As Abrial stormed away from the cave, a sudden warmth engulfed her, and she stopped short. What the heck? Had a cloak just fallen on her out of nowhere?
"Who's there?" she snapped.
Two soft footfalls crunched in the thin layer of snow, and Finley appeared beside her, her hazel eyes glittering unreadably, as always. One of her hands pressed against Abrial's back, radiating a spell of warmth into Abrial's spine. Abrial shivered—maybe from the sudden warmth, or maybe from the painful feeling that had been floating in her chest ever since she'd walked into Wei Guang's cave.
"Thanks," she managed, her voice hoarse. She swallowed. Why was her throat so dry suddenly? As the warmth spread to her head, her vision blurred, and a warm wetness materialized on her cheeks.
Shit—she was crying!
