IceSurrender by Marisa Chenery Read Free Book Online Page A

touching his chest with a glowing hand, which had shot a surge of
power through him strong enough to cause him to lose consciousness.
    “Thanks for reminding me, though I don’t know how I could
have forgotten that. It hurt like hell.”
    “Are you okay? You’ve been passed out for four hours and
have had a fever.” Wren placed her hand on his forehead. “It’s gone now. You’re
nice and cool.”
    “I think I am.” Ryder slowly pushed himself up into a
sitting position. Wren helped him and propped his pillow behind his back. “My
head hurts worse than anything else.”
    “Do you feel as if your powers are different?”
    Ryder looked inside himself, taking stock. At first, he
didn’t think there was any kind of change. He hoped everything he’d gone
through hadn’t been for nothing. That would suck big time. He then found a
little kernel of magic he hadn’t possessed before. He reached for it. It opened
and spread. He gasped as it settled into his very being.
    And with it came some of the sentinels’ first shaman’s
knowledge. It flashed through his mind in blinding speed, but he was able to
retain it. Next came the increase in his powers, with a few new ones added. For
the first time since he’d become aware of what he was, Ryder’s control slipped.
The house shook and the bed lifted off the floor.
    “Ryder?” Wren asked warily.
    He didn’t have time to answer her as another increase in his
powers took hold of him. Ryder concentrated on reining them back, afraid of
what would happen if he couldn’t.
    Edensaw rushed into the room. “Why is the house shaking?”
The other members of the household stood outside in the hallway, crowded
together to look inside his bedroom.
    “I’m pretty sure Ryder is causing it to happen,” Wren said.
    “You have to make it stop, Ryder.” Edensaw stepped closer.
    Ryder replied through gritted teeth. “I’m trying. I’m
finding it a little harder to control my powers now that they’re stronger.” His
control slipped again. If he didn’t get it fully back, who knew what damage he
could cause?
    But before that could happen, Wren linked their hands. As if
his control had been reinforced, he easily pulled his powers in, causing the
house to stop shaking and his bed to return to its place.
    He looked at Wren in surprise. “What did you do?”
    “Nothing. I only thought to take your hand to show you I’m
here for you.”
    He smiled. “Well, that ‘nothing’ worked. You touched me and
I could rein it back.”
    Wren grinned. “I guess that means I’m perfect for you.”
    Not caring that the others saw, Ryder cupped Wren’s face in
his hands and kissed her long and hard. Eryn let out a whoop and a “finally”.
He would have kissed Wren again, but his alpha cleared his throat to gain his
attention.
    “Since you’re kissing Wren, I take it I no longer have to
worry about you shaking the house apart?” Edensaw asked with amusement.
    Ryder put his arm around Wren’s shoulders, tugged her up
against his side and looked at Edensaw. “Correct.”
    “Is there any chance of it happening again? I’d like to be
forewarned.”
    Ryder took quick stock of himself. His powers were stronger,
but he now had full control over them as he’d had before. Same with the new
ones he’d gained. “I think I’m good now. The initial surge caught me off
guard.”
    “Good. Then I guess we’ll leave you two alone.” Edensaw
walked out the door, the others making room for him.
    “Make sure you come and eat something,” Cassidy called as
she walked down the hallway.
    The suggestion of food had Ryder’s stomach growling. He looked
at his bedside clock and saw it was already well into the afternoon. The last
time he’d eaten anything was dinner the evening before.
    Wren rubbed his stomach when it growled once more. “I could
use some food too. I haven’t eaten either. I didn’t want to leave you.”
    Ryder put his hand under her chin and tipped her face up as
he lowered his