Bound by the Ice Dragon

by Alyx X

  The cloth from my head dropped on the floor as I stood up and wobbled.

  Then I stopped and glanced down. “Why am I in a bathing suit? Was I… Was I actually on the beach this morning?”

  I spun and looked at Gabby, and she nodded. “Uh-huh.”

  “So…” I looked down again. It was all too weird. Black sparkles glinted between my toes, and I wiggled them, watching the play of light for a moment. “So how did I actually get back here?”

  Gabby’s eyes widened, and she spoke in a hushed whisper. “Oh my God, don’t you remember? Girl, you are gonna wish you had.”

  Irritated, I stalked to my closet and began flipping the hangers so they rattled along the rail. It served no purpose. My only choices were cardigan color. Was I feeling pastel pink, pastel blue, pastel pink, or pastel lilac the rest of the day?

  “Is nothing jewel-colored on this damn planet?” I demanded. “Because I could really use something that doesn’t make me look like a demented fairy right now.”

  I closed my eyes and imagined a gorgeous ruby red, and an image of Izon’s eyes flashed into my mind. Not just his eyes, something else. Something my mind couldn’t quite grasp.

  I shook my head and grimaced.

  Gabby stood. “Is everything okay? Do I need to get Dyan?”

  I shook my head again, but the memory of Dyan’s laughter hit me. “Dyan was there,” I murmured.

  “That’s right!” Gabby squealed and clapped her hands. Then she approached me and slung her arm around my waist. “You’re remembering all this faster than I did,” she said in a conspiratorial tone. “Come on, let me help you, and then we’ll go get you something to eat from the kitchen.”

  “But Chef…” I murmured as I opened my drawer to take out a pair of panties.

  “Oh, screw Chef,” Gabby said. “Although I think he’d probably let you cook something in his precious kitchen if you requested it right now.”

  I lifted an eyebrow at her strange statement but didn’t give it any more thought. Gabby had her own way of seeing things, and maybe Chef was always polite when someone was sick.

  “Gabby?”

  She paused from straightening my bed. “Yeah?

  “What’s wrong with me? I mean, I don’t feel sick.” I ran my brush through my hair, releasing the scent of sea salt as I tugged the bristles through the snarls.

  “Oh, you’re not sick.” She beat the pillow and fluffed it before she set it back in place. “You just fainted. I did that the first time, too.”

  Okay, this morning was getting weird. “I need to get back to the kids.”

  Gabby opened my bedroom door and waited for me. “I’m right here. Just lean on me if you need support,” she murmured.

  What? I glanced at her. I didn’t need any support. Maybe something was wrong with Gabby, too.

  I walked down the stairs. I didn’t feel fragile. “You know, I don’t think I need that snack. We don’t need to disturb Chef after al—” Whoa. My world spun as I caught a glimpse of the tiny scale-like tiles littered on the floor downstairs, and I sucked in a big breath.

  Images rushed into my head. A snake. A fucking huge one. With scales that shimmered and fangs at its mouth. It had slithered toward me and—

  “Luka. Oh God, is Luka all right?”

  Gabby tightened her grip around my waist. “There it is,” she murmured. “And, yes, Luka is fine. Of course he is. Why wouldn’t he be?”

  “The snake,” I gasped, and Gabby’s peals of laughter echoed around the room.

  “Tessa,” she said. “That wasn’t a snake, that was—”

  “Izon.” Dyan finished Gabby’s sentence as he leaned against the doorway to the library. “And you are the lucky lady who just saw The King’s dragon form.”

  My knees weakened and I sat on the lowest step with a bump. My head ached and I rubbed at my temples in a circular motion.

  “I did?” But it made sense. Izon had been there in my dream, then he’d been gone, and the snake had...the snake had spoken to me. “It spoke to me. In my head.” I tapped the side of my head like Gabby and Dyan wouldn’t know what I meant if I didn’t demonstrate, and Dyan laughed, pushing himself off the door frame.

