The room was getting hotter.
Yvaine wiped her palms on her skirt. They were burning.
"It suddenly feels too hot in here." Her voice was close to breaking.
Caelan looked around. "This place is heating up fast."
He brushed her hand by accident. Then paused. "Gods—Yvaine, you're burning up."
She blinked. "I feel weird."
He stepped closer. Too close. "I'll try cool it down. But I need you to breathe. Just calm down, alright?"
She nodded. Tried to.
Caelan pulled her closer. Her scent hit him, sharp and sweet, making something shift in his chest—but he shoved it down. Now wasn't the time.
His right hand shifted. A claw appeared, smoke curling around it. He crouched, placed it on the floor. Ice crept out fast, crawling across the room.
The air turned cooler. Yvaine let out a shaky breath.
"Breathe with me," Caelan said softly.
Yvaine followed his rhythm. She began to feel calmer. Still, Caelan's body pressed against hers—hard muscle and warm breath—and it made her heart kick even faster. She wasn't sure if it was fear anymore.
"Thank you," she whispered.
But then—the ice cracked. Disappeared. The heat returned like a wave, worse than before.
Yvaine stepped back, hands on her knees. "Why is it hot again? I—I can't breathe—Caelan, please—"
He dropped to the floor again, forced the ice back. It spread. But it didn't last. A few minutes. Gone again.
He stared at his claw. "Something's countering me."
Yvaine's eyes widened. "What?"
"Something is blocking my powers. This is so not good."
Yvaine rushed to the door. She began to hit the door with her hands. "LET US OUT! PLEASE! WE CAN'T BREATHE IN HERE!"
Caelan went to her, grabbed her arms. "Yvaine, stop. You need to calm down—"
She yanked away. "How can I be calm? I'm burning up, you just said something is blocking your powers. We're going to die in here!"
Caelan's voice rose. "We're not going to die. You need to listen to me—"
She didn't listen, just continued hitting the door, trying to get louder.
He pulls her and makes her to look at him. "Yvaine, stop. No one's going to hear us."
"Look at me," he said, "We're not dying here. But I need you to listen."
She pushed his hands off. Kept hitting the door. "I can't! I can't do this!"
He grabbed her hand, firm. "Yvaine. Stop. No one can hear us. Wasting your breath won't help."
She froze. Then slumped into his chest, trembling. "What's going to happen to us? What of we die? I don't want to be this useless. If I had my powers…"
His arms went around her. He rubbed her back. "You're not useless. Whoever did this—" He paused. "Maybe Lucian. But he wasn't in here long enough…"
He guided her back to the floor. "We'll sit. I'll keep the place cool. Someone will notice we're gone. Just... stay close."
She nodded, barely. "Okay."
He pressed his claw to the ground again. The ice came back. He'd have to keep his hand on the ground for as long as he could.
He looked at her and Gods did she look so beautiful even in her panic state. "Now. Talk to me."
She blinked at him. "About what?"
"Anything," he said, trying to smile. "Distract me before I punch the wall."
She gave a shaky laugh. "You want to talk now?"
"I don't want to go insane," he said. "So yeah."
She looked down, then back at him. "You first."
"Alright," Caelan said. "But if I start rambling, stop me."
"Just talk." Yvaine laughs.
"Okay." He smiled a little. "Did I ever tell you I have a sister?"
"No."
"She's a witch."
Her eyes widened. "Wait—how?"
"Nana was a witch. It runs in the blood, I guess."
"That's cool," Yvaine said. "Really cool."
"Your turn."
She nodded. "My mom's a Frosthowl. Dad's Silverwolf. My brother too. I always hoped maybe... I'd be Frosthowl too."
"Why?"
She says with a shrug. "I just think Frosthowls are cool."
Caelan stared. Then laughed. "Literally."
They both laughed. The air felt lighter for a second.
They talked. About little things. Dumb things. Time passed. Thirty minutes, maybe more.
Yvaine paused. Her eyes narrowed. "Caelan… your hair. It's turning blue. And your lips."
He blinked. "What?"
"You're freezing. Maybe take your hand off the ground?"
He shook his head. "I'm fine."
"You're not," she said. "Just take a break."
He pulled his hand away. The ice started fading.
Yvaine sighed. "It's probably close to dinner. I don't know why no one's come."
"Maybe no one noticed. My dorm's too cold for your friends to go check."
"I wish we could reach someone."
Caelan's eyes widened. "Wait—there is a way. Why didn't I think of this earlier?"
"What way?"
"There's a spell my sister uses to bug me. Supposed to be a distress spell. She uses it to make me run errands. It's called Salvare Voxa."
Yvaine laughed. "Silverwolves already do that, don't they?"
"Not really. What silverwolves do is telepathy, but only with other wolves at a close range and maybe the ones they're bonded to. This works over distance. To anyone. Witchcraft doesn't care about bonds."
"Huh. I need to learn more stuff." She leaned in. "Can you do it?"
"I would, but… my energy is down now. Been holding the cold or too long." He dropped his hand back. The cold returned.
"I'll try it then," Yvaine said.
"You sure?"
"Maybe. Not like I'm doing anything else."
"Alright." Caelan nodded. "Say the words, but you have to picture who you're calling and the message. Focus."
Yvaine tried. "Salvare Voxa." Nothing.
"Anything happen?" she asked.
"A small light should show up. Try again. Focus."
She frowned. "It's not working."
"Try harder."
She took a breath. "Salvare Voxa."
A tiny spark floated up. Glowed. Then vanished.
"I DID IT!" she yelled.
Caelan grinned. "You did it, pup."
She beamed. "We're not going to die here."
Then, out of excitement, she jumped onto him.
For a second, everything stilled. Her body on his. That strawberry scent again—his mind went blank.
He leaned in. Kissed her.
It was quick. Soft. Warm.
Her first kiss.
She froze. Then kissed him back.
But Caelan pulled away fast. His cheeks were red. "Sorry. I… shouldn't have."
Yvaine blinked. "I—I shouldn't have jumped on you."
Silence.
She stared at the floor. He looked away. His lips were blue now. And his hair even more so.
The door creaked open.
Zully and Nyx stood there.
Yvaine jumped up. "You got my call!"
Zully rushed in and hugged her. "I thought something happened."
"You look like hell." Nyx eyes them both with a raised brow.
Caelan stood. Wobbled.
"Whoa, easy pretty boy," Nyx said, steadying him.
Yvaine touched his arm. "He needs to rest. We should get him to the infirmary."
"I'll be fine," Caelan said. "Really."
He gave Yvaine one last look. "See you around, Yvaine."
Then walked off.
Nyx stared after him. "Okay… what was that?"
"I think someone locked us in," Yvaine said.
"Locked you two? Together?" Nyx snorted. "Sounds like a bad romance novel."
Zully elbowed her. "Hey. That distress spell. Where'd you learn it?"
"Just now."
Nyx rolled her eyes. "Whatever. I'm starving. And Yvaine, you need to put something on."
Yvaine found her sweatshirt still lying on the bench she had left it. She took it and put it on quickly.
Nyx grinned. "Let's roll."
She linked arms with them and pulled them out of the gym.
Yvaine didn't speak. Her mind kept going back to one thing.
That kiss.
Over and over again.