Page 107 of A Whisper of Cinders

Ami and Aramis look at each other before Ami answers. I promise all your questions will be answered. This shouldn’t have happened. But we need to get you out of here, I can practically feel your teeth clatter.

I hadn’t even noticed, but now that she’s mentioning it, I am cold to the bone. My fire powers haven’t found their way back to me and I miss them tremendously. How do people survive when they feel cold so intensely?

Another animal joins the party, this one black as well, but more tiger-like with antlers and an enormous black blue owl flies above its head.

It’s Zale and Enver. They will scout ahead to make sure we avoid any more trouble.

Aramis puts his head in my lap and pushes against my arms so they fall around his strong neck. Can you stand?

I carefully grasp his fur and try to rise, but my legs are like pudding and I nearly fall, save for Ami who presses against my back, steadying me.

“Thank you. You’re both huge, you know that right?”

Aramis chuckles. You’ll get used to it. He lays himself in front of me, reaching my chips and turns his head to me. Climb on, it’s much faster this way.

I can imagine, but how…I sigh. I think it’s kind of the same thing as riding a horse, but since I haven’t done that either…

I promise I won’t let you fall.

I know that, but it’s good to hear anyway. Okay, here goes nothing. With some effort, the muscles in my legs seemingly gone, I swing my leg over his back. Aramis slowly rises and if I thought he was big when he stood before me, sitting up here makes him look even bigger.

He starts walking, leaving the dark clearing behind and heads for the forest. I feel weak, drained, the dizziness is a little bit better, but far from gone. Ami walks next to us, throwing worried glances every now and then.

I’m not even surprised when dark shadows crawl up my legs and anchor me in place. It could just as well have been his hands on my thighs. And even though I am cold to the bone, the sensation sends a wave of heat through me. “Handy trick you’ve got there.”

Oh, gorgeous, you have no idea.

My cheeks turn a hot shade of crimson, and not because of the cold this time. Ami lets out a huff. Can you two please get a room? It’s taking everything in me not to puke.

Aramis playfully nips at her flank before taking off, the wind whips past me as we race back to the Academy. His snow and pine scent fills my lungs and I sigh, letting myself sink into his warmth.

“Your scent makes so much more sense now.”

My…scent?

“Yes, snow and pine. Winter at its best.”

Laughter now sounds in my head. Do I now? A small pause. And you…like this scent or?

I softly stroke the fur between his shoulder blades. “Very much so,” I whisper.

I’m not even sure if he hears it, but based on the rumble between my legs, I believe he did.

Tiny snowflakes start to fall from the sky and although I enjoy the snow, adding more cold to my current situation isn’t helpful. But not a single one touches me. Aramis’ shadows curve along my spine, sliding past my rear and trace a path up my back towards my head. Some sort of magical shadow cloak has been formed around me, bringing with it a pleasant warmth.

The ride takes longer than my walk to the clearing seemed. I didn’t stray that far from the path, yet I feel like I’ve been on Aramis’ back for at least half an hour when the gates to the Academy come into sight. I will definitely ask about that later.

Ami morphs into her fae form in a blink of an eye and moves closer as Aramis lays down so I can get off easier. She immediately places an arm around my shoulder, guiding me to the doors. “Any more secrets I should know about, Ami?”

“Nope, don’t think so. At least not that I know of.”

I can’t even be mad about it, I probably wouldn’t have believed them if they’d told me. As we enter the grand hall, the warmth instantly envelops me and I welcome it, although the cold runs deeper than the surface.

Mrs Delalune appears from moons knows where, wearing an elegant cream-coloured ensemble. “Are you alright, Maily?”

I nod.

She looks above my shoulder, her expression calm.