Chapter Three

THADRON

I had just allowed the last note to slip from my lips when I caught Isa's gaze locked onto me. We had just met this afternoon, but already I was becoming familiar with her brown-eyed open stare that spoke of surprise and something else. It was something warmer, a curiosity and tenderness that I hadn't felt directed at me in a long time.

"Sorry," she said quickly, her apology slicing through the moment like a blade on Glaciara's icy plains. "I saw you left the dinner and I thought we should stick together since, you know, we came in that way."

She fully stepped into the alcove with me. As a Glaciarian, my internal thermasense nodes picked up on the heat that flowed from her body. I didn’t want to be here, but she was intent on doing things properly at this diplomatic dinner. And it seemed she wasn’t about to let me off the hook. I came up with an excuse. “It was too hot in there. It’s cooler here.”

I sounded like a child complaining. She rewarded me with a simple nod. “It was a bit stuffy.”

I found myself noticing how the moonlight got lost in her crown of dark hair. The curls at her ears and nape of her neck moved from the draft of a nearby window. When I sat next to her at the dinner table, there was a delicious scent coming from her hair and skin, an aromatic spice that was nothing like anything I smelled before. My chest expanded as I took a deep breath to catch a trace of it now.

Her shoulders fell, and her eyes flitted from making contact with mine. "I didn't mean to bother you.”

I realized she might have mistaken my inhale for an irritable sigh. “All is well.” I stumbled to reassure her.

I failed, as she continued to draw back. “No, you said you wanted some air. I’ll just wait near the dining area."

“I’m right behind you.”

She turned on her heel, taking her warm aura with her.

As she walked away, I studied the hypnotic sway of her hips, the rich earthy tone of her skin against the light dress that skimmed her curves. My thermasense nodes picked up on her heat. Another part of my body alerted me to something else.

Cursing softly, I turned to the window and adjusted my pants. My cock rose to an occasion that wasn’t present. Even my temperature-regulating armor couldn’t hide the bulge or make the rush of heat go away.

Next time, I vowed to get more powerful armor, at least some dark enough to match the cloak.

But I didn’t count on being awakened, so to speak, by Isa. I thought of her face as I looked out at the neon city of Kajal. I hadn’t taken pleasure with a female in a long time. Perhaps that’s why I responded in a way to her. Yet I had no idea how human females mated.

I heard her light laughter coming from the far end of the corridor. I imagined her dark eyes lighting up as she talked to the dignitaries here about her winter holiday Christmas. She sounded so happy.

For a brief moment, I entertained the thought of that kind of happiness for myself this year. But then the shadow of my past closed in.

Memories flashed: the faces of soldiers I'd failed to protect, their eyes looking to me, their master at arms, for a strength I couldn't gather. My voice once held power that could inspire hearts and minds. Yet when it mattered most, it faltered, a melody unfinished, a harmony broken.

"Thadron?" Her voice echoed, pulling me out of my cold hell. "Are you coming?"

I forced my thoughts back to the present, to the woman with whom I was to participate in the gift exchange. This wasn’t the time for self-pity. I had a mission to fulfill for Glaciara, a strong kingdom to represent. I wouldn’t fail my family or myself again.

And I surely wasn’t about to get distracted by Isa’s moonlight smile and swaying hips.

After one more check of my wardrobe, I made my way back to the other end of the corridor. Isa stood outside the dining room, chatting now with a pair of representatives from Planet Oterix. Their winged forms nearly hid her face from me, though I caught part of her bright smile.

I did not belong here. What I wouldn't give for a lone frostgrazer ride through the Moonveil Tundra back home, or a simple walk in the woods.

"Prince Thadron, how delightful to see you engaged in the festivities," one representative remarked as I approached.

“A pleasure to see you enjoying the event, too.” I schooled my features into a mask of dignity.

Isa's gaze met mine, an unspoken question dancing in her dark eyes. She seemed to thrive in the buzz of conversation, even though she was as much an outsider as I felt. My thoughts betrayed me, slipping away to the quiet and tranquil space of her bookshop. I remembered the scent of old and new books and the way her cushioned chair nearly swallowed me whole.

The sinking feeling wouldn’t have been so bad if I hadn’t been wearing armor.

