Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
RAOUL
The flight to Silvervale was long, and I enjoyed every moment of it, because Adele sat on my back, pointing out how amazing flight was.
“How much farther?” she called over the wind after I’d flown for some time.
Try speaking to me in my mind like I do with you, I said.
Hesitation rippled through her body. I felt her concentrating, and I pictured her brow furrowed in that way it did when she worked through a problem.
Like this? Her mental voice came through, tinged with wonder and delight.
My heart surged in my chest. She didn’t know what it meant that we could communicate this way. Didn’t understand that this kind of bond didn’t form between just anyone. It required something deeper, something that went beyond a political arrangement or even physical attraction.
I wouldn’t tell her why yet. Not when she still thought of us as a practical partnership that might be deviating into something special. It was all still too new.
Exactly like that. I kept my tone light. See? Much easier than shouting.
This is incredible. Her delight sang through the connection. It’s like I’m aware of your thoughts hovering just beyond reach. Not reading them, but sensing them.
That’s exactly how it is. An open door between us. You can push through anytime you want.
Can you sense mine? she asked.
Only what you project. Your emotions come through strongest.
I felt her curiosity spike, followed quickly by embarrassment. She was probably remembering every feeling she’d had during our time together, wondering what I’d picked up on.
Don’t worry. I let my amusement come through in my tone. I’ve known you wanted me since you first looked at me at our wedding.
I did not. I felt her blush even without seeing it. Fine. Maybe I did. You’re very distracting.
Only returning the favor, sweet. You’ve been distracting me since you rushed over to me and talked about weather.
She laughed, the sound carrying both out loud and through our link, and warmth spread through my chest.
We flew onward, Adele occasionally asking questions about the landscape below. I pointed out landmarks, explaining the territorial boundaries between courts, the old treaty lines that kept an uneasy peace.
Around mid-afternoon, I felt her weight shift, settling more heavily against my neck. Her mental voice had gone quiet. Her breathing had evened out. She’d fallen asleep on my back, high in the air, completely trusting me to keep her safe.
A fierce need to protect her surged through me. I adjusted my flight, making my wing beats smoother. No sudden movements. No sharp banks or altitude changes. Just steady, gentle progress through the sky.
My wings began to ache. The muscles burned with the effort of maintaining this much control. We should land, rest, eat, and stretch. But I kept flying because Adele was resting, and after the energy she’d expended at Brightmore, she needed it.
The weight of her against my scales felt right in a way I couldn’t explain. Natural. Like she was always meant to be there.
As we climbed higher to cross a mountain range, the temperature dropped. She pressed closer, seeking my warmth. Even in sleep, she turned to me.
I would do whatever it took to keep her safe.
Late afternoon sunlight was painting the sky in shades of orange and gold when she finally stirred. Her confusion rippled through my mind before she fully woke.
Where—oh. Embarrassment flooded the connection. Did I fall asleep?
For a while.
The sun’s setting. That’s more than a while. She sat up straighter. I’m sorry. That’s incredibly rude. You’ve been flying this whole time while I—
Needed rest. You solved an atmospheric crisis this morning. You’re allowed to be tired.
Still. Her chagrin was palpable. Some traveling companion I am.
The best, I said. Even when you drooled on my scales.
What? No! I didn’t. She paused, and her internal voice lowered to a bare whisper. Did I?
No. My laugh rang through our connection. But your reaction was worth it.
You’re terrible.
You’re beautiful when you blush.
You can’t even see me right now.
Don’t need to. I can feel it.
I caught a flutter of pleasure beneath her exasperation.
Look ahead, I said, banking slightly. Silvervale.
The landscape had been gradually shifting for some time now. The volcanic rock and fields of Emberforge’s territory had given way to alpine forests and snow-capped peaks. Silvervale Court rose ahead of us, carved into silver-veined cliffs that caught the dying sunlight like frozen lightning.
Where Emberforge was all dark stone and fire, Silvervale gleamed cold and beautiful. The architecture was different, more angular, more austere.
It’s beautiful, Adele said softly.
It is. I angled toward the formal courtyard. Don’t expect the same welcome we got at Brightmore. Silvervale is different.
