Chapter 24

He clenched his jaw, trying to keep the shivers at bay, when his right foot sank through the snow and discovered a hole in the earth below. His ankle twisted, and he lurched forward, crying out in shock as his hands flew forward to break his fall. It didn’t work. He face-planted in the snow and came up sputtering and cursing.

“Alec? What are you doing?”

Rowan appeared in front of him and scooped his warm hands beneath Alec’s armpits to help him to his feet. He wasn’t wearing a coat, only jeans and a pullover, but he moved with an ease that suggested he wasn’t even aware of the cold.

“Looking for you,” Alec complained. Though he was annoyed Rowan showed up now rather than before he’d done his worst pratfall ever, he accepted the help. “I hate this snow.”