Queen Glaciana Frostborne Alpineglow's Arc

Chapter 21 of 33

Morning came again, and the palace worked below without them. Glaciana stood at the window in her nightgown. Snowmelt dripped from the eaves for the first time in three winters. She watched the water fall and did not reach for her ledger. There was nothing left to record as temporary. Behind her, Victor rose from the royal bed. She heard the sheets shift, then his bare feet on the stone. He crossed the room and wrapped his arms around her from behind. His chest was warm against her back. He kissed the side of her neck, slow, and rested his hand flat on her belly. "How do you feel?" he asked. Glaciana felt heat climb her cheeks. She had not blushed at this before, but his hand on her belly meant more now than it had. She bit her lip. "A little sore," she said. "I am not complaining." He did not smile often, but she felt his mouth curve against her skin. His hand stayed where it was. He rubbed a slow circle, careful, as if something inside her had already changed and needed guarding. "Good," he said. That was all. He named what he wanted by his silence. She turned in his arms to face him. His grey eyes held hers. She thought of what they had begun, and what her body might already be carrying. It was too soon to know. But the choice was made, and the making of it had left a mark on her she could feel. "The court will ask," she said. "Soon. They have asked for years who comes after me." "Then we tell them when we are sure." He tucked a loose strand of silver hair behind her ear. "Not before. It is ours until then." Glaciana rested her forehead against his shoulder. For three winters she had held the kingdom together with rations and rotating shelters, alone. Now the cold was breaking, and she was not alone. She let herself lean on him and feel the soreness that meant something new had started. A sharp knock struck the door. Then Kira's voice, quick and bright. "My queen. You should come. The dragon has reached the courtyard." Victor's arms tightened. He looked past Glaciana to the window. Glaciana followed his gaze. Below, the great winged shape had settled onto the fresh straw of the den. Servants pressed against the walls, frozen. The guardian had come, out of the ice, for a family not yet born. Glaciana drew a breath and stepped back from Victor. The private morning was over. She reached for her gown. "Get dressed," she said. "Our people are watching a dragon land, and their queen is in her nightgown." Victor pulled on his shirt. Glaciana fastened her gown and set her crown on her braid. Whatever grew inside her now, the kingdom below needed its queen. She opened the door.