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

that couldn’t have been more perfectly drawn were pulled down in concern above his unusual topaz eyes, which were fixed securely on her. Thankfully, his eyes no longer glowed.
    “Do you promise not to hurt me?”
    He tipped his head in her direction. “You have my word, fair maiden.”
    Addie studied him a moment longer. Her ankle was absolutely screaming now, and the chaise lounge a short ways off was calling her name. With a nod, she limped forward.
    “Allow me, my lady.”
    She cringed away from his offered hand, then cast him an apologetic look. “Thanks, but no.”
    “As you wish.”
    Each step felt like a hot poker straight to her ankle, but Addie refused to ask for help. Two-time hero or not, she didn’t trust the Adonis beside her. Though once she settled herself onto the chaise, she couldn’t help but drink in the view another time. He remained silent, his intense, golden gaze taking in her every move.
    No, it simply couldn’t be. He wasn’t a dragon, he was just a man. A rich, gorgeous man. Still, he’d been adamant about the dragon bit. And the glowing-eye thing had been…unnerving. Perhaps that part had been a British parlor trick. For safety’s sake, rather than argue the point, she decided to play along with the ruse. For now, anyway.
    “I apologize if it seems I’m staring but, well, I’ve never seen a dragon man before. If that’s what you truly are.”
    A smirk tugged at his lips. “In a sense. May I?” He gestured to the open space beside Addie on the chaise.
    As it was his house and he no longer looked like something that planned to have her for dinner, she acquiesced.
    “Forgive me for staring as well.” He lowered himself onto the seat with a grimace before meeting her gaze once more. “Never have I seen anyone quite like you before either.”
    “I’m not sure if I should take that as a compliment or an insult.”
    “A compliment, I assure you.”
    His right brow quirked, and Addie had to remind herself how to breathe. Somehow, in a matter of moments, she’d gone from terrified to oddly intrigued. As she watched, he drew in a deep breath and held it for a long moment before speaking again.
    “I fear we have started off on the wrong foot, my lady. Shall we start again?”
    “If that’s what you want.”
    “Indeed, I do. I am Prince Zayne Godfrey of Edana, son to Robert and Helena, heir apparent. And the dragon’s blood does indeed run through my veins.” He flashed her a heart-stopping smile, tipped his head, and bent slightly at the waist.
    Prince Zayne?
    Addie had forgotten Emeline’s royal reference to him earlier and felt the need to bow or something in return. Unfortunately, she didn’t have a clue as to what was truly expected. After a brief moment of indecision, she pushed to the edge of her seat and dipped into what she hoped looked like some semblance of a curtsey. Only, she’d forgotten again about her bum ankle and nearly toppled over the moment she put her full weight on it.
    “A kind gesture.” He reached to help her back onto the chaise. “But that looked far more painful than necessary. And to be honest,” he added in a whisper, “I get rather bored with all the curtseying and whatnot.”
    A nervous giggle escaped Addie. “Right. Well, I guess it’s my turn, then. I’m Adelaide Miller, Addie for short, and I’m…not from around here.”
    “You don’t say?” The prince took her nearest hand and raised it to his grinning lips. “A pleasure to meet you, Miss Adelaide. It is miss, is it not?”
    Fire rushed to her cheeks. Surely the prince—and not just any prince, but a prince who looked like a Greek god—wasn’t flirting with little ole her. She was a foreigner, from Indiana, for crying out loud. Nothing romantic ever happened to people from Indiana. “Um, yes. And please, call me Addie.”
    “Addie,” he echoed and pressed his lips to the back of her hand once more, feeling like warm silk against her skin. “I rather like the sound of