Chapter 263: Tree of Ice
The dragon answered her touch with a warm welcome as it tilted its head toward her palm to show its acceptance of her touch and it made Annalise feel a warmth deep inside her heart despite just how cold everything around her was.
Valerius was standing right behind her and she could feel just how proud and happy he was to see her and Eirwen getting acquainted and accepting each other’s presence and importance in his life.
She patted the dragon as if it was a baby and found it responding with a little shake of its huge head. As she was now a lot calmer and more focused, she finally felt the immense ice power that the dragon in front of her was holding inside it.
"Let’s get going." Valerius stated from behind her which made her turn to look at him with arched eyebrows as she questioned - "Where?"
"The place I wanted to show you..." Valerius answered as a matter of fact but it only made Annalise more puzzled. "I thought this is the place you wanted to show me." She said while looking at Eirwen for help but the ice dragon just shook its head as if to tell her that she guessed it wrong.
A chuckle escaped Valerius’ lips as he too shook his head before suddenly placing his hands on either side of her waist as he moved to stand right behind her. His breath fanned her ear as he whispered, "Don’t scream."
Annalise didn’t get the chance to either process the meaning of his words or even ask for more clarification before she found herself being lifted. A little cry of surprise was out of her mouth before she could help it and this made her slap both her hands over her mouth as if to stop herself from making another sound.
Her hands didn’t stay covering her mouth for too long as just in a couple of seconds, she was placing them against the dragon’s spine to find a balance and keep herself from falling.
Valerius was settling behind her in no time and his arms were immediately around her, surrounding her with his protection and air that took away the cold and made her feel warm.