  “She needs to eat. Chef has something ready.”

  “I’m on it. Come on, you.” Gabby grabbed my hand and helped pull me to my feet. “Let’s get you to the kitchen.”

  Chef wasn’t in the kitchen, but he’d left out a range of snacks. I grabbed the bread first and took a huge bite. My cheek bulged as I chewed, but bread had suddenly never tasted so good.

  The stainless steel counters in the kitchen gleamed, and something bubbling on the stove smelled wonderful. The children were in for a treat for their lunch.

  I swallowed my mouthful with difficulty, and Gabby filled a glass with water, urging me to drink.

  “How did I get back from the beach?”

  “Ding ding ding! Good question!” Gabby said, and she grinned. Then she glanced around the kitchen and lowered her voice. “Tessa, it was like something out of one of those stories you tell the children.”

  I rolled my eyes. I’d been in a dead faint, and my hair was probably wind-tangled and sandy. I highly doubted I’d looked remotely like a princess from a fairytale.

  “King Izon carried you,” she hissed, and my face warmed at her words.

  “What?!” I fanned my cheeks. My—frankly gorgeous—boss had carried me home from the beach? I might never recover from the embarrassment.

  “Right up against his naked chest.” She paused. “Are you sure you don’t remember, because that’s something I’d really want to remember.”

  I shook my head and slumped over the counter. This day just kept getting better and better.

  “I’ve never seen him that gentle with anyone but the children before.” Gabby’s tone turned quietly reverent.

  “And where are the children now?” My job was probably still in jeopardy.

  “Oh, they’re out on the lawn.” She waved a dismissive hand. “Dyan brought them back, and they finished their picnic here.”

  I was just finishing up my food when the kitchen door swung open, and Izon strode in.

  I stood up, ready to drop into my awkward curtsey, and Gabby did the same.

  “Sit back down,” Izon said, and I obediently took my seat.

  I tried not to look at him. He looked so different to me now that I knew what lay beneath. When he turned his head to the left or right and the scales on his skin shimmered, I could only see his dragon.

  But there was more to it than that. His face seemed less harsh somehow, and his eyes were gentle as he looked at me.

  “Are you okay?” Even his voice seemed gentle.

  I nodded, embarrassed all over again. “Yes, thank you.” I averted my eyes, glad that was protocol anyway.

  But my heart raced at his nearness. I could feel it almost beating out of my chest as I recalled our little encounter on the beach. Apparently, this morning had created a little problem for me. If I wasn’t careful, it could become a big problem, because I couldn’t fall for my employer, The King of Hydronia.

  “Tessa?” As Izon spoke my name, I automatically looked up. “I’m so sorry,” he said. “I got carried away, and I completely forgot that human brains aren’t equipped to deal with telecommunication on that level without preparation. I just—” He cut himself off and seemed to consider his next words. “I saw your reaction, and I didn’t want you to be scared.” He watched me, and I felt like I should say something.

  “It was a little shocking, I guess.” The bits I could remember, anyway. Some parts were still a little fuzzy. “I’ve never fainted before,” I added.

  An awkward silence followed, and Izon glanced at Gabby.

  “Well,” she stood up, “I have a million things to do.” She threw her hands up. “I mean, I should check on the children, and I’ve got beds to make, rooms to tidy, precious works of art to dust. Busy, busy, busy.” She clapped her hands three times, then paused, l
ooked at Izon and curtseyed. “Sorry, Your Majesty. Thank you.” She rushed from the room, and the kitchen door swung backward and forward on its noiseless hinges in her wake.

  I half-stood from my seat at the counter. “I should clear up Chef's kitchen and go tend to the children.”

  Izon put his hand on my forearm, and I froze as a wave of sparks rushed through my body and for whatever reason settled in my pussy. I closed my eyes. It had been a long time since a man’s touch had even warmed me just a little bit, nevermind like this. But I couldn’t give into those thoughts even a little bit. This man was not only my employer, he was the literal King of a planet of dragon-shifting—

  Before I could complete my thought, Izon cut me off. “I’d like to show you the island,” he said, his voice low and sexy and like I’d never heard it before.

