Elias eyed the cabin. “You’ve been here before?”
“Many times. It’s a good place to rest and spend a night when travelling. Senta knows about it. There is even a supply of dried food and water inside. It’s all pretty basic. But it will keep us fed.” He reached the cabin and opened the door. “Hmmm. Looks like my sister has been busy.”
Inside stood a bed, a fireplace with wood stacked beside it, and a table laid with various foods and several bottles of wine.
Elias laughed. “Looks like your sister wants us to eat, drink, and fuck on our couple’s quest?”
Gerard chuckled. “She is a very good sister.” Then Gerard tugged him inside.
Chapter
Twenty-Eight
Gerard watched as Colette leaned far out over the balustrade.
Below, Prince Beau and Duke Albert swirled across the marble dance floor. The eyes of all the royals, nobles, dignitaries, and monks fixed on the two.
Except for Colette’s. She had no interest in the dancing couple at their betrothal ball.
“Careful, Colette.” Elias tugged on the back of her pale-green dress.
“Oh. There he is!” She pointed. “I’m going to go speak to him.” Colette didn’t wait for a response. She rushed off and headed towards the stairs that led to the lower floor of the ballroom.
Elias sighed and shook his head before looking at Gerard. “Well, she’s young and infatuated. What can you do?”
Tonight Elias wore a top made of layers of translucent violet fabric that matched his eyes. The top had a V-neck that went halfway down his torso. A black belt withamethyst buttons cinched the waist. He wore billowy black trousers.
As always, Elias was beyond stunning. Everyone kept casting admiring glances at Elias. But if Elias noticed, he didn’t act like it. Gerard had not seen him return a single look. Except for Gerard’s.
“Actually, can you tell me anything about this young Lord Wolf that my ward is so enamoured with?” Elias asked.
“I don’t know him personally. So I can’t say anything about his character. But he comes from a decent family. He is a dragon. But not battle tested. He was too young to fight in the war.”
“I see. Well, hopefully he doesn’t break Colette’s heart.” Something hard glinted in Elias’s eyes. “If he does, he and I will have words.”
Elias might be a weak lightning sorcerer, but Gerard didn’t doubt for a second that Elias could put Lord Wolf in his place. After all, he’d taken Albert down with startling skill and precision. He’d not needed any powers to do that.
“I can speak to him if you like,” Gerard offered.
“You could?”
Gerard nodded. “I could tell him that it is expected that he will treat her decently. As dragon warrior prince, my word holds weight in Draconia.”
“How useful.” Elias took a step towards him. “It’s a good thing to be betrothed to such an important dragon.” He smiled and reached out. He touched Gerard’s sleeve and tugged on the fabric.
Gerard’s chest tightened.
Below Colette wove her way towards Lord Wolf. The young man’s face lit up at the sight of her. It seemed he wasas enamoured as she was. “So how did she end up your ward?”
Elias glanced down at her. “She is from my mother’s side of the family. A very distant cousin. They live in the country and mainly have chickens and sheep for neighbours. Since I don’t have many responsibilities, it was thought I could be made useful by teaching her about the ways of court.”
Elias tilted his head as he watched her. “I’m not really sure what I’m doing. I’ve never had a ward before.”
“I think you are doing a good job.”
Once again Elias smiled at him, and Gerard’s whole body tingled.
“Thank you for the vote of confidence.” Then Elias looked to the floor below, his eyes scanning the crowd.