In what way?
You’ll see.
I landed in the courtyard with barely a sound, my claws finding purchase on the smooth stone.
No crowd had gathered to greet us, though we’d sent word we were coming.
I spied four guards in silver armor standing at attention along one side, and a dragon shifter with silvery blonde hair waiting with her arms crossed on her chest.
Queen Mortiven. I’d dealt with her before. She was fiercely protective of Silvervale’s independence.
After Adele slid off my back, I shifted back to my usual form, putting an arm around my wife to support her while she found her legs again after the long flight.
Mortiven’s eyes tracked the movement, her expression unchanging. She stepped forward and gave me a short bow. “King Raoul. We weren’t expecting you to bring company.” Her gaze slid to Adele with barely concealed suspicion.
My protective instincts flared hot. I stepped forward. “This is my wife, Queen Adele. She’s here to help with your infant crisis.”
“A witch.” Mortiven’s tone made it sound like an accusation.
Adele stiffened, but before I could respond, she joined me, squaring her shoulders.
“A weather witch with expertise in atmospheric conditions and ways that can affect dragon physiology. If you’d prefer your babies to continue suffering, I’m happy to leave.
But I was under the impression you’d welcomed assistance. ”
I bit back a smile. That was my strong-willed weather witch.
Mortiven’s gaze narrowed. “We handle our own problems. We don’t need a witch’s interference.”
“This isn’t interference.” I kept my tone diplomatic rather than commanding.
Mortiven was right about one thing. I was a king, but not her king.
Like Emberforge, Silvervale operated independently.
I had to tread carefully. “This is one court offering aid to another. Unless you’ve already solved the problem yourself? ”
From somewhere in the cliff dwellings behind Mortiven, a baby’s cry erupted, followed by a distinctive sneeze and then more wailing. Then another sneeze from a different direction. And another.
Mortiven’s jaw tightened. “The situation is under control.”
“I can hear that,” Adele said dryly.
More sneezes echoed through the courtyard, and faces appeared at windows of the cave dwellings lining the steep walls, exhausted parents holding crying infants, dark circles under their eyes. They looked desperate, and who could blame them?
“We’re not here to undermine your authority or Silvervale’s independence,” I said. “We’re here because babies are suffering, and Queen Adele might be able to determine why. That’s all.”
A long pause stretched between us. Finally, Queen Mortiven’s shoulders dropped.
“Very well. I’ll have you shown to the guest quarters.
There’s an adjacent hot springs bathing area.
Meals will be brought to your suite.” Her gaze sharpened.
“Please remain there and don’t wander through our cave system without an assigned escort. ”
“Understood,” I said.
The queen gestured, and one of the guards stepped forward to lead us away. As we followed him into the cliff face, I caught Adele’s hand and squeezed it.
That went well, she said in my mind, her tone heavy with sarcasm.
Better than I expected. She didn’t throw us out.
The guard led us through a series of passages carved into the living rock. Silver veins caught the light from luminescent stones set into the walls, creating an ethereal glow. Beautiful, but cold. Impersonal.
He stopped at an arched doorway, swinging the wooden panel open. “Your quarters.” He waited until we’d stepped through before turning and leaving without another word.
The cave suite was stunning. Silver-veined stone soared overhead in natural cathedral arches.
The floor was made up of polished smooth stone , and furs covered a bed big enough to accommodate a dragon in half-shifted form.
Through an archway at the back, I could see steam rising from the hot springs Queen Mortiven mentioned.
Moonlight filtered through crystal formations in the ceiling, painting everything in soft silver light.
Adele stepped past me, taking it all in before she crossed to a stone table, pulling out her notebook and flipping it open. “I need to examine one of the infants as soon as possible. Document symptoms, check environmental factors, run some tests—”
“Adele.”
She looked up, blinking. “What?”
“You just woke up from a long nap on dragonback yet you’re still tired.” I could see it in her posture and the strain in her eyes. “The investigation can wait until morning.”
“But—”
“Morning,” I said firmly. “The babies have been sneezing for weeks. One more night won’t make a difference.”
She bit her lip, clearly torn between her drive to solve problems and exhaustion.
