“The Spined Moors—the northernmost part of Thayaria. It’s sparsely inhabited, so this is where I train my magic.” The wind howls, and the Prince puts his hands in his pockets, trying to disguise his discomfort. “I’m sorry, it’s much colder here. I should have warned you. Here.” I will the gusts to stop blowing. “Maybe stopping the wind will help.”

“It does, thank you,” he says as his eyes search mine. I let out my own shiver as those mossy eyes assess me, though I pretend I too am cold and rub my hands together to disguise the real reason. “Laurel, did I do something wrong?”

“Wrong? No, why would you think that?”

“It’s just—back in the apartment, you were so pleasant toward Silene, and then, I don’t know, it felt like you closed off when I spoke with you.” There’s the tiniest glimmer of vulnerability in his expression before he quickly locks it away behind a wide smile, the mask of the nonchalant prince returning. “I know I’m prone to making an ass of myself, but I don’t think I did this morning, at least not yet. And then you didn’t even laugh at my bow.”

I stare at him, deadpan expression firmly in place. “You were clearly trying to annoy me. It worked.” We both know I haven’t answered his question, but he doesn’t press it further, only widens his perfect grin. I ignore the way it makes my blood heat.

“Well, at least I annoyed you. That’s always my backup plan if I can’t get you to smile.” He winks. I can’t help the twitching of my lips at his remark. It’s impossible to stay stoic around this male.

“You’re a light and water channeler, is that right?” I ask, trying to change the subject back to training and magic.

“I am. But I’ve never been able to combine the two, like you did at the ball. It’s either light or water, never both. Teach me your ways, witchling,” he croons, eyes dancing with mirth. It takes the centuries I’ve spent as the Witch Queen to keep my lips from twitching again.

“Focus on how the two conduits are similar or how they might exist in the same space,” I instruct. “Water and light are both gentle in small quantities but can also be deadly with enough volume and force. Try to connect them in your mind first before attempting to channel.”