Chapter Seven

ISA

T he memory of kissing Thadron lingered in my mind days after the Aurora Walk. No matter how I tried to shake it off, the feel of his lips, the warmth of his breath mingling with mine, stayed with me. The unexpected tenderness made me feel as if something had awakened inside me. Yet just as that feeling stayed, so did my mixed emotions of when he apologized for kissing me and then leaving me in the ballroom. It felt like we were back where we started. I caught a glimpse of the whole part of him, right before he returned to the same stiff resolve he always wore.

The date of the gift exchange loomed like a distant star, its light growing brighter and more insistent with each passing day. My stomach knotted at the thought of it, a mix of nerves and excitement circling like twin moons in my orbit. But there was no turning back. I had my duty from the Wanderstar Fleet and committed to taking part in the festivities.

One morning, the air was thick with the anticipation of the upcoming journey. The royal family prepared to ride through a nearby forest to reach their winter palace, and I was going with them.

“It’s a tradition we mark the night before the winter solstice,” Thadron explained.

“It’s on December twenty-fourth,” I noted. “And your winter solstice would be when I celebrate Christmas.”

I couldn’t ignore the tight knot in my stomach as I thought about the gift exchange. I still had the Book of Frost for Thadron. Most of the stories and poems centered around winter, friendship, and unity. After what he’d told me at the ball, the battles he’d fought and the losses he still carried, I worried it might be the last thing he wanted.

I took a steadying breath and tried to focus on the task ahead for me. I was going to the winter palace...and I was supposed to get there on a frostgrazer.

“You look worried,” Thadron noticed, as we gathered in the courtyard.

His eyes met mine with his unreadable calm. He was dressed in a heavy green cloak lined with fur, his posture relaxed yet commanding. The frostgrazer Enrinu beside him snorted a puff of steam into the cold air.

My smile was faint. “I’ve ridden horses, but not essentially a giant elk.”

“It’s the same,” he assured. “Trust your balance, trust the frostgrazer.”

He held out a gloved hand to help me mount the smaller frostgrazer beside his. I settled into the saddle, gripping the reins tightly. The animal’s muscles shifted beneath me, powerful and sure.

Thadron swung onto his own mount with effortless grace. He glanced over, his expression softening. “You’ll do fine, Isa.”

We led the procession out of the courtyard, the crunch of frostgrazer hooves on snow-packed ground marking our departure. The air was sharp and bracing this afternoon. The forest unfolded before us, its trees cloaked in frosty icicles.

As we rode deeper into the woods, the chatter of the others fell away, muffled by the thick blanket of snow. The quiet wrapped around us, a serene kind of stillness that settled in my chest. Thadron’s shoulders seemed to loosen, the tight lines of tension fading bit by bit.

“You seem more at ease out here,” I observed.

He kept his eyes fixed on the path ahead. “It's peaceful. No expectations, no politics. Just the rhythm of the ride, the quiet of the forest.”

I looked around, the beauty of the landscape sinking in. The trees stood tall and proud. Shafts of pale light filtered through, making the snowflakes glimmer like tiny jewels. My breath misted before me, but the cold didn’t bite. The lining of my coat kept me warm.

I glanced at Thadron, his profile stark and strong against the soft whites and silvers of the forest. There was something different about him here, a quiet vulnerability that the bustle of the keep never allowed. Out here, away from the weight of duty and expectation, he seemed... lighter. “I can see why you like it out here.”

He turned to me then, his eyes catching a glint of the pale sun. “It’s one of the few places where I can breathe.”

“I can understand. That’s how I feel about my shop.” Warmth filled me as I thought about the shop back on Kajal, my sanctuary in a universe that constantly demanded more.

Thadron and I rode side by side through the winding forest trails, the frostgrazers’ steady breaths and the soft crunch of snow beneath hooves the only sounds. I found myself relaxing, letting the forest’s quiet majesty fill me.

I turned to the prince, my heart beating a little faster. The silence between us felt charged, like the air just before a snowfall. His eyes met mine as the first snowflakes fell. His look was steady and searching, and I wondered if he felt it too. What was this fragile thing forming between us?

The silence of the snowfall seemed to hush the world around us as we arrived at the winter palace a couple hours later. The winter palace emerged like a dream from the snowy forest, its delicate spires and archways covered in a veil of ice. It wasn’t as grand or imposing as the main keep, yet there was an intimate beauty here. I grasped the serenity of the palace, nestled within the wilderness.

