The Dragon King’s Baby

Seathan leaned in closer to whisper to her. “I think you and I will enjoy each other, Adelaide. I hope you don’t see it as your ‘duty’ for long.”

When he pulled back, Addie stared at him, her face heated from the innuendo. When she saw the playful gleam in his eye, she giggled prettily. “Seathan, I think I agree with you.”

*****

Poppy and Jeanne woke her early the next morning to start preparing her to get married. Her stomach hurt a little less this morning than in had all week, due in part because she’d been absolutely charmed by Seathan at dinner the night before. In two hours time, the pair had chatted and become friends; Addie had realized that, under different circumstances, the two of them would have grown close. She didn’t know about marriage, had they been given a choice, but she liked him and he seemed to like her too. That was a start.

“Addie, the hairdresser and makeup artist are here,” Poppy called in her twinkling voice. She looked at Addie’s breakfast, then at Jeanne, nodding to the plate.

“Addie, you need to eat. You’ll feel faint at the ceremony if you don’t,” Jeanne gently warned her. “Imagine if you fainted in front of the entire kingdom.”

The trio laughed, and Addie picked up a slice of bacon. “You know, I’m not at all nervous about the wedding, or the wedding night.” She paused as her face heated a little. “I mean, I know what’s going to happen tonight. I’m no innocent when it comes to that.”

“I know you’ve never had s*x before, but I promise you’ll love it, especially with that sexy dragon man!” Poppy exclaimed with a sly wink and a giggle.

Jeanne’s smile was mischievous as well, but she let Addie off easily by changing the subject. “So if you’re not nervous about those things, what are you nervous about?”

Addie sighed. “The rest of my life.” Poppy and Jeanne exchanged glances. Addie would have to be crazy not to be concerned. She was marrying a stranger, moving to a strange land the very next day, away from her family and all she knew. None of them had visited Wyvern; they had no idea how they would be received by the dragon shifters. Worry was in all their minds about what might happen to them after tomorrow.

Jeanne was the first to break out of her thoughts. She clapped her hands and said, “No more negativity! We don’t have time for that nonsense!” She turned to the hairdresser and makeup artist, calling them over. “Come on, ladies. Make my friend even more beautiful than she already is.”

Addie smiled at Jeanne and held Poppy’s hand. She was so grateful they’d be going with her. “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. Let’s do this.”

*****

The ceremony would take place on the rooftop. Everything had been arranged so quickly that Claire had been concerned it wouldn’t look good, but her concerns were laid to rest when she saw it.

Lights had been strung above the rooftop so as the evening progressed the guests would be able to see. The aisle had been created with a white carpet strewn with pink petals, Addie’s favorite color. Chairs had been placed at exact intervals facing the dais, a raised portion of the roof perfect for a wedding ceremony. An arch had been created by the fairies who lived here, out of tree branches and blue daisies.

The area for the reception had been set up on the floor below. Dozens of tables with white tablecloths sat separated for easy navigating. The band was setting up their instruments; only the violinists would be needed on the roof for the ceremony. Each table would have a pair of servers specifically assigned to the table so no one had to wait for their food or drink refills. A five-course meal had been prepared to celebrate the nuptials of King Seathan and Princess Adelaide.

The guest began arriving and seating themselves. Many dragons had flown to Lomena to watch their king marry his princess. The people of both kingdoms would be able to watch the wedding on television; crews had set up cameras earlier in the day and would be there through the reception. Very few, human or dragon shifter, felt negatively towards the marriage; many felt it was time the two kingdoms joined.

When it was time, Seathan stepped onto the dais with Conall and the king, who would be performing the ceremony, a tradition in the human kingdom. The music began to play, and Poppy slowly flew down the aisle, her eyes sparkling. She stood across from Conall and waved at him. Jeanne walked down next; she was not only a handmaid in Addie’s eyes. Finally, Addie made her descent down the aisle.

Gasps at her beauty ran through the crowd; murmurs interrupted the music but quieted quickly. Addie’s smile was breathtaking; she may not have wanted to marry like this, but she felt beautiful in a way she never had. When she met Seathan’s eyes, she felt even more stunning; he couldn’t take his eyes off her. She preened as she walked, looking only at him. She thought to herself, This is how I’m supposed to feel on my wedding day. She didn’t care that she hadn’t chosen her groom. He looked at her as if he had chosen her, and that was all that mattered.

When she reached his side, he leaned over and said to her, “You look ravishing.” She smiled up at him and turned to her father, who began the ceremony.

Chapter 3

The reception was a blur for Addie; she ate good food, laughed when she was supposed to, held her new husband’s hand, although she didn’t once look at him. Her thoughts were focused on the fact that she was now a married woman. She belonged to the dragon king, whatever that might mean. Any dreams she’d had for her future had been destroyed when she’d said I do before three hundred witnesses.

The party, as her father had referred to it at the end of the ceremony, was winding down. Addie’s stomach clenched. When the reception ended, she was expected to go upstairs with her husband (she almost gagged when she thought the word) and make love with him. But it won’t be making love, Addie reminded herself, because I don’t love him and he doesn’t love me.

She had to admit, at least to herself, that she did like him. Their conversation at dinner the night before had been filled with laughter. He was intelligent, charming, and handsome. She felt like, had they met under normal circumstances, that she would have liked him. But these weren’t normal circumstances. She had promised herself, and Poppy and Jeanne, for that matter, that she wouldn’t hold her father’s decision against this man. And she meant to stick by that promise.

Would it be so bad if she fell in love with him? she asked herself. Her life would be better if she did. She looked at him seated next to her and watched him while he chatted with his man, Conall. They laughed together, and her thighs clenched at the sound of his deep voice raised in laughter. He was a beautiful man, and she could tell he wasn’t a ‘mean son-of-a-bi*ch’, like she’d said he might be when her father had told her the news. He had kind eyes and a sweet demeanor. Beneath that, though, seethed a power he could wield if the need should arise.

Addie and Jeanne had done some digging on the internet the day after her father had broken the awful (maybe not so awful) news to her. Seathan had become king of Wyvern when his father had passed. None of the kingdoms followed the antiquated rules of the old monarchy; Seathan had been elected by the people of Wyvern to rule them. He was a more popular king than his father had been, and his marriage to Addie had been well-received.