The Ice Dragon Read online

  Viktor could feel his dragon taking over. The temperature in the room dropped several degrees and April moved to stand closer to her mate—

  whether it was for warmth or protection, Viktor didn’t know.

  “He’s starting to smoke.” She looked at Drake.

  “I know that’s not a good sign.”

  “He’s not smoking, my love. doesn’t smoke. He steams. Like the steam rising off a frosted glass. The room is several, if not hundreds of degrees, warmer than he is right now.”

  “Eeew! Sucks to be Rose. I can’t imagine having him touch me while…” She turned red before turning away. “Never mind.” She took a deep breath and stood up straight. “We need to find them.”

  Viktor itched to breathe his ice on the woman for her lack of candor with her sister, but 28

  refrained. He needed every able body searching for his mate right now. He didn’t need to alienate Drake and lose his assistance. Instead, he wrestled his dragon under control. “Yes,” he agreed with a nod. “We do.”

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  Chapter Four

  Tansy opened the back door of the cab and waved her arm. “After you.”

  Rose climbed into the cab and fastened the seatbelt around her. “I hope you know what you’re doing because as much as I hate being under Drake’s thumb, I’m not sure this is a wise move.”

  Sitting back, she waited for Tansy to join her.

  The cab jerked to a start and she looked out the window. “Where are we going?”

  Tansy grinned. “I have no idea.” She sat back in her seat and crossed her arms.

  “Since you didn’t instruct the driver, I assumed you did so, on the phone before we left. So you must have had a destination in mind.”

  “Nope.” She shrugged. “I didn’t tell them anything.”

  “Then where are we going?” Rose leaned forward and tapped on the metal wire that separated them from the driver. “Excuse me.

  30

  Where are we going?”

  “Sit back and shut up.”

  “Hey, there!” Tansy cried, “You can’t talk to my sister like that!”

  “I’ll talk to your sister any damned way I please. Now shut up or I’ll shut you up.”

  Rose looked at Tansy and mouthed the words what do we do now? She looked out of the window at the homes speeding by. He was moving too fast for them to jump out. She determined they would have to wait for him to stop at a traffic light before they could escape, but he ran through all the red lights, narrowly missing cars as they skidded to a stop to avoid a collision.

  Twisting her fingers together, Rose stared out the window at the blurred buildings as they sped by. The man had no intention of slowing down. If anything, he was speeding up. She listened to the whine of the engine as they accelerated through another intersection.

  What were they to do now? Here she was, kidnapped with one of her sisters because they refused to believe they were in danger, because they refused to search for a mate among the dragon males.

  She bit her lip and shook her head. Perhaps it was time to face the fact that she and Tansy were just too darned stupid to live, like some romance heroine that people love to hate because she 31

  wouldn’t listen to her hero.

  Sighing, Rose continued to stare through the window as they sped along the road, leading into the industrial part of town. The homes gave way to old, rundown warehouses. The landscape turned from sidewalks and businesses to parking lots abandoned by their owners and overrun with tall grass and weeds that strove to reclaim the earth.

  Staring through the dirty glass of the window, she wondered at the herons she saw pacing the vehicle. What was it about the beautiful and majestic birds that they seemed to turn up when she underwent a major life change?

  They first made an appearance when her parents died, then again when April had met her dragon mate and now, when she and Tansy faced the unknown at the hands of a stranger.

  Rose feared using her magic on the man, afraid that the backlash may harm her sister, especially since she didn’t bring her wand. She couldn’t do it. She just couldn’t be responsible for the death of another family member.

  “Do something,” Tansy hissed. She gave the driver a meaningful glance and wiggled her fingers.

  “I can’t.” Rose wouldn’t have, even if she could.

  Right now, she knew her magic could really go awry without her wand to focus it on a specific 32

  task.

  Strangers could die. She could level a city block or something. Who knew what could happen? The possibilities were endless.

  “Of course you can.” Tansy scowled and nodded toward the driver.

  “No,” Rose said with a shake of her head. “I can’t.”

  “This is no time to be squeamish, dammit!”

  “I could hurt someone.”

  Tansy shrugged. “Better him than us, in my opinion.”

  “That’s just it. You know there’s no guarantee that it would be just him and not you.” Rose pressed her lips together and shook her head, adamant. “I won’t risk it.” She rested her hand on Tansy’s for a moment. “I won’t risk you.”

  “Dammit, Rose!”

  “Hey, there! Be quiet, you two. I’m not gonna put up with your damned whining.”

  “We weren’t whining, you jerk!” Tansy looked down and put on her seatbelt.

  Rose felt like crossing herself like a terrified character in a movie because she had an idea she knew what was next. She may have left her wand in her room, but she knew Tansy didn’t.

  Leaning forward, Tansy closed her eyes and, with an effort that looked painful, she held her wrists together, her hands arced out. Tansy’s lips 33

  moved, possibly in a silent prayer, just before she pushed a ball of concentrated energy at the driver through the thick wire divider.

  The driver slumped forward, unconscious as the cab careened out of control toward the brick wall of a warehouse.

