by Tara Starr
“Expect some pushback from me on the funding for the army,” I say, giving him fare warning.
He rolls his eyes. “It wouldn’t be a board meeting without you having to ask me for money.”
“Isn’t that the future duty of a wife?”
Logan takes my hand and touches the ring on my finger. It’s made of a piece from the heart of the mountain. Verglas gave it willingly to mark the occasion. The ancients are happy.
“Let’s go then,” he says before releasing my hand.
A part of me wants to walk into that room hand in hand. Who cares if it doesn’t look professional? I dare them to challenge me on that.
But I also understand that like being in the army, business is about a show of strength. We can’t have them seeing us as holding hands or they might pit us against each other. There has to be separation there. I wouldn’t want to have to take off someone’s head—metaphorically, of course—if they overstep their bounds.
The doors open and all the business managers in the room look toward us. We enter and go our separate ways. Logan sits at one end of the long table while I sit at the other.
Only when we are settled do the other board members take their seats. Logan’s assistant passes around thick folders that contain that month’s agenda. We try to keep this meeting at once a month since everyone is too busy conquering the world of business. This is more a formality than anything else.
“Why don’t we start with our assets?” Logan asks after he greets everyone and calls the meeting to order.
The business manager to his right starts talking about the new properties that we have acquired. There are a couple of hotels in there. A new casino. And a mall opening right at the edge of LA.
“What about the housing development?” I ask once he’s finished speaking. I look over the numbers on the next page.
“The community will be ready for occupancy by the end of the month,” our manager for that particular project says, almost unable to contain his excitement. His family is one of the groups that will be moving in from Verglas.
“That’s good,” I say.
We’ve been shuffling around families. Those who want to return to Verglas are more than welcome. And those who would like to move to LA are assisted. The housing development is part of that assistance. There are even families that live part time in Star Peak and part time in LA. It’s a brave new world for the ice clan.
We move from one item on the agenda to the next until we finally reach my favorite part. Asking money for the army. What? Just because we won the battle doesn’t mean we can’t stay prepared for the war. You never know what can happen.
There are audible groans from all the members seated at the table. Logan and I lock gazes. He sits back and tints his fingers while I grin and lay my hands flat on the table.
“Gentlemen, the army is in need to new armor,” I say as my opening salvo.
Arguments and counter-arguments commenced after that. Logan makes his points and I make mine. More importantly, I emphasize the fact that we never know when we will get attacked again, which is why we must remain vigilant. We might have peace at the moment, but if we allow ourselves to grow lax then we might be caught unawares in the future.
It’s a lengthy and fun process. I know now how important the business side is. In fact, I was even the one who suggested turning one of the factories into one that exclusively manufactures merch for all those internet influencers. It’s big money for us and we own the entire company. We call it Dragon Merch. Simple, yet memorable.
In the end, I get half of what I wanted for the army, which is more than I know Logan was willing to give. There’s always next month. What? Some women go shopping, I arm an army. My generals will thank me for what I’ve accomplished for them today.
Feeling good about myself, Logan and I exit the meeting and head straight for dinner with my parents. They are spending a month with us here in LA. They’re actually house hunting. And by house hunting I mean they get to choose from the many luxury mansions that the ice clan already own. If there’s something we have yet to buy that they fancy then it’s as easy as cashing a check.
They are already at the restaurant when we arrive. Logan shakes hands with my father while I endure a tight hug from my mother. In civilian clothes, it’s almost impossible to tell that they are king and queen of the ice clan. My father is in an Armani suit while my mother is clad in head to toe Chanel.
“You must come shopping with me, Ivy,” she says after we make our orders. “You have to change up your look once in a while. It can’t always be pantsuits or combat leather.”
“I have dresses,” I say nonchalantly.
“I make sure she does,” Logan says.
Thank the dragon gods that my parents don’t catch the heated look that he sends my way. We always seem to have the most primal sex when I’m in a dress. I don’t know why. Maybe I really should wear more of them.
“Then let’s talk wedding,” my father says. “Have you set a date?”
“We’re thinking the fall,” Logan says. “Right as the leaves turn.”
“That’s absolutely perfect!” My mother claps once. “Wedding at the peak and reception in Beverly Hills?”
“That’s the plan,” I say, really not interested in this wedding stuff. I leave it to Logan and my mother to handle everything. Just point me in the direction I have to go and I’ll go.
In my mind, I don’t even need a ceremony. Logan is as much mine as I am his. But it’s for my parents and for my people. A royal wedding will certainly liven up the mountain and the city. I go with it because I love Logan and I love my parents. Plus, I have a duty to my people as their princess.
“Are we set to announce my pregnancy?” I ask with an evil grin, knowing that it’s going to set off my mother and Logan. I love watching them be at each other’s throats. If it were left up to me, I would have announced it the second I found out. But, apparently, there’s protocol about these things.
* * *
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