Page 310 of Sky’s Edge

I stopped at the box shelves and hooks at the back door.

I wound my scarf around my neck, slipped off my slippers and slid my feet into a new pair of boots (yes, I bought the other pair that caught my eye the first time I was here—I was me, I did this kind of thing), and bent over to tie the laces. Next came the snow goggles I pulled over my head and all the way down to my neck. Only after they were in place did I don my knit hat, tucking my hair in it to keep it away from my face. I ended this with tugging on the beige below-the-knee puffy jacket with the thick collar of fake fur, zipping it up, and finally, there were my mittens.

I headed out to see Bain standing beside the SnowSprint he’d pulled up. He was holding the bouquet of flowers I’d secreted into the storage compartment on the jet we took from the mainland.

Before we arrived, Tanyn had offered to teach me how to pilot one.

I’d refused.

Eventually, I’d get there.

But for now, if I didn’t know how, it meant I had to press close and hold him tight, because if we headed into the tundra, he’d have to pilot.

“Ready?” Bain asked.

I’d noticed in the very brief time we’d been there that Bainon was a huge fan of the SnowSprint. He took one out immediately, doing daredevil shit that I hoped didn’t give Tanyn any ideas.

“Just to note, I’d like to get there in one piece,” I told him.

His white smile spread against his tan skin.

Seriously.

How Aleece could hold herself back was a total mystery.

“I’ll pilot like a grandma,” he assured.

“See that you do,” I harumphed.

He handed me the flowers, pulled up his goggles then tugged the gator over his mouth.

I gave them back, positioned my goggles, and readjusted my scarf to cover the lower half of my face.

See?

I was learning.

Again with the switch of the flowers so he could get on.

Juggling the bouquet, I got on behind him.

And off we went.

It was still a rush to speed across the snow.

It was just less of a rush because I was doing it with Bain and not my Tanny.

Bain didn’t maneuver any tail flips or launch us over any tall drifts.

He just jetted us to the lynx pen.

When we got there, I spied Hurley and Avie loping beside Tanyn as he headed toward the gate of the pen.

He lifted a gloved hand to hail us.

I was glad to see the male put on gloves.

I was getting used to the SnowSprint, but not enough to let go of Bain to lift my own hand to return his greeting.