by Kaylin Lee
I approached the bed. “What happened? Why is there snow inside?”
“I always shut the door when I leave.” Astrid crossed her arms and watched me warily. “She won’t do it on her own. But I guess the wind blew it open. Or maybe some fool on the street kicked it open, or … or … or maybe I forgot this time.” Her eyes were red and watery. “I don’t know. But when I got home just now, she was just sitting at the kitchen table in her nightgown, glowing like a lunatic, with the door wide open. I tried to get her wrapped up, but it’s not making a difference.”
I pressed through the halo of painful tingles that made the air around Astrid’s mother sizzle and placed my hand on the woman’s gaunt cheek. It was ice cold. I checked her pulse, shifting my body so Astrid couldn’t see what I was doing. It still beat but faintly. “It’s hypothermia,” I said softly. “I learned about it in school. She needs a healer.” I thought of Professor Kristof’s letter the previous week. “No, she needs a purifier, and then she needs a healer. Where is the nearest hospital? Perhaps the healers there will know where we can find a purifier, too.”
Astrid shook her head helplessly. “There’s no hospital around here. Hawk clan keeps all the healers on their compound. They’d never waste healer magic on us. And a purifier … I don’t know what that is.”
There’s no point in trying to save them. I pressed my lips together. I refused to believe Lucien in that regard. “Well, I happen to know a healer. I’m going to get her now. Wait here and keep your mama nice and warm. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Outside, I hired the nearest demicoach and directed him to the Wolf clan front gate. I had no idea how I’d convince Chloe to come with me, but I was suddenly too frustrated with Lucien and the Wolves and the whole impossible situation to worry about—
BOOM.
I landed hard on my back in the middle of the road. Pain shot through my torso. I heard a weak, groaning noise that might have been coming from me.
Get out of the road, Ruby. I stared up at the white, snowy sky as fomecoaches sped around me on all sides. You need to get out of the road. I tried, but I couldn’t move.
There was a sudden, screaming pain.
“Ruby!” The male voice was distant and terrified.
I blinked. Was the sky melting, or was my vision growing blurry?
Lucien appeared above me, his handsome face twisted in horror. “Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, don’t—”
I melted right into the sky.
Chapter 31
My bed was too warm.
I tried to push the covers away, but my fingers barely twitched.
“—trying to remove the sopor slowly,” a girl said, sounding annoyed. “Will you just let me do it, Luc?”
“You told me you didn’t know what you were doing.” The frustrated male voice was extremely familiar. Why did it make me want to sit up in bed and smooth my tangled hair?
“Well, I know more than you do, so just— Hey!”
A surge of wakefulness washed through me. I opened my eyes and squinted up at Lucien and Chloe, who were hovering over my bed in Opal’s boardinghouse like a pair of mother hens.
“Luc! Look what you’ve done now. She’s wide awake.”
Lucien frowned and edged her out of the way, so he could lean over me and push my hair back from my face. “How do you feel? Can you move?”
The gentle brush of his skin on mine made my forehead tingle. I wanted to press my face against his hand like a lonely cat, but I settled for shoving myself up onto my elbows. “Yes. And …” I wrinkled my nose. “I feel good, actually.”
Chloe squared her shoulders and smiled triumphantly. “Ha! I knew I could do it!”
“But you just said—”
“The point is, I did it.” She crossed her arms. “Pay up.”
Lucien scowled as he helped me into a sitting position and handed me a glass of water. “I’ll see to her needs first, Cousin.”
Chloe tapped her foot, one eyebrow arched dangerously. “She is fine. Clearly. You, on the other hand …”
Lucien rubbed the back of his neck. “Chloe of the Wolves is smart, beautiful, and thebesthealerinthecity,” he ground out. “Happy?”
“Never.” Chloe tilted her chin in the air. “But it will have to do.”
