Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 93267 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93267 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
He shoved the thought away. This was going to work. Salem would eventually fall in love with him, and they’d find a way to build a life together. It didn’t matter if it was here or in Brazil. The important thing was having each other.
“That’s good,” Salem said, breaking into his thoughts. “I figured you might get homesick every now and again.”
Gregori shook his head, rubbing those fine strands against his lips. “Not homesick for Russia. But occasionally for the people who lived with us there who are no longer with us.”
Salem stiffened. “Because of the war,” he whispered.
Fuck. No, this wasn’t the romantic conversation they were supposed to be having. He was supposed to be asking him silly, unimportant things, like favorite movies and favorite types of music. War was not romantic.
The man in his arms started to move on his own and Gregori aided him, steadying him when he nearly fell twice as he fought to face Gregori again. Salem stared up at him for several seconds in silence, those deep ocean blue eyes narrowed like he was trying to peer straight into Gregori’s soul.
“It’s so weird.”
Gregori cocked his head to the side. “What is?”
“We learn about the Great Dragon War in school. I think as early as grade school. Then again in more detail during high school, but it doesn’t ever feel real because it happened centuries ago. My own country wasn’t even a thing yet when it happened. We were taught the major events and some of the names. The important thing was all the dragons died off, and the mages were pretty much on the same path to extinction.” One of Salem’s hands drifted up so that the fingertips of his thick gloves grazed Gregori’s cheek.
Gregori turned his head and pressed a quick kiss to those fingers. “But you know that isn’t true. Dragons and mages aren’t going anywhere. We have a chance to grow. To make a new age for both of our kinds.”
“True. But you were there. All the stuff I memorized for school was actually real for you. It just blows my mind. I’m sorry for all the clanmates you lost in the war.”
“Thank you, but let’s—” Gregori had been about to redirect the conversation to something lighter, but he lost his footing. He’d attempted to push off to send them casually sliding across the ice, but his balance wobbled as his left foot tried to slip in the wrong direction. He gripped Salem tightly around the waist and a Russian curse might have tumbled from his lips as he regained his balance.
“Whoa!” Salem gasped, his fingers digging into Gregori’s shoulders. “That was close.”
Gregori was now bent in an awkward position, and he was forced to tip his head up to meet Salem’s eyes. “Yeah. Too close.”
“Maybe we should—”
Salem never got the chance to finish. One of them moved. In the end, Gregori wasn’t even sure which of them it was.
In the blink of an eye, they were crashing hard to the ice, a loud “oof” jumping from both of them. Gregori landed on his back, knocking the wind out of his lungs, while Salem at least landed mostly on top of him.
That was not supposed to happen.
He was an ice dragon. King of the motherfucking ice. Always in control.
And he’d slipped like a newborn dragon after making his first icy patch.
This. Was. Embarrassing.
It didn’t matter though. The only important thing was the well-being of his mate.
“Salem! Are you okay? Did you hit the ice anywhere? Are you hurt?” The questions surged from Gregori, but he doubted Salem heard him as a loud burst of laughter rocketed from him.
His mate’s entire body shook with laughter. Gregori lay completely still, soaking in the glorious sound, memorizing it for later. Salem laughed far too rarely, and it was nice to know what his deep belly laughs sounded like.
Salem slipped and struggled, finally shifting so he was lying on Gregori with his forearms braced on his chest, staring down at him. Salem’s knit hat was askew, barely on his head any longer, and his cheeks were now bright red from his amusement and the bitter cold.
“You fell!” Salem cackled. “Mister Powerful Ice Dragon fell on the ice.”
“You distracted me!” Gregori felt sure the embarrassment burning through him was in danger of melting the ice.
Salem’s chuckles changed to snickers, and he bent his head even closer. “And I bet I’m the best distraction you’ve ever met.”
Gregori reached up and cupped Salem’s frozen cheek, all the humiliation forgotten under the intense warmth of Salem’s smile. He wanted this. A lifetime of smiles just like this one, where Salem stared down at him like he was the only person in all the world. He didn’t care how ridiculous or silly they were being. Didn’t care if they were in the United States or Brazil. He just wanted this smile. God, he loved this man beyond reason.