I still didn’t like the way Helen fawned over Kade, but I couldn’t blame her. He melted my heart when he smiled. My blood sizzled with his touch.

My Council-approved extension expired, and I packed for the trip back to the Citadel. In such a small cave, my stuff had managed to spread all over the place. It didn’t help that the mess of blankets covered most of the floor.

I paused and touched my lips. They tingled from last night when I made sure Kade wouldn’t forget me. The desire to stay here with him pulsed in my chest. But I would be obedient and return to the Keep. I could endure forty-nine more days until graduation, assuming I would graduate and not be murdered or bled dry in the meantime. Then what? Prove the truth to the Council about Devlen and stop Tricky?

The illicit knowledge of blood magic spread like embers in the wind, igniting more areas. Soon everyone would know how to use it. It might already be too late to stop it. Yelena and I couldn’t imprison so many souls in glass.

I sighed and continued packing. Checking under the cot, I bumped my head when Helen’s voice sounded behind me. I scrambled to my feet, reaching for my switchblade.

“Sorry to scare you,” she said.

My hand hovered near my weapon. “No problem.”

She glanced around the untidy cave. “Is this Stormdancer Kade’s quarters?”

“Yes.”

“Then you and he—”

“Yes.”

“Then I picked the perfect one,” she exclaimed. She pulled one of her glass statues from her pocket and handed it to me. “To thank you for your recommendation.”

The four-inch figure held an iridescent globe in his hands. A Stormdancer exalting over a successful harvest. His gold-streaked hair reminded me of Kade.

“You don’t have—”

“I wanted to.”

“It’s exquisite. Thank you.”

She bounced on the balls of her feet at the compliment. “Please feel free to show it to your friends. I take orders.” She winked. “After all, I need something to do during the off-season.”

“I will.”

“Safe travels, Opal.” She waved and headed up to the kiln’s cave.

I realized my right hand rested on my switchblade. Before, I would have regretted being so untrusting, but not today. My reaction pleased me.

Carrying my heavy saddlebags along the trail, I stopped to catch my breath near the main cavern. Voices floated on the warm breeze. Prin and Tebbs stood on the beach, chatting and throwing small shells into the waves. They didn’t notice me.

“…I like her. She’s sweet and…Her mother…hoot,” Tebbs said.

The sound of the surf obscured parts of their conversation. I guessed they discussed Helen.

“She would be…for Kade,” Prin said.

I hefted my bags, preparing to move on, when a lull in the waves allowed me to hear them better.

“It’s ridiculous,” Prin said. “He should be with another clan member. We need more Stormdancers. If he stays with Opal, they’ll probably have children with weird glass powers.”

Uncertain how to react, I moved past them without saying a word. It didn’t matter what they thought as long as Kade remained happy.

He waited for me at the stable. He had saddled Quartz for me. Leif grumbled and worked on getting Rusalka ready. Skippy sat on Beryl. She danced with impatience, sensing her rider’s mood.

Kade grabbed my bags and secured them on Quartz. I glanced at Moonlight. Even though the stall’s door gaped wide open, he pressed against the far wall of the pen, presenting his rear to us. His taut muscles and laid-back ears warned us to keep away.

“He won’t come out,” Leif said.

“He wouldn’t let me bridle him,” Kade said. “I’m sure the Stable Master at the Keep wants him back. Do you think he knows I’m not going with you?”

Leif and I just looked at Kade.

“Oh.”

“Looks like you got yourself a horse,” Leif said. He swung up on Rusalka. “Let’s go, we’re burning daylight.”

Kade stepped close to me. He placed his hands on my shoulders and rested his forehead on mine. “Be very very careful. Post a watch at night, and don’t let your guard down. Promise?”

“Yes. Will you be able to come for my graduation?”

“Sorry. Storms tend to trickle into the hot season. And I received a threatening letter from my mother. My parents haven’t seen me since Kaya’s flag-raising ceremony—almost a year ago.”

“I understand.” I remembered my parents had kept my sister’s grief flag over her bed for five years before they could put it away.

“They want me to stay with them until the next storm season. Why don’t you come visit me after graduation. I’m sure they would love to meet you.”

“I would enjoy that. I’ll send you a message.”

“Come on and kiss already,” Leif called to us. “I want to put as much distance behind us before dinner.”

“Is he always ruled by his stomach?” Kade asked.

“Yep.”

Our eight-day trip back to the Keep contained no ambushes. No signs of Tricky. And no assassination attempts. One of my better treks.

I should have suspected my luck wouldn’t last. But no. Surrounded by magicians at the Keep, I felt safer than on the open road. I returned to my classes, gossiped with my sister, endured a stern lecture from the Stable Master about Moonlight, produced glass messengers and trained at least six hours every day, including lock-picking sessions with Marrok, the Weapons Master. Skippy and my babysitters no longer followed me around the Keep.