Page 34 of Heart of a Dire Wolf
Tinsel’s smile faded. “Keepsakes from the past.” She sighed as she touched them. “They’re founders’ keys. I helped create Fort LeBlanc, but I disagreed with the others about policy, so I moved back to Kotoyeesinay.”
Memory nagged at Nic. What had the oracle shifter said, back in the holding cells? Something about Christmas bringing the keys? He eyed Tinsel’s red and green armor. “Could I borrow them? The ghosts… Lerro said…” He regrouped his thoughts. “Call it a hunch.”
The portal behind her warped. A leg made of veined marble stepped out of it and thumped hard enough to shake the ground. A voice that sounded like rocks grinding together spoke. “Stuck.”
Tinsel glanced back, then pulled the chain over her head and handed it to him. “I want them back.” Her chariot flew up and turned toward the portal. “Hold still, you big lummox!” she shouted.
Nic ran back to the grove and found Skyla kneeling. Several mage lights hovered around her as she dug in the dirt. “There’s a plate under here. Help me clear it.”
He put the necklace in his pocket and did as she asked. After a few minutes of concentrated digging, they were staring at the rough surface of kimberlite, with a light layer of frost hiding green crystal and dull gold spots. Even as they watched, more frost crystals formed.
Skyla sat back on her heels. “Dammit, this is just rock.”
He smiled. “Valuable rock. The kind that yields gems.” He held his hand just over the surface. “Magic, too. Keeping it cold. Keeping this whole grove cold.” He pulled out the necklace and dangled the keys. “This is going to sound daft, but Tinsel had these around her neck. They’re founders’ keys. I remembered what Lerro said about doors in winter and keys.” He held the chain out to her. “I can feel magic, but I can’t work it like you can.”
She narrowed her eyes in thought. “Lerro said ‘in our hearts and under the frost.’” She pulled off her gloves and took one of the keys. “Two keys.”
He took his gloves off. He wrapped his fingers around the second key and held out his hand to her. “Two hearts.”
She slid her hand into his. Their mate bond sparked. The keys glowed.
Beneath them, the frost melted away. The dull olivine crystals brightened, leaving two key-shaped shadows.
As one, he and Skyla set their keys in place.
A surge of fairy portal magic lit up the grove like high noon. He quickly pulled Skyla into his arms, not wanting to lose her again.
The ground beneath their feet vanished, dropping them into a deep freeze of darkness.
