by Kyra Jacobs
“What?” She dragged an arm across her perspiring forehead.
“Nothing.” Zayne shook out the clothes he’d shoved under an arm as they’d run and tossed her the peasant gown. “I need you to put this on now.”
“Darn. I’d really hoped you would have dropped it along the way.”
He pulled the scratchy farmer’s shirt over his head. “Answers first, my lady. Comfort later.”
“Pfft, comfort,” she muttered as she tugged the dress on. “I left that all behind two days ago.”
“Did I provide no comfort to you last night?”
Her eyes narrowed. “You you, or scaly you?”
“Either.” He pulled her into his chest, unable to help himself. She looked absolutely adorable in the patchwork gown, and Zayne secretly hoped Berinon would lack the answers they needed to get her home today. Another night with her in his arms would be heaven indeed.
Her gaze shifted from his to the raven. “Well, dragon you offered me little in the way of comfort, flying me all over God’s green earth trapped between those crazy long talons and all. But princely you took much better care of me.”
Her cheeks flushed as a tiny smirk crinkled the corners of her eyes. Desire crackled in his veins at the thought of bedding her one more night. He released all but her hand and started forward again, eager to hear what the wizard had to say.
They left the path taken by the royal horsemen and began to weave through the forest surrounding the wizard’s lair. It had been left overgrown, creating a fortress out of closely growing trees and dense bramble. No horse could reach Berinon’s clearing save by the main path, nor could any significant army charge through the vegetation with hopes of a swift attack. For Zayne and Addie, though, the forest provided them perfect cover to draw near the high wizard’s cottage unseen. Still a safe distance from the structure, they drew to a stop and surveyed its yards.
Five horses stood in the clearing: two with mounted guards, their gazes surveying the surrounding woods, and two with guards standing at attention facing the cottage door. Worry clawed at Zayne. Why had they allowed his mother to go in unattended? Had Berinon taken her prisoner? Was the ride nothing but a trap? And if he attempted to go in after her, would his own guards try to stop him?
Addie gave his hand a squeeze, the unspoken message clear in her touch: stay calm. New to his world or not, she was right. Now wasn’t the time to go and do something rash. He drew in a deep breath and tightened his hand around hers, drawing strength from their connection.
The cottage’s front door opened in the next moment. His mother emerged, her face unreadable but calm as she descended the building’s steps. The guards bowed, then offered their assistance with her horse. She waved them off and mounted the chestnut stallion herself, and Zayne’s chest tightened with pride. Their privileged life hadn’t changed his independent mother into a helpless royal maiden. Rather, the weight of responsibility bestowed upon the queen had strengthened her. It was she whom the prince worked so hard to emulate, not his tyrannical father.
“Did you locate Prince Zayne, Your Majesty?” asked one of the guardsmen.
“He is not here.” She tipped her chin high. “But I have a message of import for King Robert from the wizard. Make haste, my guides, so I might deliver it to my husband yet this day.”
“Yes, my lady.” The guardsman swung up onto his horse and urged the steed onward. In another moment, they were gone, charging down the trail from whence they came.
“Are we going after them?” Addie whispered when the forest fell silent once more.
“No.” His gaze shifted from the retreating caravan to the cottage’s yet open front door. “The answers we seek are here.”
“Super.”
He heard the apprehension in her voice and gave her hand a squeeze. She offered him a quick, nervous smile.
“You need not hide any longer,” called a voice from within the cottage. “They have gone.”
Addie paled beside him.
“Be not afraid of Berinon,” Zayne whispered. “He is the greatest wizard in our land, but a wise one as well. Never would he harm us unless provoked.”
Addie shuddered. “But what if—”
“Adelaide, if anyone knows how to get you home, it is he.”
She searched his face for a moment, then nodded as she shifted her gaze back to the cottage. Zayne squeezed her hand once more, then led her out of the woods. He worked to exude an air of confidence for her sake, but inside anxiety clawed at his nerves. Never before had he faced the great wizard without the king present, nor did he know what his mother had spoken to him of. Had she requested his assistance in apprehending Zayne? Or Addie?
“Slow as molasses,” the voice said. “And timid as field mice. Tsk, tsk, tsk. I would have expected more from a prince.”
“Ignore him. He’s just trying to goad you,” Addie whispered.
“Ah, wise words from such a small lass. I can see why you are smitten with her.”
Smitten? How could the wizard possibly know that when Zayne himself had yet to admit as much? His free hand curled into a fist as Berinon stepped out from the dark interior of his home and came down its front steps to face them. He looked as Zayne had remembered, regal in his emerald robe, though more silver streaked his reddish hair now. His green eyes shone bright with interest, their gaze fixed upon Addie.
The wizard stopped a few feet from them and gave a nod in Zayne’s direction rather than a proper bow. Zayne felt the urge to step between them, to shield her from the wizard’s probing gaze. But he knew better than to act—whatever Berinon wanted, Berinon would get. His powers far exceeded Zayne’s.
After a moment of awkward silence, the wizard cocked one brow in his direction. “Has Edana abandoned its custom to make proper introductions, Your Highness?”
