Dragons Against Them (Kingdoms of Fire and Ice #2)(36)
“Oh heavens, yes. The way those two would look at one another, even months after the wedding, possessed such adoration that anyone in the room felt as if they were intruding upon an intimate moment.”
Addie tried to picture it, her father, the king, with a lovey-dovey look in his eyes. Sadly, the image wouldn’t come. He’d been ecstatic to discover his believed-dead firstborn daughter was alive. Had seemed so happy at the castle-wide celebration that followed. But the day after she chose Zayne’s world—her true world—over the one she’d grown up in, her father grew measurably more reserved. As that first week went on, she interacted with him less and less. By her second week beneath his roof, it became rare that she’d see him anywhere but the dining hall, and even that was hit or miss.
And she had absolutely no clue why.
It worried Addie that she might have said or done something to upset him. Heck, that her reappearance had caused Rosalind to go on the lam was probably reason enough. But Rosalind was bitter about Addie’s return, angry that she’d lost a chance at Edana’s crown since she’d been Zayne’s original betrothed bride; running away was on her head, no one else’s. At least, that was what Zayne kept trying to convince Addie of every time she saw him.
Not that there’d been much love to be lost between the sisters so far. Heck, the last time Addie had seen her, the woman had used her as a pawn. Still, she hated to see her father, and to a lesser extent her brother, so distraught over Rosalind’s continued absence. If it would help heal their wounds, Addie would magically summon Rosalind back herself if she could.
Then again, if she had magic like that, there would be a few other items summoned first. Like chocolate, a real bra, panties, and her favorite Levis.
Addie sighed and pushed those images from her mind yet again. No going back… “So, how long were my parents married before we came along?”
“You and Prince Tristan were conceived around the time of their first anniversary after months of failed attempts. Your mother, she felt terrible making the king wait so long for an heir. So when the nurse announced Vanora was not only pregnant but carrying twins, well, the entire castle burst into celebration.”
Twins. Addie tried to picture what it would be like to discover you were having not one baby but two. At the same time. Fear rippled through her. Did twins run in the family? Good God, she’d be one giant stretch mark if that happened to her. Hell, she’d be that way anyway if Zayne talked her into conceiving as many heirs as he’d like. Which, of course, he’d already mentioned. Multiple times.
Serenity now…
“The joy of her discovered pregnancy was short-lived, however,” Ellen continued, sorrow etched into her wrinkled face. “Two babes in the womb took a terrible toll on Vanora. Your father, it pained him so to watch her weaken by the day. She, of course, waved off his concerns. Said she would be fine, ’twas nothing that magic could not fix.”
“But there was no magic the night we were born.”
Ellen met Addie’s gaze. “No. The midwife trained in such magic was called away to care for a sick relative and an inexperienced apprentice left in her place. The midwife was certain she would return before your birth, but you two were intent on coming that same night…”
Sorrow for the mother lost, and guilt for being the reason, washed over her. “And my father?”
“The king was beside himself upon her death. He loved your mother more than life itself. Had there been any previous children, anyone else in the royal family to ascend to the throne, I have no doubt he would have found a way to join your mother that night. As it was, he had no choice but to remain on the throne.”
“But he shouldn’t have ordered the apprentice to be killed,” Addie whispered.
Ellen said nothing, as a wise servant should do. Still, the way her eyes shifted from Adelaide’s said more than enough.
“And his new wife?”
“Agatha, Princess Rosalind’s mother, was presented to him a short while later as a peace offering by a clan responsible for an uprising which cost many innocent lives. And as the king was lonesome, and poor Tristan without a mother to raise him, King Jarin agreed.”
This, Addie could imagine. Her father, his outlook bleak, grasping at a chance to return to some semblance of normalcy. Too bad she already knew how this piece of the story ended as well.
“They were married how long?”
“Queen Agatha fell ill with the fever when Rosalind was but five or six years old. When she died, whatever hopes your father possessed for finding further happiness died as well.”
“Did he love her?”
“As best he could, yes. Did he love her as much as he had loved your mother? No. I am afraid she took too great a part of him with her to the grave.” Ellen offered her a small smile. “I thought his face might never hold another true smile after that, but then you returned. ’Twas the first I have seen him happy in a long, long time.”
Addie frowned. “But if he’s so happy to have me back, then why is he avoiding me?”
The smile slipped from Ellen’s face. She quickly set about gathering her things, her gaze averted. “Do not selfishly mistake tending to his vast responsibilities as avoidance. Your father has much on his mind with Princess Rosalind yet missing and your wedding approaching.”
With that, she offered a small bow and exited the room, leaving Addie alone with nothing but her thoughts and her mother’s wedding gown. Which would soon be her wedding gown. She eyed it from a distance, hoping it wasn’t cursed. Then again, to die young would mean not having to worry about stretch marks, or living to see the day when Zayne grew tired of her.