Page 23 of Surge of Ice

Sam!Evander and Aydan say as one.

I push off from his back and into the air, knowing I’m playing with fire. Maybe ice. Or maybe I justwantto be playing with ice, I don’t know, but there’s no way these two guys are ready to even think about sharing me with Zane, so I need to get the idea out of my head.

Want to learn the next move?Zane asks, and there’s attraction in his voice.

Yes, I say, a little too excited.

I need a volunteer.

I’m about to volunteer when Evander does, very pointedly doing it so that Zane isn’t anywhere near me, which I don’t appreciate. I can control myself.Can’t I?

Zane shoots into the sky above us once more. We all fly, giving Evander space, knowing that Zane is about to attack him.

Like before, Zane plummets from the sky and slams into Evander, grabbing hold of him with his claws. But unlike before, as Evander falls, Zane pulls away from him. Then, the ice dragon does a barrel roll as Evander falls from the sky, desperately trying to get his wings working once more, and Zane catches him again with his claws.

If this were a true battle, I’d be digging my claws deeply into the fire dragon, wounding him and disorienting him each time. By the time he reached the ground, he would be badly injured. Plus,these movements are easy, requiring little energy to achieve.

We practice this new battle move over and over again, laughing together. Zane is a patient teacher, and we’re terrible students, but as time passes, we learn the move.

I feel good as we fly, like I’m working with a team I really value. A team that fits me like a glove. I even think that Zane’s calm manner is helping to tame my fiery men.

Maybe with time we really will be a team together.I smile. We’re nearly home, and then we get to introduce Zane to the scientists. And to Granger.

For some reason, that thought makes me feel nervous.I hope Granger will like him. And I hope he isn’t too mad we disappeared for so long.

NINE

Samantha

We standin front of the elevator, which should be opening, but isn’t. I wave the card on my lanyard, feeling frustrated, but there’s still no response. Apparently, our security privileges have been revoked or something.

Evander crosses his arms over his chest, glaring at the security camera. His annoyance seems to be building like a storm, and I don’t blame him one bit. It’s been a long few days. We just want to eat, shower, and rest.

“Get this fucking door open,” Evander snaps, his voice dripping with anger.

“Who is he talking to?” Zane asks, leaning over me as if there’s some unseen person behind the building.

I turn to look at Zane and find myself swimming in those pale blue eyes of his. The look of confusion on his face disappears, and his gaze moves to my lips. I know he’s going to kiss me. Iwanthim to kiss me. But I also know that will destroy any chance at the four of us getting along, so I look away.

“He’s talking to the security camera.”

“Security… camera?”

Right, Zane was last awake during the Iron Age. There’s going to be a lot he doesn’t know about the world, and a lot we’ll need to teach him. Not that I mind. He’ll be teaching us too.

“Technology has advanced a great deal since you were awake last. I think you’ll find a lot of surprises. Like the security camera. It’s a device where other people can watch you, even from a distance. In this case, the people inside this building are watching us from beneath the ground. They can see us, and hear us.”

“This is a building? Beneath the ground?” he asks, sounding surprised as he looks at the white, sleek, dome-like building.

“Yes, although it’s not a house or anything like that. It’s the place where they’re researching dragons, although there are floors where we sleep and floors where we eat.”

“Eating on the floor and sleeping on the floor are things I’m familiar with,” he says proudly.

I smile. “I didn’t mean that exactly. I’ll show you when we get inside.”

Evander and Aydan are following our conversation, and they don’t look exactly pleased about it. I understand though. It normally takes a lot for me to connect with a new person, but things are just… easy with Zane. I don’t think I’ve ever met a man I was so instantly attracted to, and who also seems to be so cool and calm. It’s fascinating.

A voice comes out over the speaker. “Who is the unknown man with you?”

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