The morning after Ravenna's birthday began quietly.
For once, there was no celebration waiting for them.
No decorated dining hall.
No gifts wrapped in colored paper.
No servants trying very hard to pretend they were not watching their queen's every reaction.
There was only the familiar sound of rain against the tall windows of the Demon Castle.
It had started sometime before dawn, soft at first, then gradually becoming heavier as the morning went on.
Elara woke to the sound of it.
She opened her eyes slowly and stared at the gray light beyond the curtains.
For a few moments, she did not remember where she was.
Then she saw the dark stone ceiling.
The black curtains.
The small blue dragon curled up near her feet.
And, on the other side of the room, Ravenna sitting at the window with a book in her hands.
Elara smiled faintly.
"Good morning."
Ravenna looked up immediately.
"Good morning."
Her voice was gentle.
Too gentle, perhaps.
Elara blinked.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I'm not."
"You are."
Ravenna lowered her book.
"I was only checking whether you were awake."
"Why?"
"Because you usually wake before me."
Elara thought about it.
That was true.
She usually woke with the first pale light of morning, while Ravenna tended to sleep a little longer, especially after late nights spent dealing with royal documents.
But today, Elara felt strangely heavy.
Her arms seemed reluctant to move.
Her head felt warm.
And there was an uncomfortable ache behind her eyes.
She sat up.
Or, at least, she tried to.
The moment she lifted herself from the pillow, the room tilted.
Elara caught the edge of the blanket.
Ravenna was beside her almost instantly.
"Elara."
"I'm fine."
"You almost fell."
"I only stood up too quickly."
Ravenna placed the back of her hand against Elara's forehead.
Elara froze.
Ravenna froze too.
They looked at each other.
It was such a simple gesture.
And yet, somehow, it felt strangely intimate.
Ravenna slowly withdrew her hand.
"You are warm."
Elara gave her a small smile.
"Perhaps the room is warm."
"It isn't."
"Oh."
"And you are definitely warm."
"That sounds less pleasant when you say it like that."
Ravenna frowned.
Elara almost laughed.
Then the effort of laughing made her head hurt.
She pressed a hand to her temple.
Ravenna's expression changed immediately.
"You're sick."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I have never seen someone look so serious about a little fever."
"It isn't little."
"You haven't even measured it."
"I don't need to."
"Ravenna."
"I know."
Ravenna turned toward the door.
"Doctor!"
Elara stared after her.
"Ravenna, wait."
The door opened.
A servant stood outside.
Ravenna spoke with the gravity of someone announcing a national emergency.
"Bring the physician."
The servant blinked.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"And Garin."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"And more blankets."
The servant hesitated.
"More blankets?"
"Yes."
"How many?"
Ravenna considered this.
"All of them."
The servant's expression became very serious.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The door closed.
Elara stared at Ravenna.
"All of them?"
"You need to stay warm."
"I don't think the entire castle's supply of blankets is necessary."
"We can decide that after the physician arrives."
"You are panicking."
"I'm not panicking."
"You ordered all the blankets."
"That is preparation."
"For what?"
Ravenna paused.
"I don't know."
Elara smiled despite herself.
"You really are panicking."
Ravenna looked away.
"I simply don't like seeing you ill."
That silenced Elara.
The rain continued outside.
Soft.
Steady.
Almost comforting.
Elara looked at the woman beside her.
Ravenna's face was calm again, but her hands were clenched slightly at her sides.
She was afraid.
Not of armies.
Not of ancient gods.
Not of the political consequences of a fragile peace.
She was afraid because Elara was sick.
And somehow, that realization warmed Elara more than the blankets ever could.
"Ravenna."
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
Ravenna looked at her.
"For what?"
"For worrying about me."
Ravenna's expression softened.
"You don't have to thank me for that."
"Why?"
"Because..."
She hesitated.
Then she sat beside Elara.
Elara's heart gave a small, unexpected beat.
She looked down.
"You're getting very good at saying things like that."
Ravenna's ears turned slightly red.
"I am?"
"Yes."
"I should stop, then."
"No."
The answer came too quickly.
Ravenna looked at her.
Elara felt her face become warm.
"That is..."
She pulled the blanket closer.
"...not what I meant."
Ravenna smiled.
A small smile.
A real one.
"You don't have to explain."
That somehow made Elara even more embarrassed.
Blue suddenly crawled out from beneath the blanket and climbed into Elara's lap.
The tiny dragon looked at Ravenna.
Then at Elara.
Then back at Ravenna.
It made a small concerned sound.
Ravenna sighed.
"Even Blue is worried."
Blue chirped.
"I suppose I am surrounded by people who have decided I am dying."
"You are not dying," Ravenna said immediately.
"I know."
"You are simply sick."
"I know."
"And you will rest."
"I know."
"And you will drink your tea."
"I know."
"And you will not work."
Elara paused.
"...That one might be difficult."
Ravenna stared at her.
"No."
"But there are letters."
"No."
"Reports."
"No."
"The library."
"No."
"Garden."
"Absolutely not."
Elara sighed.
"You're very strict."
"Only when necessary."
"You sound like a nurse."
"I have no idea what that means."
Elara smiled.
"It means you're being bossy."
Ravenna considered this.
"I can accept that."
The physician arrived a few minutes later.
Fortunately, the situation was not nearly as dramatic as Ravenna seemed to believe.
Elara had a mild fever and had clearly been exhausted for several days.
The physician suspected that the long journey, the recent celebration, and the sudden changes in weather had simply caught up with her.
