Page 6 of Surge of Ice

When I just have to get my socks and boots on, I say, “Alright, I’m appropriate.”

He turns, back still rigid, a funny look on his face. “Sam, you do know I’m a man, right?”

Now, it’s my turn to give him a funny look right back. “Of course I do. I’ve seen your penis.”

His cheeks turn red. “I was little…”

I spring to my feet, eager to enjoy this moment to the fullest. Moving toward him, I say, “I remember the little worm. We had that little pool in our backyard, and we all just took off our clothes and got in. And there was Granger and Aydan, with their little naked penises.”

Poking his stomach, I laugh. We’d talked about our old days running around naked a hundred times before. Aydan and Granger hated it when I talked about how itty bitty their dicks were, but it was all in good fun.

Granger catches my hands as I poke him. “I was just a kid then. I’ve grown up.”

My smile falters at his seriousness. “I know. Granger, what’s wrong?”

He shakes his head and releases my hands, turning away. I follow and wrap my arms around him. “Talk to me.”

After a minute, he releases a deep breath and puts his arms around me. “I think I’m just feeling a little useless with you guys being dragons and me being a human. I mean, I might be even worse than useless, since the green dragon basically proved that I could be used to get to you. I want to be seen as someone who can help, as a man. Not as a liability.”

I laugh. He looks more upset, so I rush out, “Granger, everyone knows you’re a man. You don’t have to do anything to prove that to us. And, believe me, without you, me and Aydan and Evander would be completely lost. That green dragon is just a prick with a tiny dick and a tiny brain. Seriously, you’re the one who came up with the idea to talk to the blue dragon in the first place. Okay? You’re amazing.”

He gives a little smile. “Okay.”

I lean up and kiss him lightly on the lips, only I linger a second longer than I normally would. Pulling back, I try to ignore the racing of my heart. Something’s wrong with me. Probably all this dragon nonsense. I shouldn’t be feeling this way after a friendly kiss with Granger.Damn dragon hormones.

“Just promise me you’ll be safe out there,” Granger says, avoiding my gaze.

“I promise.”

His eyes lock onto mine. “No, really, those two challenge you, and you go all rebellious brat on them to make a point. Don’t do that. You’re too important.”

I sigh. “Alright. No rebellious brat for me.”

Hopefully, I can keep my promise.Evander and Aydan piss me off in a way no one else does. They make it so I stop thinking and just start doing, but I can’t with male dragons on the loose who might end up hunting me. It’s just too dangerous. I already know there are a green dragon and a brown dragonout there that want to take me for their own. This blue dragon is an unknown entity with unknown motivations, but he very well could be a problem too.

Granger is right. I have to be careful.

THREE

Samantha

I’m startingto feel as comfortable in my dragon skin as I do in my human skin. I catch a wind current and just ride it, giving my wings a bit of a break as I soar over the snowy ground. Behind me, Evander and Aydan do the same. We move together, like a pack. And, somehow, it just feels right.

At least there are signs of humans here and there, Aydan says into our minds.

I just can’t imagine anyone living out here. They’d have to use dog sleds to get from one place to another.Evander seems as confused about the existence of people out here as I am.

He’s right. They would. There seems to be an occasional cabin about every fifty miles or so. And that’s it. A few of them have smoke coming out of their chimneys, but most look abandoned.

How is it that we’ve seen just about everything, but not the blue dragon?Aydan asks, an edge of annoyance in his voice.

The bastard is probably hiding because he knows we’re coming.Evander sounds smug.

You think so? Probably because we’re huge compared to him, like with the green dragon,Aydan says.

Hell, yeah. I bet he’s tiny. Evander couldn’tbecockier.

I grin as I listen to them going back and forth, stroking their own egos. I might be tempted to say something, if they weren’t getting along so well.

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