Dragons Against Them (Kingdoms of Fire and Ice #2)(22)
But when she took a seat and watched as Zayne took his, a third figure appeared in her peripheral vision. Surprised, she turned to find Quinn hovering nearby. Damn, the man was like a bad cold today.
“What?” she demanded. “Are we not still on castle grounds?”
“Aye,” Quinn said. “You are.”
“So you’re still here…why?”
“Because he does not trust that I will remain grounded.” Zayne’s voice was calm, almost too calm, and Addie sensed hers was not the only patience being tried.
“Then promise him you won’t take off with me, so he can go on his merry way.”
Zayne cast a mischievous glance at Quinn. “Even if I would offer him my word not to remove you from the premises, my lady, I foresee neither merriment nor his departure.”
Quinn’s eyes narrowed, but he finally took the hint and stepped back from the gazebo. Back, but not out of earshot. So much for picking Zayne’s brain. She exhaled a frustrated huff and threw their self-appointed chaperone a murderous glare.
“Patience, my love.” Zayne reached to tip her face toward him and brushed his lips lightly over hers. “The days until our marriage are numbered. Then you may ask me to take you wherever you please.”
He kissed her gently, then drew back and captured her with his topaz gaze. “Unless, that is, you are having second thoughts?”
“Second thoughts?” She blinked, blinked again. Where had that come from?
“I jest, Addie.”
“Good. Because there aren’t any second thoughts. You’re stuck with me, no matter what.”
He pulled her into his chest and rested his cheek upon her head. “No matter what.”
“Even if I ask too many questions?”
“Even then.”
She closed her eyes and savored the moment. The safety she felt there in his arms, the floral scent wafting on the slight breeze around them. Would it always be like this between them? Him so accepting of her, and her forever drawn to him? An amicable silence fell over them, and Addie felt her anxieties begin to slip away.
Until another damn chicken squawked. Hurried footsteps followed after the noisy rascal. Addie opened her eyes and watched the same young boy go chasing after the bird. “I think he’s got the toughest job of all.”
“Perhaps so. Though, at Edana Castle, it is our cook who has the most difficult task.”
“Let me guess—your dad’s a picky eater?”
A silent chuckle shook Zayne’s chest beneath her. “Aye.”
“Speaking of your family…” She drew back and kept her voice low while leveling him a don’t-bullshit-me look. “Why didn’t you tell me before about the w—”
“Waterfalls?” His golden gaze flashed a warning glow. “I fear you may have been misinformed about both their numbers and locations. Of course, I am happy to share my knowledge of them with you.”
Addie glanced beyond Zayne’s shoulder to where Quinn stood pretending not to be eavesdropping, and cursed under her breath. Stupid highly sensitive dragon hearing. She’d barely slept a wink last night, worrying about how some crazy witch clan might try to steal her away again. Only two thoughts managed to keep her from climbing the walls: one, that Zayne was within shouting distance—or as he would say, screaming distance—and, two, that he’d promised to tell her all he knew of them today. With Quinn on babysitting duty, though, the prospect of another sleepless night now loomed before her.
Unless…
“You know,” she said. “It would really help me picture them more clearly if you were to draw them for me.”
“Draw them?”
“Yes, you know, draw them.” She raised a hand and pretended to write on her other open palm. “And maybe our family trees too.”
“Ah, yes,” he said with a nod. “Come, we shall need to acquire some writing implements. The scroll room should have more than enough to share.”
“Have I told you lately how much I love you?”
“Perhaps.” Zayne placed a chaste kiss upon her cheek. “Though never will I grow weary of hearing those words, sweet Adelaide.”
They stood and exited the stone structure, followed yet again by one clearly irritated Quinn Blackstone. Addie found a small amount of satisfaction in making the man hike back and forth through the castle’s interior, and in finding a way around his eavesdropping—even though she and Zayne had been guilty of doing the same just last night.
Rumors, she was beginning to find, were what kept life interesting here at Forath Castle. Which meant she better darn well make sure neither Quinn nor anyone else tried to read over their shoulders when they returned. Because the last thing she needed was to start any more rumors.
Especially ones that might crush what little freedom she had left.
Chapter 11
Rosalind followed Jaxon through his village, her head down but senses alert. Every hut they passed, every step they took, she cataloged in the back of her mind. Ten steps between buildings, each looking hastily constructed save the house at the center of this village: a grand though aged manor home, likely abandoned by its former tenants.
Or perhaps they had been drugged as well. And not by a mere sleeping potion.