Winter's Dragons. Melting Ice: A Reverse Harem Fantasy Romance (Soulmates of Seasons Book 1)

by Eva Brandt

  That plan had backfired in the worst possible way, and yet, it might have been the best thing that had happened to me.

  Queen Cheimon was easily the loveliest female I had ever seen. Despite the low temperature in the palace, her silver gown left plenty of her delightful body exposed, teasing me with a glimpse at her bare shoulders and long, slim legs. Her ice blue eyes shone brighter than all the amethysts in the world, and her hair reminded me of woven strands of liquid silver. Her creamy skin glowed with the potency of her magic, the same stern, yet comfortable power that had settled around me in a soothing, calming embrace.

  Never had I felt the urge to destroy jewelry, but just being in her presence changed that. I ached to melt away her necklace of ice crystals with my heat, to free her hair from the beautiful, but restraining crown that held it captive and tear off the lovely gown that kept me from exploring her beautiful form with my tongue. But I didn’t think she would appreciate any of that, as she seemed to frown on the destruction of her property, so instead, I did my best to keep my body from responding to her presence. It was much too soon to present myself sexually in front of her in any way, and I had to rein in my beast’s instincts, no matter what.

  Considering my nudity and her proximity, this might have actually been an impossible challenge, but Queen Cheimon saved us all from both failure and embarrassment. She flicked her fingers, and on her cue, a small, bearded creature popped up out of nowhere, right next to me. A nisse, my mind provided. They didn’t live anywhere near Terra Dracones, but most of us were familiar with such beings from our studies.

  The nisse bowed in front of Queen Cheimon, so lowly his beard brushed the floor. “Yes, Mistress?” he asked, all the while pretending Raijin, Emmerich and I weren’t there.

  “Fiske, our guests will require clothing. A simple uniform will do for now, along with undergarments, footwear, and so on.”

  Fiske shot me and my two rivals a baleful look, eyeing us from head to toe and obviously finding us lacking. “I see,” he said, curling his lip. “It will be done, Your Majesty.”

  Mere seconds later, the nisse disappeared, leaving us befuddled at his abrupt departure. Queen Cheimon took it in stride. Then again, perhaps she was distracted by the arrival of yet another new, intrusive factor.

  A pale, rail thin man burst into the chamber, vibrating with anxiousness and restless magic. “Your Majesty! You are safe. I sensed the disturbance these inferior beings created, but I could not make my way to your side. Forgive me for my failure.”

  Queen Cheimon let out a low, exasperated breath. “I’ve told you a million times before, January. I can protect myself. I don’t need you to act as my guard. As for the issue that you sensed... It was only a small accident. Nothing of concern.”

  January opened his mouth, perhaps intending to protest. He seemed to change his mind at the last moment, and ultimately, no words came from his lips. I actually found that I empathized with him a little, in that I agreed that Queen Cheimon needed to be protected. However, it was a little presumptuous of a male to make assumptions about a female’s preferences, especially when said female was as powerful as Queen Cheimon.

  Come to think of it, that might make me proving my worth as a mate a little difficult. Oh, dear.

  Oblivious to my distraught musings, Queen Cheimon addressed January once again. “In any case, I assume by your presence that you managed to fulfill the task I gave you?”

  “Yes, Your Majesty. Accommodation for our guests has been prepared.”

  He spat the word ‘guests’ like a curse word. I couldn’t really blame him for that, since we had, after all, jeopardized his queen, albeit unknowingly. She must’ve noticed, because she arched a perfectly defined, silver brow at him. “Wonderful,” she drawled. “Now, let me make the introductions. January, meet Emmerich, Kerryn and Raijin. They will be staying with us for a little while and perhaps assisting us with the remaining damage caused by the flood. Everyone, this is January, Second Lieutenant of Tou Cheimóna, The Realm of Eternal Ice. You might all be required to work together in the future.”

