Dragons Against Them (Kingdoms of Fire and Ice #2)(21)
“Where are we going?” he whispered back.
“Away from all…this.”
Whispers followed them as they went, ricocheting off the stone beneath their feet. A longing for freedom swelled within her as they neared the open air, and Addie found herself wishing she could fly like the prince at her side. Wishing she could just think herself into another form, then launch into the clouds and escape this place. Since that wasn’t possible, she’d just have to settle for a quiet place somewhere nearby. Maybe the woods behind the stables, which often served as the dragon landing pad. That wouldn’t be breaking the rules by much. And just in case her overbearing brother was watching, Addie angled for the castle’s inner courtyard.
The perfect place to get lost in the crowd.
Over the past few weeks, she’d tried to learn as much as she could about the daily goings-on in this crazy, mixed-up world. And if there was truly a hive of activity in the castle, the courtyard was it. Servants of all shapes and sizes, ages and duties, rushed back and forth across the vast open space from morning to night, keen on keeping their ruler and his family cared for and happy. For when King Jarin wasn’t happy, no one was.
Or so she’d heard, anyway. Each time she had been in his company, her father had been pleasant enough. And though that seemed to be less and less often, each time he had stopped whatever else he was doing to pay her his full attention. To take interest in her words, no matter the number, and smile kindly.
The whispers she heard from the servants, however, carried tales of a different king. One with little patience for his second daughter, who resented him for the perceived preferential treatment he offered to Tristan. Addie was dying to know why that was, but she didn’t feel comfortable enough asking her father. At least, not yet. Hopefully one day she would settle into a more comfortable, easy relationship with him. Today, things still felt very…intentional.
“This way.”
She tugged Zayne through the crowd, servants offering hurried greetings as they scrambled aside to allow their passage. He followed willingly, a grin tugging at his lips.
Lord, those lips. Addie looked away before she thought too much about them. Later, maybe. Once they were in the clear. And she’d gotten her answers about the witches. And that legend.
“To where exactly are you leading me, my lady?” Zayne asked.
“Someplace a little more private.”
“And yet you lead us through the center of the yard?”
“Needle in a haystack, baby,” she said. “Needle in a—”
“Good day, Princess Adelaide. Prince Zayne.”
Addie skidded to a stop before Quinn, who seemed to appear out of nowhere. With a frown, she quickly scanned the area behind him for more guards. Seeing none, she tipped her head in his direction and started to step around him. “Mr. Blackstone.”
“My apologies, Your Highness,” he said, stepping once again to block her path. “But the king has instructed me to ensure you remain within the castle walls.”
She glared up at him, frustrated her ruse had been sniffed out so quickly. “Look, I really don’t care what the—”
“Princess Adelaide.” Zayne’s hand came to rest upon her shoulder and gave it a not so subtle squeeze. “I am certain we can find a quiet place to continue your studies within the castle’s walls.”
She gritted her teeth. “Maybe I don’t want to stay within the castle’s walls.”
“Ah, but good things come to those who wait.”
“Good things come to—damn, really?” She looked to the sky. “Of all the infuriating sayings that could have followed me here…”
Zayne chuckled at her side. “Forgive the princess, Blackstone. Her rebel ways will take some time to correct.”
“So it seems.”
Addie didn’t like the tone in Quinn’s voice, nor the faint red glow that flared in his eyes. When Zayne wasn’t around, the man intimidated the hell out of her. Probably always would, after that whole stint in the dungeon. She’d seen Quinn at his worst and hoped like hell she’d never be in that position again.
“Fine. We’ll just…go someplace else.”
She turned and tugged Zayne in another direction, angling for the far side of the courtyard and the path that led toward the gardens. Foot traffic was less there, as were the noise levels. Add in the aromatic utopia of roses and several dozen other types of flowering perennials, and it was almost enough to make her forget where they were for a moment or two.
Almost.
A chicken darted out from beneath a wooden cart, squawking as a young servant boy chased after it. Addie’s hand flew to her chest in a futile attempt to keep her heart from jumping right out of it. Beside her, Zayne, clearly used to such noises and activities, barely batted an eye. Would she ever get used to the chaos?
Eventually they made it to her favorite spot on the castle grounds, a grand stone gazebo, erected in the center of a vast herb garden. It stood beyond the line of sight of most of the castle’s living quarters and aside from her room was the best place for reflection. Sort of like Superman’s Fortress of Solitude, only different. And not nearly as…solitary.
But since leaving was out of the question, this was as good a place as any to ask him the burning questions she’d harbored since overhearing her father’s conversation the night before. Questions about her family’s past behaviors and judgments. And, of course, the witches.