Page 67 of Surge of Ice

“I’m sorry,” he says against my hair.

“Sorry for what?”

He breathes me in again. “Sorry that you don’t get to go into battle with us tomorrow.”

Balor, Than, and Kek had stopped occasionally burning a building down and terrifying some people, and had changed their tactics today. Now, they seem to be besieging war wherever they go. They need to be stopped before things get completely out of control and the government sends the full force of the military after them.

I draw back from him. “Do you know how upset it makes me that you’re all going to go fight, risking your lives, just to protect me?”

“I know,” he says. “None of this is simple, but we’re making the best decision we can at a hard time. We can’t do better than that.”

The door buzzes again. I frown and push the button to open it. Zane is there, a fresh scratch on his hand, but looking happyas can be in nothing but his boxers, his long hair wet. “My pet and I cuddled today.”

Aydan looks back at him, clearly noting his hand. “And did your pet… enjoy these cuddles?”

Zane nods his head eagerly. “She even purred… before she bit me.”

Aydan laughs, and I shake my head.

“Do you really think she’s going to get used to you?” I ask.

Zane steps into the room. “I’ve had lifetimes to learn how to make angry things like me.” Then he casts a glance toward Aydan.

Aydan sighs and puts an arm around his neck, squeezing him. “You’re not so bad. Doesn’t mean I like you though.”

“You… my pet… you will both learn to love me.” Then Zane turns to me. “How are you?”

I’m not surprised he’s wondering about me. He and I haven’t gotten to talk much since he started teaching us how to fight. Based on Aydan and Evander’s reactions, we hadn’t had a repeat of our night together, even though I missed him so bad my whole chest ached.

“I’m fine, why?”

His brows wrinkle. “You seemed upset. I am sure we all felt it through our connection.”

“Our connection?” I ask, confused.

Zane moves closer and sets a hand on my chest. “Right here. It is where we feel our connection. How we sense each other. It is what pains us when we need each other.”

It’s weird. I think I’ve been aware of that pain in my chest since becoming a dragon. I’ve felt it with both Evander and Aydan. When we fought. When we were apart.

But I’m not sure I like it.

The door buzzes again. I groan and move to it, pushing the button once more. Evander is freshly showered, like the othertwo, wearing black gym shorts and a gray t-shirt. When he sees Aydan and Zane, he looks surprised.

“Come in and join the party,” I tell him, then snag his hand and pull him in. “What’s up?”

“I–I was just worried about you.”

“That seems to be the general consensus.”

He glances at the other two men. “You were worried too?”

Aydan shrugs. “Sam has never been one to let other people tell her what to do. This dragon stuff can’t be fun for her.”

I walk deeper into the room and plunk myself on the edge of my bed. “It’s not. Did you guys see how many times I tried to beat you? I could out-maneuver every one of you. It wasn’t even that hard to outrun you. But Icouldn’tfight you head on.”

Zane kneels down at the edge of the bed and takes my hands in his. “You do not remember, so let me remind you. Dragon females are far more important than dragon males. You are rare. Born one to every twelve or more males. You are faster. You are far more clever. But there is no need for you to fight unless you have to. It is like taking a beautiful sculpture and using it to attack someone. Let them use a sword or an axe – they are far more effective – and leave the sculpture to inspire and amaze all that look upon it.”

“So I’m a pretty thing to stare at?” I ask blankly.

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