Dragons Against Them (Kingdoms of Fire and Ice #2)(10)
An image drifted to her mind then, one of herself and Berinon standing together in much the same manner. Behind them was a castle under siege; before them, a shimmering portal. She knew not where the portal would lead, only that beyond it she would be safe, free of Robert forever. In her mind’s eye, she seemed nearly giddy with relief. But upon casting one last look to the castle, Helena saw a much younger version of Zayne standing at his chamber’s open casement, arms held wide as he cried for his mother not to abandon him.
Berinon withdrew his hand at her sharp intake of breath, and the images vanished like a nightmare upon waking.
“Displeased by what you saw, my queen?”
“You wish me to face no punishment, yet torture me with spells?”
“It is not spells but the yearnings of your heart which trouble you today,” he said, the glint of triumph in his eyes. “While I possess the Sight and have offered you a glimpse of what may come, alas I cannot see desires left unspoken.”
The queen shifted her gaze ahead and feigned indifference, determined not to let him get the best of her. Berinon had always loved to tease, and black magic was all it had been, nothing more. Soon they drew near the courtyard’s exit. This time, neither steered away.
“My heart is yoked to Robert,” she whispered. “And so shall it remain.”
“Your heart?” The faintest of smirks crossed Berinon’s lips. He took her hand in his and offered her a sweeping bow. “The time to choose alliances is coming, Helena. Give careful thought to whose side you select.”
He pressed his lips to the back of her hand, then vanished before her eyes.
Chapter 5
Zayne lay on his back, eyes closed, with a drowsy Adelaide sprawled naked across his chest, and savored the moment. The quiet, the peace. For the past few weeks, his days had been anything but. The pace had driven him to near madness, made all the more so by his absence from Addie, and prompted today’s begging of his mother’s permission to depart for Forath early rather than make the appropriate request to his oversleeping father. Punishment of one form or another would undoubtedly greet him upon his return, but it was a price he’d been willing to pay.
To see his betrothed, to hold her in his arms once again, he would pay any price.
He pushed thoughts of retribution from his mind and instead enjoyed the feeling of her cool, soft skin pressed against his—a sensation he would never tire of. Now that he knew her to be a princess of the ice dragon kingdom, the differences in their body temperatures made perfect sense.
Fire and ice.
In any other combination, one would surely lead to the demise of the other. But together, he and his sweet Adelaide seemed in perfect balance. A balance that, before she stepped into his life, he had never found. Addie was his one true mate—of that he was certain. And as such, he would protect her at all costs until he breathed his last breath. There lived no man or dragon who could keep them apart.
Zayne smirked at the tone of his thoughts as he traced imaginary circles upon her back. Oh, how his mother would giggle to hear him say such things aloud. Helena was a hopeless romantic, convinced that true love existed for everyone. He’d never believed her before Addie arrived, having grown up watching his mother sit upon a throne he knew she never wanted and married to a man who thought of little else than ruling his kingdom. It seemed unfair, perhaps even cruel, that a loving, giving soul like his mother be bonded to such a harsh beast. But what had been bound could not be unbound, only endured while the king lived.
And live he must, so that Zayne could be free to spend time with Adelaide these next few years. For when his father’s days were done, Zayne would ascend to Edana’s throne. But Zayne wasn’t ready for such a responsibility, not yet. What he wanted instead—no, needed—was to bond with his sweet Addie, to become one with her in every way. To run wild and free, away from the cold, drab castle of Forath and the suffocating walls of Castle Edana. And, when the time was right, to sire offspring and start a family of their own.
Today, unfortunately, was not that day. He glanced at the amber-tinted skies outside and sighed.
“As the sun fades on the horizon, so does our time away, my lady.”
Addie shifted above him and pressed a kiss to his neck. “But I’m not done with you yet.”
“Careful, my sweet.” Zayne drew his fingertips along her spine. “Speak to me in such a way, and our return might well be delayed.”
She drew back and offered him a mischievous grin. “Don’t tempt me.”
Zayne worked to hold his dragon at bay; her wanton ways could result in punishment for them both. “If the decision were mine to make, we would indeed remain. But as I wish to remain in King Jarin’s good graces, we should make haste. Otherwise, he might well seek my hide, and I will be of little use to you as the king’s newest hunting trophy.”
“Speaking of hunting, do you guys keep written records of your hunts and battles and stuff?”
He shifted to his side, easing Addie down onto the fox skins beneath them. “Aye. Our scribe records all events of import.”
“And then stores them…where? In a library?” Her brows drew low. “Oh, wait—you probably don’t call them that yet. Um, in a space somewhere inside the castle? A room, maybe, with bunches of scrolls tied together? And can just anyone read them any time?”