Dalton, Tymber - Fire and Ice [A Triple Trouble Prequel] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Read Online Free Page B

lives, we swear to you we will.”
    She suddenly felt faint, swooning. Somehow, without losing his sword, Zachary caught her with one arm and kept the strangers away from her.
    With her arms draped around his neck, she met his gaze, which suddenly appeared very, very sad. “What happened?” she whispered. “Who are these men?”
    He handed the sword off to her father and caressed her cheek. “The prophecy must be followed.” He kissed her forehead. “In every life.”
    She closed her eyes and realized that her future lay with these two strangers. Already, the pull of the two strangers in her soul couldn’t be denied. “In every heart,” she responded.
    “Forever,” they both said.
    Zachary made sure she was steady on her own feet and motioned the two men closer. “What are your names?” he asked.
    Neither man looked at Zachary, their eyes only on her. She realized she couldn’t take her eyes off of them, either. Both were stunningly handsome, and taller than her by nearly a head.
    “Stribog,” the fair one replied.
    “Svarog,” the swarthy one said.
    Zachary took her hands in his, and with a final, tender squeeze, he placed her hands in theirs.
    The breath rushed from her. It felt…so right. In a different way than Zachary being with her all the time.
    She looked at Zachary. He nodded. “It is the prophecy, Goddess.” He stroked her hair, then spoke to the men. “She will take you to her chambers.”
    “But where will you sleep, Zachary?” she cried. She’d never spent a night apart from him. The thought frightened her a little, although a new feeling of pleasant anticipation grew deep within her at the thought of these two men being her husbands.
    “I will find other quarters. I will have the maid move my things. These are your men, as the prophecy said. If we are all to live, if our race is to survive, then we must follow our fate.”
    He turned to the king. “Sire, call the abbot in to bless their union.”
    The king looked shocked. “ Their union? Surely you can’t mean —”
    Zachary stepped in close. “Sire, are you saying you will defy Baba Yaga and the prophecies and condemn us all?”
    All the knights’ discontent grumblings over the latest development immediately silenced.
    Zaria fell silent, too. That Zachary dared to stand up to her father surprised her most of all. He seemed different, changed. Hardened.
    Her father’s gaze narrowed. Then he slowly nodded. “Aye, you are right, Zachary. We were warned of this.” He looked at her. “Daughter. Take these two men to the antechamber hence.” He motioned to a small doorway off to the right that she knew led to his private sitting area. “Talk with them. In ten minutes, I will summon you to give me your decision. You alone have the final say.”
    This was racing too fast. “Wedding? To them both?” She studied all the faces surrounding her and felt the world go black as she fainted.

Chapter Four

    Zaria came to in Zachary’s arms, aware that she was lying upon the chilly flagstones. “What happened?” she asked.
    Zachary stroked her face. “You fainted, Goddess.”
    Stribog and Svarog anxiously looked down at her as Zachary helped her sit up. “I’m all right.”
    Her father, now standing with the frowning abbot, spoke up. “We need to settle this, Zaria. Are you truly all right?”
    She nodded. “I’m fine.” She looked at her two suitors again as Zachary helped her to her feet. “I think we need to go talk.”
    Zachary kept his arm around her waist until he guided her out of the room and into her father’s chair in the antechamber. The two dragons hesitated at the doorway. When Zachary tried to step away, she held fast to him.
    “I love you,” she whispered. “I do not want to lose you.”
    He sadly smiled and stroked her cheek. “I love you, too, Goddess. But there are prophecies to heed.” He knelt in front of her. “Do not fear what your heart tells you. Follow it. Do not worry about me. I will always be