  “Welcome to Tou Cheimóna,” January offered, the smile he pasted on his face so forced it made him look constipated. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”

  I didn’t believe him for an instant, but I didn’t call him out on his lie. “Thank you,” I replied instead. “It is an honor to be here, by Her Majesty’s side, aiding her with whatever she might require.”

  The words were addressed more to Queen Cheimon than to January. I doubted she understood the full extent of my solemn pledge and my decision, but that was all right. She didn’t have to, not yet, not until I found a way to court her and approach her the way she deserved. Meanwhile, I would bide my time and make sure nobody attempted to separate us.

  Tou Cheimóna might have been unfamiliar to me, its magic unsuited to my nature, but that was irrelevant. I was completely convinced that if I had been brought here, it had to be for a reason.

  Queen Cheimon was more than a random beautiful female. She was the one I had unknowingly been waiting for all my life, and somehow, I would prove it.

  Three

  Three Dragons Are Better Than One

  Raijin

  Shortly after making the introductions between us and her lieutenant, Queen Cheimon gave us her final instructions. “January will lead you to your quarters, and Fiske will come see you later, to bring you your clothing and perhaps a little more furniture. Please, rest for the remainder of the day.”

  We acknowledged her words with simple “Yes, Your Majesty”s, or variations along that theme. She shot us one last smile, then sent our whole group away with a wave of her delicate hand. “We will speak again later, at dinner. Until then, may the serenity of the gods guide your steps.”

  January took the lead, guiding us out of the chamber we had been in. It appeared to have been some kind of foyer, although I couldn’t be sure. The structure of Queen Cheimon’s palace was most likely different from our own homes, so I’d have to learn everything anew while I was here.

  “Follow me,” January said curtly, even if he didn’t have to reiterate Queen Cheimon’s words. “Memorize this route and don’t get lost. Nobody has the time to be your guide or your servant.”

  I didn’t remember asking for guides or servants, but whatever. It didn’t take a genius to determine that January already hated us with a passion. And we’d only met less than ten minutes ago. Even for me, that had to be some kind of record.

  This attitude was not exactly unusual, but it could turn out to be problematic. Queen Cheimon had introduced him as ‘Second Lieutenant’ which probably meant he was one of her most trusted subordinates. If he dug his heels in, he could hinder my tentative plan to claim Queen Cheimon as my female.

  Bad enough that I already had two competitors for her heart, and that she herself most likely did not understand our ways. The intervention of further outside factors could sabotage the whole enterprise. I refused to allow it.

  As January led us through the winding corridors of the ice palace, I carefully took note of each twist and turn. For the most part, the building lacked any kind of ornamentation, but only in terms of separate objects being used as decorations. It should’ve made the place look stark or bland, but it didn’t. The ice itself created beautiful patterns of frost within the walls, and each and every design was unique. Ice crystals dangled from the ceiling and grew from the ground, like the stalactites and stalagmites I was familiar with from my own cave in Ryū no Kuni. On occasion, they even came together to form spiraling pillars, all of which had entirely different looks.

  The individuality of the frost patterns and ice formations easily allowed me to make a mental map of the route we were taking. It also made me note that January backtracked at least twice and we went around in circles for a good couple of minutes. I hid a glum smile as I noted that my earlier guess had been confirmed. He would attempt to make our lives as difficult as possible during our stay.

  In fact, he�
�d have likely continued with his petty, ridiculous ploy for a while longer, but he must’ve decided to prioritize and put his return to the queen’s side first. Much sooner than I expected, we stopped in front of a pair of immense doors we could have easily fit through even in our dragon forms.

  As it turned out, this was no coincidence. “This arrangement was made before you shifted into your current shapes,” January explained. “As such, it is not designed for... people. You will also have to share.”

  The thought of sharing a lair with Kerryn and Emmerich did not appeal, but I had been prepared for it ever since Queen Cheimon had mentioned bringing us more furniture. Besides, it was just a room. The quality of the provided accommodation didn’t rank anywhere near my top ten list of priorities. I could share.

