Ice Baron (Ice Chronicles, Book One (science fiction romance)) Read Online Free Page A

single-minded tenacity had learned
all the intricacies of the baron’s duties in six short months. Plenty of
advisors helped him, but he had found his own way, all the while negotiating
the far more tricky duties of protector.
    The oldest of Baron Dubrovnyk’s
children was Anya, and she had been thirteen when he had been thrust into the
role of protector. His own life had turned upside down at a similar age, so he
empathized with what she was going through.
    At first, Joshua had believed
himself blessed. To become both baron and protector at such a young age was an
unbelievable honor for a young man who had come from absolutely nothing. He had
been twelve when he had joined the army. By sixteen, he had earned more medals
for valor than most men twice his age. Afterward, he had transferred to the air
fleet. He was fearless in battle, and praised by all of his commanders. And
shrewd. A man they wanted in their corner.
    When Joshua turned nineteen, Jason
Dubrovnyk heard about Joshua and enlisted him into the elite service. The rest
was history.
    Overall, Joshua thought he had
done well. The job of baron was difficult, but a perfect fit for his
aggressive, take-no-prisoners personality. He had even grown to like the children,
which was a good thing, as protector. The world was his…except for one thing.
Protector was a sacred trust. On oath, the baron’s family had become his own.
He could not become romantically involved with one of his charges.
    Of course, the Old Barons’ Law was
meant to keep protectors from gaining power by unscrupulous means, such as by
marrying the oldest female heir. If Joshua did break this sacred trust at any
small point, all power and position would be stripped from him. He would become
as an enlisted soldier again, and the baron’s daughter would lose her
inheritance to power. But even worse, if a larger offense was proven, both
culprits would be stripped of all possessions, and cast from the territory
forever. Joshua’s honor would be forever lost, for he would have taken
advantage of one of his charges. A heinous crime, especially to the Order of
the Barons, who highly prized their children.
    And now Joshua had finally
discharged his duty. Anya was about to safely marry another. He had kept his
honor and pledge to her father. And, by an undeserving twist of fate, he would
remain baron.
    With a mocking twist to his lips,
Joshua raised his glass to heaven. “Your daughter is safe from me, Baron. Of
course, Onred…” A hoarse bark erupted. It should have been laughter, but it
burned, as if the very flames of hell licked down into his soul. Just the
thought of that grubby bastard touching Anya… All rational thought abruptly
left his head.
    He snarled out a string of curses,
damning Onred to hell forever.
     
    *  *  *  *  *
     
    Anya surreptitiously checked her
watch. Ninety minutes of the journey had elapsed. Time to put her plan into motion.
Finally.
    She pulled her carry-on bag onto
her lap. With a fake frown, she rummaged through it, aware that Onred’s men
watched her every movement. At length, and with an audible sigh of success, she
pulled out a compact. Of course, she had known its location the entire time.
Although the compact appeared to be a frivolous item, it also doubled as a
compass.
    Anya peered into the small mirror,
pretending to study her face from all angles. She squinted, as though it were
hard to see. Finally, with a sigh of disgust, she shoved the compact back into
the bag and stood. Handles slipped over her forearm, she headed for the women’s
restroom.
    Onred’s men, and one of Joshua’s,
hidden in the last seat, continued to watch her, but did not interfere. Where
could she go? Already they were speeding over frozen wasteland, several
kilometers above the earth’s surface. She glanced outside, at the massive Tien Shan mountain range rapidly approaching from the south. In half an hour, the shuttle
would pass over the northeastern ridge and head southeast to