Chapter One

Dagon

The first day of December brings a frost that coats the ground Talon and I hunted on tonight, and as we return to the residence, a hot shower and at least a dozen pumpkin muffins are calling my name.

I’m halfway to the informal dining room where the snacks are when a very pregnant Olivia stops me mid-stride.

I blow out a breath, shaking my head at the female’s persistence.

“I’ve asked you for help for months,” she snaps. Her eyes are more severe than usual, which immediately has me on guard. “And now, I’m telling you.”

I cock a brow at her tone, glancing at her mate, Ransom, who steps between me and her with an apologetic look on his face. “Let’s not piss off the hunter,” Ransom says softly as he tries to gently pull her away.

“I don’t give a shit,” Oliva snaps as Ransom hauls her away. “You need to help her! It’s a mess upstairs! She’s a mess, and it wouldn’t take much for you to assist…” Her yells trail off as Ransom turns with her down a hallway.

I’m not intentionally being an asshole, but we’ve had a lot going on. Between taking on a massive horde of bloodmads a couple of weeks ago—thanks to Conrad, who died, and Samuel, who we lost, again, not to mention Zachariah almost losing his mate—I haven’t had time to even think of anything else.

But after the blow we delivered, despite Samual and Kyle Moorehouse evading us, we’ve bought ourselves a few days of some kind of peace, at least.

I sigh as I take the path away from my much-needed snacks and walk up the stairs.

As I hit the top step, my boot immediately slips on a thick trail of ice. I steady myself, following the path down the hallway, the ice leading into Annika’s suite. The entire floor is covered, so much so I have to carefully glide across it. Icicles hang from just about every inch of the ceiling but are more heavily congregated around the bathroom door.

“What in the Elsa shit is this?” I ask as I head that direction.

“In here!” Annika calls from behind the bathroom door.

I open it, taking her words as an invitation and freezing one step inside.

She’s bright fucking red and stark naked, with water frozen just above her breasts.

Jesus, she’s a knockout. Not that I hadn’t noticed that before…but damn.

Words tangle in my throat, shock and heat and all sorts of shit buzzing beneath my skin.

“Are you going to help get me out?” she asks, snapping me to reality. “Because this doesn’t hurt but I’m sure as hell stuck.”

Fuck me, the determination in her eyes is enough to have heat streaking through my veins. Never mind that she’s naked—that look is enough to grab anyone’s attention—but seeing as how she is naked, I lock that reaction the fuck up.

“I can thaw you,” I say, whirling around so my back is to her. I face my palm toward her where it hangs at my side, drawing just enough heat to start to melt the ice.

“Whoa,” Alek says as he steps into the room, glancing from me to Annika before immediately spinning around. “You’re excused from all hunter and assassin duties,” he says as he walks away.

“I’m not a teacher!” I snap, still thawing Annika without looking, which takes a bit of concentration.

“You are now, Professor Dagon,” the king retorts, leaving no room for argument, before he disappears from the room.

Fuck. My. Life.