  Share. A worm of an idea niggled at the back of my mind as the concept processed. Dragons weren’t big on sharing. We were possessive beings by nature, and we treasured everything that belonged to our hoards. Our mates were no different. But perhaps, just this once... Perhaps we could make an exception.

  The massive, heavy doors in front of me opened, revealing a huge chamber that could’ve easily fit ten dragons, not just three. Like everything else here, its walls were crafted out of solid ice, but I had expected that to be the case. What did surprise me was the fact that a large part of the icy ground was covered in black furs.

  As soon as I stepped onto one, I wanted to collapse on top of it and revel in its softness. It felt so much better than the floor. I’d have to remember to thank Queen Cheimon, since I had no doubt this was her idea.

  I might have thanked January too, just out of politeness, but I didn’t get the chance. Once the three of us were inside the cave-type room, January said, “Make sure to stay here and not wander around the palace until you are summoned. Everything you might need will be provided for you.”

  And just like that, before we could ask any further questions or react in any way, January turned on his heel and stalked off. The massive doors closed behind him with a decisive bang.

  “That went well,” Emmerich said, still staring at the spot where January had been. “I feel like maybe we’re not really wanted here.”

  “Gee, you think?” Kerryn asked sarcastically. He walked up to the center of the room and dropped down onto the fur, letting out a small, and likely unwilling, sigh of satisfaction as he did so. “I’ll take this spot,” he added, as if he had just remembered we were there.

  Why was I not surprised that he was going to be difficult about this one? Oh, yes. Because he hated our guts.

  This whole sharing business might be a bit of a challenge.

  But you didn’t know a plan wasn’t feasible unless you made the attempt, and I was nothing if not stubborn. Kerryn might be annoying, but he was still a dragon, and we still understood one another. We didn’t have to be friends, but we could be allies.

  Emmerich had other ideas. He sat down in a place he seemed to pick at random and shot Kerryn a smile. I dreaded whatever words he would say before he even uttered them. “Oh, I don’t mind you picking the seating arrangement, Kerryn. Just as long as you realize that the mate Queen Cheimon will ultimately choose is me.”

  “Is that right?” Kerryn asked, his voice now practically a growl. “You think you can take her from me?”

  “I don’t think I can. I know I can.”

  Despite my previous decision to attempt cooperation, I couldn’t help but step in as well. “Please. I’m obviously the most appropriate mate. My nature is far more compatible to hers than yours will ever be.”

  Two sets of furious, glowing eyes instantly zeroed in on me. Oh, dear. Perhaps I should not have said that. It was the truth, and both Kerryn and Emmerich knew it. They were magical beings as well, but their skills lacked the mysticism mine possessed, a fact that gave me a significant advantage. Still, we had all promised to respect her home, and a comment like mine was not conducive to peaceful coexistence.

  “You might be right,” Emmerich snapped, clenching and unclenching his fists, “but there is a reason why it is said that opposites attract. I will be the fire to her ice. We are an obvious match. The details don’t matter that much.”

  “That’s idiotic,” Kerryn shot back. “No matter what claims you might make, you have no way of knowing how your nature will react to hers. Someone with neutral magic like me is a far better option.”

  Hmm. Those were both valid points. True, I had managed to shift faster into my human form when she had immobilized us, but that didn’t necessarily mean anything. This wasn’t Terra Dracones. Relationships weren’t just about magic compatibility, and she wasn’t a dragon at all. Plus, there were other factors we needed to consider, factors that made it all the more important for us to set our differences aside.

  The more I thought about the situation with Queen Cheimon, the more concerned I grew that none of us would be able to be her mate. The dreadful realization gave me the strength I needed to push back my instinctive anger. “Listen,” I said, now keeping my voice carefully level, “arguing about this won’t help us. Queen Cheimon is the one who has to make a choice about her mate.”