I took the notebook from her hands, setting it aside. “Let me help you out of these.” I gestured to her tunic and pants.
A flush crept up her neck, but she nodded. I worked on the fastenings of her tunic slowly, my fingers brushing her skin. This wasn’t about sex, though I’d never stop wanting her. This was about taking care of my wife after a long journey.
When I’d stripped her down to her undergarments, I led her toward the back passage.
The hot springs chamber opened up, steam coiling up from mineral-rich water that glowed faintly blue in the crystal light.
The pool had been carved from natural stone, with smooth edges and a gradual slope down into the water.
“It’s gorgeous,” Adele breathed.
I stripped off my own clothes and stepped into the water, sighing as the heat soaked into my aching muscles. My wings had been screaming at me for the last two hours of flight.
Adele removed her undergarments and followed me in. I caught her hand, steadying her as she navigated the slippery stone.
When she was settled beside me on a long, submerged bench, I reached for hair cleanser, holding up the small bowl. “Turn around.”
Once she faced away from me, I worked my fingers through the tangled strands, finding knots from hours of wind. After wetting her hair with an empty cup, I poured some cleanser into my palm and began washing her hair, massaging her scalp.
She melted, a soft sound of pleasure escaping her throat.
This was different from our heated encounter in Brightmore’s caves. This was tender. Domestic. The kind of intimacy that came from caring for someone, not just wanting them.
“Why is Silvervale so different?” she asked quietly. “From Brightmore, I mean. The village was warm, welcoming. Here…”
“Different courts have different cultures.” I worked the soap through her hair.
“Brightmore is a village of farmers and craftspeople. Small, close, used to helping each other. Silvervale is a political court. They see themselves as separate from Emberforge’s authority, and they’re not wrong.
The realm is more fractured than most outsiders realize. ”
“How many courts are there?”
“Seven major ones, including ours. Some are allied, some neutral, and some are actively hostile to each other.” I rinsed her hair, letting the water cascade over her shoulders. “My father spent his entire reign trying to prevent outright war between them.”
“And you?”
“I’m trying to build something better than just ‘not war.’ Actual unity. Cooperation. But it’s like trying to braid water.” I turned her to face me. “Courts like Silvervale guard their independence fiercely. They’ll accept aid, but they won’t accept orders.”
She studied my face in the dim light. “That’s why you changed how you spoke to Queen Mortiven. You weren’t commanding. You were negotiating.”
“Exactly.” I scooped up water and washed away the last of the soap. “If I’d tried to tell her what to do, she would’ve insisted we leave.”
“This will be more complicated than I thought.”
“Most people see the crown and assume it means power.” I pulled her closer, wrapping my arms around her waist. “But real leadership is knowing when to step back and listen, rather than give commands.”
She leaned her head against my chest. “What if I can’t fix this?” Her voice came out small, vulnerable. “What if I examine the babies and it’s not weather related at all? Would Silvervale really let it escalate to war?”
“Not over babies sneezing, no. But if they believe Goldwing is somehow causing them harm…” I shrugged. “Tensions are high right now. Any excuse could tip things over.”
“No pressure then.”
I tilted her face up, making her meet my eyes. “We’ll figure it out.”
She touched my face, her palm warm and soft against my jaw. “We will.”
I kissed her, slow and sweet, pouring everything I felt into it. When I pulled back, her eyes were heavy-lidded, her body relaxed against mine.
“You’re falling asleep again.”
“I’m not,” she mumbled, even as her eyes had drifted closed.
I lifted her from the water, wrapping her in one of the thick towels left by the pool’s edge. She didn’t protest, just let me dry her off and carry her to the bed.
I tucked her beneath the furs before sliding in beside her. She immediately curled into me, seeking my warmth, her head finding that spot on my chest that was made for her.
“Sleep, sweet,” I whispered. “Tomorrow we’ll save some babies.”
Her breathing evened out, and I held her, staring at the ceiling where moonlight created dancing patterns.
This wasn’t just attraction anymore, but something deeper. It had been building since the first moment I met her.
I was falling hard and fast and completely.
My practical, brilliant, storm-making wife had no idea she’d already claimed my heart.