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remember how to make your magic rise to the surface?”
    She nodded.
    “Stand up.”
    She slipped off his lap and stood beside the table. The wind flicked her long hair around her face and he’d never seen her look more beautiful. “What do I need to do? Am I going to try to cure him right now?”
    Matt shook his head. “This is just a test. Give Kallen your hand.”
    The air shifter eyed Matt, as if asking for permission. Did the man know what was potentially on the horizon? Matt gave a slight tilt of his head, and Kallen accepted Laurin’s fingers into his, his large hand engulfing hers.
    “Now what?” Her voice trembled.
    “Bring your magic to the surface. Touch Kallen with it.”
    The wind increased around them, like a localized storm had settled on the deck of the ship. But other than that—nothing. Both Kallen and Laurin turned their gazes toward Matt, disappointment in her eyes, resignation in his. Laurin pulled her hand free and clasped them together behind her back.
    “It didn’t work.”
    “I didn’t think it would.”
    “What? Then why did you have me—?”
    “It’s not enough. Your magic alone is not enough. Neither is mine.”
    Her face lit up again. “So if we work together, we can cure him?”
    “I think so.”
    She thrust out a hand to Kallen, eager and willing. “Give Matt your other hand, Kallen,” she ordered.
    Matt took it slowly. Kallen wrapped his fingers around hers. The stirring of her magic began again, and this time Matt added his power to the mix. Poured healing into Kallen’s body. He tried his hardest, because the alternative was going to be shocking for Laurin to consider, and leaving Kallen cursed was becoming less of an alternative with every minute that passed.
    She truly did care for the air shifter—that was clear.
    Around them the flash of magic sparkled in the air, although the slow exchange of energy he always felt when his powers were used was almost nonexistent. Something was happening, but not much, and it was Laurin who first dropped her hand from Kallen’s and muttered in frustration.
    “I can feel it, Matt. I can feel my magic trying to help, but it’s like there’s a wall. I’ve never—”
    She sat back, frustration and disappointment written on her body. “I’m sorry, Kallen. We tried.”
    The shifter dipped his head and reached for the pad of paper.
     
    Thank you. If I might spend a few hours resting before returning to the mountains, I would be grateful.
     
    “Of course you can stay. Are you hungry? Matt? I should go make us a late breakfast.”
    “Thank you, Laurin.” Matt made sure he kept his touch light as she came to his side and kissed him. He couldn’t resist holding her close for an extra moment, drawing strength from the contact.
    Then he was alone with the air shifter, and his internal moral battle reached the pinnacle. He looked across the short distance to Kallen, trying to see the man that Laurin knew. Someone from her past, maybe someone from her future. If she’d stayed in the mountains, she could have ended up mated with him. He was strong—both physically, and in the ways of the air shifters. Although their people were different, Matt sensed the power inside Kallen and knew him to be nearly his equal. Matt’s edge came from his connection to the water—the power not his own but shared from the ocean herself.
    He raised his gaze to meet Kallen’s and the knowledge hit him like a wall of a tsunami.
    “You know there is still a chance we can help, don’t you?”
    Kallen hesitated, then nodded.
    “Why didn’t you tell Laurin?” Matt’s soul ached. Why hadn’t he instantly told Laurin either?
    It took a while for Kallen to write out his answer. He stared at Matt for a long moment before passing the notepad over.
     
    Kilade told me specifically, and with a great deal of glee, what it would take to cure me. He also informed me that you would never allow it to happen. I have no wish to hurt Laurin, or challenge you,