Page 16 of The Fury Queen's Harem

He looked stunned to see me, as if he hadn’t expected to find me so easily or under such circumstances. I bet seeing an innocent, naked young woman in the forest full of deadly monsters would have that kind of effect on any man.

“Do you understand speech?” he asked.

I didn’t answer him, but my eyes never left him. I smelled ice magic in him. It was light, but enough to cover up his scent.

No wonder my monsters hadn’t discerned him. It was quite impressive that he could get past my guards and reach my chamber in such stealthy fashion. I would need to enhance the security of my chamber.

“I’ve been looking for you,” he said. “I came alone so you wouldn’t be scared.”

His brother, the fire Dragon Prince, had said the same thing.

“It’s not safe for you to be alone in the jungle,” he continued, his voice gentle and calm, yet it held an undertone of seduction. My pulse spiked. “In fact, everywhere on this planet screams danger. I’m bringing you to my ship, and you’ll be safer there.”

Then I’d be their prisoner? Not a chance.

I needed to kiss him. And to get what I wanted, I needed to get him into the water with me. I pondered what to do, still staring at him intently.

I stumbled, as if in fear, and dropped on my ass, but not before I let out a helpless whimper. I sank down until the water completely covered my head.

A huge splash hit near me as Iokul dove into the water. His strong hands hooked under my armpits and he lifted me out of the water.

We broke the surface of the water, and I gasped for air.

I clasped my hands around his neck as he carried me to the shallow part of the pool.

“You’re safe now, lass,” he said. “You’re with me. I’ll guard you.”

I gazed back at him, our faces so close that our breaths intermingled. He didn’t let me go. Instead, his arm slid around my waist possessively.

His male scent, harsh and noble at the same time, ice blended with pine, wafted toward me. He smelled like a distant home that had faded from my memory so long ago.

He inhaled my scent, too, as if he hadn’t smelled anything quite like it and couldn’t get enough of me. A sense of awe glinted in his eyes, and fire ignited behind that glacial wall.

I’d brought out the hidden flame from the ice dragon.

What does it mean? I swallowed.Can he be the one?

“I can hardly believe that I found you,” he said, his whisper a caress. “It’s like I’ve been looking for you forever.”

Fire slithered up, not into my eyes but between my thighs, flames of lust licking at my core.

“Who are you?” I asked. “How did you even find this place? And what’s your true purpose here?”

He smiled disarmingly. I hadn’t expected the icy dragon to smile like that—all sexy and smooth. Wasn’t he supposed to be all frosty, cold, and stiff? That smile just melted me. My heart fluttered, my blood heated, and my skin turned hot.

It would end badly for me if my knees went so weak just because I was naked in a gorgeous man’s arms. But then I hadn’t been in the arms of any man who was so hot and smelled so enticing that it addled my mind, for centuries.

No, that was incorrect. I’d been entangled in his brother’s arms, our bodies practically melded together.

“So, you do speak,” he said, broadening his enchanting smile.

“Of course, I can speak,” I said, my voice husky and hoarse.

I couldn’t help it. I wished I could purr softly like the knockout witch, or even the pretty vampire princess, but I hadn’t practiced. I hadn’t spoken physically to anyone for a very long time, and when I’d first talked to the Archangel and proposed an alliance against Akem, the insensitive Archangel had arched his eyebrows at my voice.

Iokul was much kinder. He didn’t seem to be put off by my rough voice. He seemed only happy that I was talking to him.

“Now you must answer my questions,” I said, trying to sound firm, before I completely lost my head to the carnal need I could barely control.

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