Ice Runner by Viola Grace Page A

to walk on.
    The palace loomed, and with one thing off her personal checklist behind her, she was looking forward to tackling the items that were left.

Chapter Ten
    I n the dead of night, Kes got to her feet and crept over to the com unit. It was dawn on Wanlio 6, and if the call went through, she should be talking to her mother and sister before their day began.
    When the screen flared and Kema and Eera were framed in the unit, Kes swallowed her tears.
    “Hiya! Well, I made it safely here and guess what?”
    Eera was looking at her with wide eyes. “You are green!”
    “More golden than green, but yes. I changed colour, and Mom, you were right. A warm environment was all I needed. Whoosh. It burned my clothing off, but there was a package here from the Sector Guard with some flame-resistant clothing. A sort of welcome present.” Kema smiled. “I look forward to seeing the complete you when we come. There has always been more to you than you were able to express here.”
    “I have to say, not everyone is happy to see me. My grandmother on Lyrica’s side is a complete bitch.”
    Eera stared wide-eyed, and Kema calmly put her hands over Eera’s ears. “How so?”
    “She called me a whore, a slut and probably thought some other nasty things about me. It was effective. I lit up like a torch.” Kescu smiled.
    “Did she know who you were?”
    “Nope. She knows now.”
    Kema frowned. “I wish I could have been there, I would have ripped her hair out.”
    “I think Eera is wondering what we are talking about. You might want to uncover her ears.” Kema sighed and took her hands off Eera’s head. “Sorry, love.”
    “It’s okay. I would have kicked the lady in the knees and then slapped her face.” Her small face was screwed up in anger.
    Kescu shook her head. “I see your lip reading is coming along.”
    Kema groaned. “Fine, Eera, now get ready for school.”
    Kes squinted at the screen, “And brush your teeth. I can see green bits from here.” Eera kissed the camera and then scampered away.
    Kema looked over and leaned forward. “Now, how are you, really?”
    “Nervous, unsettled and unsure. Everything I hate.” She smiled ruefully.
    “You can do this, Kes. I am sure of it. Now, get back to bed.” Kema smiled and winked.
    Kes shut off the screen and looked toward the adjoining door. Lor was in the king’s quarters and Kes was in the queen’s. She got to her feet with her robe wrapped around her and walked to his door.
    She eased it open and stepped into the dark of his chambers. He was in his bed and unmoving, so she slowly retreated.
    “Kes? What is it?” His voice was gravelly with sleep.
    “I just called my mom, and I… ”
    “Come here.” He sat up and flipped the other side of the bedding back.
    She didn’t hesitate. She ran forward and climbed into the enormous bed, burrowing under the covers.
    He wrapped her in his arms and held her close.
    “It will take some getting used to, Kescu. Just let it happen.”
    She reached up and put her hands behind his neck. “I have never been one to wait. Sometimes, you have to make things happen.”
    Kes mentally crossed her fingers when she kissed him, and as he moved against her, taking control of a situation she knew almost nothing about, she felt relief along with a very different kind of warmth.
    She stroked his shoulders, the column of his neck, the planes of his chest and worked her hands down his abdomen. While her hands worked on him, his were busy removing her robe and pushing it aside. Her sleep shirt was pulled up and over her head, and before he could kiss her again, she covered her breasts.
    He pushed her hands aside, and he kissed his way down her torso, leaving her feeling less exposed and more desperate to find out what it was all leading to.
    Kes stared up at him when he moved over her, and as he joined their bodies, a bit of knowledge clicked in her mind. She held on, and when her body and voice were beyond her control, she held