A flash image crossed my mind of Isa, curled beneath one of those thick blankets in her shop. I pictured her with a steaming mug warming her hands.

"It sounds like you run a charming establishment, Ms. Hartman," a delegate remarked.

"Thank you," Isa replied, her voice tinged with pride. "It's small, but it's my new home."

Watching her, I saw how effortlessly she adapted. Despite the lack of briefing, Isa conducted herself with a grace that made her seem like she belonged among stars and diplomats alike.

I imagined showing her around the kingdom on Glaciara. A smile almost crossed my lips at the idea of sharing with her the sacred songs.

But as quickly as it came, the spark of happiness went out, smothered by the losses of past winter solstices. "If you'll excuse us, Isa and I have to get ready to leave for Glaciara.” I heard myself say, robotic.

With a bow of my head that was more reflex than reverence, I reached for Isa's hand, feeling the softness of her skin against the chill of mine. Her surprise at the sudden contact lingered in the air between us as we made our exit.

"Why are we leaving in such a hurry?” she asked, once we were outside and in my awaiting vehicle. “I thought tonight was important.”

“So is making it to Glaciara. There's a lot I have to take care of before and during the winter festivities, and I just want to get them over with." I didn’t want to explain the other why I had to get out of there, away from the small talk but also the celebrating.

ISA

WE ZOOMED BACK TO THE bookshop, where I had to change out of my dress and finish packing for the trip to Glaciara. After reading the rest of the briefing Camille sent me in the car, I had a better picture of just how cold it was on Thadron’s home planet.

Bone-chilling, to say the least. There were whole frozen tundras, ice-encrusted plains, and sub-zero lake regions. I needed my thickest sweaters and coziest fleece. Next, I read up on the Elyndor royal family, so that I wouldn’t be walking in unprepared. The Queen Mother Akora was widowed. She ruled alone for the past seven years after the king’s death. Thadron’s brother, Prince Lucian, was the heir to the throne. I read how he and Prince Thadron were half-brothers. Thadron’s mother was a nurse in the royal military while his father was a general. They met and had the prince before the king took the throne and married Akora.

I wondered what family dynamics those made. I guess I would find out shortly.

Unfortunately, the briefing didn’t say much more about Prince Thadron himself.

I threw all my warm clothes in my suitcase and put all my weight on it to zip it closed. One last item remained on my bed, The Book of Frost . I still had doubts about giving this to him for the exchange.

"Thadron isn't a fairy tale kind of person," I muttered to myself. The exchange wasn’t for several days. Maybe I could find a different gift for him.

I wasn’t exactly sure how I was going to shop on a foreign planet, though.

“Isa, we need to go.” Thadron called from downstairs. I had a mouthful of grumpy words under my breath.

No time for thinking about holiday shopping now. I had been officially summoned.

“Coming, Your Highness.” There may or may not have been a tiny note of sarcasm in my response.

I lugged my suitcase to the top of the stairs. Thadron stood at the bottom, tall and imposing, his silver white hair reflecting the artificial light, making him look almost like a winter statue.

“Thank you for being patient," I beamed an innocent smile his way. I was unable to suppress it at the sight of him shifting irritably from one boot to the other.

His lips twitched. Dare I say that humor was threatening to break through his stoic demeanor before he masked it with a sigh. "We have a schedule to keep," he said, but his tone had softened, just barely. He climbed the stairs until he reached the one below me. Still towering over me, he lifted my suitcase and carried it the rest of the way down.

I put the CLOSED sign up and locked the door to my shop. I gave the bookstore a last glance, not wanting to leave it even though it would just be for a few weeks during the holiday. "Lead the way.” I left out Your Highness this time.

Thadron turned towards the transport vehicle, his cape giving a dramatic sweep like it had a mind of its own. I followed him, leaving behind the warmth of my world for the cold vastness of space

The vehicle took us to the space hub. Our ship was a sleek vessel, its design both elegant and intimidating, much like the prince himself. I stepped inside, feeling a tremor in my knees, knowing I was headed for unfamiliar territory. The ship’s interior was bathed in soft blue light that filtered from the very walls, casting an otherwordly glow on everything it touched. I traced a hand along the cool metal surface as I passed, marveling at the craftsmanship.