  Emmerich and Kerryn deflated, just like I’d known that they would. In the end, despite our difference in opinions, that was a rule that any male dragon would follow, no matter what breed they were. The female’s preferences always took precedence.

  “I can’t argue with that,” Emmerich said. “I will not interfere in your courtship of her, if you do not interfere with mine.”

  “I agree,” Kerryn offered. “She will be the one to pick the person who is most suited, based on all of our honest efforts.”

  They both turned toward me once again, obviously expecting me to make the same pledge. I appreciated their incipient willingness to at least not antagonize one another, but it was not enough. “I think you’re missing the point here.” Or at least, a large part of the point. “This is The Realm of Eternal Ice, and she is its queen. We’re outsiders here. We were in luck in that she seems willing to give us a chance, but that doesn’t mean we’re not at a disadvantage compared to her other suitors.”

  Fire blazed in Emmerich’s eyes at my words. “Other suitors?” he repeated. “What other suitors? Who dares to stand in our way?”

  “I have no idea,” I admitted. “It’s only a guess. But think about it. How likely is it that a female of such strength and beauty will not have admirers? For all we know, she might even have lovers. We can’t just assume that she will agree to be the female of any of us.”

  “She didn’t smell claimed, though,” Kerryn replied. “I’d have been able to tell if another had recently touched her. What about you, Emmerich?”

  “I got the same impression. She certainly hasn’t bedded anyone in the past couple of days.”

  That was good to know, and one problem we didn’t need to worry about. If the queen had already been involved with someone else, any sort of courtship would’ve been almost impossible. Thank the gods the advanced senses of my fellows had provided me with this information.

  Unfortunately, the news didn’t mean I was wrong about my previous concerns. “Even if you are correct,” I told Emmerich and Kerryn, “there are still bound to be plenty of males interested in being her mates. I doubt January wouldn’t want to be the one to give her pleasure. We haven’t seen other courtiers, but her entourage probably contains more people, all of whom have already earned her trust.”

  My two would-be rivals fell silent as they mused over my words. I gave them time, knowing that they must’ve been struggling with the wrongness of the situation just as much as I was.

  How could we not? I’d spent only a few minutes in Queen Cheimon’s company, but I already knew I wanted to dedicate my life to her. Beautiful, strong, harsh, yet kind, she was pure perfection, and only a dragon could appreciate her like she deserved. Anyone else would simply not understand her worth.

  “I expect that if you’re saying these things, you already have a solution in mind,�
� Emmerich finally said.

  “Not a solution per se, but perhaps something that could help us. It is... a little unusual, but I think we could make it work.”

  The vagueness of my reply drew a frown out of the naturally suspicious Kerryn. “Oh?” he prodded. “Perhaps you should be a little more specific.”

  “It’s quite simple. Instead of your option, which would involve simply not getting in each other’s way, we could work together to convince her to be our mate. The mate of all of us. We could share.”

  Emmerich gaped at my bold suggestion and he stared at me with unblinking eyes. Kerryn let out a small wheezing noise, and a gust of poison breath escaped his mouth. Their reactions were both satisfying and a little unnerving. I was realistic enough to admit that I enjoyed taking my rivals by surprise, and I’d certainly managed that. They had also not rejected my idea outright, and that had promise. On the other hand, their shock might ultimately be a sign of a refusal so strong they could not even vocalize it yet.

  I’d have liked to be patient again and give them time to process, but eventually the suspense got to me. “Well?” I asked. “What do you think?”

  Emmerich snapped out of his trance, blinked and fixed me with a determined, but warm look. “I think it’s an excellent idea. As much as I would like to claim that she needs no one other than me, that might not be the case. And well... Three dragons are better than one.”

  Kerryn nodded and shot us both a small smile. “Let’s face it. She’s far more powerful than any of us will ever be. Just one person isn’t enough to honor that. And between the three of us, we can absolutely give her something nobody here ever could.”