Dragons Against Them (Kingdoms of Fire and Ice #2)(69)
“Aye, Father.”
He pressed a kiss to her forehead, then released her to return to Quinn’s side. “It seems the castle will soon hold but us two lonely bachelors, my son.”
Tristan offered his father a smile, but Zayne noticed the prince’s gaze was yet directed toward Ella. As she passed by him, weaving her way through the rubble toward her deceased sister, Tristan’s cheeks took on a pink hue. Perhaps now that Jarin’s curse had been broken, even Adelaide’s twin would soon learn to relax.
A mate might do the man a world of good.
Addie stepped away from Zayne but took his hand in hers as she made her way toward the rest of her family.
“But what about the wizards?” she asked.
Tristan’s gaze shifted to his twin. “What of them?”
“They have gone.” Zayne’s mother crossed the square and drew near Jarin. “Before they could be held accountable for their years of deceit, recently discovered. No longer can they be trusted.”
“Berinon and Haelan, both?” said the king.
“Aye.”
Jarin remained quiet for a long moment, frowning as he processed the news. He stepped forward and offered the queen his hand, which she took without hesitation and came to stand at his side. “It appears that alliances are changing, as are the priorities of each. If the wizards have joined to conspire against us, then it is of great import that the kingdoms and clans which before fought against one another now seek peace and alliances so that we may protect one and all.”
Murmuring sounded as Quinn handed his mother to her warriors. He exchanged a quick nod with Ella, then stepped forward with determination etched upon his brow. “We shall stand with you, King Jarin of Forath.”
“And I shall return this night to speak to my husband, Your Majesty,” said Zayne’s mother. “Given his current state of mind, I cannot help but believe he will stand with you against the wizards.”
Zayne sensed unease in his mother’s vow, and silently pledged to return with her if only for a short while. He would not allow his father to punish her for her involvement tonight, not when it was the wizards who for years had tricked them all.
The king’s gaze shifted to Tristan. “And you, heir to my throne? Will you stand firm in our cause, to protect our peoples from whatever wrath may be unleashed by the wizards who have conspired against us?”
“Until my dying day, Father.”
“Very well.” King Jarin’s gaze shifted to the starlit sky. “May our allegiances indeed be enough to save us all.”
Epilogue
Addie lay relaxed against Zayne’s side, savoring how the sun warmed and soothed her naked body. Their mountaintop knoll offered a place of peace and quiet after the events of the prior week, as well as some much-needed alone time. Especially because, with their wedding only a few weeks off, the coming days would soon become filled with a flurry of prewedding preparations.
At least, that was what Rosalind had warned her of when last their family had visited Weston.
With a bit of magic by Ella and the village’s remaining elders, Weston had been restored to its former modest conditions, and all but Giselle were healed of their battle wounds. It was still odd to see Quinn acting as their leader, and without his usual battle gear on. Weirder still to see fiancée Rosalind at his side with an honest-to-God smile on her face. A smile that only added to her beauty and extended beneath the surface now that she wasn’t so preoccupied with trying to get rid of Addie all the time.
But while the Bennett family was beginning to adjust to their new normal, Zayne’s seemed to be on the verge of falling apart. Robert had been furious over Helena’s sneaking off with Berinon and a group of warriors to Weston the night of the attack. And though she swore it was to protect Edana, he’d still come close to casting her into their dungeon. Only the discovery that he had an illegitimate son, conceived by Giselle’s trickery, distracted the king enough to prevent him from doing so. So far, anyway.
And Jaxon? Well, he’d yet to be found. Without the wizards around to help with a suitable tracking potion, there was little anyone could do but wait and see if he turned up.
“Do you think he’ll come back?” Addie asked, tracing a hand over the healed scars on Zayne’s chest. “Your half brother?”
“I do not know, nor do I care.”
“It wasn’t your father’s fault, you know. Giselle tricked him.” She shook her head, still bothered by the idea of spells making people seem to be someone they’re not. “Honestly, I kinda pity the guy. Born out of revenge, conceived to fill a void left by the loss of her first son, had to trick a woman into thinking she’s his mate, only has one good eye…”
“Enough.” Zayne rolled to cover her body with his. “The matter does not concern me.”
“But you’re going to have to accept it eventu—”
He claimed her lips with his, the kiss anything but gentle and all further thought was blown to oblivion. Since their partial bonding, when one of their emotions was at a heightened level, so too became those of the other. Was this what Haelan had meant when he said she would heal but not necessarily return to her normal self? Whatever the reason, a mixture of anger and desire coursed through Addie’s veins. And rather than resist, she embraced the emotions. She and Zayne had been through hell and back this week, and more than deserved a happy ending or two.