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" I knew you two were chosen for each other. I can always tell," Jacques said excitedly as they crossed the castle grounds the next day. "But how did you wind up being a nymph in the human world?"

"I don't know," Theo admitted, his eyes on the snow falling from the grey blanket of clouds. "My parents never told me, which is odd." A lump formed in his throat as he thought of them lying to him every day by omission. "I'm still reconciling with their secret but trying to focus on the potential to break the curse."

"No wonder you needed restraints with Theo," Oliver said with a laugh, slinging an arm around Sebastian. "When I first found Jacques, I could barely keep my hands off him. If arousal and hunger are linked, you must've been on edge for a while."

"Anyway," Sebastian said, clearing his throat as his antlers flared a shade of pink that reminded Theo of windflowers. "I'm trusting you both to keep this between us for now. Theo has a long way to go, and we don't need added pressure. And I can't risk someone else being certain Theo isn't the key and trying to hurt him because they want me to look elsewhere."

"Where is Lyle?" Theo asked, glancing at Sebastian. "You never told me."

"He's locked away for now. I don't know what to do about him yet. I don't want any more death, but if I'm honest, I feel a lot of rage towards him after what he did to you. I don't trust myself to see him at the moment."

"Aw, seeing you so protective is precious," Jacques swooned. "It's normal to feel a bit overly reactive in terms of your chosen."

"Let's stop here," Sebastian stammered, clearly still a bit embarrassed.

I could get used to being this special to someone. He leaned into Sebastain and placed a soft kiss on his shoulder.

The clouds roiled overhead as Theo sat on a blanket in the snow with Sebastian by his side. Following his instructions, he put his hands in the small patch of dead grass after they were cleared away.

"You need to try and feel the veil's energy." Sebastian smiled a bit wistfully. "The veil is brimming with magical energy and as children of the veil, we can feel it."

"What is it supposed to feel like?" Theo asked, unsure as he touched the earth with gloved hands.

"Life," Sebastian said. "It's comforting yet energizing. I'm a water nymph so I often feel a flow, but it differs among nymph types, and even then it differs person to person."

"I feel a light sear on my hand, like the start of flames," Oliver chimed in.

"I feel more of a tingle," Jacques said, closing his eyes. "You know it when you feel it. Since we're both floral nymphs, I'm guessing it'll be something similar."

"I've heard and felt a heartbeat in the veil before," Theo said slowly. "But I've never felt it in the kingdom."

"That's probably it. That's a good sign," Sebastian said, brightening. "You didn't know how to harness it before, but now you can tap into it. Try to be calm, breathe, and let the connection find you."

Theo tried again and again as the days rolled on. One day he tried to calm his mind and feel a burn, a flow, a spark, or a steady heartbeat. Another he imagined flowers in his mind blooming from the earth. One evening, he tried speaking out loud to the veil. He tried without gloves.

He tried touching the dead trees, he tried digging into the earth under the snow and connecting with the deeper soil.

He tried only growing vegetation. He tried only growing fruits and flowers. He massaged the earth and pleaded with it. He tried meditating.

He tried anything and everything he could think of, but the veil didn't answer. Nothing grew. Not a single sprig or blade of grass.

Theo's heart ached one night as he sat on the snowy ground, feeling defeated. He needed to save Sebastian and every day he failed, he knew he was closer to losing him.

If my parents had told me the truth, then I'd be prepared for this. I could've tried to help earlier. I could be useful.

He huffed in frustration and covered his face with his hands. "I don't know how to replicate what I did that night. I don't even fully remember doing it."

"Why don't we be done for today?" Sebastian said, rubbing his shoulders. "We all struggle to connect at first when learning our abilities. You'll get there. Don't be hard on yourself."

"It took me months," Jacques agreed. "Even then I wasn't the best at it. Luckily you only need to grow one thing far as we know. We can get you there."

Theo reluctantly got to his feet but as he looked out across the snowy landscape, he had an epiphany. "Wait! Why don't I practice outside the kingdom?"

"Why?" Sebastian frowned. "You need to be able to grow something here, not out there."

"Right. But my connection is weak from lack of practice and the only time I've heard the heartbeat was out there. Maybe I need to establish and strengthen outside of the curse's limits and then come back. Plus, the veil's wilds are stronger at night so now is a good time."

"Good idea!" Oliver said. "Certainly can't hurt. He did pull vines and roots from outside the boundaries of the curse."

Sebastian fell quiet. Since Theo had returned, Sebastian's antlers and claws hadn't fully gone away. It made it slightly harder to know when he was upset but there were subtle signs. As Oliver and Jacques talked enthusiastically about the idea, a cluster of rosettes appeared on Sebastian cheek and traveled down his neck.

"Can we have a moment?" Theo said, taking Sebastian's arm and walking him away from the couple so they could talk. "I can tell you don't like the idea, so I want to hear you out."

"I can't protect you out there," he said, biting his cheek. "Countless things can go wrong and I can't even leave the gate. I just discovered you're my Chosen. I don't want to lose you already."

"I'll stay close to the entrance so if anything happens I can come right back. I can even tie a rope you can hold so you feel more secure."

"That could work, I guess. Promise to not wander?"

"I promise," Theo said, taking his hand and giving it a squeeze. "I told you I'm not going anywhere."

"You two are so sweet!" Jacques called.

Sebastian turned pink and scowled. "Let's go to the gate. But you are only trying for a little while. Then we're going inside."