Page 1 of Markets & Mooncakes

Chapter 1

The air is thick with the scent of cooking pastry, making my mouth water and the desire to eat it grow stronger. But I know I have to wait. Not just until the hourglass has finished timing the bake, but until the almond croissants have cooled down enough for me to eat one. It's the only annoying thing about baking.

Nate is checking on the dough he put in the proving box when I came down to the kitchen, leaving me to do my best to convince my dragon that she should be able to set things on fire on command.

"Come on, Ember," I mutter as I look at my dragon. "You can use your fire."

Nate chuckles and leans against the table. "You might want to give her an actual command rather than just asking her."

"Right." I take a deep breath. "Fire, Ember!"

My dragon looks at me, cocks her head to the side, giving me a confused look that's actually kind of cute. Not that she's ever not cute. I never imagined that I would own a dragon, but the past six years have shown me that it's actually fun to have her around. Most of the time, anyway.

"Here." Nate sets down Ember's bowl with a couple of scraps of meat inside it.

Ember gives it a curious look before opening her mouth and letting out a stream of flames.

"Fire," Nate says firmly.

"I don't understand what that does," I mutter. "She's already got the treat."

"She needs to learn what the word means before you can get her to do it on command," he says patiently. Probably too much, given how frustrating I'm sure I can be.

"Oh." I frown as I consider what he's saying. "How do you know that?"

"I was talking to Prince Arthur last week, and he mentioned a book on dragon training."

"And you got hold of it?"

"He gave me a copy," he responds. "Is that a problem?"

"No. I guess I didn't realise how much you've been talking to my siblings. First Veronica and dance lessons, now Artie and dragon training."

He pulls me into his arms. "I think it's a case of them taking more of an interest in me because of you. They're invested in our relationship."

"Oh." I put a hand on his chest. "You really think that?"

"Don't you? You've said that Princess Veronica has been helping you work out how you feel."

"I mean, that is true. I know that I should be able to tell myself, but emotions are very confusing sometimes." It's frustrating, especially when I feel like everyone else seems to have everything figured out.

He brushes some hair out of my eyes. "I don't think it's that they're confusing. I've known you for a long time, and you always know how you feel. I think you just don't always have a way to put it into words."

"You do," I murmur. "And Veronica does."

"I don't." He gives me a small smile, completely ignoring my dragon. "I couldn't figure out how to tell you that I loved you."

"You knew what the feeling was, though," I point out. "I didn't."

He touches my chin and gently brings me back so that he can meet my gaze. "Evie, it's all right. You don't have to name every emotion..."

"But if I'd realised, then maybe..." I trail off as the threat of tears comes over me.

"Then what?" His question is soft and patient, just like he always is.

"I don't know. We could have done something sooner?"

"You mean when I was away from the castle?" he asks. "For five and a half years."