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

“Can you imagine what it’s like on the ambassadors’ floor? Or the queen’s?” asked Akton as Talfryn crossed to examine the tap on the tub. This place had indoor plumbing. He wasn’t surprised, considering how impressive everything else was here, and adding in the waterfall that could easily be rerouted, but still he turned the handle and watched as mountain water began to fill the space.


“I don’t think I can come up with anything more impressive than this, so no,” said Talfryn, then when Akton moved to touch the water, “It’s cold.”


“Why don’t you heat it?” asked Akton. He sat on the bench and pulled off his boots. “You can do that, right?”


Talfryn examined the tub, the water. He’d never directly heated anything before, just made flame to heat things, but he thought he could do it if he tried. But he hesitated.


Chapter 66