Though Zayne wanted to lash out at the arrogant bastard, he refrained. That would never help Addie get home. And as much as the thought of losing her pained him, he’d made her a promise. All he could hope now was for the wizard to tell them it wasn’t possible…and that he intended no harm to her.
“Adelaide,” he said between gritted teeth. “May I present to you Berinon, Edana’s high wizard. Berinon? Miss Adelaide Miller of Indiana.”
Berinon extended a hand, intending to receive Addie’s. Rather than offer her hand to receive a kiss, she reached out, clasped the wizard’s in her own, and gave it a firm shake.
“Pleased to meet you.” She released his hand and stepped closer to Zayne. The wizard blinked twice in stunned silence then broke into hearty laughter.
Laughter. Zayne released a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding and shook his head. Only Addie…
“I can see your time in Edana has yet to break your spirit, young lady.”
“It would take more than a day or two to do that. Wait—what do you know about my spirit?”
The wizard’s brows rose. “I am a wizard, Addie. There is little I do not know. Come in so we may escape from this heat.”
With that, he turned and headed inside, not waiting to see if his guests would follow. Which of course they did, as they had no other real choice. Zayne swallowed hard as he guided Addie up the cottage’s front steps and hoped like hell it wasn’t another trap.
* * * * *
“I am a wizard, Addie. There is little I do not know.”
A wizard. Addie scowled as she watched the man go. Like such a thing truly existed outside of books and movies. Then again, up until a few days ago she hadn’t believed in dragons either. A shiver ran down her spine as she wished for the thousandth time this nightmare would hurry up and end.
“How did he know my nickname?” she whispered through unmoving lips.
“He is a wizard, Addie,” Zayne whispered back, mimicking Berinon’s tone. “He knows everything.”
“I heard that,” called the wizard from inside the cottage.
Zayne winked and took her hand to help her up the cottage steps. Addie fought to stay uprigh
t as her whole body began to tremble at the thought of going inside. And while she knew he’d likely tease her about it later, Addie wasn’t about to let go of Zayne’s hand—the warmth in his touch was all that was keeping her from falling apart.
If they were both still alive later to tease and be teased…
The interior of the cottage was dark, lit by a few sparse candles and what little sunlight was able to sneak in through cracks in various window shutters. A large fireplace stood at the near side of the main room, flanked by two armchairs. There was little else in the way of furniture, aside from several long tables covered in small clay pots and jars of dried leaves.
Well, mostly leaves. She spied the tail of a mouse dangling from one pot and quickly looked away. Plants she could handle, but animal ingredients—live or dead? Not so much.
“Forgive us for the unexpected visit,” Zayne began.
“You were hardly unexpected.” Berinon settled into one of the two seats by the hearth. “Though, I am surprised you came on foot. Flying would have brought you here sooner.”
Zayne rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. “True, but—”
“But unwise as two kingdoms actively seek your detainment. Yes, yes, I know all that.” Berinon steepled his hands beneath his chin, a sparkle in his emerald eyes. His gaze fixed upon her. “What I am dying to know more about is our guest from another land. Come and sit, Adelaide Suzanne Miller.”
Addie sucked in a sharp breath. That he guessed her nickname was a little creepy, but to know her full name? That was downright scary. She’d told no one here her middle name. No one. “H-how do you know my name?”
“All in good time, dear child. All in good time.” He gestured toward the empty chair across from him. “Come. Sit.”
Zayne’s hand tightened around hers. “How do we know we can trust you?” he asked.
“Why do you think you cannot?” Berinon watched Zayne’s eyes narrow, and the older man chuckled. “Relax, boy. I promised your mother that you would live. And as you stand before me, so ready to lay down your life for your mate, never would I dare hurt her either.”
Mate? Addie looked between the two men. Had she missed something, or was this some kind of medieval male posturing?
“Look, I know this might seem odd, me hanging out with the prince and all, but it’s not like that. See, I kind of stumbled into Forath two days ago and have been trying to get home ever since. Prince Zayne has saved me twice now and only brought me here because our last attempt to get me back home ended…badly. He thought if anyone would know how I got here, and how I might get back home, it would be you. Because that’s where he promised to take me. Home.”
There was something about the way he watched her, a hint of amusement and fascination in his eyes, which gave her courage. She slid her hand free from Zayne’s and stepped forward to take the open hearthside seat. Berinon’s demeanor didn’t seem to have the same effect on her escort, however, as he remained a short ways off, arms folded tight across his chest.
“So.” Addie offered the wizard a shy, coy smile. “Might you have the answers we seek?”
“Perhaps. Though everything I do comes at a price.”
“A price? I don’t have any money on me.”
A smirk tugged at his lips. “’Tis not money I seek, but knowledge. Thus, for each question you ask of me, I shall be allowed one of my own in return.”
Addie shifted in her seat. What could this hermit possibly care to ask her? Then again, what did it really matter? He didn’t know her from Adam and wouldn’t know truth from a lie.
She decided after a moment’s hesitation to play along. It was that or remain stuck in Edana forever. “Deal. I’ll go first. Do you know how I got here?”
