“You’re not. It’s just if you’re here, you won’t be bothered by teachers or friends and can rest.”

I suppressed a smile. Ulrick would probably demand to stay in the infirmary with me. “I only need a couple of peaceful nights.”

Nights without the snowy images plaguing my sleep. The dreams had become more specific, but I hadn’t told anyone. I dreamed of wooden buildings leaning together as if bracing against a strong wind. A sign hung above a doorway, the letters burned into the splintered wood, dancing in my mind. I struggled to read them. Icefaren Station. Nearby, a deep pit gaped.

A Warper called to me from a vast northern distance. Imprisoned in glass on the Ixian ice sheet, he pleaded and promised. But I couldn’t find him. He could be anywhere on the ice sheet. It covered miles and miles of territory. And if the cold season’s blizzards didn’t kill me, the snow cats would.

Healer Hayes returned with a vial full of liquid. “Two swallows before bed. If it doesn’t work, take three, but no more.”

Before bed that evening, I braced myself and swigged the potion.

Ulrick studied me. “How bad?”

“Tastes like sweet lemons. Much better than Leif’s. His potion must have spoiled.” I gulped another mouthful.

He didn’t comment. Soon a heaviness flowed through my limbs as if my blood thickened inside my veins. The night was free of horrors and I woke feeling refreshed.

“That Stormdancer is here,” Ulrick said when he entered the glass shop.

His scowl was back and I realized I hadn’t missed it at all.

“He’s waiting in Zitora’s office and wants to talk to you.”

“Are you coming?” I asked.

“I’m not invited.”

The reason for the scowl, or so I thought until he said, “Just don’t run off with him.”

“Ulrick, don’t be silly. Why would I do that?”

“He’s a Stormdancer. He’s powerful.”

“He’s my friend and too busy tracking down the men who killed Indra and Nodin. An important effort that we should support.” Another thing I hadn’t missed, any signs of Sir, Tricky or Devlen.

I hurried to Zitora’s office. It had been a week since I’d seen Kade and I promised myself I would stick to business and remain distant. Knocking on her door, I pushed it open.

“…can’t find the Councillor’s sister or Gressa and rumors are circulating about an army forming in the foothills of the Emerald Mountains,” Kade said.

He perched in a chair in front of Zitora’s desk, and, despite the promise to myself, I felt a tug deep down. His lean build, wind-tossed hair and gold-flecked eyes melted my resolve.

Zitora gestured for me to come in. “Moon Clan troubles. The Sitian Council is still debating whether to intervene. Coups are part of life, and if the Moon citizens want a new Councillor and the current one won’t step down we shouldn’t interfere in the takeover. But if she’s using illegal means and methods, then we should. Problem is, we have no proof.” She drummed her knuckles on her desk. “Thanks for the update, Kade. Did you have any luck with the suppliers?”

“No. One of the reasons I stopped here, I need a list of sand merchants for the western and southern clans from Opal.”

“Of course.” I wrote down the names and locations of the suppliers I knew. “There may be more, you’ll want to ask the merchants themselves. And I received a message from my father. No one has ordered that particular combination of sand.”

Kade examined the list.

“There is another matter I need to talk to you about,” I said. When he glanced up, the tug jerked. The streaks of gold and red in his hair shone in the sunlight. A desire to touch him flared to life. So distracted by the feeling, I missed his question, but sensed the gist of it. “It’s a private matter.”

He followed me from the office and through the campus to my rooms. The orb’s joyful song pierced the silence, yet Kade seemed in no hurry to broach the subject.

“Where’s your watchdog?” he asked, looking around the room.

“At the glass shop, helping Mara.”

“Impressive. He’s learned to trust you.”

But he shouldn’t. The unexpected thought popped in my head.

I retrieved the orb from under my bed before I could say anything I would regret. Unwrapped, the orb’s song vibrated through the room as the energy tingled up my arms.

“I’m not done searching for Varun,” he said when I carried it out.

“Have you talked with Yelena since our expedition to the cave?”

“No. I talked with Master Jewelrose before coming here. Why?” His demeanor seemed guarded as if I was going to accuse him of a misdeed.

I couldn’t formulate a way to soften the information, so I didn’t. “Kaya’s soul is trapped inside the orb.”

“How do you…oh, the Soulfinder.” He sank down onto the couch. A brief struggle of emotions creased his brow. “I don’t possess the power to capture souls. Are you sure?”

“Positive.” Hard to forget having a conversation with Kaya and Yelena inside the orb. “Her essence must have been in the storm long enough for you to harvest it.” I stepped closer to him, holding the orb out. “You need to free her so she can find peace in the sky.”

When he touched the orb, pure fire raced along my skin, sucking the breath from me. My thoughts and emotions mixed with his and Kaya’s as the storm’s energy sizzled and popped. Through them I could harness the energy and redirect it, controlling the wind and water and lightning. I felt Kade’s torment and Kaya’s longing.