“Because,” Lyra says after she catches her breath, “I’m going to visit Cairn, and I want all my outfits.” She blows a bouncy red curl out of her eyes and gives me a sideways smile. “Thanks for the help. You’re my favorite storm witch, you know.”
I roll my eyes and stretch out my back. “I’m theonlystorm witch you know.”
“Doesn’t mean you’re not still my favorite.” She sidesteps the trunk and throws her arms around my neck, wrapping me in a warm hug tinged with the scent of cinnamon.
“Yeah, you’re my favorite fire witch too,” I say as I give her a squeeze.
Around us, carriages come and go, students bid one another goodbye, and the sun makes the snow twinkle.
Finals week is over, and the Yule holiday has officially begun.
Well, for everyone except me. I still have one last test before my work is done.
The demonstration before the fellowship board.
As Lyra pulls back, I spot Alina, Poppy, and Raelan making their way down the castle steps. Raelan has a satchel in each hand and one slung across his back, but it’s still less clothing than Lyra feels the need to bring on holiday.
Alina reaches us first, her light brown cheeks flushed pink from the cold and her blue hair pulled back with a silver clip. “Today’s the day,” she says. “Are you ready?”
The girls gather around me as Raelan goes to find their carriage.
Am I ready?
I’ve been working all semester toward this one moment. And though I probablyshouldbe nervous, I’m... not. Instead, I feel good. Like I’ve done everything I can to prepare, and all that’s left is to show the collective what I can do.
I give Alina a firm nod. “Yeah. I’m ready.”
Poppy reaches out and takes my hand in her mittened one. Her glasses reflect the sunlight glittering off the snow. “Do you want us to stay?”
I shake my head. “Absolutely not. You and your mom have to get ready to go to Faunwood. And tell Aric I love him.”
Poppy gives me that little smile she always gets when someone mentions Aric. “I will.”
The girls are still huddled around me, wearing varyingexpressions of concern. It makes me laugh, and my breath steams around my mouth. “I’m serious. It’s going to be fine. You all need to go and start your holiday.”
Raelan returns from packing Alina’s and Poppy’s bags into their carriage. He’s dressed in black, as usual, with a long cloak that brushes the snow as he walks.
“We’re ready to go,” he says.
Alina turns her head to look up at him, and he presses a kiss to her forehead. Then she sighs and looks back to me.
“Okay,” she says, somewhat hesitantly. “I guess this is goodbye.”
“Nope. Stop that.” Lyra holds up a hand. “This is just Yule. We can get sappy at the end of next semester.”
My stomach squeezes at the reminder that we’ll all be graduating soon, just a handful of months from now.
Then, with one of her sideways smiles, Lyra pulls us all into a group hug.
“Get in here, dragon,” she says.
Raelan sighs, then wraps his arms around us, making me laugh and Poppy squeak as he gives us a huge tight hug.
After that, we break apart, and Lyra hops into her carriage, where the driver has finally got her trunk loaded. She looks back at me after she’s climbed inside. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” she says, crimson eyes shining. Then she pulls the carriage door closed, and the horse sets off through the snowy courtyard.
I watch Raelan help Poppy and Alina into their carriage, and then that one sets off too. I wave as it rolls by. They lean out the window and wave back.
And then I’m left standing there alone.
