Dragons Against Them (Kingdoms of Fire and Ice #2)(37)

Because that was what happened to people who got married and had kids, right? Eventually, those happily ever afters faded away to broken dreams and promises. She had witnessed as much firsthand with her parents back home and many families who’d lived around them. Though in a different realm, she doubted failings of the heart were any different here.

Broken dreams and promises. These were her reasons for resolving never to marry, and the concerns that plagued her now. Sure, Zayne said he loved her with all that he had, but did she have what it took to keep that love alive?

Nearby, the door to Tristan’s room creaked open. Addie walked toward the sound, looked out into the hall, and spied her brother entering. Eager to be free from the memories of death and despair, she crossed the hall and slipped into his room. She stopped just beyond the door and offered him a tentative smile as he glanced in her direction—it was always a crapshoot as to what mood he’d be in—but no smile was offered in return. Rather, he stalked toward a collection of scrolls he’d left earlier upon a small side table while glaring at her. A chill washed down her spine.

“Is everything all right?”

The look in his eyes grew darker still. “No.”

Her heart sank. Had they found Rosalind? Oh God, was she dead? Did he blame her for this?

Addie couldn’t stand the silence. “Did they finally find her?”

“Did you think we wouldn’t?”

“What?”

He stormed toward her until they were toe to toe. “How long had you planned to keep secrets from us, Adelaide? She could be dead by now because of him.”

Secrets? “Who’s h—”

“No matter.” He turned to swipe his favorite bow from the corner where he kept it. “Your fiancé will lead us to her, and then we shall make examples of them all.”

“I don’t understand—what does Zayne have to do with any of this?”

“Truly you are not so simple as to believe your betrothed and his witch heritage have nothing to do with Rosalind’s disappearance.”

“Witch heritage?” Addie shook her head. Why was Tristan so upset about this all of a sudden? Hadn’t he known where Zayne’s mother’s family lived? Then again, if he hadn’t, whatever had tipped him off?

Zayne’s scroll.

Addie sucked in a sharp breath. “Tristan, what did you do?”

“What you should have done from the start. I took the scroll Zayne drafted for you to Father.”

“You looked through my things?”

“You have no possessions, sister. Everything you believe to be yours belongs first to the king.”

“That’s not fair! I don’t go digging through your things. Damn it!” Fury rose so swiftly in her chest, she nearly took a swing at him. But movement outside his window caught her gaze. Warriors, hundreds of them, were beginning to assemble. “What’s going on?”

He brushed past her without answer and headed for the hall. Addie dashed after him, panic welling inside her chest.

“Tristan, listen to me. You don’t understand. Zayne and his family have nothing to do with this.”

“I shall listen to no more of his lies.” He spun to face her as two guards appeared out of nowhere, one on either side of him. “And neither shall you.”

“What do you—” The guards stepped forward to grasp her arms. “Hey, let me go! Tristan?”

He refused to meet her gaze, looking instead to the guards. “Return my sister to her chamber, where she is to remain until further notice by order of the king.”

Tristan turned and walked away without so much as another glance back. Rage turned Addie’s vision red. She tried to wriggle free of the guards, twisting and turning as best she could, but their grip on her remained ironclad.

“Let. Me. Go.” She stomped on one guard’s foot and kicked at the other, but they wouldn’t budge. Addie shifted her attention back down the hall and yelled toward her retreating brother, “Come back here, you coward!”

Tristan kept walking without a break in his stride.

“He’s innocent! Tristan, you have to believe me!”

He rounded the corner, ignoring her cries. The big lugs restraining her dragged her kicking and cursing back to her room and released her with a not so gentle shove, then withdrew to the hall. Not until she heard the heavy latch outside her door slide into place did her anger transform into fear.

They were going to track down Zayne, use him to find the witches, and then make an example of him.

And she was powerless to stop them.



Tristan strode toward the back staircase, all the while telling himself he’d done the right thing. That aiding in Zayne’s capture had not just been following his father’s orders, but was also entirely necessary. Sure, she was furious with him now, but if Adelaide were as wise as he believed, she would come to see soon enough that the man she believed innocent was truly a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

And a skilled spy who would stop at nothing to undermine Tristan’s entire family.

Addie…

Tristan pinched the bridge of his nose. The image of Zayne falling to his knees and calling out Addie’s name haunted him still. Tristan would have thought the act a ruse if the blow he’d just delivered had not been so great. But to call her name in the midst of so much pain…