The Dragon Bond: Heirs of Lyra

Chapter 73

After a filling dinner and luxurious bath, the Princess was ready for blissful sleep. During the long, cold nights away, she had yearned for the comfort of her bed. She sunk into it, snuggling into one of her pillows, cocooning herself in the blankets. Her eyes closed and her brain turned off.

Then she stood up, abruptly, yanking the blankets off with her. She disentangled herself from the covers, and paced the room. The familiarity of her room should have been comforting, but something lacked. She moved several pieces of furniture around in attempts to restore some sense of order. While she was away, her room remained the same, yet everything was different. Something was missing.

Unable to tolerate it a moment longer, she left the room, her eyes falling to her guardian-- returned to his usual place on the floor--his back against the wall. He looked up at her as she approached, an eyebrow raised.

"I can't sleep," she folded her arms together, hugging them to her body.

Shade said nothing, his eyes lingering. She sighed and leaned against the wall, letting her feet slide forward slowly until she was sitting beside him on the floor. They stared straight ahead as they sat side by side.

When she let out another discontented sigh, he finally said, "I can't go in your room, Princess."

"I know," she said softly. It's why she hadn't asked it of him. Yet somehow he knew what she wanted. For some reason that comforted her. She let her head lean on his shoulder, allowed her eyes to close. While it was less than ideal, somehow this position was bringing her closer to sleep than being alone in her bed.

"Princess--" Shade's voice was strained, defeated.

They had shared more intimate positions than this, though in those instances they were alone in a foreign kingdom. Nothing could be done about it then. Here she knew he would not be allowed in her room, no one would find that appropriate. And while anyone could stumble upon them now, it wasn't as if they could accuse her of anything. Besides, everyone was asleep, even most of the guards on duty who should be alert and ready.

"Are you going to ask me to stop?" she kept her eyes closed. "I will if you want me to."

His breathing slowed. Then, "I'll allow it."

In the morning she awoke laying in her own bed, the covers placed over her carefully. She sat up, anxiously looking for her guardian, despite knowing better. The disappointment was bewildering.

Not much later her maids entered the room, excited and bubbling with questions. They had resisted their anxious inquiries last night and saved them for when the Princess was more awake. She struggled to answer them fast enough, as they bombarded her with questions one after the other.

After finally freeing herself from their grasp, Elysia made her way to breakfast. Before she could reach the kitchen, she was steered elsewhere by her mother.

"I thought you could have tea with us today," Queen Ariana said, her arms interlocked with her daughter's. Her stomach growled. She yearned for one of Sirey's berry scones. Instead, she was guided to an upper room, one that had previously been off limits to her. The Tea Room.

It was where Queen Ariana and Queen Mother Maria took their tea and chatted about whatever suited them. Elysia presumed it was simply a gossip room. As a child she had found the concept of such a room boring and degrading. Now she found herself curious. Would her suspicions be confirmed?

When they entered the room, Queen Ariana surprised them all by saying, "Apologies Shade, but this is a ladies only room. You may choose to wait in the hallway if you would like."