"Rest," he said.
Ravenna nodded.
"How much?"
"Most of the day."
"How much is most?"
The physician looked slightly alarmed.
"Your Majesty, she should rest until she feels better."
"Understood."
"Light meals."
"Understood."
"Warm tea."
"Understood."
"No work."
"Understood."
"No magic."
Ravenna's expression became even more serious.
"Especially no magic."
Elara groaned.
"Everyone is conspiring against me."
The physician smiled.
"That is because everyone seems to like you."
Elara glanced at Ravenna.
Ravenna looked away.
Her ears were red again.
After the physician left, Garin appeared carrying a tray.
He had prepared a light soup, warm bread, honey, and a cup of jasmine tea.
Elara looked at the tray.
"You made all this?"
Garin nodded.
"Her Majesty ordered it."
Ravenna coughed.
"I did not order all of it."
"You ordered the kitchen to prepare everything she might possibly want."
"That is different."
Garin smiled.
"Of course."
He left before Ravenna could argue.
Elara looked at her.
"You really did order everything."
"I wanted you to have choices."
"That is very thoughtful."
"I am a good queen."
"You are."
Ravenna blinked.
Elara smiled.
"And apparently a very worried one."
Ravenna looked down at the floor.
"I've never been good at this."
"At what?"
"Taking care of someone."
Elara's expression softened.
"You seem to be doing fine."
"I'm not sure."
"You brought me tea."
"Yes."
"You called the physician."
"Yes."
"You made sure I ate."
"Yes."
"You stayed."
Ravenna looked at her.
"Of course I stayed."
Elara smiled.
"Then you're doing fine."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The rain tapped against the window.
Blue curled up beside Elara's waist.
Ravenna pulled the chair closer to the bed.
"Sleep."
Elara frowned.
"You don't have to watch me."
"I know."
"Then why are you staying?" Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
Ravenna looked at her for a long moment.
"Because I want to."
Elara's eyes softened.
"All right."
She closed them.
It did not take long.
The medicine and warmth made her sleepy.
The last thing she felt before drifting off was Ravenna gently pulling the blanket higher over her shoulders.
When Elara woke again, the rain had become softer.
The room was dim.
A small fire burned in the fireplace.
Ravenna was still there.
She was sitting beside the bed with a book open in her lap.
Except she was not reading.
She was asleep.
Elara stared at her.
The Demon Queen's usually perfect posture had disappeared.
Her head had fallen slightly to one side.
A strand of black hair rested against her cheek.
She looked younger like this.
Not like a queen.
Not like the terrifying ruler described in human stories.
Just Ravenna.
The woman who liked black tea.
The woman who secretly loved honey cakes.
The woman who had once been too embarrassed to admit she liked sweets.
The woman who had given Elara a wooden fox for her birthday.
Elara smiled.
She reached out.
Very carefully, she touched Ravenna's hand.
Ravenna woke immediately.
"Elara?"
"I'm awake."
"How do you feel?"
"Better."
Ravenna stood.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Your head?"
"Better."
"Your throat?"
"Fine."
"Are you dizzy?"
"A little."
Ravenna frowned.
"Then you're not better."
"I'm better enough."
"That's not a medical term."
"You learned that from the physician?"
"Yes."
Elara laughed quietly.
Ravenna smiled.
Then Elara noticed something.
Ravenna looked exhausted.
"You didn't sleep."
"I slept."
"When?"
Ravenna hesitated.
"Earlier."
"You fell asleep sitting there."
"I was resting."
"With your eyes closed."
"That is how resting works."
Elara smiled.
"You should sleep too."
"I'm fine."
"You're not."
Ravenna opened her mouth.
Then stopped.
Elara looked at her.
"Come here."
Ravenna blinked.
"What?"
"Sit."
Ravenna slowly sat on the edge of the bed.
Elara shifted over.
She patted the empty space beside her.
Ravenna stared.
"Elara."
"You're tired."
"I can sleep in the chair."
"That chair looks uncomfortable."
"It's fine."
"It isn't."
Ravenna hesitated.
Then, carefully, she lay down on top of the blankets beside Elara.
They were still fully dressed.
There was still space between them.
But it was less than usual.
Blue crawled between them.
The tiny dragon curled into a warm little ball.
Ravenna looked at him.
"Of course."
Elara smiled.
"He's protecting us."
"From what?"
"I don't know."
Ravenna laughed softly.
Elara watched her.
There it was again.
That laugh.
Quiet.
Unpracticed.
Real.
"I like your laugh," Elara whispered.
Ravenna's eyes widened.
"You told me that before."
"I still mean it."
Ravenna looked away.
"Then I suppose I should laugh more."
"Please do."
A silence followed.
Not an uncomfortable one.
A peaceful one.
Elara slowly closed her eyes again.
Her fingers rested near Ravenna's hand.
After a moment, Ravenna moved her hand closer.
Their fingers touched.
Neither pulled away.
Outside, the rain continued falling over the Demon Castle.
And beneath the castle, far below the gardens and halls and ancient stone foundations, something stirred.
The Silver Rose in the garden gave one faint pulse of light.
Then another.
Not enough to wake anyone.
Not enough to break the peace of the castle.
But enough for the sleeping darkness beneath the earth to notice.
The ancient voice whispered through the stone.
"The White Rose is awakening."
A pause.
Then another voice answered from somewhere deeper.
"And the Black Rose has found something worth protecting."
The darkness smiled.
But above it, in a warm room filled with the sound of rain, two women slept beside one another.
And for tonight, that was enough.