Maria Snyder - Storm Glass

“Tricky’s powers are weak, and I don’t know what he can do with them,” I explained.

“We’ll arrest them all and let the Commander decide their fates,” Ari said.

“We need to take one with us,” I said.

“Which one?”

“Devlen.”

“Why?”

“His body and soul don’t match.” I explained about the blood magic.

“I know I hated magic for a reason,” Janco said.

“Congratulations. This is the first time you’ve had a valid reason to hate something,” Ari countered. “Remember your campaign against sand?”

“Sand! Horrid little stuff. Gets everywhere. I had a perfectly good argue—”

“Janco.” Ari’s voice rumbled deep in his throat.

In a heartbeat, Janco switched gears. “Well, this blood magic sounds worse than sand.”

“Do you know how to switch them back?” Kade asked. He had been following the conversation with an amused smile.

“I’m not sure.” I shuddered, thinking I would need to learn more about blood magic.

“It’s easy,” Janco said.

We all stared at him, waiting.

“Holy snow cats! You don’t know?” His incredulous tone transformed into a huge smirk. He danced a little jig.

As he gloated, I made the connection. His knowledge of magic was limited to his contact with Yelena. “The Soulfinder,” I said.

“Righto! Souls switched while you wait.” Janco twirled.

Then I would need to rescue Ulrick. I figured Devlen wouldn’t help me find him. And what about my feelings for Ulrick? When I had thought he had been injured by his sister, I had realized how much I cared for him. Even though I know I loved Kade, I owed it to Ulrick and myself to explore our relationship without Devlen’s taint. Would Kade help me? As my father would say, only one way to find out.

Kade watched me and I wondered what he thought. I didn’t have a chance to ask him until the next day.

We carried Kaya’s orb far away from the building and onto the ice pack. Janco warned us to keep an eye out for snow cats. I held an empty orb. Once Kade released the storm’s energy and Kaya, he would recapture the storm, but let Kaya go.

“Don’t want another blizzard to blow down on MD-1,” Kade had said.

Our boots crunched on the new snow and I shivered in my cloak, thinking about hot kilns.

“I understand why General Kitvivan would want to tame the blizzards. They’re nasty.” Kade’s eyes glowed with admiration for the storms. “I would be willing to come here every cold season to help him. Those extra full orbs would be useful, and I’m sure other Stormdancers would be happy to come along.”

“Not me,” I said. “Too cold.” His words reminded me of my new mission. “Would you be willing to come along with me to rescue Ulrick?”

“Shouldn’t you let the authorities deal with Devlen and Ulrick?” Kade asked instead of answering me.

“No. I’m responsible. My relationship with Ulrick put him in jeopardy. I need to find him and talk with him—figure out how I feel.”

“Then I would only complicate matters.” Kade reached for my free hand. “ You know my feelings for you and you know where I’ll be waiting. While I would love to fight for your love in a dramatic duel with lightning bolts flashing, I trust you, Opal. Always have. Always will.”

His faith warmed me to my core. “You don’t have to fight for my love. You already have it. I just need to discover what Ulrick has.”

He smiled with confidence, squeezing my hand. “You’re a problem solver, Opal. I’ve no doubt you’ll solve this one, as well.”

His comment about solving problems reminded me of our first encounter. I had to chuckle. “If you always trusted me, then what about when you first met me and stormed off in a huff?”

He laughed. “All right, maybe not always, but very, very close. In my defense, you looked twelve years old, and we were desperate for help.”

When Kade felt we were far enough from the station, he stopped. I moved away as he cradled Kaya’s orb. My thoughts turned to my sister Tula and how I wished I had a chance to say goodbye to her.

Cold air blasted, sending snow into the air to swirl around us. Kaya’s joy filled the air. She spun around me for a moment. Her gratitude pulsed in my heart before she vanished. When the snow settled, Kade crouched in the drifts. Remembering my lecture to him about having others to help hold you together as you heal, I embraced him.

He clung to me for a while. Snow thawed under us and soaked into my pants, but I felt warm in his arms.

“You could always try to bribe the Council,” Kade said.

“What are you talking about?”

“Give your diamonds to them and maybe they won’t lock you in the Keep’s cells.”

“Being selfish again?”

He nodded.

“They’re not my diamonds,” I said.

“Really? Then whose are they?”

I didn’t have an answer for him. We remained silent for a moment.

He was inches from me. My desire to kiss him pushed away all other thoughts, so I pressed my lips to his. He pulled me closer and heat spread throughout my body. More snow melted underneath us, but I didn’t care.

Eventually an icy wind intruded. I broke away from his embrace.

“Shall we continue our conversation inside?” Kade asked with a wide grin.

We trudged through the snow, holding hands. “I wish we could just freeze this time together, and all the—” I waved, indicating the future problems that waited for me “—would disappear.” It was quite a list, finding Ulrick, switching his soul, convincing the Council not to arrest me, discovering how my new powers would affect Sitia.

Kade kept quiet for a while. “This calls for a glass analogy.”

I groaned, but he ignored me.

“Life is like molten glass. It flows, it’s flexible, it can be molded and shaped and…what do you say? Ah, yes. It holds vast potential. You have a number of uncertainties in your melt right now. But they will always be there in one form or another. Always. Unlike molten glass, life can’t be fixed or frozen into a pretty vase and placed on a shelf to gather dust.”

“I wouldn’t mind a little coating of dust instead of facing the Master Magicians and the Council. What if they just lock me away?”

He stopped and drew me into a tight hug. “They won’t. Because you’re smart, Opal. You’ll figure it out.”

“You said the same thing in the storeroom and I almost killed us.”

“But you didn’t. And that reminds me. What exactly did I promise you?”

I thought back to his description of me, arriving like an unwelcome squall when all he desired was to be left alone. “You promised me that the next time you decide to languish in the sun, you’ll take me with you. I’m in desperate need of a vacation and I’m sure you know the best beach for languishing.”

He laughed. “There is this beautiful little cove along Bloodgood’s coast. White sands, crystal-clear water, but it can get hot during the day.”

“Perfect. I hate the cold.”

Thanks go to my husband, Rodney, and my children, Luke and Jenna. For being patient when I need to finish a book, and for not complaining (too much) when I travel to book signings and conventions. Without you three, there would be no books to write.

A special thank-you goes to my critique partner, Kimberley J. Howe. She rose to the challenge when I hit a dead end and dumped three hundred pages of this book on her, crying for help. Your encouragement, phone calls and comments helped pull this book together.

Huge thanks go to all the hardworking people at Harlequin Books. Your enthusiasm and love of books has made working with you a joy. Special kudos go to my editor, Mary-Theresa Hussey, whose expert comments greatly improve my stories. Thanks to Elizabeth Mazer and the PR goddesses: Michelle Renaud, Marleah Stout, Amy Jones, Heather Foy and Diane Mosher for all the extra effort!