Page 67 of The Ice Prince's Fated Mate
And the feathers. All the feathers in the world fell from him in pleated waves, rolling down his back and sides, leaving only the front bare.
“There is nowaythis is actual formal dress here in the citadel,” I said, eyeing my mate up and down.
My mate.
That was the first time I’d casually called him that.
What does that mean?
“Thiswasformal wear,” he said. “A millennia or so ago at least. I figured it would be fun to bring it back. And I was right. You lookamazing.”
“We’re going to have a formaltalkabout your ideas of fun,” I said, but I walked forward to the chime of my bells and took his arm, fighting down the heat in my cheeks and neck from his compliment and the way his eyes never left me.
“We can talk about whatever you want,” he rumbled, settling my fingers on his forearm, just behind the cuff of his sleeve.
I inched my fingers forward instead, resting the pads of my fingertips on the bare skin. Instantly, I felt calmer. Dirk’s eyes drifted toward the connection and then back to me, but he said nothing.
He walked us forward, his back straight and his pace matched to mine as we entered a ballroom, empty except for a table in the center. Candles burned in the center, and other oil lamps were scattered around the room but turned low, giving it a quiet, intimate setting.
With some help from Kolar, they managed to get me properly seated. At that point, he retreated from the room to stand guard, leaving just the two of us.
Dirk approached his seat and sat with impeccable grace of a ruler. Of the heir.
“You can do this,” I told him.
He cocked his head. “Do what?”
“Rule. In Caz’s stead. I saw how little you liked it when he reminded you. I can see it in you, though. You’re a good man.”
Caz grunted, shifting in his chair. “Thanks. But I don’t want it.”
“Why not?”
“I’ve never wanted the throne. Caz is better suited for it. He was raised for it.”
“Maybe,” I said, catching his eyes and holding them. “But that doesn’t mean you aren’tcapableof it.”
Dirk’s mouth pressed into a line. “I appreciate your vote of confidence, but you are wrong, Ella.”
He was polite but insistent.
“Just because you threatened your uncle doesn’t make you a bad ruler.”
“I know,” he said.
His eyebrows tightened just enough as he said it to let me know that wasn’t what he was referring to about his inability to lead the kingdom.
“But I shouldn’t have lost my temper. It’s just that, whenever I think of you, bleeding and scared on the mountainside because of him, I get soangry. My dragon wants him dead.” He clenched a fist. “I should have been able to stop them from getting to you. It’s my job to protect you.”
I reached across the table, stunned by the look into his soul. Dirk had never let me in like that before, never revealed the depths of his emotions.
“You can’t always protect me. You can’t predict what the future will bring, not now and not then either.” I squeezed hishand until he met my gaze. “But I can tell you, Dirk, that ever since that day, you have made me feel safe in a way no one has ever done.”
We stared into one another’s eyes. Slowly, he unballed his hand, and I slipped my fingers between his. Letting myself open up to him.
Something stirred in my brain, and more approval trickled through.
“I’m sorry for exposing our bond and making you a target to my uncle while your dragon is still in hiding,” he said, his thumb stroking over the back of my palm.
