Alpha Rafael found me before the fire could cause any damage.
The trees had burned away and the fire nearly spread to the border before anyone managed to put it out. After that I didn’t go out for nearly two months—and I never went back to the pond.
But now there I was. Feet numb from the snow, the quiet pond filling me with a different kind of coldness.
“Aether, what the hell are you doing!” Atlas dropped his heavy cloak around my shoulders, his eyebrows furrowed in varying form of confusion and alarm. “Why aren’t you dressed!?”
“Atlas?”
“God, Aether your feet.” He tightened the cloak around my neck. “Come on lets get home.” He lifted me up (princess style) and started off. “Nophe called me and I didn’t believe her—why would you run out in the snow barefoot?”
“Atlas, shush.” I hush