Soft blue and silver banners hung beside windows, fluttering in the cold breeze. The rooftops were dusted with fresh snow. I shivered as I took it all in, struck by how the palace seemed to blend seamlessly with the landscape. Thadron exhaled beside me. His posture eased, as if the palace’s presence granted him permission to let go, if only just a little.

He dismounted with a warrior’s athletic grace. He turned to offer me a hand down from the frostgrazer. "We managed to get ahead of the others. Let's get you warmed up inside while we wait for them."

I regained my footing on the ground while he led the way into the palace. He didn’t wait for an entourage or call for aides. We went through the grand hall and then to a smaller private chamber.

A bed, draped in thick quilts of deep blue and silver, sat in the center of the room, its frame carved with swirling designs that mimicked the winter winds. In the adjoining room was a heath with a stack of wood beside it. There, Thadron moved with purpose to build a fire. The flames took to life under his skilled hands, crackling and spreading warmth into the space. He caught my gaze across the fire, and I saw the flicker of something unguarded in his eyes.

"Here," he said, handing me a blanket he got from the bed. He draped it around my shoulders. "This should help. I’ll get water for tea."

“You know what I like.” I snuggled in the blanket.

“I’ll just be a few minutes.” He disappeared from the room and returned shortly with two steaming mugs. The scent of spiced berries filled the air as he handed one to me. “It’s glimrin berry tea. You know what I like.” He gave a shrug that was borderline adorable.

“Of course. Thank you." I clutched the warm mug like a lifeline. We sat close by the fire, the warmth seeping into my skin, but it couldn’t compete with the quiet heat building between us.

For a while, the only sounds were the gentle crackle of the flames and the occasional rush of wind against the windows. Thadron’s eyes reflected the fire’s glow, his jaw tight as if he were holding something back.

Finally, he exhaled slowly, his gaze meeting mine. “Isa,” he began, his voice low and hesitant, “I find myself in unfamiliar territory. I want you, but this isn’t something I know how to navigate. Being a prince, or even a diplomat.” His voice trailed before picking up again. “None of it has prepared me for this.”

His vulnerability was unexpected, and it made my heart ache. I set my mug aside, my fingers trembling just a little. “You don’t have to be perfect. Neither of us does.”

He nodded, a tiny smile tugging at his lips before it faltered. “About the kiss... I told you it shouldn’t happen again. But I lied.” He paused, his eyes darkening. “I wanted it. I want more of it. More of you. Are you cold?”

“That’s not why I shivered.” I swallowed, feeling both the weight and the exhilaration of his words. “I want that too,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “But I’m not asking for promises or forevers. I just... I just want to be here with you. Right now.”

He leaned in slightly, his eyes searching mine, trying to confirm what he’d just heard. “You’d risk that? With me?”

I smiled, brushing my fingers against his hand, my brown skin against his frost blue. “It doesn’t feel like a risk. It feels like a choice. One I want to make.”

He let out a breath, as though a tight knot inside him had loosened. His hand turned, palm up, fingers wrapping around mine. “I don’t know much about how this works between your people.”

“And I don’t know much about yours,” I said, the corner of my mouth quirking up. “But we can figure it out. Together.”

His smile, rare, real, and breathtaking, graced his noble features. “Then let’s find out.”

I barely had time to breathe before his lips captured mine, the kiss slow and unhurried, yet searing in its intensity. The world narrowed to the sensation of his mouth, the warmth of his body, the taste of spiced berries lingering between us. The fire crackled behind us, but the real blaze was here, in this space where our restraint melted away like snow in spring.

His hand slid to my waist, pulling me closer, and I went willingly, the boundaries of who I was and who he was blurring, folding into something new. The heat of his touch seared a path along my skin, every brush of his fingertips igniting both cool and warm sparks that bloomed into flame.

When the kiss finally broke, we were both breathless. His forehead rested against mine, his voice rough and low. “You’re sure?”

I smiled, eyes half-lidded, my fingers tracing the line of his jaw. “I’ve never been more sure of anything.”

His gaze darkened with desire. The area between my legs throbbed as I witnessed the ice prince shed his cold, distancing layers for something more blazing and instinctual. He removed his outer tunic and shirt beneath, revealing a physique honed from combat. I felt his strength as he guided me closer, the night wrapped around us.

