Free Dragons Among Them (Kingdoms of Fire and Ice) by Kyra Jacobs Page B

horn.”
    The young warrior steered his steed toward a nearby oak and retrieved the instrument, hanging from a nail embedded in the tree’s thick trunk. Korey raised it to his lips, drew in a deep breath, and issued a loud, clear blast. Zayne closed his eyes and prayed to the heavens no blast would be sent back, that the guards wouldn’t allow them to approach, that Addie would have no choice but to remain in his care. But his prayers went unheard—a long, clear tone soon answered theirs.
    It was Sol, Brom’s younger brother, who swung down from his horse and came to stand beside them now. “Shall I help you down, my lady?”
    “Help down? Oh. Right.” She looked from Sol to Zayne. “Who will I be riding with the rest of the way?”
    “Brom. He, Sol, and Korey will ensure you make it to your destination safely, my lady.”
    “So, this is it?” Addie’s crystalline eyes met his. “This is where we part ways?”
    Zayne swallowed hard and held her gaze. “Aye.”
    She looked down and shook her head. “God, I suck at good-byes.” She breathed a small laugh and placed a soft hand upon Zayne’s chest. “Thank you, for all you’ve done. I shall never forget you, Prince Zayne Godfrey of Edana.”
    He lifted her chin and waited for her gaze to meet his once again before answering, “And I shall never in all my days forget you, sweet Adelaide.”
    Her eyes began to glisten. Stubborn even now, she fought to hide her suffering behind a smirk on her lips. Without forethought, Zayne bent to claim those very lips with his own, to taste of them before she was gone from his life forever. She stilled, clearly surprised by his action, but to his great relief, she didn’t pull away. Her eyelids slid shut, and his did the same, allowing his other senses to take control. She tasted of sugar and honey, and the feeling of her cool, smooth lips pressed against his ignited a fire within his heart he hadn’t known existed. One not fueled by lust or desire alone, but something more. So much more.
    Without breaking the kiss, he cupped her face in his hands and brushed his thumbs across her silky smooth skin. She shivered beneath his touch, and Zayne deepened the kiss, wanting nothing more in this world than to devour her this very—
    Brom cleared his throat. “Sire, Forath awaits.”
    At his words, Addie’s eyes opened and grew wide with surprise. She blinked several times as though waking from a spell and drew back, pulling free from his hands as her cheeks flushed a beautiful scarlet. Zayne wished for the first time in his life he’d been born a wizard, not a dragon, for this was an enchantment he’d have never allowed to be broken. The prince shot Brom a look of reproach.
    “I really should be going,” Addie whispered. “Before I get you into any more trouble.”
    Zayne nodded, the agony of her departure rendering him silent. Drawing on the last of his willpower, he helped her down into Sol’s awaiting arms. She flinched at the broad man’s touch, then offered him an embarrassed apology for doing so.
    “No need to apologize, my lady. Unlike my brother, I neither bark nor bite.” He held his arm out to escort her and gave her a wink. “Much.”
    She offered him a tentative grin, and jealousy flared inside Zayne once more. But it was a jealousy he had no right to possess nor reason to keep. In a few moments, the woman would be lost to him forever. Though, truly, she hadn’t been his from the start.
    Sol led her to Brom’s large, ebony steed and hoisted her into his brother’s grasp. Addie’s beautiful cheeks flushed a deeper scarlet as Brom wrapped a battle-scarred arm around her waist to secure her. He waited for Sol to mount his horse, then cast Zayne a questioning look. Zayne studied Addie for a long moment, trying to memorize her every feature before she was gone forever, then gave Brom a reluctant nod. The men set off across the clearing, Korey and Sol in the lead with Brom and Addie following.
    Zayne watched