I sipped the water until my throat felt less like a pile of jagged rocks. “What happened?” I finally forced out. “Oh! Astrid’s mother!” I shoved the water glass at Lucien and braced myself, so I could get out of bed. “She has hypothermia. She’s an aurist and completely helpless. We have to—”
“Already taken care of.” Chloe waved her hand carelessly. “Astrid came to visit you here, and when she saw me healing you, she asked me to heal her mother, too.” There was an odd note of warmth in Chloe’s voice. “She’s got spirit, that little mongrel. A good bit of fire. I don’t hate it.”
“Is her mother fully healed?”
Chloe’s expression darkened slightly. “She’s still an aurist, if that’s what you mean. But as long as she stays out of the elements and eats occasionally, she’ll … she’s alive.” I noticed how Chloe avoid looking at Lucien as she spoke, and then I remembered my argument with him right before the demicoach’s explosion. If Astrid’s mother was still an aurist, she would never be saved. At least, that was what Lucien believed.
I bit my lip. “How did you find me?”
Now it was Lucien’s turn to look uncomfortable. He shifted his weight and shoved his hands in his pockets. “I followed you,” he grumbled. “Did you really think I was going to let you wander off into the slums with just a street urchin for company?”
I shook my head and ventured a hand up to my hair, which, sure enough, was a tangled mess.
How many times had I complained, inwardly at least, about Lucien’s over-protective instinct? And now, his instincts had saved my life, quite literally. There was a new feeling in my chest—a strange combination of embarrassment, gratitude, and safety. Inspired by Opal and Kalem, I met his gaze and smiled warmly. “Thank you. I’m glad you were there. If you hadn’t been …” I trailed off.
Lucien’s eyes crinkled slightly, and his cheeks reddened. “Of course.”
“If he hadn’t been there, you would have died in the street,” Chloe interjected flatly. “Next time, check the undercarriage of your demicoach before taking off across the city, got it?”
I barely heard her. For some reason, I couldn’t look away from Lucien.
Finally, Chloe elbowed him. “Are you going to tell her why you just woke her so abruptly from two weeks of beauty sleep?”
Two weeks? I rubbed my temple. Grandmother and Sebastian must be beside themselves with worry.
“Winter Ball’s tonight,” he blurted out. “I know you declined my offer, but I gave you my word that you’d have one more chance to get on the Wolf compound. This is the best one you’ll get.” His bronze cheeks seemed to darken slightly. “And I mean to honor my word. That is, if you feel up to it. I know you’ve been healed, but you were gravely injured, and you were just—”
Chloe cut him off. “And if you don’t go, Kata, there will certainly be plenty of other pretty girls who’d be happy to keep him company at the ball.” She smiled helpfully, looking between the two of us like she was moments away from bursting out laughing. “There’s a significant number of traditional dances for two partners planned, you see.”
“I’m going.” I shoved the blankets off my legs as Lucien seemed to waver between satisfaction and his normal, concerned expression. “I just need to get ready.”
~
I was halfway through a tepid bath before I realized I hadn’t thought this through at all. I was ravenously hungry, and I owned exactly three dresses, none of which were ball-worthy and all three of which were dirty.
“Um, Chloe?” She’d kicked Lucien out to go back to the compound while I got cleaned up. “I am a little hungry.” I’d eat this bathtub if I could. “And I don’t have anything to wear.”
“Please. Don’t
insult me.” Chloe popped her head inside the bathroom. “I’d never let you enter a Wolf clan feast in one of your horrible, plain dresses. I’ll just throw something together.” She held up one hand and wiggled her fingers, letting a cascade of gold sparkles sprinkle to the floor. Someone knocked at the door in the main bedroom. “And I believe that’s food. Go on, finish and get dressed!” She shut the door to the bathroom.
My stomach gurgled ferociously. I rushed through my ablutions, put on my least-grimy dress, and let myself into the bedroom, where Professor Kristof and Astrid were turning my bed into a makeshift table loaded with winterdrop buns, honeycream cups, and a large bowl of stew. I nearly wept at the sight.
Professor Kristof came over, clapped a hand on my shoulder, and handed me a winterdrop bun. “Glad you’re well, my dear. We were quite worried.”
“Kata!” Astrid darted forward when she saw me and wrapped her oversized sweater around my body. “You’re awake.”