  “Shit, shit, shit…” Rose closed her eyes and visualized the driver stomping on the brakes. The car skidded to a halt and the two women jumped out.

  “Asshole!” Tansy ripped the driver’s door open, jammed the car into park, removed the driver’s seatbelt and dragged him from the car.

  “Get in,” she snarled in Rose’s direction. “We have to get out of here before someone finds us.”

  Rose climbed into the vehicle more because she wanted to get away from the man who had kidnapped them than because she agreed with her sister. “Where to now?”

  Tansy looked down at the gauges as she put the car in gear. “As far as three quarters of a tank of gas will take us, then we’ll catch a bus.”

  Two hours and one flat tire later, they were walking. “I’m hungry.”

  “Don’t whine to me about the state of your stomach, Tansy. This was your idea.”

  “Yeah, but you’re older. You should have stopped me.”

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  Rose stopped walking to glare at her sister. “I’m older by months, Tansy, not years. That does not give me more experience. If it did, I would have known this harebrained scheme of yours would turn out badly.”

  Tansy stuck her thumb out as a car approached.

  “I don’t care what you think about the perils of hitchhiking. I’m hitching a ride to the nearest restaurant.”

  Rose shook her head and sighed. “Whatever.

  It’s not like you couldn’t use that weird energy thing on someone again.”

  “I can’t. I can only use that about once every six hours, but that’s beside the point. I’m hungry and thirsty and my feet hurt.”

  “Why do I always forget you’re the whiney sister until I go with some stupid plan of yours?”

  Rose shook her head. She almost laughed when the car sped past and Tansy stomped her foot like a frustrated child.

  She didn’t laugh, however, when a long, sleek limo stopped and a door opened.

  “Get in.”

  “Uh, no thanks.” Tansy back
ed away.

  “I thought you wanted a ride. You had your thumb out, didn’t you?” The man inside didn’t move to get out, nor did he attempt to coerce them into the vehicle any further.

  “Well…yes. I did have my thumb out.”

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  “Then get in. I’m late for a meeting. I can’t sit here indefinitely.”

  “I’m not sure about this, Tansy.” Rose grabbed her sister’s arm as she sighed and headed for the car.

  Tansy turned around with a sigh. “You’re not sure about what? The man stopped because I had my thumb out.” She narrowed her eyes as if to say get in or you’re on the menu. I’m starved. “Get in.

  He’ll take us to town.”

  “Which town would that be?” Rose asked as she climbed into the car behind her sister, the whole time telling herself you’re just too damned stupid to live, Rose. Or maybe that was Tansy. The jury was still out on that one.

  * * * *

  “What do you mean you’ve lost the scent again?”

  Viktor glared at Alex. “I thought you said they were walking.”

  “They were walking. Now they’re in a vehicle. It smells like something big. A truck, maybe a limo.

  I’m not sure.” Alex stood before him, his hands behind his back.

  “Sonofabitch!” Viktor slammed his fist against the side of the car. “You’re my best tracker. Are you saying you can’t find them?”

  Alex nodded. “I’m saying just that, sir. I can’t 36

  find them. The vehicle that picked them up is designed to mask the scent of its occupants.”

  “Then it’s most likely one of us.” Viktor growled deep in his throat. If it was one of their own kind who wanted the women dead, Viktor would find him and take great delight in ripping his head off.

  “I’m certain she’s fine, sir.” Alex tried to calm him. “Everyone knows you believe she is yours and are looking for her. Perhaps this particular person hasn’t gotten your message as of yet.”

  “Or perhaps he plans to keep her for himself.”

  “I think that’s unlikely.” Alex moved back.

  Viktor always knew his second in command was a smart man.

  Since they were alone, in the middle of nowhere, Viktor let his dragon have free rein for a minute. If he didn’t, there was no telling what would happen if a human triggered his anger. He felt his dragon take over. His bones popped and cracked as he changed from his human form to that of his dragon self. He grew taller and wider, his legs changing to powerful hindquarters, his arms to equally powerful forelegs. He shimmered with the silvery ice blue of his family’s color and let out a bellow that would have had the bravest human wetting his pants.

  “We’ll find her, sir.”

  Turning his head, he pierced his friend with an 37

  icy gaze and shifted himself enough to give his dragon human-like vocal chords. With a voice he knew was as deep as any simulated voice he had ever heard, Viktor replied, “We had better. I will mate with no other.”

  With a deep sigh, Viktor forced his dragon back under control and took his human form once again. This time the transition was faster, smoother and he had little time to think of the changes in his body. His dragon emotions in check, he glanced at his friend. “Why wouldn’t she kiss me?”

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  Chapter Five

  Why wouldn’t I kiss him? Stupid, stupid, stupid… Rose paced the room in which someone held her prisoner. They’d separated her and Tansy as soon as they got to town and into this business. She’d only gotten a glimpse of it. She wasn’t sure what it was other than some sort of club.

  Music blared as she tried to think. She knew she could blast her way out of here, but how many innocents were here? How many people would she hurt in an effort to escape? She continued to pace the room until the door opened and a woman walked in.

