Kael bent forward and started digging into the thick snow with his bare hands as he was told. The white powder piled high, but he didn't stop.
Behind him, Lavinia's voice rang cheerfully,
"You can do it, Kael! You're almost there!"
Kael's lips twitched.
He wasn't sure if she was encouraging him or mocking him, but her tone made it sound like both. Still, he kept digging, throwing snow over his shoulder with a somewhat annoyed look on his face.
After all, the snow wasn't the only problem.
No, actually, it wasn't even a problem.
The real problem was the Mage who was still wrapped tightly around him.
Lavinia clung to his back like a cat afraid of falling, her arms locked around his neck, her legs around his waist, and her body pressed close, her fur-lined hood brushing against his cheek. She refused to let go, and Kael had no choice but to drag her weight along with every movement.
"…Lavinia."
Finally, after minutes of struggling, he growled under his breath.
"Yes?"
