“Is that scientific fact or dragon wisdom?”
“Both.”
She laughed, but it sounded tired. “I keep thinking about those babies. The parents who trusted me with their hopes. What if I can’t?—”
“Stop.” I turned her, making her face me. “You’re doing everything right. Investigation takes time. You said that yourself at Silvervale.”
“That was before I saw twice as many suffering babies.”
“And you’ll help them. But not by exhausting yourself until you can’t think straight.” I pulled her to her feet and led her to the bed. She went without protest, which told me exactly how tired she was. We lay down together, and she curled into me, her head on my chest, her hand over my heart.
“Just for a few minutes,” she mumbled.
“As long as you need.”
I held her while she slept, stroking her hair, fierce protectiveness surging through me.
This woman cared deeply about solving this problem, about helping these families. She’d work herself into the ground trying to find a solution.
I wanted to shoulder that burden for her. Wanted to take the weight of it so she could rest. Wanted to fix everything so she’d smile at me the way she had this morning when I made a baby’s mother laugh.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
ADELE
Islept, jerking awake later. “I fell asleep.”
“You needed it.”
“But the investigation?—”
“Will still be there.” He brushed hair from my face. “Feel better?”
I considered, then nodded. “Actually, yes.”
“Good. Now let’s look at this with fresh eyes.”
We returned to the table, and he watched me study my notes, flipping between pages, comparing observations while muttering under my breath.
“The coughing,” I said. “It’s a respiratory irritant, something in the air that’s worse here than at Silvervale. But what would be present at one court and not the other when they’re so geographically close?”
“Different plants? Different minerals?”
“Possibly.” I tapped my pen on an open notebook. “I need to go to study the cliffside, go all the way to the peaks. Compare the vegetation, geological formations, and?—”
A knock interrupted me.
Raoul opened it to Mirabellestanding in the doorway, her expression tight. “King Trevare requests your presence. There’s been a new development.”
I was already on my feet, notebook in hand.
We followed her through the corridors to a meeting room where Trevare paced, three of his advisors clustered nearby.
“What’s happened?” Raoul asked once the door had shut and we were alone with his advisors.
“Silvervale sent a messenger.” Trevare’s jaw was tight. “They’re threatening to close their borders to Goldwing dragons if we don’t stop poisoning their children.”
I shook my head. “Your children are suffering too.”