  I looked at him, shocked.

  He nodded. “I think you’ve earned some time out of the house.” While I certainly felt it was true, our conversation this morning was slowly coming back to me. He had rejected time with his children initially due to an overwhelming workload, but now he had time to take me on a tour?

  It seemed too good to be true. His house was beautiful, but some days it felt like a glorified prison as I wandered to the edge of the gardens and wondered what lay beyond the walls. The windows showed beautiful views, but Izon’s home had an ocean to one side, and lush vegetation and forests in the other directions, so I had no real idea what else was out there. Despite my reservations about taking him away from his children, I wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity to get to know my new planet a little better. I chose to ignore the way my heart reacted to the idea of spending time with him alone...

  “I think I’d like that.” Hopefully this little tour would help me relate to the children and teach me more about their world. “Thank you.”

  He didn’t have to offer me anything like this—he’d essentially bought me, and he owned my life and my time.

  “I’m grateful for your kindness.” I tacked on.

  “Shit.” He cursed under his breath and met my gaze, a look in his eyes like he was willing me to understand something. “I told you, you’ve earned this. You deserve to see the island where you live.” He sounded emphatic about it, and I nodded. “Now, I have to go to another island on business,” he continued. “I should be gone for three days. I’ll try to keep the meeting as short as possible.” He shrugged and chuckled—a sound I didn’t think I’d ever heard him make. “Hydronians like to talk and ask for stuff, though. Anyway, I’ll have some clothes sent here for you to choose from. When I take you on the island tour, we’ll be making public appearances, and your image is very important to my people.”

  I nodded, suddenly numb. I had no words. I didn’t know what to say to this beautiful, powerful man who seemed to be offering me a piece of his world. “Public appearances”? I didn’t want to delve too much into what that might mean.

  He took his hand off my arm, and I immediately missed it. “Take care of yourself, Tessa, all right?” He smiled, looking a whole lot less than regal. “I’ll be back in a few days.” He nodded to Dyan, who was smirking in his usual way.

  Then Izon left as suddenly as he’d arrived, Dyan following slowly. I wiped my trembling hands on the front of my uniform. I couldn’t organize my thoughts, so I grabbed a cloth and began to wipe down the countertops. I wanted them just as sparkling as Chef liked them. The repetitive motion soothed me and reminded me of home and the job I’d held on Earth.

  As I left the kitchen in search of the children, I took a deep breath, and my stomach rolled over. In any other language, on any other planet, it would have sounded like I’d just been asked out on a date.

  11

  Izon

  I stood in Father’s home, on his private island, where it was as cold and bleak as the man himself. The planet must have breathed a collective sigh of relief when my father finally abdicated his role as King. He had ruled with unfeeling harshness, seeing only economy where I sought to see people. He believed—even now—that emotional displays translated directly to weakness. He hadn’t grieved with my people when Lyra died—not for my wife, nor for his Queen. The man had no compassion.

  Father only respected one thing: power, and I always tried to exude as much of it as possible when in his presence. In fact, I visited him as infrequently as possible, but sometimes business forced me into meetings with my predecessor, and he liked to offer as much advice as possible while I was there. Although that advice was often disparaging.

  I followed him through the hallways of his house toward his office. Despite the lush, tropical foliage outside, and the bright sunshine lighting the greens and blue of our oceans, Father kept his home monochrome in steely grays, mourning black, and sterile splashes of blinding white.

  His office was more of the same, mainly black and unwelcoming—like the inside of his heart, perhaps.

  He sat in the chair behind the desk, effectively reversing our roles as he looked at me from his position of power. I grimaced and tightened my hands into quick fists. We had concluded our business for the morning, but Father evidently had something he wanted to discuss.

