Dragons Against Them (Kingdoms of Fire and Ice #2)(61)

Rosalind nodded but remained mute. The inexplicable worry that had begun at the table now grew, bringing with it a stabbing pain in her temples. The air around them smelled odd—bitter, metallic—and soured her stomach. She forced another smile upon her face and tried to focus on taking deep, soothing breaths lest she grow more ill.

Upon the queen’s instructions, they stopped through the first door on their right. Jaxon drew it open and ushered the women inside. A few steps farther, Rosalind came to a halt and stared in frozen amazement at the scene before them. Gone was the limited space of whatever interior room they had ventured into, replaced by a broad swatch of beach. Its sands glowed nearly white beneath a full moon, while ebony waters lapped at its shore. A strange scent tickled her nose, one of salt and sea and other scents the likes of which she was unfamiliar.

“Do you like it?” asked the queen, pride glistening in her eyes.

“Aye.” Rosalind shivered as a breeze blew in off the water, and Jaxon pulled her into his side.

“’Tis nothing like the scenes you have chosen before, my queen,” he said.

She cupped his cheek. “The water can be a place of both cleansing and beauty, can it not?”

A light came into view just above the water’s surface, suspended like the moon beginning its nightly ascent yet creeping no higher. As Rosalind squinted out into the darkness, the light seemed to grow in size. A fire dragon, perhaps? No, the light was too pale, its shape circular, not a stream of flame. She raised a hand to point it out to the others, but the queen claimed the hand in hers.

“Come,” Giselle said. “If you enjoy this view, you shall love the next even more, for I designed it especially for you.”

She led Rosalind back toward the hall, either unbothered by the strange light or unaware of its presence. Rosalind cast a glance over her shoulder to spy the sight one last time, but Jaxon’s broad chest now blocked her view. She decided to inquire of its source later, lest she spoil the queen’s good mood.

They exited the room and soon stood before the next door along the inner hall. Again, Jaxon drew it open and led the women inside. And just as the first room appeared to be under a spell of enchantment, so too did this space. Rather than possess an endless sea, however, this second illusion was that of a grassy knoll beside what appeared to be a long-forgotten castle. Moss and vines covered much of its aging walls, dark against the gray stone in a moonlit sky. The castle’s interior was dark, the only discernable sound that of the rustling grass beneath the night’s gentle breeze.

“What is this place?” Rosalind asked, spellbound by the magnificent structure.

“A gift for my son and his future bride. It shall soon become your manor home. Does it please you, Princess?”

“Aye. ’Tis magnificent, Your Majesty.” No longer was the smile upon Rosalind’s lips forced, nor did she care that this was all a grand illusion. If remaining here with the witches allowed her to live a long, full life with Jaxon at her side, she would soon grow to know contentment. She took a step forward, eager to explore.

“Ah, ah, ah,” said the queen. “No peeking. I do not wish to reveal all my surprises just yet. Let us continue on—I have a surprise waiting in the next room as well.”

Rosalind studied the fortress in silent appreciation a moment longer, then turned to follow the others back into the hall. But again a movement in the night sky caught her attention. This time, a red star far above the horizon. As she watched, it blinked. Her pace slowed so as to study the light, which seemed to move unassisted along the night sky, blinking out of sight every few heartbeats.

“Whatever star might that be?” she breathed.

“Rosa.”

She turned her gaze back to Jaxon with a start and, seeing a look of mild impatience upon his handsome face, hurried to join him at the door. Once there, she paused and cast one last glance to where she’d last seen the unusual star.

It was gone.





Chapter 37





Addie hurried to keep up with her longer-legged companions and said a quick prayer of thanks that her energy had finally returned.

Hell, returned nothing—it’d tripled. Or quadrupled. Or—

Zayne extended an arm across her path, drawing her to a halt. Their group had gone silent, all eyes directed toward movement in the woods a short distance ahead of them. A flash of emerald green caught her eye, and she took a gamble.

“Ber.”

A face turned back in their direction, pale in the moonlight above a long, full beard. Several other faces now turned in their direction, and she could feel a wave of relief wash over Zayne.

Wait. She could feel what Zayne was feeling?

“Mother.” Her fiancé hurried forward to embrace one of the shadowed figures, whose dark hood slid free from her head. Queen Helena’s long braided hair came into view.

“Zayne. Oh, my son.”

Addie and the others hurried forward and stopped before the mini family reunion. All except Haelan, who moved at a slower pace, his eyes aglow and focused on Berinon. Addie shot Berinon a dark look as well. “Where have you been? I needed you.”

“Contrary to whatever you have grown accustomed to believe, I have duties that extend beyond answering to your every beck and call, Princess Adelaide.”

“My every beck and call.” She rolled her eyes. “Pfft. Honey, I’m about as low maintenance as they come.”