As I traced a path of kisses down his chest, I felt the tension in his muscles melt away. His hands gently cupped my face, his thumb stroking my cheek as he gazed at me with a mix of longing and tenderness. The stoic exterior he wore so effortlessly melted away in the heat of the moment, revealing the raw vulnerability and passion that lay beneath.

“Here.” I took his hand and had him undo the buttons of my sweater. His lips parted as his gaze never left my body.

Thadron's fingers hesitated for a moment before he carefully undid each button, his touch feather-light against my skin.

As we began to kiss again, his alien features of smooth blue skin and slightly cool touch sent shivers down my spine. But at the same time, there was a warmth to his touch that ignited a fire within me. I enjoyed the contrast, my clit aching for his hand to venture lower.

He undid the clasps of my bra. As his fingers traced along my bare skin, I felt the contrast of his cool and warm touch at the same time. My nipples hardened, aching for his touch. I leaned into his hand, shivering with anticipation as he pressed a single fingertip against my left nipple. It hardened even more under the contact, sending shocks of pleasure through me. He circled it slowly, softly, before moving to tease the other one with equal care. My breath hitched when his blue tongue flicked out to trace its peak.

We continued like this, exploring each other's bodies with tender touches that turned into fiery need as the night wore on. His lips trailed down my neck and across my collarbone while his hands sought out my hips. He pulled me closer until our lower bodies were pressed tightly together, and I could feel how hard he was getting.

My fingers traced over his washboard stomach once more before gently tugging at the waistband of his pants. His reaction was instantaneous. A groan reverberated through me as he arched into my touch. With trembling hands, I unzipped his pants to reveal an impressive...and unique erection.

“Thadron, your cock is so big. And this.” My fingers explored the thick wide base where another smaller, hard, veiny organ pulsed beneath my touch. “Do you have two?”

His laugh was gentle, though darkened with desire. “That appendange is how Glaciarian males stay connected during mating.”

My curiosity and fascination over his anatomy only made my desire for him grow. I shifted, a little uncomfortable, as my panties clung to my skin. “I don’t have anything to connect to.” My admission came out shy.

Thadron was undeterred as he pushed his fingers beneath the damp fabric of my panties and found my vagina. He slid a single finger inside me, while another pushed inside the tiny pucker between my cheeks.

“We will find a way.”

Heat pooled in my core as he stretched me slowly, skillfully. I grabbed at his shoulders, gasping at the dual sensation of both front and back were being stimulated.

We moved together, our bodies starting to slicken with sweat and desire. His movements were slow and calculated, his lips whispering promises against my skin as he filled me up with his fingers. The ache between my legs grew with every thrust, and I don't know if it was from pleasure or the anticipation of more.

He lowered me on the soft blanket on the floor. The fire crackled beside us, seductively adding heat and shadow to our bodies. I looked up as Thadron positioned himself over me. With gentle hands, he coaxed my thighs open. His pupils dilated, his nostrils flared as he took in the view of my desire-soaked sex, wet and waiting for him.

We paused for a moment, and I felt him aligning himself before pushing forward.

There was a moment of stretching followed by blissful fullness as he penetrated me, burying himself to the hilt in one swift motion. It felt like too much for one quick moment but in a good way, like he was claiming me.

I raised my hips. That’s when I felt the hot erotic slide of his appendage push into my ass.

“Thadron.” His name slipped from my lips in a moan.

He looked at my face. “Am I hurting you?”

“No, god, no.” i squeezed my eyes shut as I relished the feeling of both my pussy and ass getting fucked. “It feels incredible.”

His breathing was ragged as his hips started moving in a sensual rhythm that had my head spinning. I wrapped my legs around him and met his thrusts, lost in the scent of him, the feel of his body against mine.

The room carried our moans as we found our rhythm. His hands roamed over my body exploring, claiming, possessing as we moved together on the blanket. I felt my orgasm building, waves of pleasure rolling through me as I tightened around him.

“Thadron...” I pleaded again.

“Give me your release, Isa.” He growled.

And with that command, I did, coming hard, my back arching, my nails digging into his shoulders as he followed me to the peak. His hot seed filled me up while his other organ pulsed inside my ass, milking my orgasm from me until there was nothing left but quiet aftershocks and satisfied sighs.

We collapsed together, chests heaving, our lips meeting in a tender kiss that felt like the start of something new and beautiful.