Feeling melancholy, she wandered from the water room and made her way down several flights of stairs, until she was on the bottom floor. She had no idea where the others were, except their rooms were all on the same floor as her, but she hadn’t run into any of them yet. She caught sight of a familiar silver-blond from the corner of her eye and assumed it was Marek. He might not want to talk to her, but she felt the need to approach him and discuss the situation.

She stepped through the French doors that led to an elaborate patio with stairs that winded down to a garden below. She hurried down the stairs and through the vegetation, which seemed to be in varying shades of silver and blue. It was icy out here, and yet the plants thrived. It had to be some kind of magic, unless they had simply adapted to their environment.

She caught the flash of silver again and called out, “Marek, wait.” The person froze, and she crossed the distance while moving between the rows of vines keeping them apart.

A surge of disappointment filled her when she recognized Milo. “Oh, it’s you.” Realizing how ungracious that sounded, she forced a smile. “I was just looking for Marek.”

“He’s supposed to be teaching you this morning, isn’t he?”

She nodded, uncertain if she should mention exactly what happened. “He said he had things to do.”

Milo looked surprised, but didn’t argue or offer excuses. He simply cooked his finger at her.

With a frown, she moved closer, looking down where he pointed. She had to bend down closer to see it, but still wasn’t certain what it was. “I’m not sure what I’m looking at.”

“It’s an ice faerie. Right now, the larva’s metamorphizing to its final state. When that’s finished, it will emerge with icy wings.”

She reached out a hand to touch it, but hesitated, not wanting to disturb the chrysalis. “It’s a real faerie?”

“Not exactly. It’s closer to an Earth butterfly, but there is something magical about them. My mother says if you catch one, it will grant your wish.”

She looked up at him, finding he was bent near her. “Have you ever caught one?”

He shrugged. “Once or twice, but my wish still hasn’t come true.”

He seemed as forlorn as she was feeling. Their mouths were so close together, and though she felt no attraction, she asked, “Would you kiss me?”

He frowned, looking unsettled. “I don’t think that would be appropriate.”

“I’m asking for scientific purposes.” As he quirked a brow, she explained, “When Marek kissed me a while ago, both of our powers grew stronger. His was strong enough to affect the water in the meditation basin.”

His eyes widened. “That’s impossible.”

She lifted a shoulder. “Yet it happened. I was hoping we could have a quick kiss to see if it affects us the same way.” She had a theory, but wanted to confirm it and couldn’t do that without experimenting.

With a shrug, he leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. She softened her mouth, but there was no spark, and certainly no awareness of the flow of water around her. She pulled back a moment later with a small sigh.

There was dew gathered on a plant near her, and she tried to imagine it rolling off into her hand, but couldn’t get it to do more than move a couple of centimeters. “Nothing.” She looked at him. “Why don’t you try?”

He nodded and put his hand on a tree nearby. A moment later, a slow and steady trickle of water dripped from the branches. “I can do that anytime.”

“It didn’t feel any stronger for you?” When he shook his head, she sighed. “That was my theory. I have to feel a connection with whomever before it can boost my power or theirs. Thank you. I know you didn’t want to kiss me, especially since I’m not Lyssa.”

He jerked, and his spine stiffened as he glared at her. “What are you talking about?”

North winced. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to embarrass you. It just sort of slipped out.” She really had a lot to learn about social interaction, having spent almost all of her life with just her father for companionship. Sam hadn’t minded when she just blurted out something random or perhaps a tad insensitive. “Am I wrong though?”

His shoulders stiffened even further. “I fail to see how that’s your business?”

She sighed. “I know you’re right, but I can’t help asking. Are you allowed to be with Lyssa—I mean, if you want to be?”

He frowned fiercely. “There hasn’t been a mating between a Fire & Ice being since the wizard split our world. Even before that, it was problematic and almost never done. Both sides had problems with going outside their races.”

She sighed, sadness welling in her. “That’s just awful. Do you wish you could change that?” She looked at the ice faerie chrysalis again as she asked.

He lifted a shoulder. “Wishing has done nothing for me thus far.” His gaze moved to the chrysalis of the ice faerie, and he looked bitter.

“Have you wished for her before?” When he nodded abruptly, she let out a small sigh. “I thought so. There was something between the two of you, a spark even I could sense. Does she feel the same way?”

He snorted. “I’ve never even spoken to her. We’ve seen each other across the line of demarcation at the function room in CenterPoint, but that’s it. I doubt it though. She’s so beautiful and graceful. Lyssa probably has a hundred fire demons and fire angels competing for her attention. She’d never look twice at an ice demon.”

North lifted a shoulder. “I’m sure no expert on relationships, never having had one, but I still think there was interest in her eyes too. You know, I’ll be going to their castle tomorrow… I could deliver a message for you, if you want?”

He looked scandalized. “I could never do that. Not only would it anger my family and hers, but it would be rude and presumptuous to simply write her a note.”

North struggled not to smile. “Perhaps, but if she’s as interested is in you as you are in her, I doubt she would be annoyed by a note from you. It would probably make her happy instead.”

He frowned. “Perhaps I’ll think about it, but I’m certain I won’t call upon you to be my messenger.”

She managed to keep her expression solemn. “Of course not. Just so you know that it’s an option if you want though.” She managed to maintain her stiff expression until he turned on his heel and strode the other way, as though he couldn’t escape quickly enough.

She doubted it was her that he was trying to escape so much as his own thoughts and the temptation of contacting Lyssa. Perhaps she should feel guilty for encouraging him, but the deliberate segregation of the races seemed silly to her, and she couldn’t help offering to bring them together if they felt as strongly about each other as they appeared to.