Muscles that I hadn’t even realized existed were sore. When Xander and I had hiked before, it had been a more relaxed experience. We had taken our time, picking our way through the wilds slowly.
There was no such slowness now. Apparently, being Mature didn’t automatically grant me a body that could withstand the rigors of extensive, vigorous exercise. Who knew?
Daegal and Maiela seem certain that we will find the person we seek today,he reminded me.
Thank the gods for that. I don’t know how much more of this I can take.
Xander chuckled, the sound rumbling through the forest. “Is my fierce mate about to be taken down by some snow?”
His amusement tasted sweet as it came through the bond. I huffed. It wasn’t fair that the cold didn’t affect him as badly. The fire in his blood gave him an overabundance of heat.
“Not taken down,” I said, switching to speaking out loud. “I might just be a little frozen when we finally stop.”
He chuckled, holding out a branch as we turned a corner. Lifting my feet gingerly in the snowshoes, I formulated a plan as the path widened. Pine trees wearing white stood tall, their bark tainted with traces of the blackness that permeated the land. Xander was still laughing to himself as he walked ahead of me. He moved as though he’d been born to wear snowshoes, having taken to them immediately.
Sometimes his ability to be good at everything was rather irksome.
“Coming, Sunshine?” he called over his shoulder.
“Just a moment.” Pretending to be sending magic into the land, I scooped up some snow. Packing it together lightly, I stifled the giggle rising in my throat and surged toward Xander. I stumbled, but I made it to him without issue. Moving the ball to my other hand, I reached up and yanked the hood of his cloak before releasing my icy gift.
Heroared, the sound causing birds to tweet in distress as they flew out of the trees. “Oh, I’m going to get you back for that one, Aileana,” he promised darkly. The way he did a little dance and shook diminished his threat. My mighty dragon shifter held out his tunic as he desperately sought to rid himself of the snow melting against him.
A twinkle entered my eye, and I felt lighter than I had for the past few days.
“Only if you can catch me.” I would show him who was fierce.
Laughing, I hurried on. Sending ribbons into the land, I encouraged the forest to help me. Brambles cleared ahead of me, only to reform as soon as I walked in front of them.
“Cheater!” Xander yelled out as a snowball slammed into my back.
Igiggled, which was strange and something I hadn’t done in months. Bending, I scooped up a snowball and sending it sailing behind me. I missed. Of course.
Xander was getting closer. I coaxed some ribbons out of my palms, the green magic turning into vines that crossed the path.
“All’s fair in love and war, Elyxander,” I sang sweetly.
A growl was my only response. More snowballs pelted my back, the initial impact stinging but not leaving any long-lasting pain.
The sweet taste of happiness came through the bond as I darted around a tree, another burst of laughter following me.
I evaded Xander for nearly an hour before I spotted a pillar of smoke rising above the trees. Skidding to a stop, I stared at it, only to be shoved to the snowy ground moments later. I fell down, and he yanked the hood of my cloak back. Cold snow landed on the back of my neck, freezing my skin instantly, and I screamed.
“Not so funny now, is it?” His voice was hard, but there was a lightness to his tone that made me smile.
Shaking off the cold, I turned. The movement was awkward, my pack making things difficult, but eventually I looked up at my mate. Xander straddled me, his golden eyes twinkling. His face was flushed, and his silver-white hair fell around him as he looked down at me.
He smiled. “Do you have something to say, Sunshine?”
Did he think I was about to capitulate just because he was on top of me? He was wrong.
“I want you to admit I’m fierce, even in the snow,” I said, fighting to remain confident despite our position. I had evaded him for quite a while, after all.
He reached down, grabbing my arms and pinning them above me. I struggled, lifting my hips and feeling his heavy weight pressing against me. Warmth flooded my core, and though I thrashed against his grip, there wasn’t much force behind my movements.
“Why should I?” he asked. “You started this.”
“And I can end it, too.” I grinned as threads of magic slipped from my palms. A pair of vines burst out of the snow behind us, wrapping around Xander’s wrists and pulling taunt. He growled, releasing my hands as the makeshift ropes forced him to kneel. He straddled me, his impressive muscles straining beneath the force of my power, and I pushed myself up onto my elbows.