Squeaking her surprise, Layla’s eyes widened on the lake. The water quickly approached, and he wasn't slowing down. “Quin!”
She tightened her grip and sucked in air, tensing against the looming cold, and as they reached the water's edge, she squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the icy lake to engulf her. When the chill didn’t come, she peeked with one eye and found him floating over the lake, grinning at her.
“Did you really think I was going into the water?” he asked.
“Yes,” she answered, pinching his bicep. “You have a history of plunging me into cold water.”
“But I always fill you with heat first.”
“That's true.”
He nuzzled her curls and floated back to earth. “I like teasing you.”
The two of them spent the next few minutes sharing their fire with the guests. Then Catigern’s voice drifted from an empty spot behind the family. “Quinlan, Layla – release your spells.”
He sounded agitated, so Layla and Quin swept their hands through the air while taking flight toward the family. The seven men who'd been searching out Agro's camp appeared, and a glance at their auras suggested the trip hadn't gone smoothly.
“Did you not find it?” Quin asked.
“We found it,” Catigern answered. “We didn’t get a good look inside their land shield, but we got a glimpse when they opened it for incoming soldiers – a group of thirty, and there were many more within. We’re talking a hundred soldiers or better, Quinlan. He’s done with the chase and preparing for obliteration.”
Quin felt sick, and he couldn’t find the ability to hide it from Layla’s searching gaze – big, shiny green eyes looking for hope but finding a bloodless face.
“Maybe they're here for a different reason,” she suggested. “Maybe they're not part of his attack against us at all. Why would he think he needs that many soldiers? Surely it's for something else.”
“Not likely,” Serafin replied.
Layla huffed and looked over. “What makes you think that?”
“Agro has every intention of coming for you, dear, and he’s made it clear his next visit with us will be his last. He's either going to leave with you or he's going to wipe us out. To do that, he needs soldiers.”
“But he had them. Why would he think he needs more?”
“He's scared,” Serafin explained. “He knows there are three bonded couples and a bonded child in the community, and I'm sure he fears you. If there's one thing Agro does well, it's protect his own neck. If he thinks we have a chance, he'll arm himself with the only weapon he knows how to wield – subordinates.”
“But... That's... Maybe...”
Her nostrils flared as her jaw tightened, and Quin tried to pull her under his arm, but she couldn’t be comforted. Shoulders rigid, she walked away from him, turning her back on everyone as she stared across the glacier, her aura a sad swirl of dreary colors.
Quin didn’t know what she was thinking, but the possibilities tormented him. Maybe she was brainstorming ideas, maybe she was resigning herself to a life in hiding, or maybe she was looking out over the winter wonderland and thinking she’d never see such beauty again.
Her back shuddered with a shaky breath, her aura steadily growing darker as she raised a hand to her face. Then she turned and smiled at Alana. “Want to slide down the slope with me, angel?”
“Otay,” Alana agreed, unable to fully understand the terrifying situation.
Layla ignored everyone’s stares and approached Alana. “Do you want to hold hands? Or I could hold you in my arms like Quin held me.”
Alana eyed Layla’s aura, which had expanded to nearly twice its normal size, but the toddler seemed soothed by Layla’s plastered smile. “I bet we'd go weawy fast if you held me.”
“Hop up,” Layla instructed, opening her arms.
Alana flew into them, and Layla pulled her into a tight hug while burying her face in her hair. Quin sadly watched and waited, knowing Layla’s façade would soon shatter, leaving her disheartened and defeated.
Shifting Alana into a cradle hold, Layla smiled down at her. “Ready?”
“Yes!”
Layla took two long strides then slid her right foot forward, and Alana squealed all the way down the slope. Layla pulled the same trick Quin had, waiting until the last second before soaring over the lake. Then Alana clapped while Layla flew to the family, her face hidden in the toddler’s curls.
Kneeling to place Alana’s feet on the ground, Layla smiled and whispered. “That was fun.”
“Yes it was,” Alana agreed, raising a small palm to Layla’s cheek. “Thank you fowr taking me.”