“How much farther, Alek?” Dmitri protested as the three ice dragons made their way up a particularly deep embankment. The ground was covered in iced-over snow that crunched beneath their heavy feet.

“Not much, I’d wager,” Alek replied as they continued into the hills overlooking Oakwood University. Far beneath them, he could see the buildings that made up the campus. One in particular, painted in white with redbrick accents, he could instantly recognize as the place where Talia’s lab was located.

“Might I inquire again as to our purpose here?” Luka asked. As he spoke, his leg punched through a hollow pocket of snow, burying him up to the knee, and he cursed.

Alek sighed. “If I’m going to attempt to use my powers, I don’t want to be seen by any prying eyes. You suggested as much yourself the other day.” Alek’s feet remained steady over the ice, instinctively knowing where to step and where not to tread.

“Drat…” Luka muttered, pulling his leg out. “Yes, I did.”

At this point, Alek had an idea of some things about his past. He knew he’d been royal. Pampered. He knew that at one point, he’d had command of snow. He didn’t know how or why or the extent of his powers.

Or why someone called the lord of winter had been frozen at all.

Now that he was getting close to Talia, he intended to find out.

After a minute more, they reached a flattened-out embankment Alek deemed sufficient for their needs. Through the dense haze of trees below, he could make out square outlines of the campus buildings, but only barely.

Cold pine and spruce wafted in the air, awakening his senses. Nearby, a squirrel watched curiously, then resumed digging around for a food hideaway he’d likely be hard pressed to discover again.

What would Talia think of Alek now, out doing “experiments” and such by himself? He was becoming a scientist of sorts in his own right.

Dmitri huffed, reaching Alek finally. “You certainly have a way with scouting locations.” There was a hint of sarcasm in his tone. Alek ignored it.

For the first time since awakening, he felt totally surrounded by nature. It called to something deep within him. Childhood memories of being a boy, exploring the limitless acres of forest around his home. Of chasing rabbits and foxes. Spending long nights talking with his friends around campfires of their own making.

What had he become as an adult, as a man in his prime, right before being locked away in that prison of ice?

“So, Dmitri and Luka, how goes your recollection? Can you remember anything new?”

Luka and Dmitri glanced at each other, pausing for a moment. Then, in tandem, they shook their heads.

Alek couldn’t help but feel it was a little odd. But, unfazed by the lack of new developments, he stepped out into the center of the clearing, eager to test his… What did Talia call it? Hypothesis.

“No matter,” he said, both to himself and his friends. “The lord of winter’s powers will return, and all will be as it should.”

“Here, here,” Dmitri said eagerly as he and Luka watched on.

Last night, Alek had been barely able to use his powers to ice over the area they skated in. And as they’d kissed, the snowflakes that had come from nowhere had to have been from him, or at least he was quite sure of it.

This time, he’d call forth a blizzard so thick, so white that he could once again reclaim his title.

Or at least be able to show Talia. After he’d revealed his true nature as a dragon to her, of course. The blood tests she’d taken might open up a chance to converse about that.

He raised his arms to the sky and focused his mind, his thoughts inward. He pictured sleet and snow swirling around him, a whiteout of wind and cold from the heavens.

But the harder he pushed, the sharper the pain at the back of his head became, so fierce it began to radiate down his neck and spine and into his joints.

Alek opened his eyes, hoping to see the manifestation of his will. But instead, only a few puffy snowflakes drifted lazily downward, spiraling gently until they disappeared into the ground below.

“Nothing,” Luka remarked.

“Don’t hurt yourself, Alek,” Dmitri warned.

Stubbornly, Alek tried harder, arms and legs and body tensing as he pulled harder at the invisible place within that was the source of his power. Still looking to the sky, he noted a few heavy puffs of snow plop down, and a cool breeze blew through the clearing. But that was the extent of his “blizzard.”

Already exhausted, Alek’s arms fell to his sides as heavy breaths forced their way in and out of his lungs. But he couldn’t give up now. He was the lord of winter.

Instead, he whirled on a raised patch of snow that had piled up at the side of a granite boulder. He outstretched his hand, commanding the snow to become a solid block of ice. But nothing happened. Instead, excruciating pain flashed through his mind, piercing like a spear.

Frustration welled inside him. Not just because he couldn’t access his abilities, but more importantly, because the impenetrable wall that kept him from using his powers somehow held the secret of his past from himself as well. He couldn’t prove it, but in his heart, he simply knew that when he unlocked his powers, he would surely unlock his memory as well.

“No. No. I must do this.” Alek tried to step forward, but his legs felt weak from exertion. His heart felt cold, like frost-encased stone. Only the thought of Talia could warm him.

But how could she possibly be with someone who didn’t know who they were? How could he be true to himself if he didn’t even know who that was?

Feebly, he waved his hand once more, hoping for a sign, for something to happen. But the quiet glade remained still, devoid of answers.

Nearly passing out from pain, Alek stumbled forward. Suddenly, Dmitri and Luka were at his sides, propping him up.