  “I thought you might be hungry.”

  She was, but Rose had no intention of eating a thing until she found out where her sister was.

  “Where’s Tansy?”

  “Um…she’s in the room across the hall. Would you like me to get her for you?”

  “Of course I would! She’s my sister. I’m not 39

  eating a damned thing until you show me that she’s okay.”

  The woman smiled. “She’s fine. I’ll go get her.

  We didn’t separate you to make you anxious, only to give you time to rest.”

  As if she could rest when she didn’t know where her sister was! “I would like to see her.

  Now! ”

  “Of course.” The woman left, leaving the door open and walked across the hall. She opened the door and stuck her head in. “Your sister would like—”

  Rose pushed past her, uncaring that she was being rude. Normally, she wouldn’t act this way, but she’d reached the end of her being courteous rope. “Tansy!” Rushing over to her sister, she pulled her into her arms. “I thought…”

  “I know what you thought, Rosie, but I’m okay.” Tansy pulled away and turned to look out the window.

  “You have a window?”

  Tansy nodded. “Yes, and I absolutely love the view.” She paused. “To an extent. There is a part of it I could do without.”

  Rose moved up beside her sister and looked down at the parking lot below. Two men stood talking for a moment, one tall and dark haired, the other tall and blond. Though it was getting dark, she thought she recognized the dark haired man 40

  from the limo, Armand. The blond looked suspiciously familiar. Rose got an uneasy feeling in her stomach and put her hand to her throat. It couldn’t be…

  After a moment, the two shook hands and looked up at the window. Crap! It was. Viktor stood down there looking up at her, his expression not one she wanted to see. He was mad—very mad by the looks of it. His icy gray eyes glittered with anger as he stared up at her, his usually sensual lips pressed together in a frown.

  “Uh, oh. He’s mad. Sucks to be you.”

  Viktor said something to his companion who scowled and glared up at Tansy. His dark eyes practically shot sparks in Tansy’s direction and she sighed. “Damn…sucks to be me, too. I wonder what Viktor just told him.”

  “He probably told him how we both risked our lives, got kidnapped by a cabby, stole a car and then ended up on foot where he found us hitchhiking,” Rose said dryly. “That would be my guess anyway.”

  The two men headed for the building and Tansy moved away from the window. “Here they come. I hope you’re ready for a lecture.”

  “Me? Why should I get the lecture? You’re the one that talked me into this mess.”

  The woman who had stayed to listen to their conversation jumped. “If you’ll excuse me, 41

  ladies…” She gestured toward the door. “I’m needed downstairs.”

  As soon as the woman made her exit, Viktor stormed into the room and grabbed Rose by the arm. “If you won’t kiss me willingly, I will kiss you whether you like it or not.” He growled and pulled her into his arms.

  “I’m not going to fight you, Viktor.” Rose wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m going to prove you’re not my mate once and for all.”

  He looked down at her, his gray eyes stormy.

  “And if you are wrong?”

  Rose sighed. “Then we will have to cross that proverbial bridge when we come to it.”

  Standing on her toes, Rose waited for him to press his lips against hers. Heat curled in her middle as he kissed her, tinged by a sensation of cool she could only describe as a breath mint. Hot yet cold, his kiss moved her, but told her nothing.

  Unlike when April kissed Drake, she didn’t feel connected to Viktor, she only felt a melting heat deep inside that she must find a way to ignore.

  Pulling back, Rose took a deep breath and smiled sadly. “I almost wish you had been right, but now that we both know otherwise, will you please cease your harassment of me at April’s? If you do so, I promise I will go back and submit myself to whatever punishment Drake has for our tra
nsgression.”

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  * * * *

  Reluctantly, Viktor released her. Why hadn’t their kiss bound them the way it should have? Even Drake had said it had only taken one kiss with April to convince her she was his mate. What had he done wrong? Why did he still feel bound to her while she felt nothing?

  The kiss may have convinced Rose that she was not his mate, but it was far from convincing for him. Viktor knew, deep in his heart, Rose was the one woman destined to spend forever with him.

  He had been serious when he told Alex he would have Rose or he would have no other. Now he just needed to convince his mate that she needed him at least half as much as he needed her.

  “I will take you back to your sister’s.”

  “You didn’t answer me.” She glared up at him.

  “I kissed you, dammit, and nothing came of it. Are you going to leave me alone or aren’t you?”

  “It matters not what happened with that kiss.”

  He growled. “I still want you as I have wanted no other. I will pursue you whether you like it or not.”

  She crossed her arms and glared up at him.

  “Then I’m not going back.”

  “You are. You have no choice.” He waved toward Tansy and her companion. He didn’t 43

  know the dragon well. He only knew that Armand Rouvilliou ran a club for people with peculiar tastes. He hoped his newfound sister would be fine with him, but if she was his mate, he had no real say in the matter—especially since she didn’t seem to mind the other man’s advances. “Unless you plan to stay here with Tansy, but I’m certain you will soon feel out of place.”