Chapter Thirty-Three

Det escorted Loralie out of the Council Hall and then walked with her back to his family home. It was nearly dinnertime, so she retired to her room to freshen up a bit. Det left her at her door with a quick kiss on the cheek and a twinkle in his eye.

"I arranged a little surprise for you before everything kicked off this morning. If all went well, it should be waiting in your room," he told her and left to go to his own room across the hall.

She went into the guest room she'd been using and was astonished to discover a number of fine gowns had been left hanging around the room near the closet, which had been left open. Even from the doorway, she could see that there was an entire wardrobe in the closet, including underthings of fine linen and chemises of silk to go under the gowns.

Had he raided some other woman's closet to get these things? She went closer to inspect the fine gowns and the accompanying garments. No. These were new. It looked as if nobody had ever worn any of the pieces. How had he managed this? Had he hired a team of seamstresses? How had they made these clothes without measuring her?

And then, she recalled that the household staff had cleaned all of her clothing for her. They could easily have measured those clothes to get the information to make these. She would have to thank everyone involved in this miracle. Loralie hadn't had new clothes in ages, and never so many at one time. She'd been lucky to find one or two new pieces when she was in a town or city that had a seamstress she could talk into making something quickly. Loralie had never really spent too much time in one place. Other than that, she had sewn her own things or made do with the old items she'd taken from her mother's closet when she'd left the Citadel.

Loralie stripped quickly and bathed just as fast, then put on one of the deliciously soft new garments. A soft yellow under-dress with a flame-colored over-gown appealed to her, and she twirled around a few times, watching the play of the fabric in the mirror.

A gentle knock sounded on her door, and she rushed to answer it. She hoped it was Detlif come to see how his gift had gone over. But it was Penny and Petr, who gaped at her as if they had never seen her before.

"Mama, you look like a princess!" Penny said on a breathless whisper.

"You're even prettier than before," Petr agreed. "I like your dress."

"Thank you, kind sir," she said, curtseying playfully to her son. "This is your papa's doing. He arranged for these new clothes as a surprise."

"That's a really great surprise," Penny enthused.

"I think so too," Loralie agreed, hugging both children close to her sides. "Shall we go thank him?"

"Yes, let's!" the twins chorused, and they went out of the room together, fairly skipping down the hall to their father's room.

"Go ahead and knock," Loralie advised the children. Both raised their little fists to the door and knocked. Det would recognize the dual sounds from the lower-than-adult-height as being from the twins.

Det opened the door a moment later, looking down at the children first, then up. His gaze swept up Loralie's body, taking in the new dress on his way to meet her gaze, and she felt her blood instantly heat. She read appreciation in his expression, and pure male desire.

Unfortunately, that would have to wait until later. Right now, they had a lively young audience and a need to get to the dining room. Dinner would be served at any moment.

"May I escort you, milady, to the dining chamber?" Det joked, holding out his elbow for Loralie to take.

"Yes, you may." She played along, smiling and taking his arm. The twins did the same, leading the way into the dining room.

"You look lovely," Det whispered for Loralie alone to hear.

"Thank you," she replied, finding it hard not to blush. "And thank you for the clothes. How in the world did you manage it?"

"It's a secret," he said playfully. "I'm just glad you like it."

"I love it! Thank you so much," she said gently. "You're a very special man, Detlif Adain."

He couldn't answer because they had arrived in the dining room, and it was time to take their seats. Lady Adain was already there. Det remained standing until the ladies were seated, and Petr followed suit, learning from his father. Loralie loved her little man and the way he was being taught manners by example from these kind and generous people who were his family.

Dinner was lovely, and Lady Adain was much less frosty than she had been before. The events of the day had changed her attitude in a marked way. Loralie felt like a princess in her new dress, and the children seemed happy and as well-adjusted as she could hope for after all they had been through. All in all, it was an idyllic meal. She could almost believe that this could be her life, but the truth lay in the back of her mind like a sleeping dragon. All too soon, her situation would come roaring back to life, and she would have to go deal with Skir. Possibly, never to return.

