ICE DRAGON’S HOLIDAYS

BY AVA WARD

A Royal Dragon Shifters of Morocco CHRISTMAS NOVELLA

CHAPTER TWO – FRIENDS

As Layla put the finishing touches on her makeup and hair upstairs in the master bathroom, she heard a riot of affable roars downstairs suddenly as someone arrived. Someones, Layla realized with a grin as she straightened her red lace cocktail dress and patted her sable curls, done in a side-chignon. She checked Reginald’s pearl and diamond jewelry, then adjusted Dusk’s Egyptian cuff on her left wrist. Slipping into red lace stilettos, Layla flipped off the overhead chandelier in the marble bathroom and hastened out to the upstairs hall. 

Her heart swelled with joy as she glanced over the second-floor balcony. Her old Seattle housemates saw her as she arrived at the rail; below, a chorus of drunken hoots and Layloo! happened as grins beamed up at her. Her human friends shucked their winter jackets and scarves, collected by Dusk as he roared laughter and kissed cheeks, as Layla descended the stairs quickly. 

All her men had poured out of the kitchen now, greeting her human friends. Lanky blond Arron Jacobs instantly embraced Layla as she joined the throng. Dressed in a stylish gray vest and slacks with a hot pink pocket square decorated with tiny white snowflakes, his gray eyes beamed as he kissed her cheeks.

Little Celia Carron pushed in next, seizing Layla in a bear-hug and doing a happy dance in her artsy black smock-dress with crimson Asian patterns. Six chopsticks held up her dark hair, and Layla laughed as they speared her in the forehead. 

Charlie Avondale wrapped Layla in his fit arms next and she smiled, feeling instantly at home as his Adonis blond curls devoured her with the scent of marijuana. Charlie gave the best hugs, and today was no exception, dressed in casual jeans and a nice white collared shirt. 

Layla’s best friend from the Paris Hotel, Rikyava Andersen, pushed forward last. Wrangling Charlie by the collar, she pulled him away with a swift movement of her ridiculously fit frame. Statuesque in an apple-green cocktail dress with her long Swedish-blonde hair braided back Viking-style, Rikyava’s lavender eyes beamed as she seized Layla’s shoulders. Her bone-cracking hug made Layla peep before the Swedish Blood Dragon pulled back with a grin. 

And then Layla’s ex-boyfriend, Luke Murphy, stepped in—his emerald eyes on fire as he wrapped Layla in his arms. 

It still felt like coming home as Luke held Layla. Even though he wasn’t hers anymore, she sighed as he held her close to his rock-solid Crossfitter’s body. Dressed in simple dark jeans with a charcoal blazer and a gray collared shirt, Luke’s inner Dragon stirred to Layla’s like two big cats rubbing their sides together in greeting. There came an awkward moment as they both pulled back.

Then Adrian stepped forward, offering his hand.

Which Luke gave a hearty shake as both smiled.

“Luke. Glad you could make it.” Adrian said, as his aqua eyes lit with pleasure. 

“I wouldn’t miss Layla’s housewarming party.” Luke spoke back with some of his usual edge, though it was decidedly warmer since he and Adrian had battled Layla’s nemesis Hunter last summer. Luke shook hands with Dusk as Rikyava embraced Layla’s men, punching her cousin Rhennic in a sudden, friendly tussle in the living room. 

Smiles and chatter filled the foyer now, and Layla didn’t miss the sexily drunken pat Arron gave Dusk’s butt—as Dusk laughed and turned with one eyebrow raised. “Easy, tiger! I’m a claimed man these days.”

“A fellow can always try.” Arron bantered back with a teasing smolder. “Besides. Since when did the infamous Dusk Arlohaim give up on men?”

“He never did. He’s just decently busy with the Bind these days.” Reginald stepped in with a dangerously sexy glower now as he corralled Dusk around the waist, his full lips quirking with humor. As Reginald locked eye contact with Arron, he kissed Dusk lusciously on the side of the neck. And then bit him, as Dusk melted into Reginald’s strong, lean arms.

“Ok, ok! I get it!” Arron held up his hands as he watched Reginald’s demonstration. “You Dragons are way too much.”

