“Why don’t you wear them?” Caden asked, referring to the crowns.
“Because… until now it never…”
“Felt right,” Illarion finished for Valerius. He was leaning one hip against the table and staring almost moodily at his crown which had an almost serpent design with emeralds as big as pigeon eggs. “I wanted to wear it. Make myself look--if not be--king of my territory, but the crown never fits properly.”
Caden lifted Illarion’s crown from the pillow and gestured for him to lower his head. “Let’s try now.”
“Caden.” Illarion looked distinctly uncomfortable. “I do not need to wear it again to know that it will feel the same.”
“I don’t think it will. Do you, Anwar?” Caden asked the Silver Dragon Shifter. He knew it would be different, because Illarion was different. Illarion who never did anything for anybody had saved Valerius, had helped save the world, and then--when he didn’t have to--had risked himself to find Fadel for Anwar. He had done it without even telling anyone. The crown would fit.
“No, I think it will fit perfectly. Here, let me put it on you. I will adjust it,” Anwar said as he gently took the crown from Caden’s hands and he gestured for Illarion to lower his head.
Illarion grimaced, but he did as requested. “It will not fit and you will see that it is--”
“There. Fits perfectly,” Anwar said as he simply placed it atop Illarion’s head.
And it did fit perfectly. Illarion frowned and slowly lifted his head. He reached up and ran his fingers along the scaly band that encircled his brow. The metal was dark like old bronze, but it made Illarion look like an ancient king of old.
“Let me get you a mirror,” Caden said and he grabbed a hand mirror and held it up for Illarion to see.
Illarion stared at his reflection in the mirror. His expression went from confused and uncertain to a broad, almost wicked smile. He actually did gun-fingers at his reflection. Caden rolled his eyes.
“I don’t understand what you did, Anwar, but it definitely fits now,” Illarion said with an awkward laugh.
“Well, your head certainly didn’t get smaller,” Valerius murmured, but there was the curl of a smile on his lips.
“My head should get bigger because I saved you, Valerius!” Illarion sing-songed. He pinched Valerius’ cheeks and said, “You were so cute when you were weak and mortal. So sad! But there I was! The great Green Dragon King who saved you from being turned into a melting pile of flesh and bones!”
Valerius replied dryly, “Imagine how sad you’d be if you weren’t able to tell this story again and again and again? You should be thanking me for surviving.”
Illarion patted his pinched cheeks. “Again, with the cuteness!”
Caden, recognizing that Valerius was a hair’s breadth away from wing-ripping comments, asked, “Does Vozyth really not have any hard feelings after you ripped off her head?”
Illarion shrugged. “She appreciated the show of strength. I rather think it was like… courtship? I mean Raziel and Iolaire fought the first time they met.”
Caden frowned, but then shrugged. “You could be right. After all, we did ice Raziel that day.”
Illarion threw an arm around Caden’s shoulders. “You, too, know the joy of besting the great and powerful king of kings.”
“I was lucky,” Caden said. “I caught them off guard. I don’t think it would work a second time.”
“You sent the Behemoth on its way,” Valerius reminded him. “Your strength has nothing to do with your size.”
Caden beamed.
“Everyone, you must try your clothes on so that we can make any adjustments before the wedding,” Anwar said and clapped his hands together.
“Uhm, you might want to make sure there’s a little room for me in the stomach as I intend to eat my weight in food between now and the wedding,” Caden admitted. “Have you guys seen the spreads that have been set out by the staff? It’s like a sideboard of beef. Piles of roast potatoes. Mountains of ham and those sweet rolls! Bacon wrapped everything!”
Caden tipped his head back and made a gurgling sound of pleasure. The others merely laughed and shook their heads.
“New Dragons are always hungry.” Illarion patted his flat as a washboard stomach. “Though Mephous wouldn’t mind some ham. Oh, and a few roast chickens. And those lamb chops--”
“I will make sure that all of your clothes have some give,” Anwar murmured.
They all stripped down and dressed in wedding clothes. Caden was shocked at how well they fit. And unlike his fears, they were comfortable. In fact, so comfortable, he could have simply walked out of there wearing his.
