Page 105 of A Curse of Hope and Shadows: Part I
Chapter Twenty-Four: The Royal Guest
Dimitri knew he should have left as soon as she dozed off. He knew it was improper, that the few times he’d fallen asleep in her arms were barely permissible as it was, but tolerated because she was supposed to be looking after him.
There was no reason for him to be down here, in her bed. No reason for her head to be resting on his chest.
No reason, and certainly not the one he wanted.
She’s just tired. It doesn’t mean anything.
Yet that hardly seemed to matter as he gazed down at her sleeping face, softly twitching eyelids, small, rosebud mouth. What did it matter if she didn’t feel the same, when he was able to bring her some form of comfort? When she was so relaxed and at ease with him?
Who cared about anything else?
Your love for her will crumble houses.
Well, there was that, but the passage of time had dampened the chill of the fortune-teller’s words, and Dimitri was now back to not believing in such hokum.
It couldn’t hurt to hold her, just a little longer…
He kissed her forehead, pressing his own against hers, and settled down further into the blankets.
He did not stir again until sunlight drifted in dappled shafts through a gap in the curtains. He found himself tangled in a sheet of honey-coloured her, gold and red andeverywhere.He couldn’t work out if he wanted to laugh or wriggle free.
“Um, Adeline?”
She murmured against him, her breath brushing against his neck, fur and flesh alike. “Hmm?”
“I can’t get out.”
“Of where?”
“Your bed?”
“What?” She blinked, eyes widening in alarm, and let out a shriek so forceful she rolled back into the wall and almost shoved the bed from its spot. “What are you doing here?”
“I fell asleep! So did you!”
“It’smy bed.I’m supposed to fall asleep here!” She scuttled upright, yanking and brushing her hair from his body and plaiting it in a mad daze. “If you’re discovered here, I’ll be dismissed!”
“How couldyoube dismissed when I came toyourroom?”
“You really don’t understand how the world works, do you?”
A voice called through the door. “Adeline! Are you all right?” Erabella.
“Fine!” Adeline rushed. “Just fell out of bed.”
“Breakfast is being served.”
“I’ll be right there!”
Erabella’s voice vanished, but Adeline’s panic didn’t. She ran around the room, seizing her clothes. Dimitri stared as she started wrestling into her dress.
“Stop looking!” she hissed.
“You see me nakedallthe time!”
“That’s different!”
