“So I see books about book magic as such a dark purple…”
“Because they hold themostcolor for you. It’s a visual metaphor indicating they hold the most meaning.”
“Thank you. That’s an amazing interpretation.” And super insightful. I can see why all the other dragons and fae come to him and his big brain for help.
“I have a great deal of experience interpreting magic.” His mouth kicks up on the left side, his tail slipping around my calves to tug me into motion. “Now come. We have a surprise to get to.”
He leads me through the castle. When we step through the front door, he scoops me into his arms and leaps into the air. I don’t have my coat, but it doesn’t matter, because I’m immediately surrounded in a bubble of warmth.
Instead of flying toward town, we angle north over the forest. The only thing in this direction is…
“The waterfall!” I say, as it comes into view. Sunlight strikes the frozen cascade of water, turning the overlapping icicles a pretty blue.
We land on the ground beside the frozen pond. Snow crunches under our feet, then melts in a little circle around us due to Luke’s warming magic. Pine trees surround us, making it feel like we’re the only two people in the world. It’s beautiful, and I love the pond in winter. I used to ice skatehere as a kid, the aunts bundling me in so many layers of clothes that I never felt a thing when I fell down.
But the frozen pond and waterfall aren’t anything new to someone who’s lived here all her life. “What’s the surprise?”
“This.” Luke pulls a crystal from his invisible pocket. It’s bright blue and far larger than the translation crystal on my necklace. He flicks it with his claw, setting it ringing, and lays it on the ground by the edge of the pond. Magic bursts through the clearing, leaving behind a melted stretch of water along the shallow side of the pond, while the rest remains frozen.
“What is this?”
“We need a place to practice the lift from your movie, and as you said, the water will keep you from being injured if we fall. Jacenrevener helped me with this spell.” Luke gestures toward the crystal. “It contains my warming magic within a protective boundary that keeps it from harming any of the dormant plant and animal life of the pond.”
“Oh.” I press a hand to my trembling lips, everything gone a bit wavery as tears prickle my eyes. “You did all of this to keep me safe?” My voice breaks on the last word.
“Of course, I did it for you. I’m a dragon. Falling on the ground would never harm me.” His intense golden eyes scour my face, seeing me—reallyseeing me—in a way no one ever has before.
Oh, god, this grumpy beast of a dragon has the kindest heart of any man I’ve ever known. I can’t believe he did all of this for me. Emotion clogs my throat, and this time, I can’t stop the tears from sliding down my cheeks.
“Why are you distressed?” His tail lashes as he scowls atmy tears as if they’ve personally affronted him. But I know him—it’s scowl number two, his worried one. “I just told you that you will not be harmed.”
“Happy tears,” I choke out, beaming at him.
“How illogical,” he mutters. Then he points at the pond. “We will come here in the evenings when no one else is around, and we will practice the lift.”
“Yep.” I nod and swipe at my cheeks with my palms. “Sounds perfect.”
“Shall we dance?” He extends a hand.
Mine slides into his, my heart skipping at his touch.
We kick off our shoes, and I drop my phone on top of mine. I’m glad I’m wearing bright yellow pedal pushers—the tight-fitting capri pants won’t drag in the water. He goes first, entering the pond with the smallest of splashes. I follow less gracefully, that first step off the edge more of a plunge for a shortie like me.
A surprised gasp slips from me as the water covers me to mid-thigh. “It’s warm!”
“I told you I warmed it for you.” He frowns down at me.
“I thought you meant something more along the lines of ‘no longer freezing,’ but this is bathwater warm.” I want to sink down and soak in it.
Luke grunts and wades farther into the pond, turning to face me when he’s about ten feet away. He holds his hands forward and crouches, ready to catch me.
“Okay, Skye,” I whisper. “You can do this, no prob.”
I try to run through the water, but it feels more like a wallow, the liquid slowing me down. When I reach him, I lift my arms overhead andhop—
—only to bounce off his chest with a shriek of surprise. Snickerdoodle!
His hands grip my waist, and he lifts, but my momentum already carries me backward. I splash down, pulling Luke on top of me. His wings snap open, beating at the water as if it’s air and yanking him immediately upright. He hauls me up with him, and I sputter and shove wet hair out of my eyes.