I returned her hug. “I am. Shall we eat?”
Astrid and I ate all the food. All the food. Professor Kristof and Chloe ignored us and fell into a long, in-depth conversation about ancient Kireth literature.
When we’d finished eating, Professor Kristof and Astrid bid us good-bye. Evening approached.
Chloe circled me, walking around me like a sculptor appraising a new hunk of stone. “Are you ready?”
“I suppose,” I said, still feeling a bit bewildered by how quickly everything had happened. And what had I missed in Draicia and Asylia during the past two weeks? How many lives had been lost while Chloe was waiting for her healing magic to work? She’d told me that she’d let me sleep for a long time because my injuries had been so horrible, and she hadn’t been certain she knew how to fix them properly. I was shocked to hear her admit to having a weakness.
The warm puff of magic she shot at me was so forceful, I rocked backward onto my heels.
When the cloud of sparkles cleared, I was wearing a soft, silvery-green dress that draped off my shoulders and flowed around my legs like water.
Chloe nudged me toward the broken mirror.
The dress was simple but elegant, with gleaming folds that glittered just enough to be obviously mage-craft fabric but not enough to be ostentatious. My lips shone with a soft, bare pink hue, and my skin had a smooth, bright tone that looked just a little too dewy and pretty to be completely natural.
Chloe pursed her lips and shot another puff of magic toward my head. In seconds, my damp, auburn tangles loosened, smoothed, and dried into soft, wavy curls that fell over my bare shoulders.
“Do you have a jacket?”
I nodded numbly and grabbed it from a chair beside the bed, where someone must have placed it after the accident. I shrugged into it. I barely had my arms through the sleeves before she waved her hands a third time and transformed the tattered jacket into a soft stole, a white version of the one she wore.
“Shoes?”
I slipped my feet into my worn boots, which immediately formed into soft, warm, silver ankle boots. “Wow.” I wiggled my toes in the comfortable boots before daring another glance at the mirror, scarcely able to believe how lovely my reflection looked. “You’re incredible. Thank you.”
Chloe shrugged. “It’s fine. Let’s go. The dinner will be starting soon.”
“But what about you?”
She paused and glanced down at her black, curve-hugging dress and tall boots, her expression bemused. “Eh. I forgot.”
A blast of gold encased her entire body at once, but it disappeared almost as quickly.
She’d changed into a striking, black dress that glittered, every inch of it, with streams of golden light woven through it. Her makeup was simple but dramatic, with long, coal-black eyelashes and fierce, startlingly-red lips. Her hair was loose, her inky, voluminous curls cascading down her back and shoulders.
“You look stunning,” I said honestly. “Really, really beautiful.”
Chloe stared at her reflection in the mirror with a bleak expression, as though she hadn’t heard me. “You should make it your goal to never be exceptional, Kata,” she said, after a long moment of silence. “Once you are, everyone will want a piece of you. Then you must devote yourself to being out-of-reach as well as exceptional.” She tossed her hair and turned away from the mirror. “Let’s go. My fomecoach is waiting outside.”
Chapter 32
Lucien met us the moment Chloe’s fomecoach glided to a stop on the snowy square in front of the main Wolf villa. Her driver leapt out to open her door, while Lucien opened mine. He helped me from the fomecoach, his gaze sweeping over me with a sudden heat, but then he looked away. I was left wondering what I’d just seen.
He gripped my hand as we followed Chloe into the front entrance, which had been decorated with pretty, golden lights and snow-dusted tree boughs.
“Aren’t you going to tell me you’ve changed your mind?” I whispered.
Lucien’s grip tightened. “Only changed it about a hundred times since I woke you up,” he replied gruffly. “This isn’t a good idea.”
I squeezed his hand. What could I say? I can handle this? I will be fine? Both would be lies. “Thank you for keeping your word.”
He shot me a sidelong look but continued his determined pace toward the main villa without faltering. “No doubt it will cost me.”
Inside, the ballroom was boisterous and overwhelming, crowded with male and female Wolves in black finery, with gold decorations dripping from every surface.