“Give it up, Arron. Dusk is taken these days.” Rikyava laughed, stepping in with one arm around Luke as everyone formed an impromptu circle. “A dirty little circle of six, those kids are. In the best possible way.”

“I don’t know how you handle it, Layla.” Luke shook his head now, though he smiled. Luke slid a hand around Rikyava’s waist, and she hauled him in and bit his neck with a possessive Dragon-growl as he laughed. “One Dragon is plenty, much less five!”

“Thankfully, not all these cads live with me.” Layla grinned as Rhennic stepped behind her, wrapping her in his arms while Adrian clasped her hand. “You know, Dragon Kings and all that. They’re busy. And I like my new house here in Seattle.”

Are you planning on living here full-time?” Rikyava broke in seriously now. “I mean, where does a drakaina live when her guys are Dragon Kings all over the fuckin’ world?”

“I mean, I’m planning on only being here part time, like you’re doing now with Luke, Yava.” Layla said as Dusk invited everyone back to the bar near the fireplace, mixing up more drinks. It left Layla and Rikyava with Luke, Adrian, and Rhennic in a comfortable knot as the other group burst into conversation over by the fireplace. “I’m Royal Hotel Ambassador now for the Red Letter Hotel, which means I’m traveling a shit-ton, and Seattle’s airport is fairly convenient now that I have my own hotel jet.”

“Layla will live with me at Wahdi Atlamenta when she’s not traveling, but when she’s got a lot to do for the Hotel, she’ll use Seattle as her home base.” Adrian chimed in now as he laced his fingers through Layla’s.

“What about the rest of you guys, Rhen?” Rikyava’s lavender gaze pinned Rhennic, whom she knew got very little time with Layla since he’d come into his Storm Dragon Kingship. Rhennic had the largest Lineage to manage, and the most tumultuous one, which kept him extremely busy. 

“We see Layla when we can.” He tucked Layla under his arm now. “Fury plans to return to Seattle and make it his home also, so it’ll be a convenient hub for all of us.”

“What about you guys, Adrian—how is that arrangement for everybody else?” Rikyava asked as she cocked her head at Adrian.

“Well, it’s great for me, because Layla will be part-time at Wahdi Atlamenta with me.” Adrian chuckled, though he became serious now. “But honestly, Dusk’s Crystal Dragons are so grateful to not have a tyrant leading them that his Lineage has been remarkably peaceful this past year. It thrills my Desert Dragons to have a powerful center now at Wahdi Atlamenta, and thousands have been pouring in to restore the ancient city and call it home. Our Lineages are calm now, so it makes day-to-day ruling easier. Reginald is around the world anyway these days, as Head of the Red Letter Hotel Council.”

“Actually, Reginald and I may spend the most time together with my new Hotel position.” Layla chimed in as Reginald handed her a dry martini with three olives as he sipped one. She nodded in thanks, and they clinked drinks.

“The Red Letter Hotel Organization needs much restructuring.” Reginald nodded as he gazed around the group with a sober intensity in his sea-grey eyes. “Since our defeat of Hunter this year, much has come to light about the disgusting nature of his rulership. Crimes against the Twilight Realm done in his name need reparation—which many of the Hotel’s old owners were involved in. The Hotel has suffered from this tremendous exposé. Layla and I must now bring it into a new age.”

“I couldn’t think of anyone better to do it, Aldo.” Adrian said as he nodded to Reginald. “You’re a force of nature with a heart as wide as the ocean. You hate to show it, but your compassion means a lot to the Hotel.”

“Thank you, Adrian. That’s very kind of you.” 

Reginald blinked with a slow smile now, as if he still wasn’t used to receiving compliments from Adrian. Ever since coming back into the Bind and taking down Hunter, Adrian had changed. Where he had once been difficult, hot-tempered and aloof, he was now light. He’d finally matured into the King his empire had only hinted at before, calm in a way that made Layla amazed. 

She loved how he was now; as she moved from Rhennic to wrap her arms around Adrian’s waist, he smiled down at her. But Layla molding herself to him had left her martini in a precarious position; with deft fingers, Adrian plucked it from her.

Downing it as he lifted a cheeky eyebrow.

