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Roka laughed openly, and Kyia giggled behind her hand.

“All right, little human,” Zain said, clearly amused even if he didn’t want to admit it, “it’s time to get you back to bed.”

With no other warning, he reached down and threw his arms around her waist, hoisting her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

“Let me down, you brute!”

“Say goodnight, little human,” he told her.

“‘Goodnight, little human’,” she parroted.

Roka and Kyia tried—and failed—to hold back more laughter.

“Oh, wait,” Alex said as the guard carried her to the doorway. “What about your cape, Roka?”

“Zain can bring it back to me later,” the prince said. “It’ll keep you warm on your journey to the academy.”

Alex watched as Kyia sidled up to Roka’s side, wrapping her arms around him as he bent to kiss her forehead lovingly. They waved goodbye to Alex, who tried to return the gesture while Zain manhandled her out of the room. Only when the door was closed behind them did the guard set her down, holding her steady until she regained her footing. He then continued bracing her when theValispathtook off underneath them. This time, though, Zain reached out a hand and pressed it against the transparent barrier. Immediately the bitter chill of the wind disappeared.

“Better?” Zain asked, seeing that she was steadier on her feet with the added protection. Not to mention, warmer.

“Much,” she agreed, nodding with enthusiasm. “Why didn’t you do that last time?”

“Our race is much more durable than yours,” he said. “Many millennia have passed since we’ve interacted with humans. I’d forgotten just how vulnerable you can be.”

“That makes sense,” Alex conceded.

She watched the scenery as they were transported back through the palace and out into the city. Once again she was transfixed by the view, which was even more stunning now that she wasn’t being buffeted by the wind.

All too soon they zipped past Meya and ventured above the Golden Cliffs before theValispathbegan to speed up again. When they were part way through the Silverwood, Alex turned to look up at Zain.

“So, Roka and Kyia, huh?” she asked. The tender moment she’d witnessed alluded to something much greater than friendship, of that she was certain.

“She is to be his wife,” Zain told her. “And one day, our queen.”

Alex smiled at the memory of Roka’s words about his ‘betrothed’ from their first meeting. “They’re a beautiful couple.”

“They are,” the guard agreed. “I couldn’t ask for two better friends.”

“Will you miss them while you’re stuck at Akarnae?”

“I’ll still see them most days,” Zain said, indicating to theValispath. “It’s not hard for me to get around.”

Handy little rollercoaster, Alex thought as the scenery blurred by at lightning speed.

Soon enough theValispathbegan to slow down and Alex could see the lights of the academy glinting in the distance, along with the moon reflecting off Lake Fee beneath their feet. The ride came to an abrupt end when the Eternal Path moved them straight through the wall of her dorm building and into her room.

“This is where I leave you, little human,” Zain said quietly, not wanting to disturb her sleeping roommate.

“Are you going back to Meya?” she asked, and at his nod she took off Roka’s cape and handed it over. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“You will,” he agreed. “It’s best if you act like you don’t know me, at least not around your classmates. You should also warn your friends to do the same.”

“Is that for your anonymity?”

He sent her another crooked smile. “No, Alex. It’s so the other humans don’t wonder why you’re associated with a Meyarin. But I doubt they’ll figure out my ancestry considering how much time has passed since one of my kind has been recognised by your race. It’s far more likely they’ll merely consider me to be intimidatingly large… and attractive, as you’ve already pointed out.”

“I didnotcall you attractive,” Alex argued hotly. “I said you’re distracting. That could’ve meant anything.”