“Yes.” He moved forward in his seat and gestured for her to give him her hand. She did so, albeit reluctantly, and worked not to flinch as his rough skin met hers. The wizard turned her hand palm up and traced a finger along her life lines. “Were you hurt as you tumbled down the embankment?”
Addie swallowed hard. “How did you know about that?
“Must we review the rules again so soon, young Adelaide? You ask a question, I answer it. Then ’tis my turn to ask and you to answer.”
She threw a questioning look at Zayne, who studied her face for a long moment before giving her a small nod.
“F-fine. No, I wasn’t. Scratches and a few bruises, nothing more.”
“I’m relieved to hear that.” Berinon’s gaze remained fixed on her palm.
“Why are you relieved? How did you know about the fall?”
Berinon grinned at her from beneath his bushy auburn brows. “While that was in fact two questions, my answer will address both. I was there.”
“But you couldn’t have been there.” Addie frowned. “I…would have seen you.”
“Did the driver of the car not look up at the last moment?”
Her jaw dropped.
The car. He knew what a car was. Addie wasn’t sure if she should run away screaming or kiss the man. “I’m not sure. I was too busy trying to get out of their way.”
“Then how can you be so sure you would have seen me if I were there?”
Her eyes narrowed. “How do you know my name?”
“That I cannot answer.” Berinon released her hand and leaned back in his seat. “Have you had any interactions with the Forathians?”
“Wait, you didn’t answer my question.”
“I did,” he said with a stern look. “My answer was that I could not answer. Now, Forath—have you either spoken to or seen anyone from there over the past two days?”
“No. I don’t know. It all happened so fast. The fall, me landing in some strange forest. The wolves.” Her gaze drifted to where Zayne stood. “A giant dragon…”
“Which then rescued you.”
“Yes.” She turned her attention back to Berinon. “Enough with trying to distract me. How did I get here?”
Berinon once again steepled his fingers beneath his chin as he considered her question for a long moment. “Through a gateway that connects our two realities. Was Princess Rosalind at the wall yesterday when Forath launched its attack against you?”
“No,” said Zayne, his word clipped and low.
“Two realities…” Addie pinched the bridge of her nose. Dragons, wizards, and now multiple realities? What the hell was going on around here? And what on earth did Rosalind have to do with anything?
She cast a quick glance at Zayne, who looked ready to spit fire. His body had gone rigid, with hands fisted at his sides and golden eyes lit with the angry glow she’d witnessed her first night in Edana. As they sat in a veritable tinder box, she prayed he’d behave himself until after she found out the way to get home. After giving him a pleading look, she turned her attention back to Berinon.
“So is this gateway you mentioned always open?”
“No,” he replied smoothly. “Do your parents know where you are?”
Addie swallowed hard and debated answering with her first lie. What did it matter to the wizard if her parents knew where she was or not? Like they even cared. And wasn’t it their lack of caring that had landed her in this situation in the first place? But she knew from the look in the wizard’s eyes that he’d know if she was telling the truth or not. And if she didn’t answer him, the game would end without the most important question yet to be asked: how could she get back home? Her hands curled into fists.
“No, I haven’t been in contact with them for several years now. Not that—”
Addie stopped herself and brushed aside the all too familiar hollow feeling that always accompanied thoughts of her parents. She’d left them behind, made a clean break from her crummy childhood by slipping out her bedroom window one night shortly after high school graduation. Not that she’d really needed to sneak out—her drunk of a father had probably long since passed out and her mother, well, she hadn’t been around to care since before high school. Photography had been her one-way ticket out of
hell, and if she didn’t want to blow her career, it was high time she get back and try to salvage her soccer gig.
“How does the gateway work?” she asked.
Berinon’s jaw shifted beneath his beard. “A spell must be cast, and he who casts it must envision where the gateway will lead.”
He held her gaze as she processed his words. The gateway had been opened two days ago. That meant if she fell through it there, then someone from here must have been there before to have seen it.
A small chirp rang out from somewhere across the room. But not just any chirp—this was a sound that didn’t belong in Edana or anywhere in this alternate reality. She would know—her favorite digital watch used to make the exact same sound.
“You were there,” she breathed as her gaze began to rove the room. “You’ve been there before.”
Chapter Eighteen
Addie turned in the direction of the familiar sound and rose from her chair on wobbly knees. She stepped forward, needing to see the watch with her own eyes, to know she wasn’t imagining things. Berinon made no move to stop her as she began looking through his things, going table to table.
“Addie, what are you doing?” Zayne reached for her and threw Berinon an apologetic smile.
“It’s here. I know it is.” She moved around him and began pushing jars aside, frantic to see something from her world, to know she wasn’t going mad. “Do you know how upset I was when that watch went missing? I thought my father had sold it, pawned it off like everything else of value I’d ever owned.”
Addie pulled dust-covered scrolls off a nearby shelf, determined to leave no stone unturned, but it wasn’t there. There was no way she would have imagined that sound, not here. Tears began to blur her vision, but she refused to give up. It had to be here.
With a growl, she turned and nearly collided with Berinon, who had crossed the room on silent steps to stop beside her. “But I stole nothing.” His voice was soft as he reached behind a cluster of jars on a high shelf beyond her reach. “You left it behind that day.”