  I leaned back in the uncomfortable scoop-shaped chair, waiting. He always put on a good show—occupying himself with opening and closing drawers like he was hunting for something, or flipping through a notepad until he was finally ready to speak.

  I shifted as I waited. I couldn’t help it. We had sat here too often, in these exact positions when he was King and I was merely Prince.

  He sighed; the sound long, drawn out, and unfailingly disappointed. Like always. “Izon.”

  He always began like that. Saying my name like a prelude to a prayer. Or perhaps it was a curse. I could never tell.

  And his next words shouldn’t have surprised me, but they did anyway.

  “Hydronia needs a Queen.” He spoke like he was issuing a royal command, like he’d forgotten his station. Like he’d forgotten his standing, on my planet. But maybe the position of father always surpassed that of King.

  I shrugged lightly. If I understood his point, I didn’t want him to know that.

  “You should be looking for a new queen. A king without a queen doesn’t look good for our image.”

  I looked away. Screw the family image. Being a king without a queen had ripped a hole in my heart. Of course he didn’t care about that, though.

  For a while, he didn’t say anything, but eventually he sighed again and rifled through some papers in front of him like he was referring to his latest business transaction. Perhaps he was.

  “I’ve found someone suitable for you.”

  Oh, yeah. He definitely was.

  “She’ll be a good queen.” He chuckled a little. “She comes from a good family. You’d almost think she was raised for this opportunity, even.”

  “What opportunity?” I spat the word as anger flared through my veins.

  But my feather didn’t even raise an eyebrow. It took more than a display of temper to bother him. “Izon, don’t be so obtuse. Marrying into the royal family will always be an opportunity…for the right woman.”

  I stood and took three steps to the nearest wall, three steps back again. I should have known. He’d been too quiet out here on his little retirement island. I hadn’t heard from him in a while because he’d been busy with his latest project, and apparently that project was finding the right woman for me to marry. The right woman for this...opportunity.

  “I’m serious, Izon,” he continued, his face the mask of calm that had always belied just how far he was prepared to go to get his latest idea or decree implemented.

  “No.” My word was loud. Needlessly so in the quiet of the room. It made me look like I was losing control, especially in the face of Father’s continued calm.

  The eyebrow he raised in question only underscored that face.

  “I mean it.” Okay, so that wasn’t much better for establishing my control. I gritted my teeth to keep my voice even an
d tried again, “I’m not interested in finding a new mate. I’m not giving anyone my bite for the sake of family image.”

  Father just watched me, but his eyes turned reptilian for a moment, and his dragon rumbled through his chest.

  “Furthermore,” I said. His dragon no longer scared me as it used to. Not since I’d inherited the ornate plumage of the reigning monarch. “If I do give my people a new queen, it will absolutely be someone of my choosing. There will be no argument about that.”

  Father shook his head. “You’re wrong, Izon. The people need to see that you’re a committed family man who takes his responsibilities seriously. Do your duty.” His eyes flashed again, and I stood perfectly still, as if waiting to strike.

  I took a breath. Then a second, calming myself. I didn’t want to anger my dragon.

  “I can arrange an introduction.” He nodded like he’d made a decision.

  “No, Father.” I stood straighter and allowed my dragon a growl. The noise rippled through my chest and across the room, low and deadly. “When I tell you not to interfere in my romantic affairs, I’m speaking as your King, not your son.”

  His eyes widened, and he jerked back, like I’d delivered a physical blow. It probably felt that way—I didn’t usually remind him of my position. But I bit my tongue. I didn’t add the apology the son in me wanted to add. I didn’t say anything. I wanted to remind him I still respected him as my father, but anything further would undermine the strength I’d only just regained.

  I didn’t have to wait long before he nodded. “As you wish, then.”

  “Yes.” I fought the urge to add thank you and left it unspoken. I’d issued a command, not made a request.

  And his concession was probably only temporary. It felt more like a platitude, anyway—he clearly still didn’t agree, and my words wouldn’t have changed his mind. But he had given up pursuing his idea, and that would have to be enough for now.