Lucien nodded curtly to anyone who tried to greet him and dragged me through the crowd without stopping once to engage in conversation. Here and there, I caught glimpses of students I thought I recognized, but we moved too quickly for me to be sure.
When we reached the furthest edge of the ballroom, where couples were dancing rather than socializing, Lucien stopped and pulled me into his arms.
The sudden change in position startled me, and then he swept me into a slow waltz. “Yes, Lucien, I would love to dance.” I couldn’t help smiling.
He grunted but made no attempt to apologize. He just pulled me closer and continued the dance, his expression oddly tense.
Feeling brave, I reached my hand up around the back of his collar and let my fingers graze the skin of his neck.
“What will you do when you go home to Asylia? Once you leave the Herald?” His voice was low, his brow furrowed like he was trying to solve a difficult problem. “You’ve never told me.”
“I’ve been writing dramas for fabulator crystals in my free time,” I said, feeling my cheeks heat slightly. “I was offered a patronage in the Falconus art studio just before I left. Lord Falconus is one of the most important Procus patriarchs, but he’s also very passionate about art. He wants me to write for his studio full time.”
Lucien’s face seemed to close off, like he’d just retreated a step without actually moving. “His stipend will be generous, I imagine.”
“Very generous.” I’d never agreed with Grandmother that my work for Falconus was frivolous, but for some reason, I felt odd telling Lucien about it—like I wanted him to think more of me than that I would work anywhere for a better stipend. “But it’s not just for the stipend. It’s … It’s…” I huffed out a breath, feeling tongue-tied and frustrated. “My work at the Herald crushes my spirit. I can’t do it anymore, or I’m afraid I’ll lose myself. I can’t be a journalist anymore. But I can write stories about love, and family, and hope—stories that heal and encourage. That’s something I can do for the city.” I bit my lip. “I know that probably sounds frivolous, but—”
“It’s you.” His quiet words pierced all the way through my heart. “It’s who you are. Not frivolous. Just … you.”
I nodded, my throat suddenly tight.
He led me through the dance, drawing closer with every step, his steady touch making me feel safe and secure in a way I couldn’t remember ever feeling before. “Maybe I’ll put you in a story someday.” I melted into his embrace. “
Lucien the brave, strong hero.”
“I think you mean villain.”
I tightened my hold around his neck. “Complex characters are the best kind.”
A look flashed across his face that I could have sworn was a smile, but then he bent close to my ear. “So who’s Sebastian?”
I jerked my head back to look him in the eyes, but his expression was difficult to read. “Sebastian?”
“In the Badlands. You said he packed a blanket for you.” His tone was neutral, at odds with his intent gaze. “Who is he to you?”
I licked my lips. “Colleague.” Why did my voice sound so dry?
“Just a colleague?” Lucien leaned a little closer.
“Um …” My thoughts were descending into chaos. “He probably wants to be more, but …”
“But?”
“It’s not going to happen.” I couldn’t stop staring at his mouth.
A smirk tugged at his lips. “Poor Sebastian.”
I soaked in Lucien’s strength and warmth. “He’ll be fine.”
Lucien’s smirk widened into a real smile. “Ruby, Ruby, Ruby,” he whispered. “I know I shouldn’t say this, but I’m really glad you came to—”
“There he is! Luc!”
Lucien jerked away from me, spun around, and stepped in front of me so quickly it took me a moment to recover.
Felix and his friends were shoving their way through the crowd of dancers toward us. Andrei was with them, his cheeks flushed and a drink sloshing in his hand. “Where you been, Cousin?” Felix hollered over the din of music and conversation. “We didn’t see you come in.”
Lucien’s shoulders tensed. He glanced over his shoulder at me. “They’re going to be wild tonight,” he said quietly. His jaw was tight. “Can you blend into the crowd toward the wall? It’d be better if they didn’t see you.”
From what I’d seen of Felix and his group, I agreed. “Of course.”
I squeezed Lucien’s hand once, released him, and slipped between the dancers around us, dodging couples until I’d made it to a shadowy alcove along the ballroom’s back wall.
