Generations ago, shifters -- many with magic powers -- were accepted throughout Emylnor. But a war with the nearby dragon nation bred concern, and though Emylnor's forces beat back the invasion, the shifters retreated into hiding.<br><br>Akton is a weasel shifter who seems to have no magical talents. When he is hunted, Talfryn joins the fight, finally able to flex his salamander flame powers. But while they make a good team, the thrill quickly wears off when they uncover recruitment orders. A shifter named Basil is building an army.<br><br>Someone has to warn Queen Ylenia before Basil can launch Emylnor into another war. When Akton and Talfryn volunteer to deliver the information to her, they have no intention of getting deeply involved with the fight -- or each other. But to stop Basil, they need to learn to trust each other completely, and fast. Or all of Emylnor will burn ...

Flame and Snow

He concentrated on extracting people from the town as he could, and keeping his mind from wandering to Talfryn. Akton couldn’t navigate the streets as easily as Talfryn had seemed able, and he wondered if perhaps Talfryn had been in a fire and never mentioned it. It occurred to him how little they knew about each other—for all Talfryn chatted, he said few things about himself, and Akton hadn’t been offering much. Maybe that should change. Maybe Akton wanted it to change.


He shook himself and directed a coughing elderly man toward the edge of town. He shouldn’t be thinking about Talfryn. Not like that. It was difficult, with how willing Talfryn was to jump into the fray, to not like him. And it gnawed at Akton that he wasn’t back yet—faced with the prospect of having to go on alone, Akton suddenly felt he’d been a complete and utter bastard. He did like Talfryn. He had for a while now. But doing anything about it…


Chapter 33