Dragons Against Them (Kingdoms of Fire and Ice #2)(20)
“And your father?” Tristan asked.
“Rarely do I miss him. The feeling is mutual, I am afraid.”
“Perhaps if you spent more time learning the ways of his kingdom and less luring women into bed, your circumstances would be different.”
Zayne offered him a second smile instead of the fist he so longed to plant in the prince’s smug countenance and kept his pace leisurely. This was not a discussion he wished to reach the ears of his betrothed, as it would only serve to distress her further. That her twin could not sense her vexation was highly frustrating. Though from the frequent petulant quips Tristan had offered since his arrival, Zayne sensed insecurity buried deep within the prince. Insecurity bred from something greater than Zayne and Brom’s unannounced arrival yesterday.
“I see the rumors of my lust-filled youth have extended beyond the land of Edana. And while not entirely false, they have always been and continue to be greatly exaggerated.” Zayne lowered his voice and extended an elbow playfully into Tristan’s side. “Though surely a prince such as yourself can relate.”
The man stiffened rather than return the jest. “Noblemen, sir, do not behave in such a way.”
“Neither do virgins, it seems.”
Tristan double-stepped to block Zayne’s path, his eyes narrowed and cheeks flushed bright with anger. “I will not stand silently by and watch you crush Adelaide’s spirit in the same manner with which you crushed Princess Rosalind’s.”
At this, Zayne was taken aback. Surely, the prince was not as na?ve as that? He started to respond, realized an attack of words would do neither of them any good, then cleared his throat and started again.
“It was never my intention to hurt Princess Rosalind. Though, in all fairness, I had no desire to marry your half sister either. My parents were forced into a marriage of convenience, and I have witnessed firsthand the toll it has taken on them both. As such, I thank the heavens daily for Adelaide’s return, as she is my one true mate.”
“Is that so?”
Zayne’s patience began to wear thin. He stepped forward, unafraid of Tristan’s shorter, slender frame. “I would lay down my life to keep her safe.”
“Good.” Tristan leaned forward with narrowed eyes. “Because if you dare hurt another of my sisters, it is indeed your life I will seek to extinguish.”
Footsteps sounded behind them. Both men took a step apart as Zayne spied Addie and a servant woman fluttering about his betrothed like a worried mother bird. Adelaide had one arm cradled to her chest, and in an instant, his verbal sparring was forgotten, the battle insignificant compared to the concern for his betrothed that flooded Zayne as he strode forward.
“Really, I’m fine. It’s just a scratch. I—” Addie saw him and stopped, a smile blossoming upon her lips. “Good morning.”
“Are you hurt, my lady?”
She drew her arms behind her. “No, I tripped. Stupid rug. Skinned my elbow is all.”
“Perhaps we should—”
“No. Whatever you’re going to say, no. I don’t need a doctor, I don’t need a handmaiden or a foot maiden or any maiden. I just need…” She stopped, pinched the top of her nose, and drew in a deep breath.
“Perhaps a bit of fresh air would do you good?”
A look of relief settled upon her features. “Yes, I would love that. Along with that history lesson you promised me.”
Zayne offered her his arm. “Your wish is my command, my lady.”
“It had very well better be,” Tristan muttered under his breath as he stalked away, leaving Zayne to wonder just how deep the animosity between their families ran…
…and if a single marriage to their newly returned princess would be enough to reverse it.
Addie took Zayne’s arm as he led her down the stairway and toward the castle’s inner courtyard. Servants curtseyed as they passed, looking upon them as always with keen interest.
“You seemed consumed by dark thoughts this morn, my lady.”
“Sorry, Zayne,” she whispered. “I just… I’m not used to being babied, is all.”
“They are merely doing what they have been hired to do, Adelaide.”
She winced. After being mostly on her own these past few years and living more or less forgotten in her childhood home, her move into the castle hadn’t been an easy transition. At first she’d tried to be a good sport, tried to grin and bear it. But with each passing day, her patience waned more and more. Hell, she couldn’t even skin an elbow without people flocking to her side. Everyone wanted to help her, to dress her, to bathe her, to brush her hair, to pick her brain.
Sometimes it was enough to drive a person mad.
They reached the bottom of the stairs, where more servants stepped out of their path and curtseyed. Addie forced a smile and nodded to each. Zayne was right, of course. They were only doing what they were supposed to. She’d just have to make sure they did far less of all this wherever she and Zayne moved after the wedding. Would it be to Edana Castle, or somewhere offsite like Godfrey Manor where they’d first met? She hoped it would be the manor home—it was a thousand times more peaceful and quiet than here.
“I guess I prefer the hard love Emeline offered at Godfrey Manor.” She offered him a wink. “Come on.”