As we ascended into the cosmos, I pressed my face against the viewing port, watching Earth shrink into the distance. My heart swelled with a mix of pride and jitters—here I was, Isa Hartman, bookstore owner and aspiring writer, about to represent not only myself but also my planet and the Wanderstar Fleet.

"Besides the cold, Glaciara will be a change from what you're used to," Thadron said, startling me from my thoughts. His voice held no trace of warmth, but I sensed an undertone of concern.

"Change can be good," I responded, turning to face him. "It brings new perspectives." My foot bumped against the suitcase stored under my seat, with his gift stored inside.

Thadron's gaze lingered on the edge of the suitcase peeking out, but he said nothing more. We traveled in silence, each in our own thoughts.

HOURS LATER, THE SHUTTLE broke through the clouds of the stratosphere, and I caught my first glimpse of Glaciara. The planet unfolded beneath us with sprawling icy plains and jagged crystalline mountains glinting under the weak sunlight. My breath fogged against the cold glass as I pressed closer, a rope of nerves and excitement knotting in my stomach. I had read about the eternal winter of this distant world, but no words could do justice to how beautiful it was.

"Looks like something out of a fairy tale," I murmured to myself.

Thadron, sitting beside me, spared only a disinterested glance out of the window. "We’ll reach the landing station soon," he said, his voice flat. His eyes seemed dulled, his posture slouched as if the sight of his home was a burden rather than a comfort. I wondered what weight he carried that made him so distant, so ready to be anywhere but here.

Upon landing, another entourage of guards whisked us away in a sleek vehicle that seemed to glide over the snow rather than plow through it. It delivered us to a sculptural palace called the Gelverin Keep. The tall spires and long walkways were a shade darker than the snow surrounding the area.

I stopped in my tracks and couldn’t help but look up as I stood directly in front of the main entrance. The spires shimmered like frozen starlight, rising high against the pale, winter sky. The walls glistened with a fine coat of crystalline ice. Beneath the ice was etched intricate patterns that seemed to shift and glow. The windows also glowed with a light from within, reminding me of looking into a home and seeing the glow of a cozy fireplace.

“My family is waiting for us,” Thadron remarked, hardly taking in the sight of the grand keep. I supposed he was used to seeing it and living here all his life. But it was still a breathtaking sight.

The cold wasted no time cutting through the down of my winter jacket and seeping through the weave of my sweater. “Your home is gorgeous, but I probably shouldn’t stand out here longer.”

“Let’s go inside.” He got that concerned look on his face again as we passed through the main entrance. The bright light above the door was harsh to my eyes but the heat it generated felt good. “I told the palace aides to adjust the keep’s heating units.”

“That was nice of you.”

“It’s not nice. It’s necessary to keep you alive.” He kept a serious face. “Humans don’t have thermasense nodes to help regulate their body temperature in the cold.”

“No. We do not.” I tried to hide my curiosity as I looked at Thadron, wondering what and where exactly were thermasense nodes located on him.

Thadron's brother Prince Lucian waited for us in the great hall. Although he had grey eyes and he was slightly leaner than his older brother, I could see the family resemblance. Both Glaciarian males had the silver-white hair, with Lucian's shoulder-length while Thadron’s framed his head in careless waves. The brothers both stood shoulders above even the other tall Glaciarians who moved around us. Both had regal bearing, holding their heads high with pride and authority.

Lucian, however, wore an easy smile on his face. “You made it home at lightning speed, brother. I thought Xaxos was lively this time of year.”

“Exactly why I hurried home.” Thadron removed his heavy cloak and draped it over his arm. “No offense.” He glanced at me.

“None taken,” I said, observing how more of the diplomatic mask fell as he got more comfortable at home and around his brother. But his reserve remained.

“Prince Lucian, may I present Her Excellence Isabelle Hartman of Planet Earth and Xaxos, representative of the Wanderstar Fleet.” Thadron introduced me to his brother, giving me a nice title that made me want to stand up straighter and shrink in embarrassment at the same time.

Prince Lucian gave me a courtly nod. “I am Prince Lucian Elyndor. The Queen Akora and I welcome you.”

I had no idea how to respond to these grand introductions. Was I supposed to curtsy? I kept my lips in a tight smile as I also inclined my head. “A pleasure to meet you and a pleasure to be here, Your Highness. Thank you and your family for welcoming me.”

