Her eyes lit up. “I still can’t believe there are dailyentries going back three centuries. Do you know how incredible that is? With that sort of data, we could identify all sorts of weather patterns.”
I poured tea for both of us, noting how she took hers, with no milk, two sugars. “Our agricultural planning has benefited significantly from the historical records. We can predict growing seasons, frost dates, and drought cycles. Of course, the records contain more than weather details. They discuss treaties and whatever my people might’ve been working on during that time.”
“Even if it’s only a few details, it could be amazing. Imagine what more we could do with proper weather analysis.” She leaned forward. “I could develop predictive models that might extend accuracy to two, maybe even three years in advance. The economic implications alone are astounding.” She stopped, her expression shifting to one almost shy. “I’m doing it again. Rambling about research.”
“I don’t mind.”
The door to my chambers burst open with enough force to bang against the wall.
“Raoul, I need to talk to you about the Summit preparations because Niles is being an absolute nightmare about the seating arrangements and—” My younger sister, Demi, froze in the doorway, her amber eyes widening as she took in the scene.
Me, shirtless, sitting at the breakfast table.
Adele, wearing nothing but my tunic, her damp hair loose around her shoulders, a piece of honeycake halfway to her mouth.
Fletcher, looking up from where he’d been hoping for dropped food.
The breakfast spread between us, intimate and domestic in the morning light.
“Oh,” Demi said, her voice climbing an octave. “Oh my.”
I set down my tea, my mind racing through damage control scenarios. Demi was seventeen, smart, and didn’t hesitate to say absolutely anything that came to her mind.
“Demi, this is my wife, Adele Thornwick. Adele, my sister, Demi.”
Adele swallowed her bite of honeycake and smiled, unfazed by the interruption or her state of undress. “It’s lovely to meet you. Raoul’s mentioned… Actually, he hasn’t mentioned you yet, but I’m sure he was going to tell me how amazing you are pretty soon.”
Demi snorted. “That I doubt.” Her head tilted as she looked between us. “It’s nice to meet you, Adele.”
“You too.” Adele tucked the bite of honeycake into her mouth and spoke around it. “Want some breakfast? We have more than enough.”
“Honeycakes? Absolutely.” Demi dragged a chair over and sat, and the two women were soon chattering away about various topics.
I leaned back in my chair and watched them, realizing my life had been completely disrupted.
And I loved it.
CHAPTER SEVEN
ADELE
Demi pulled her chair closer to the table and began piling food onto her plate. “So, Adele, I assume Raoul mentioned the Summit of Scales?”
I glanced at my husband, who’d suddenly become very interested in his tea. “No, he hasn’t.”
Demi rolled her eyes. “Typical. The Summit takes place in less than two weeks. It’s when all the dragon clans gather to renew alliances, show off their hoards, and generally size each other up. As the new queen, you’ll be expected to host and impress visiting royalty.”
My bite of honeycake suddenly tasted like paper. “Me, host and impress royalty? In less than two weeks?”
“Don’t panic.” Demi waved a hand my way, taking a big bite of buttered bread and speaking around it. “Our cousin Niles and I have been working on the planning for months. We’ll hand everything over to you this morning and go through the guest list, seating arrangements, entertainmentschedule?—”
“I’m taking Adele on a tour of the palace this morning,” Raoul said.
His sister paused mid-bite. “We can meet this afternoon then.” She flashed me a smile. “That works perfectly, actually. It’ll give me time to organize my notes.”
She turned her attention to my companion, who’d inched closer to her chair with hope in his droopy eyes. “And who’s this handsome fellow?”
“Fletcher,” I said, watching as the hound immediately transferred his loyalty to the person most likely to give him food. “My companion.”
