I sputter. “I’m almost thirteen, and you’re a kid, too. Whatever. We need to get you to the house so you can warm up. How long were you in there?” I point at the creek. “The closest neighbor isn’t for half a mile, and I’m pretty sure you didn’t come from the Hunts’ house.”

“What’s a hunts house?”

“Exactly.” If he doesn’t know the Hunt family, then he definitely isn’t from around here. “Where did you come from?”

“The Night Realm.”

“Oookay.” Maybe he’s worse off than I thought. Are hallucinations a symptom of freezing to death? “Follow me. My mom’s got hot chocolate.”

“Wait.”

The command stops me mid-turn, and I glance back at him. The sun shines down on his head, creating a halo effect. Geez. Could anyone be more gorgeous? It seriously isn’t fair how some people get genes like that. “What?”

He extends an arm. “Guide me to land.”

That’s when I realize he isn’t looking directly at my face. In fact, he doesn’t seem to be focusing on anything in particular.

I wave a hand. His eyes don’t follow. Just to be sure, I flip him the middle finger. No response.

“You can’t see?” I ask, my voice soft.

His lips press together, and he grits out, “Yes, I’m blind.”

“Oh.” Suddenly his rudeness doesn’t sting as much. “What’s your name?”

“Kirian.”

“I’m Quinn. Not peasant. Okay?”

“Okay. Since we’re requesting titles, you can call me ‘Your Majesty.’”

I bark out a laugh. “Uh, not happening.”

I pace over to him and stare at the hand waiting for me. I’ve never held hands with a boy, and the fact that I get to touch Kirian has me giddy inside. He gets to be my first hand-holding experience, even if it is just to help him get across the dock.

The second my skin grazes his, I gasp. Because he’s warm.

He’s not shivering. His lips aren’t blue.

That shouldn’t be possible.

Once our fingers link, sliding into place like two perfectly matched pieces, my heart goes wild.

Nothing has ever felt this right, and for a selfish second, I’m glad he’s blind. He can’t see how plain I am. For all he knows, I’m as pretty as Savanah Welch, the most popular girl in my seventh-grade class.

It gives me a boost of confidence.

But as soon as our feet get to the dirt path, he lets go. “Please direct me to the honeysuckle field, and I’ll be on my way.”

Still concerned for his health, I tilt my head. “Huh?”

I didn’t think anyone knew about the meadow but me. It’s smackdab in the middle of the forest in a large clearing. I like going there during the summer when the flowers are in full bloom.