Though, she had a trifle more confidence now that she might be able to find some other solution that didn't end in her death. She wasn't sure what that might be, but she was willing—nay, eager—to find some way out of her original plan. She had so much to live for now. So much to be thankful for, and try to retain.

After dinner, the children shared the cookies they had made that afternoon then played with some of the many toys Det had given them. Loralie was only a little surprised when Lady Adain sat down opposite her in the parlor when the children went out to the dragons' nest, which was adjacent to living quarters for the two-legged members of the family. Apparently, the children spent a lot of time out there with their heartmates, which made sense to Loralie. She suspected the twins were telling their dragon friends all about their day, which made her smile. It might have been nice to have such a friend when she was small and alone.

"What puts that wistful look on your face, Loralie?" Lady Adain asked, her tone much gentler than it had ever been when speaking to Loralie.

"I was just pondering what it must be like to have a dragon in your life from a young age. I'm glad the twins have their heartmates. It may make their paths a bit easier from here on out," Loralie admitted. Det was seated in the wingchair beside hers, just observing as he sipped a hot mug of tea.

"I believe so too," Det agreed softly. "Though Leasharra is a bit different from the dragons we're used to—and not just in coloring. She has very different ways compared to the snow dragons, but she is proving to be every bit as cunning and brave. Perhaps more so, in some respects."

"I can never thank her enough for rescuing Penny. Without Leasharra, I fear to think where we would all be now." Loralie shuddered. "Probably still in that same sorry situation, only worse because Gebel was planning some more truly awful events."

"We're all better off with him gone," Det agreed.

"Loralie," Lady Adain said after the moment stretched. "I want to apologize again for my suspicion of you and the harshness of my manner until today."

"I assure you, milady, there is no need. You were protecting your family and your people," Loralie replied. "I understand that completely and am glad you consider the twins to be under your protection."

"Of course they are," Lady Adain said immediately. "They are my grandchildren."

"I am beyond pleased that you accept them as such," Loralie admitted. "Some wouldn't. Being both half-human and born outside of marriage."

"They are blood of my blood." Lady Adain spoke the words like a vow. "They will always have a place in House Adain."

Loralie bowed her head. "Thank you, milady. That is a comfort to me."

"Because you think you won't be here to see them grow up," Lady Adain said starkly, surprising Loralie with her observation.

"I…" Loralie tried again. "Until yesterday, I did not think I could stop the weakening of the Citadel's protections without forfeiting my own life. Now, after calling the ice on Gebel, I'm not sure anymore. I may still have to go through with my original plan."

"Or not," Det said, his tone a bit harsh.

"Possibly not. I won't know until I go there and see what can be done," Loralie said quietly. "Which must happen as soon as possible. Each day I wait could be the day the entire thing fails and dooms us all." She put both hands on her lap and took a deep breath for courage. "I plan to leave in the morning."

*

That night, Loralie didn't make any pretense. After they had tucked the children into their beds, she went with Det to his room without demur. They went straight into the adjacent grotto room, undressing each other between kisses and nibbles as they made their way to the pool.

They came together in a frenzied splash of water and bodies, barely making it fully into the water before he was driving into her from behind as she leaned against the cut stone rim of the pool. It may have started out quick, but Det took a good long time pleasing her, varying his thrusts and angles in ways that made her moan. He even slapped her butt cheeks a few times in a way that felt surprisingly good. She wouldn't have expected that if he'd told her his plans ahead of time, but in the moment, it was wholly appropriate and absolutely delectable.

When she came, he followed right after, grunting as he spilled into her receptive body. Turning after the rictus of pleasure left them both gasping for breath, he took her in his arms as they sat together on the ledge inside the pool, catching their breaths as the warm water soothed their excited bodies.

Long moments later, they dried off and went back into the bedroom where they made love again and again in his big bed. She started out on top, but he rolled them when she lost control and took the lead. Loralie whimpered a little in thanks, so far gone in pleasure that forming coherent sentences was well beyond her capability.

How she loved this man and the way he made her feel. She dare not speak of her feelings with everything still so uncertain about her future, but she acknowledged the emotions swirling in her heart. Loralie spent the night in Det's arms, making love with the only man she would ever love.