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

As he pulled back and swung again, he wondered what Talfryn would think of this. The look on his face when the man had shifted hadn’t been a pleasant one, and Akton figured it had something to do with being confronted by another salamander. And now Akton was killing him. He lashed out again, burned his hand, struck home.


He left the body in half on the burning bed, not sure whether it would be destroyed now that it was no longer alive to do anything about it. Talfryn might need his help. He staggered back outside and gulped in fresh air, the sudden relief of it enough to make his vision speckle.


Talfryn was still fighting the air-wielder, their skills either evenly matched, or maybe Talfryn was having difficulties with her magic. Akton knew he’d only trained with a few specific sorts of magic, and imagined he was improvising to some extent, but then, all battle seemed to be improvising in Akton’s opinion. He blinked smoke and grit out of his eyes and charged forward.


Chapter 78