Dragons Against Them (Kingdoms of Fire and Ice #2)(4)
Zayne dressed in haste, then turned to cast an impatient look at his most trusted warrior. Why ever did it take Brom so long to transform and dress these days? If Zayne didn’t know better, he’d think the man was doing so to intentionally delay Zayne’s reuniting with Adelaide. And why not? His father had no trouble doing so these past few weeks. Which was unfortunate to those around him, for the longer he was apart from his beautiful fiancée, the more anxious Zayne became and the shorter his patience grew.
“Shall we bring one of the queen’s handmaids along next trip to assist you with your garb?”
Brom waved him off and worked to secure his trousers. “Bah, your mate will no’ vanish in the time it takes me to dress.”
More words were muttered, something about distraction by females being to blame for the downfall of every great leader, but Zayne stalked off without waiting for him to finish. If his companion wanted to grumble, he could do so alone. Zayne needed to see Adelaide with his own eyes. To know she was safe, to feel the comfort of her cool skin against his.
He wove through the forest and angled for the rear entrance to King Jarin’s stables. Not the customary door a visiting noble would approach, yet fully intentional. For if Addie had heard his call, she would be inside those doors, ready to make a hasty escape for a brief amorous foray before the rest of the castle became aware of his presence.
A foray he so badly needed after the week he’d had.
“Adelaide, you promised.”
Tristan’s muffled dismay rang out as Zayne drew near the grand wooden structure, dashing his hopes for an unobserved exit. He eased the stable door open and slipped silently inside. The scent of dust and clover met him, and a nearby horse issued a soft snort in greeting. The twins, however, noticed him not. Addie remained with her back to him several paces off, a fistful of pale blue skirt in each hand.
“I know I did,” she said. “But that was before I was stuck inside for three days straight. Three days, Tristan. Besides, he said it wasn’t safe for me to venture from the castle alone. He didn’t say anything about me not getting to fly with Zayne.”
Her do-gooder twin—so alike in coloring and features to his sister that if he were to don a dress and grow out his hair, Tristan might well be mistaken for Addie—threw her a scathing look. “A promise is a promise. If Father learns of your disobedience, he may well throw you in the dungeon for safekeeping.”
Zayne crept closer along the shadows and bit back a growl. It was insensitive for Tristan to mention the dungeon, a place Addie had been prisoner in only a short time ago. But that was before the others knew of her true identity, before any of them did—Addie included. The dungeon was where her half sister should be now as punishment for the plotting she’d done against Adelaide. Perhaps that was why Rosalind had vanished the night of Addie’s rescue—because she knew better than most what her punishment might well be.
“He wouldn’t.” Addie’s voice wavered for but a moment before conviction filled it once more. “And besides, he won’t know because I’m not going to tell him. And neither are you.”
“Oh?” Tristan crossed his arms. “And why is that?”
“You keep telling me to trust you, that I can ask you anything. Well, now’s your chance to prove it. Please don’t tell on me. I promise we’ll be back in no time.”
Indecision flickered in his crystalline gaze. “An unfair request, sister. True, I have asked for your trust and done my utmost to earn it from you these past few weeks. But this is a blatant disregard of the king’s edict.”
“Only if we get caught.”
“And how do I know we, or rather you, shall not?”
“Because.” Zayne stepped out from the shadows and snaked a possessive hand around his betrothed’s waist. “Princess Adelaide will be under my protection.”
“Zayne.”
Her lavender-and-honey scent flooded his senses as he drew her close, easing the former worry from his mind. Three days had been far too long to be away from her, and he was determined to keep their future times apart to much shorter intervals. A simple task, if only his father would cease sending him on menial errands in his stead.
Tristan offered his sister a look of reproach. “Not only do you plan to break the rules, but you have already convinced your fiancé to break them as well?”
“I’m not breaking any rules. Just…bending them a little.”
“Do not try to justify your actions, Adelaide. Words alone can do little to erase your guilt.”
“Nor does tattling on your sister erase feelings of envy,” said Zayne.
Tristan balked. “I feel no such thing.”
“Excellent.” Zayne gave Addie a subtle tug toward the door. “Then join us.”
“Join you?”
Addie turned away from her twin to throw Zayne a confused look, to which he offered a subtle wink.
“Aye. How long has it been since you stretched your wings, went on a leisurely flight?”
Tristan bristled. “I am unfamiliar with your customs in Edana, Prince Zayne, but here in Forath, those responsible for protecting our kingdom have little time for leisure.”
“A pity, that.”
“How so?”
Zayne bent to press a kiss upon his betrothed’s hair. Its silken strands tickled his chin, and her scent washed over him anew. His enjoyment in the continued battle of wits with her prick of a brother waned and was replaced by the desire for a new activity. One that involved himself, Adelaide, and far less clothing.