“Watch your step,” Luka said.

“Perhaps we give it a shot another time,” Dmitri added hopefully.

“My friends. Thank you,” he said gratefully, the radiating needles in his skin slowly abating. After a moment, he stepped forward on his own and turned to them.

Perhaps he was better off just ignoring that part of himself now. Even if it had been his entire identity before, Alek knew he had much more to live for now than just being a dragon with winter powers.

“Well, that didn’t go particularly well,” he admitted, folding his arms. Luka and Dmitri shared a chuckle with him, and for a moment, it felt like old times between them.

Then, far below them, a siren blared in the distance, reminding him that things would never quite be the same as his world.

But that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

“Just give it time. Hold back for now,” Luka said sagely, and Alek nodded.

“What will you do?” Dmitri asked, curious.

“I have other plans in mind,” Alek responded cryptically.

Plans that involved seeing Talia again tonight. This time in a setting worthier of someone as beautiful and outstanding as she was.

He just needed to ask Chelle a few more questions first.

* * *

Later that night, Talia was looking forward to seeing Alek but disappointed that she still didn’t have any information about what was going on.

She couldn’t find anything in the books she’d read, and she’d grabbed everything she could on cryonic preservation and ancient ice findings.

Perhaps if anyone like Alek was found, the government kept them secret.

Perhaps the blood tests would reveal more, but she was nervous about that as well. She was walking out of the library when she got an email notification on her phone and saw it was from Professor Henrick.

He’d be back in town the next day, if his flight didn’t get delayed.

Oh God, hopefully she would decide what to do by then. Hopefully, she would have tests results back the next day. And then hopefully, even if Dr. Henrick did know about Alek, she could hold him off, convince him Alek was a real person with feelings and responses.

While hiding her feelings about him as well.

Her heart pounded as she began the walk to her apartment, pausing to look up at the clear gray sky.

No sign of snow.

The thought brought Alek’s face to mind. She wondered how he had spent his day.

Just then, her phone buzzed with a text, and she looked down to see a message from Alek. She couldn’t help smiling as she opened it up.

I thought I would let you know I have something called a reservation to a restaurant that has five stars. That’s supposed to be a good thing, though I’m not sure why, as five is not a great number of stars. Anyway, I’m looking forward to seeing you. I hope you had a nice day.

She swallowed, marveling at how modern he sounded now. How quickly he’d gotten used to something like texting. How much he was a part of her world.

When she got to her door, she unlocked it, wondering if Alek was already waiting inside. Instead, she saw Chelle sitting on the couch with a book, smiling up at her.

“So you excited for your date tonight?” Chelle asked, coming over to greet her.

“I think so,” Talia said, sinking into a chair. She rubbed her temples. “Am I crazy for doing this?”

“No,” Chelle said warmly, sitting across from her. “I think it’s about time you did something crazy for once. Live a little.”

Talia eyed her friend’s slightly disheveled appearance. Had she been out clubbing again? Sometimes she thought her friend should live a little less. “How are you doing? Is it hard with the guys here?”

Chelle blushed as she brushed her blond hair back behind one ear. “Gosh, no. They don’t bother me. They eat us out of house and home, but they also go shopping, so that’s fine. And you know, I still go out at night as I like.”

Talia sighed. “I worry about you.”

“Don’t,” Chelle said, putting a hand on her arm. “You’re beginning to sound like Dmitri.”

“Oh?” Talia said, perking up in interest. “Has something been going on there?”

“Of course not,” Chelle said. “He and Luka are just my friends.” She wrinkled her nose. “I’m not about to get involved with some ice man.”

Talia felt her heart sink and couldn’t keep back a grimace. “I know.”

Chelle’s face immediately fell. “No! I didn’t mean it like that. I mean, you know me. I’m not exactly one for commitment.” She shrugged. “And I just… You know more about these guys than I do. If you say they’re safe to date, I’ll consider it.”

Talia frowned. “Really?”

“No,” Chelle said. “Probably not. They’re too hot for me anyway.”

“They’re not,” Talia said with a groan. “The men you do go out with don’t deserve you.”

Chelle simply gave a slightly sad smile. “When we choose something, I guess we deserve them. Anyway, I’m glad you have a hot date tonight. Alek’s been working hard at it.”

“Thanks for helping him,” Talia said, squeezing her friend’s hand. “And, Chelle?”

“Yeah?”

“You’re awesome.”

Chelle went pink and fanned her face a little. “Oh, stop. You’re making me blush. I’m glad you like me, Talia, because you know I think the world of you.”

“Thanks,” Talia said. “Now, if it’s not too much to ask, do you think you could help me find something to wear?”

Chelle jumped up excitedly, clasping her hands. “Oh, absolutely.” As she led the way down the hallway, a little skip in her step, Talia wondered if she’d made a mistake.

“Chelle, it’s not such—”

Chelle threw a defiant look over her shoulder. “No interfering with my methods. We are going to make that ice king melt.”

Talia really couldn’t argue with that.