“Hey! That was mine!” Layla said as her mouth fell open. 

“Don’t worry, there’s more.” Dusk laughed as he pushed past their group to get to the front door. The doorbell hadn’t even rung, but Dusk had sensed someone arrive with his Crystal Dragon magics and was already opening the front door with a big, boisterous laugh.

As Layla heard a slow, gentle laugh in response, like a Buddha lounging in honey.

Layla’s spirits soared as Rake André stepped over the threshold, carrying a milk crate full of booze and mixers. Dressed in a slim black vest, shirt, and trousers like his Hotel bartending outfits, Rake unwound a saffron Tibetan silk scarf as he set his crate on a table. 

His jade-green eyes flashed with pleasure as he and Dusk embraced, kissing briefly on the lips. Rake’s ash-blond hair was mussed, his high cheekbones flushed, and his smooth, angelic pleasure turned upon Layla next as he embraced her, then everyone else. Even Luke didn’t balk at getting a brief kiss on the lips from Rake, he was just that lovely a man, his beautiful magic uplifting. As Rake said hello to the human housemates, he gave Arron a decidedly lingering kiss.

As Arron blushed to his roots, pulling back with enormous gray eyes.

“Hello, Arron.” Rake spoke in his smoothly decadent voice as his lips quirked. “Good to see you again.”

“I mean, good to see you, too.” Arron blushed six ways to sundown as everyone grinned, watching the notorious playboy Arron get completely undone by Rake. Arron had a thing for Dusk; but Layla recalled how much time he had spent with Rake last Yule when he’d come to the Paris Hotel. She watched the two of them regard each other with a hot vibrancy now.

Aware of how much they’d interacted while other things had preoccupied her. 

“I brought libations.” Rake continued smoothly now as he gave Arron one last gorgeous look, then smiled around at the group. “My classic eggnog, spiked with both rum and my magic. The peppermint-violet schnapps Rikyava and I have been secretly distilling these past few weeks—”

“Is that shit ready? Awesome!” Rikyava turned, suddenly pawing through the crate until she found a large crystal decanter with an ornate stopper. She grinned as she held it up. “This shit is my great-great-grandmother’s recipe. Blood Dragons make the best schnapps, hands-down. Her recipes were the best.”

“It is very good.” Rake’s jade-green eyes shone as he chuckled. “But go easy, because the herbs plus my magic in there are a decidedly potent combo. That stuff even knocked me on my ass for a few hours. I had to just lay on my yoga mat and meditate for a while, I hit the universe so hard.”

“Noted.” Rikyava grinned as she shook the bottle with eager fun. “Eggnog first with dinner, then schnapps afterwards around the fireplace. Yum, yum!”

“Aaaaand…” Rake nodded to the box. “There’s a homemade alcoholic surprise in there for each of you. Plus slightly less strong versions for everyone not of Dragon persuasion.”

“How sweet!” Rhennic smiled at Rake. “Thanks, Rake.”

“Speaking of presents.” Dusk barged back into their conversation now as he grinned like a bad schoolboy. “Santa was very busy this year. Rake, would you help me bring everything down from Layla’s guest room and put it all under the tree?” As he nodded at the fifteen-foot Christmas tree they’d decorated with pagan items, Twilight-made Yule baubles, plus regular Christmas fare like lights and candy canes, Dusk’s sapphire eyes twinkled. 

“Sure.” Rake nodded at the stairs, he and Dusk moving up with an eager step. 

Adrian shook his head with a chuckle as he watched them go. 

“How much shopping did Dusk do for Christmas?” Rikyava grinned as she glanced at the tree and the copious swaths of greenery draping from the balustrades. The tall bay windows were beset with more baubles and decoration. “I mean, if that tree and the house are any sign—”

“You should ask how much baking he’s doing.” Adrian chuckled at Rikyava. “And Dusk won’t let us in the guest room to see his presents. The presents Layla and I bought are already there under the tree.” 

He nodded to the modest yet beautifully wrapped gifts already under the tree for everyone, glimmering with Twilight-made silver paper and crimson ribbons. Bags of gifts waited by the door from Rhennic and Reginald, plus the housemates; as Layla nodded to them now, everyone pitched in, setting drinks aside to bring gifts to the tree. The pile was already impressive. Layla jutted her chin at the cocoa leather couches. 

