Read Ice Baron (Ice Chronicles, Book One (science fiction romance)) Online
Authors: Jennette Green
Ice Baron (Ice Chronicles, Book One (science fiction romance))
Pitch black had settled in
outside.
With
it, a deep, biting cold swirled into the cave.
She really should put out the
fire.
But it was so warm and friendly.
And Anya felt so alone.
Put it out.
It was time to get going. Although
the cave entrance was partially blocked, someone at the perfect angle might see
the light. Maybe that one, last, persistent pilot—although she hadn’t heard the
craft since noon. He must have given up, too. For now.
Unfolding her trowel, Anya chipped
up a mound of frozen ice and mud and cast it onto the fire. It flickered, but
didn’t go out.
“Don’t put it out on my account.”
The low, rough voice made her
gasp, and she whipped out her laser.
Joshua.
He seemed to fill the entrance.
The elite, cream military parka made his shoulders seem wider, his body more
solid and forbidding.
“You.” Hands trembling, she
lowered the weapon.
“Of course it’s me. I’m your
protector, foolish girl. Who did you think would come for you?”
Palpable fury simmered in him,
deep and hot, yet tightly leashed, as were every one of his emotions, always.
In the past, she had wished that just once she could break through the
impenetrable shell he enclosed around himself. Just once, she’d like to see him
snap, to glimpse the true man underneath all the medals and the power that fit
him like a glove. To especially see beyond the shiny honor of hero worship with
which she’d clothed him when they had first met. She had always wanted to
please him.
No more.
Also by Jennette Green
The Commander’s Desire
Her Reluctant
Bodyguard
Murder by Nightmare
(a novelette)
Ice Chronicles One
Ice
Baron
Jennette Green
Diamond
Pr
es
s
This is a
work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the
product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any
resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events,
or locales is entirely coincidental.
ICE BARON
A Diamond
Press book / published in arrangement with the author
Copyright
© 2011 by Jennette Green
Cover design
Copyright 2011 © by Diamond Press
All rights
reserved.
This book,
or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission, except
in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. The
scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or any
other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable
by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not
participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of
the author’s rights is appreciated.
Scripture
quotation taken from the New American Standard Bible®,
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973,
1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation .
Used by
permission. (www.Lockman.org)
Library of
Congress Control Number:
2011932402
Library
of Congress Subject Headings:
Love
stories
Romance
fiction
Futuristic
romance
Science
fiction
Man-woman relationships
—
Fiction
Diamond
Press
3400
Pegasus Drive
P.O. Box
80043
Bakersfield
CA 93380-0043
www.diamondpresspublishing.com
Published
in the United States of America.
“Have I not commanded
you?
Be strong and
courageous!
Do not tremble or be
dismayed,
for the
Lord
your God is with you wherever you
go.”
JOSHUA 1:9
NASB
Former Kazakhstan
Astana, Donetsk Territory, year 3145
a.d.
(Millennial Ice Age, caused by Nuclear holocaust)
A
nya pressed her forehead
to the cool, curved window of the
school library and looked down at the earth, a kilometer below. She felt safe
here, although she was no longer a child. Unfortunately, the feeling of peace
was an illusion. Soon her protector, the current Baron of Donetsk Territory,
would find her and she would have to face her future.
If only she could escape. If only
she could ride down the slender metal umbilical cord elevator which anchored
the sky city of Astana to earth, and flee what was coming.
The glass felt cool against her
skin, and the room behind her lay silent, as it was nearly time for supper.
Quiet, too, was the vast wasteland of ice and snow which stretched out as far
as her eyes could see—land that had been ruled by her family, the Dubrovnyks,
until her father had died ten years ago. The frosty view remained the same all
year round. Spring and summer were too cold to melt the snow. On a clear day,
she could see the great Tien Shan mountain range far to the south. Her uncle
lived south of the Tien Shan, and her territory had been engaged in a bloody
war with his for her entire life. To the east, Donetsk Territory fought a different,
but equally vicious war with Altai Territory. Altai’s leader, Onred, was Astana’s
special guest this weekend.
“Anya.” Joshua’s deep, quiet voice
startled her.
She drew a dismayed breath.
Footfalls noiseless, Joshua Van
Heisman appeared by her side. Her nerves prickled up in awareness of him. Nostrils
faintly flaring, she surreptitiously inhaled, savoring the clean scent of his
pressed uniform, and the warm, faintly spicy scent of his skin. His physical
presence, as always, filled Anya’s senses. She was always aware of him—too
aware of him. She didn’t have to look to see how his solid, muscular shoulders
filled out his cream baron’s uniform. Also etched forever into her mind were
his tanned skin, flashing white teeth, and his barely tamed tawny hair, which
was the exact color of the extinct lion.
In her mind, he was her lion. He
had been her protector since she was thirteen, and he’d been the interim Baron
of Donetsk Territory ever since her father had died. She had hero-worshipped
him with all of her devastated young heart at thirteen, after losing both of
her parents. Now, at twenty-three, his close presence made her feel something
entirely different…something completely forbidden. She swallowed the lump in
her throat. She had always wanted to make him proud of her, but this…
With a determined turn to her
head, she met his gaze. His dark eyes were devoid of their usual warmth, and
were instead a commanding brown. Not a good sign. He’d come to give her orders,
and she was to obey—for the peace of Donetsk Territory. To save tens of
thousands of lives.
“It is decided.” His voice sounded
impersonal. “Onred has agreed to take you as his bride, for peace. The bride
price is set.”
Only Joshua’s steady gaze kept her
knees firm, and prevented her from bolting from the room in sickened horror.
Onred made her flesh creep. When she had met him this afternoon, he had been
polite, and had bowed over her hand with great chivalry. But she didn’t trust
the bloodthirsty baron.