“Ah.” Thadron sighed. “We’ve got the introductions out of the way.”

Prince Lucian wasn’t deterred by his brother’s sour response. “You know our mother won’t be happy. Now she has no time to impress our lovely guest.” He gave me a boyish wink.

I thought I heard a gruff murmur coming from Thadron. “Don’t flirt with her. I don’t care to go up against the Wanderstar Fleet for mistreating their representative.”

The crown prince laughed. “Are you sure that’s why you don’t want anyone flirting with her?”

I may not come equipped with thermasense nodes, but I could definitely sense a sudden frost emanating from Thadron. “I am impressed,” I rambled off, hurrying to smooth over whatever tension just popped up. “When I saw Gelverin Keep, I thought it looked like something from a fairy tale.”

Lucian tilted his head, perplexed. “A fairy what?”

“Fairy tale,” Thadron provided, causing me to turn his way in mild surprise. “In addition to owning a bookstore, Isa is a writer herself.”

I was impressed he remembered me telling him. “Aspiring novelist,” I corrected, shy. “I haven't finished my first draft.”

“Still an accomplishment.” Thadron insisted. “Our ancestors had patience to create the Starlit songs. I assume it requires the same dedication to put stories on paper.”

I was speechless. For him to compare what I did to the story traditions passed down by his people was nothing short of amazing. If he was only saying that to flatter me because I was cosplaying a diplomat, well, it was working. “Thank you. That’s very kind of you.”

Thadron looked away, mouth closed. I sensed another wall. Did I say the wrong thing?

Lucian grinned. “We have a writer in our presence. Mother and I will want to hear more about your book at dinner tonight. You’ll meet her then. In the meantime, I’ll send an aide to see if your room is prepared.”

“I’ll take her to it.” Thadron volunteered himself.

“Then if you’ll excuse me, I have a hearing with the engineer council. I’m already running late.” He smiled at both of us before setting off.

Thadron took my suitcase. Before he could step forward, the sound of crisp footsteps echoed in the hall. An older Glaciarian male emerged from one of the arched hallways, his long, slate-gray robes sweeping the floor, their elaborate embroidered edges glimmering like jagged fractals. His pale blue skin seemed almost translucent, and his sharp, keen-featured face had closed, unsmiling lips.

“Ah, Prince Thadron. You’ve returned from your travels,” he greeted, his voice smooth but carrying an unmistakable edge. He bowed low, but his movements seemed forced. “Forgive the intrusion. I simply wished to remind you that we still need to discuss certain matters pertaining to your diplomatic responsibilities.” His gaze briefly flicked to me, and I could swear the corners of his mouth curled in faint disapproval before he turned back to Thadron.

“Cryostrum,” Thadron said flatly, his tone dropping a degree colder. “Now is not the time.”

“On the contrary,” Cryostrum replied, straightening and clasping his hands together, his long, thin fingers a sickly grey from the middle knuckles to their pointed tips. “Your duties do not wait. I trust you understand the importance of your role, especially now, with so many eyes upon us.” His words were polite, but the condescending tone was impossible to miss.

I couldn’t help the uneasy shiver that ran down my spine. Besides the instant brushoff he gave me, there was something else about him I didn’t like. His eyes lingered on me for a moment too long, cold and calculating, before returning to Thadron.

“Isa,” Thadron said abruptly, his voice snapping me out of my thoughts, “allow me to introduce Cryostrum, a royal advisor to the court.”

I managed a polite nod, but every instinct in me was warning me to keep my distance. “A pleasure to meet you.”

The advisor smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “The pleasure is mine. It’s rare we welcome visitors from Earth. I trust you will find our world enlightening.”

Thadron stepped forward, just enough to put himself between us. “Isa's comfort is not your concern.”

Cryostrum’s smile faltered, though his composure didn’t break. “Of course, Your Highness. I meant no offense. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll await to continue our discussion.” He inclined his head and swept away, his robes whispering against the floor as he disappeared down the corridor.

I turned to Thadron, unable to stop myself. “He’s... something.”

Thadron’s jaw tightened, and he didn’t meet my gaze. “Cryostrum served the court for a long time. Let’s just say he’s very good at making himself indispensable.”

I didn’t press him further, but the tension in his voice told me everything I needed to know about the royal advisor.