“Adrian, shove those back, will you? Dusk’s shit is probably going to take up this entire area.”

“It most definitely will.” Dusk spoke now as Adrian moved the couches. 

Dusk and Rake each carried an enormous pile of packages wrapped in sapphire paper with sparkling diamond-white ribbon as they returned from the second floor. A timer went off in the kitchen and Adrian perked, excusing himself to deal with the food as Luke joined to help. Rhennic nodded to Dusk, switching off with Rake now to help with more gifts, Layla helping Rake bring his items to the bar so they could make cocktails. 

Layla gave Rake another big hug as they suddenly had a moment alone, Reginald now talking with Rikyava and the humans in the dining area. As he got all his drinks and mixers out and arranged them on the bar, Rake smiled at Layla. “Things seem good here. With your men, I mean.”

“They are.” Layla loved how Rake never did small talk, just cut right to the deep stuff in his loving way. “Everyone’s getting along, really. It’s sort of uncanny. Part of me still expects them to fight. But though Dusk and Adrian had a tiff earlier about the oven, it wasn’t anything compared to past issues.”

“Sounds positively homey.” Rake chuckled, his jade-green eyes bright as he deftly prepared ornate drinks for them all now. Many mixers and alcohols were going in each one in tiny amounts, turning the concoctions a swirling gold-emerald as he worked. She realized it was his eggnog surprise as he opened the decanter, though it was definitely not like any eggnog Layla had ever seen. 

But even as his hands worked, Rake pierced Lala with his gaze. “I see Fury’s not here.”

“No.” Layla gave a wry smile now. “Reginald says he’s somewhere in the Pacific, but even myself and the rest of my men can’t really feel him right now. Our Bind is strong, but Fury hides his whereabouts on purpose with his Siren’s vast power. I don’t blame him, wanting to have a long walkabout around the world after all he went through.”

“But you feel shut-out.” Rake knew as he worked, reading Layla with ease.

“Yeah. A bit.” Layla watched Rake put the finishing touches on the eggnog, thick and creamy now but still swirling with gold and green sparkles. After adding cinnamon sticks for a garnish, he topped them with a sprinkle of pure gold leaf. “Fury lived a while on his own when his Dragon was still out of control. Of all of us, he’ll need the most adjustment living in the group. Even more than Adrian.”

Layla watched Rake perk at her statement as he added a gingerbread cookie to each glass as a final garnish. She knew he was about to ask how she and Adrian were doing now, when Adrian emerged from the kitchen with a beaming smile, Luke beside him. As he raised his hands, his spiced wind swept the room, curling around everyone and making them turn.

“Dinner is ready!” Adrian spoke as his blue-green eyes shone with pleasure. “Everybody get your ass in here and bring a dish to the table, and we’ll eat.”

“Don’t even have to ask us twice.” Rikyava shoved ahead as she gave a boisterous laugh. “I could eat like a whole blue whale after drinking at my BF’s house just now! I hope you made enough, Desert Dragon who eats like a tiny bird on a starvation diet.”

“I made enough.” Adrian said as everyone flooded into the kitchen now to do their part. As Layla came abreast of Adrian, she saw the turkey was already on the counter on a cobalt Moroccan platter, perfectly cooked from his and her experiment. Adrian and Luke had finished enormous bowls of stuffing, gravy, and mashed potatoes; Layla shook her head that those two would ever have become a team, though it made her flare inside with joy. 

Adrian saw it. He pulled her close before she could head into the kitchen with the others, curling her into his embrace. As they nuzzled noses, Layla’s drakaina flared inside her with a beautiful heat, and Adrian’s drake answered. They became lost in their canoodling before Dusk barged in. Depositing one of Rake’s fascinating eggnogs into each of their hands, he winked.

“Come on, you two. Let’s go eat.”

“Let’s.” Adrian set a warm hand to Layla’s back, urging her toward the table. 

She beamed as everyone settled—her house full of love and laughter for Christmas.

Copyright 2023 Dragonlight Publishing LLC. No portion of this text may be copied or distributed without written permission of the author.

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