the neckline. And this cream one is comfortable if you just want easy.”
I stared at the pile of beautiful gowns, each one clearly expensive and expertly tailored. “Demi, these are lovely. I can’t—”
“You absolutely can. Now go change before Raoul combusts from watching you walk around in only his tunic.” She shooed me toward the bedroom. “We’ll meet this afternoon, yes? Say, two o’clock in the council chamber?”
“Two o’clock.” I nodded, gathering the gowns in my arms. “Thank you. Truly.”
“You’re welcome.” She grinned. “And Adele? Welcome to the family. I think you’re exactly what this stuffy old palace needs.”
She left before I could respond, the door closing behind her with a soft click.
I carried the gowns into the bedroom and laid them across the enormous bed. They were all beautiful, but Demi was definitely more slender than I was. I selected the cream one she’d said was comfortable and pulled off Raoul’s tunic.
The gown slid over my head easily enough, but getting it fastened was another matter. I contorted myself trying to reach the buttons that ran down the back, managing about half of them before giving up. At least it was on, even if it wasn’t completely secured.
I turned to examine myself in the mirror.
“Oh, my.” The dress had been made for someone with Demi’s willowy build.
On me, it clung to every curve like a second skin.
The neckline, which had probably looked elegant and modest on Demi, was now decidedly low on my fuller chest. My breasts were thrust up and practically spilling over the edge of the fabric.
My grandmother would be able to fix it with a flick of her finger, but I knew better than to try to make any magical alterations. The last time I’d tried, the garment ended up full of holes. My grandmother made me promise not to try again, to leave it to her or the seamstress witches.
The waist was tight enough that I could barely breathe, and the skirt, which should’ve flowed gracefully, hugged my hips in a way that left nothing to the imagination.
I looked like I was trying to seduce someone, which was absolutely not my intention.
But it was better than walking around in a tunic with no undergarments, so I’d make do. I’d never particularly cared what I looked like anyway. My appearance was secondary to my work.
Though I had to admit, as I studied my reflection in the mirror, the dress did make my figure look rather…pronounced.
I shook off the thought and left the bedroom.
Raoul must have clothing in the bathing area, because he’d finished dressing while I was gone, and he now wore a dark brown tunic that made his amber eyes appear molten gold.
Silver threading ran along the collar and cuffs in intricate patterns, and it fit perfectly across his broad shoulders, tapering to a trim waist. His auburn hair was still slightly damp from our bath, and he’d secured it back from his face with a leather tie.
He looked like every maiden’s fantasy of a dragon king: powerful, elegant, and devastatingly handsome.
He turned as I emerged from the bedroom, and whatever he’d been about to say died on his lips. His gaze traveled down my body in a way that made my skin heat. His throat worked as he swallowed once, twice, three times. His hands tightened at his sides, and the air around us grew warmer.
“My morning just got significantly hotter,” he said, his voice rough.
I cooled the air with my weather magic, bringing the temperature back to normal. “Is that better?”
He made a strangled sound that might have been laughter. “That’s not what I meant.”