“Now lift your hand,” she whispered, stepping closer. “Don’t think about it—just concentrate on controlling the flow in your legs.”
She brought a single finger to his palm.
For several moments, nothing happened.
“That’s it,” she murmured. “You’re doing it. Breathe and stay in control.”
Her fingertip rested against his calloused skin, warm where she’d expected cold. Hope bloomed in her chest, and she bit back a grin.
It was working.
Encouraged, she traced her finger along the centre of his palm.
Leukos sucked in a sharp breath.
In the next instant, a shock of cold shot through her, ice surging over her finger. Pain flared, but she bit back a hiss, shaking out her hand behind her back just as Leukos opened his eyes in alarm.
She managed a crooked, sheepish smile. “Sorry. I should’ve warned you before pushing further.”
He didn’t answer. His gaze locked onto hers, unblinking, almost reverent. Something in his expression made her breath falter. She’d nearly forgotten how handsome he was—with eyes that seemed to see all the way through her.
The air between them felt impossibly thin, stretched taut with want and restraint.
They were standing too close, breaths almost mingling, and still—neither stepped away.
Alena could feel the warmth of him, even as the cold clung to her finger. She ached to close the distance, to lean into him and forget, just for a moment, the danger pressing in on all sides. But his magic made that impossible.
“I’m fine,” she said at last. “You didn’t hurt me.”
Something flickered in his gaze—raw and fleeting—but then it was gone.
He looked away, retreating behind the familiar mask of control. “I think that’s enough practice for one day.”
Alena frowned. “Leukos, it worked! You were controlling it. We just need to keep try?—”
“No.” The word came sharp, like a door slamming shut. His jaw tightened, and he stepped back again. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
Her chest twisted at the way he said it—like it was inevitable, like he’d already accepted it. “Leukos, you won’t?—”
“Thank you for your help, but I’ll train alone.” His tone was dismissive, and before she could argue, he was already halfway to the door. “Get some rest. I’ll see you later.”
He was gone before she could find the words to stop him.
She sank back into her chair, her appetite gone, the food before her cold and uninviting.
Her gaze fell to her finger, frostbitten and pale, the ice creeping up towards her knuckle.
With a quiet sigh, she pushed away from the table and left to find a healer.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
ALENA
Alena found Nik slumped asleep on the stool and smacked his arm. “You idiot!”
He jolted upright, blinking hard. “Red, what the?—?”
“How could you sacrifice yourself like that?” She crossed her arms tightly over her chest, battling the fear coiling in her stomach.
