Clutchingthe fleech dragon to her chest—the dragon didn’t seem to want to leave her side, much less her arms—Adeline made her way from the bedroom toward the parlor she vaguely recalled from the nightbefore.
When she’d woken, she’d discovered Lorne gone, and a bag with some of her things left beside the bed. She’d felt a lot more herself after washing up with the water and basin, and she was thankful she could change into a clean dress instead of having to put on the dress from the previous day. That dress was currently missing. Presumably the inn staff was attempting to clean it of her vomit, sweat, and dirt from the forest floor from the day before.
She shuddered to remember how she’d hugged the king of Lalsacia while wearing that rather soiled garment.
Worse, she’d kissed Lorne before having the chance to brush her teeth.
As she opened the door to the parlor, she was hit with the sound of laughter and multiple voices.
Inside, the king of Lalsacia, Lorne, and Thaddeus sat in a circle, empty plates on the tables showing they’d already eaten breakfast. They were all smiling—Lorne seemed to have been laughing a moment ago—and even Thaddeus had a smile, even if his posture remained stiff and professional in the presence of a king and prince.
“Adeline.” Lorne spotted her first, hopping to his feet and hurrying toward her.
Behind him, Thaddeus stood and bowed, sheer relief in every line of his face and the easing of his posture. “Your Majesty. It is good to see you awake and well.”
“I’m sorry to have worried you.” Adeline sent asmile past Lorne’s shoulder in the moment before Lorne reached her.
Lorne wrapped her in his arms and pressed a light kiss to her forehead. “Good morning. You seemed to sleep well.”
“I did.” The best she’d slept in a long time. She guessed that likely had to do with the dragon she currently held. And perhaps she subconsciously felt more safe here in an inn within the borders of what was supposed to be an enemy kingdom than she did in her own bed at her own castle.
That instinct wasn’t without cause. She was probably more at risk of assassination from her own people than she was from her enemy. Her lords had already tried to kill her. Twice.
Lorne took a step back and gestured toward a side table, where a large tray piled with dishes rested. “There’s food, although it might have gone cold by now. We can request the kitchen send up more.”
“I’ll be fine.” She made her way to the side table and investigated the remnants of food left on the tray. The toast, eggs, and sausages were looking rather cold and unappetizing, but she didn’t want to delay everyone by asking for fresh food.
Lorne halted behind her, then grabbed the tray of food before she could take any of it. “There’s no way you’re eating that. I’ll see about getting a fresh plate for you.”
With that, he whisked the tray out of the room and disappeared, leaving her alone with Thaddeus and King Philip. Not a situation she’d ever envisioned.
“Come. Sit.” King Philip gestured at the chair Lorne had vacated.
“We shouldn’t linger too long.” Adeline edged toward the chair, not sure if she dared face King Philip, now that she knew he was her father-in-law. Sure, he’d hugged her the night before. But that didn’t erase the strange tension. “I’m not sure what kind of chaos is happening in Kelverny right now, and we really need to finish negotiating that peace treaty.”
“Yes, but we have enough time for you to eat a hearty breakfast. No reason you need to go into the negotiations on an empty stomach.” King Philip gave her a smile that was somehow parental, despite how awkward he too must feel. He cast a glance around the room and heaved a sigh. “As much as I’d love to suggest that we finish the treaty negotiations in comfort here, we can’t risk the Kelvernese people believing I exerted undue influence over you or that you signed the peace treaty while under duress on Lalsacian soil.”
“No.” Adeline heaved a sigh of her own. It would have been much nicer to simply get the negotiations over with here in this comfortable room with its plush chairs rather than return to that tent between the battle lines. She stroked a hand over the fleech dragon’s back. “I suppose I’ll need to return this little one to the forest on our way.”
“Actually, I think the dragon has bonded with you. I doubt he will leave, even if you give him the option.” King Philip smiled, as if he was unconcerned that oneof his kingdom’s precious fleech dragons had bonded with the enemy queen.
“Sounds like someone else I know.” She hadn’t meant to trap this fleech dragon with her, any more than she’d meant to trap Lorne.
But had she trapped them? Or, as Lorne kept insisting, had they chosen her? Chosen to be with her, no matter what they were giving up to do so?
The thought of being chosen like that was so overwhelming that she couldn’t quite fathom it. Her grandfather had certainly never chosen anyone with such a depth of love. Not her. Not his own son, whom he’d likely had a hand in killing. Even as king, he’d chosen his own power by inciting a war rather than doing what was truly good for his kingdom.
But there had been others. Hadn’t Thaddeus and Jelsa shown her what chosen loyalty could look like? And all the guards who had remained loyal to her? They’d never swayed in their devotion, even when she was standing alone and vulnerable beneath her grandfather’s dictates.
Could she choose them as wholeheartedly in return? Could she give her heart to her kingdom, her people, and to Lorne as completely as she ought?
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The ride back to the battle lines gave them ample time to discuss the particulars of the treaty. By the time they reached the spot between the lines—the tent still set up for their use—it was a simple thing to write out what they’d discussed on the way there.
Sitting at a table set outside in full view of both armies, Adeline stared at the finished treaty, the quill to sign it in her hand. This was it. An end to the war. Peace. Everything her parents would have wanted. Everything she had risked her marriage, her life, and her reign to achieve.
She probably shouldn’t be hesitating. Not that this was hesitation, exactly. More that this occasion felt too momentous to rush. She needed a few seconds to take it all in. Maybe then it would feel real.
