Dragons Among Them (Kingdoms of Fire and Ice) Read Online Free

weren’t there.
    What the hell? Addie squinted into the shadows around her. How far away had they really been?
    “Looking for these?”
    * * * * *
    Zayne watched with amusement as Addie’s crystalline gaze flashed to the odd slippers dangling from his fingers, then slowly shifted to his face. Even here, in the shadows, the sight of her took his breath away. Emeline insisted the girl was nothing more than a peasant sent into the woods as bait to lure him into a Forathian snare. But no peasant he had ever encountered possessed skin so perfect or golden hair so smooth and long. She rose to stand before him, her pale skin angelic in the moonlight, and the scent of wildflowers and honey nipped at his senses. His gaze trailed uninhibited over her trim yet supple body, dressed once again in nothing but her unusual yet gloriously minimal undergarments.
    An angel in devil’s clothing.
    “What are you doing with my shoes?” Her voice was low and unsteady.
    Shoes? What an odd word. He held up her slippers and fought to keep a smirk from his face. “These? Why, holding them, my lady, nothing more. I feared for your safety and so removed them from your path.”
    “Uh-huh.” The blonde vixen’s eyes narrowed. “You knew I was awake?”
    “Aye. You blushed when I touched your cheek. I knew it would be but a matter of time before you magically awoke.”
    “And yet you let Emeline leave,” she said. “Why?”
    “Perhaps I wanted to have you all to myself for a moment.”
    Her eyes widened a fraction. Addie took a step back, sucked in a sharp breath and quickly took another. “I see.”
    She shifted her gaze from his and swept it across the room toward its lone window, feigning interest in the chamber’s furnishings. She was bold, this one. Perhaps that was why he felt inexplicably drawn to her. The feeling was both new and infuriating at the same time.
    “I wouldn’t, if I were you,” he said. “Even if you survived the fall, there are things lurking in the neighboring woods far more dangerous than I.”
    Her gaze shifted back to him. “Look, I don’t know who you are or how I got here, but if you’ll give me my shoes, I’ll be out of your hair in no time.”
    “But you are not in my hair.” He took a step forward and wished very much that she was. “Nor am I quite ready to let you go.”
    Addie held her hands out as though he were a charging horse she was trying to slow. “Look, buddy. I appreciate you and Emeline taking care of me this afternoon and all, but it’s been a long day and all I really want is to get back to my hotel and forget this day ever happened. So just give me my shoes already, will ya?”
    “Leaving tonight is out of the question.”
    She stared at him, appearing dumbfounded. “Why’s that?”
    “Because, you are being held for questioning on order of the royal family.”
    “The royal family? But why? What have I done?”
    Her perfect brows knit together. Zayne struggled not to reach out and try smoothing them back into place. Because if he touched her face again, a kiss was sure to follow. And with a kiss…
    No, not yet. Questions had to be asked to ensure she truly was no spy. While he had little doubt of her innocence, Emeline would hound him no end if he couldn’t prove that was truly the case. Zayne set the slippers beside the fire, then began pacing the room, walking in slow circles around his guest.
    “You endangered the life of their heir apparent today.”
    Addie spun to face him. “But Emeline was the only person I saw this afternoon.”
    He quirked a brow at her. “The only one?”
    “Yes, I swear! I was out for a run, and then this car swerved toward me because its idiot driver was probably paying more attention to their cell than the road. So I dove out of the way, but then I tumbled down this really steep hill, and the next thing I know, I’m being chased by the biggest wolves I’ve ever seen and then—” She looked away, her cheeks darkening.
    Car? Cell? He