Dragons Against Them (Kingdoms of Fire and Ice #2)(31)
His hand tightened on hers, though his gaze remained steadfastly ahead. “The northern region has been on the verge of an uprising for some time now. It seems they have chosen to strike while our king is weak.”
Uprising. Strike. Words that implied fighting, pain.
Death.
She wished there was a way to stop all their Neanderthalish ways, to get them to use diplomacy rather than fire and brimstone. But in this world, fighting seemed to be all they knew. Perhaps when she was queen, Addie might have some say in how the kingdom’s subjects were handled. Today, however, diplomatic resolutions weren’t an option.
She cast a glance back at the castle, wishing there was someone else they could send in his place. Why request that Zayne hurry home? Why not Brom? Surely he could lead the charge just as well. She hated to think that way, as she’d grown quite fond of the bossy, burly warrior. But he wasn’t her betrothed, and she sensed he could handle himself in battle far better than anyone else she knew. Then again, he wasn’t part of the monarchy either. Which was why Zayne had been called home, not him.
“I hate the idea of you going off to battle, Zayne. Promise me you’ll be careful?”
“I promise.” He offered her a sideways glance and smirked. “Besides, just the sight of a few dozen of our dragons flying into their village will send the majority of them dashing for retreat. The uprising shall be squelched before my sword shall even be lifted.”
“If you say so.” Addie sighed in resignation and changed the subject. “Did your mother send a scroll back with anything about her sisters?”
“No.”
The chill she felt wove tighter in her mind. “Are you worried?”
“No.”
Something was up. Zayne was too calm, too…composed. Warning alarms sounded in her head. Then again, he was about to head off into battle. Maybe he was more worried about the uprising than he wanted her to believe. Rather than badger him about his true feelings, she tried to do what any woman would as her beloved headed off to battle—offer him love and support.
For truly, that was all she had to offer.
Knowing she wasn’t allowed much beyond where they now were, she drew to a stop and waited for him to turn and face her. Eyes full of remorse stared down at her, and Addie wished she had magic of her own that would blast that northern region into compliance. She stretched to press a kiss to his cheek.
“Come back as soon as you can.”
Zayne wrapped his arms around her and held her tight, tighter than usual which only made her worry more. After a long moment, he drew back to cup her chin and bent to kiss her gently.
“Always,” he whispered, then released her and continued on alone.
Addie watched until he stepped into the stables and out of view, then turned back toward the castle. Though she felt the heated prick of tears threatening, she refused to allow them passage. If Zayne said he would be safe, she was going to have to learn to trust him. Surely he had a better idea of what he was walking into than she did.
Zayne strode through the stables and stopped at his steed’s stall. Though he would not be riding the stallion home, he knew if anything in this forsaken land could calm him before transforming, it would be a few quiet moments with his horse. The two had been through many an adventure together and more skirmishes in Edana than he could count. Zayne would miss him on this one and wondered if any other horse in his family’s stable would be a tolerable substitute for Will.
Will. Zayne shook his head. Even now, he was unable to escape the thought of his beloved fiancée. Upon her arrival, she had turned all he’d believed about his kingdom, his world, on its head.
And his heart inside out.
It pained him no end to leave her again so soon. And though she had worn a brave face, he knew her well enough by now to know she was silently plagued by worry and disappointment. But these were the ways of his land, his future kingdom. Zayne was as helpless to resist the demands of his father as was a leaf caught in the current of a stream. To cling to Adelaide, to this castle, instead of returning to Edana would bring certain retribution from Robert, perhaps even an attack.
Zayne tried to imagine what it must be like in the world Addie had grown up in, where rulers had learned to battle more often with words rather than weapons. But there was no reasoning with Robert, or Jarin, for that matter. Power had turned one king into a tyrant, while the potential loss of it consumed the other with paranoia. Zayne wanted nothing to do with either power or ruling. But he had no choice in the matter—blood bound him to a future throne. And so for his countrymen and women, he would do the best he could to be a fair and honest ruler.
Adelaide would see that he did.
The image of her, seated beside him in Edana’s throne room, served to push his dark thoughts aside. Though she knew it not yet, she would make a fine queen, as her heart was pure and her thoughts free from the vengeance and bitterness of Jarin’s younger daughter. Zayne had held great reservations about taking Rosalind as his queen—not just because he didn’t care for the woman, but because of her rumored dark and vicious ways. Perhaps if she were to return, Adelaide’s kindness might serve to melt the ice around her half sister’s heart.
One could only hope.
“Take good care of my beloved, Will. Carry her safely, should she be permitted to take you out while I am away.”
With a final pat to his steed’s neck, Zayne turned for the stable’s far doors. He would do as his father asked, fly home and smother the northern uprising, then return to Forath to ensure his sweet Adelaide had yet remained safe from harm. For while he did not believe the witches would come for her, Zayne was less certain as to the intent of Forath’s younger princess. Had she indeed been captured, held by a rogue clan deep in the forest until a substantial ransom was paid? Or could she instead be plotting her revenge?