Page 184 of A Lord of Snow and Greed

My stomach sank more with each step we took towardthe gatemaker. Circles ringed Luccan’s eyes, so dark they appeared bruised. His lips were chapped, whereas last night they’d appeared normal, and there was a hollowness to his cheeks that hadn’t been there hours ago.

He was working far too hard.

“How long have you been working?” she asked when we reached Luccan, and he paused to cast his magic.

“An hour or so.” His shoulders slumped as he spoke.

“Aren’t you tired?” Her voice dripped with concern, and I could tell Luccan heard it too because his eyes warmed a touch.

“I am, but Arie had to go to the House of Wisdom today, and he woke me to tell me he wouldn’t be back until much later. After that, I couldn’t sleep.”

“Maybe you should take a nap?”

“I’d rather not leave it for that long,” he replied. “I’m doing well, and making gateways is easiest when my magic flows nicely.”

“Need anything?” I asked, understanding that he was as stubborn as he was a good friend. He’d work until it was done. “We can get you food. A drink?”

“Just to concentrate,” Luccan said.

I took that as our cue. “We’ll leave you, but please, call if you need anything. I’ll come running.”

“The next time I call for you, it will be because I’m about to make the final push, and you need to be ready to walk through the gateway. Expect that to be around the hour of the gryphon.”

So he thought it would happen at midday when the sun was nearing its peak. I rolled my shoulders back, evenmore ready to get to work, and thankful that Vale and I had made up last night.

“Perfect,” I replied. “Until later.”

Clemencia and I left the courtyard, but she only made it but a step inside before she cast a glance over her shoulder. “I was going to offer to be with you while you trained, but . . .”

“Stay with him.” I understood her concern. I’d feel better if someone was nearby too.

“Are you sure?”

“Very. Besides, isn’t it boring to watch me train?” Clemencia had no winter magic, so she did not offer input. She watched and encouraged.

She smiled. “I like imagining what you’ll do when your powers are fully formed.”

That was one question I’d been asking myself too.

A storm neared, and I took precautions, settling in to practice near the outdoor sauna. The log building cut most of the wind but still gave me enough space to work magic safely. I wasn’t about to go back inside because snow might soon fall. Not when I was just getting warmed up, both in body and magic.

The day before had been a disaster, but today I was reinvigorated. Much of that was down to reconnecting with Vale, though I also attributed some of my extra energy to me getting stronger.

With a flick of the wrist, I sliced off the icicles hangingfrom the tower roof. Once free, they wobbled a bit, but I used my power to claim control and sent them hurtling at the dead tree I’d been using for target practice.

One struck and the other nine missed.

“Better than yesterday,” I murmured, rubbing my hands together.

“What did that tree ever do to you?”

I spun and took a few steps around the sauna to get an unobstructed view of Riis Tower. My heart warmed when I caught sight of Vale trudging through the snow to join me.

“It looked at me the wrong way.” I shrugged.

“Fates, remind me only to smile at you.”

I waited until we stood face to face and lifted onto my tiptoes, wrapped my arms around his neck, and kissed him. “Did you get enough sleep?”

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