“Maybe you should... go.'

'Why? You seemed so insistent that I train you.'

'I can't concentrate with you around,' I admitted. 'And go... far. I can feel you from a room away.'

A suggestive curve shaped his lips.

I rolled my eyes. 'Why don't you just hide in one of those pocket realms for a bit.'

'It doesn't work like that. There's no air there.' I gave him a look to say he should definitely do it then, and he laughed. He jerked his chin at my tattoo. 'Give a shout down the bond if you get anything accomplished before breakfast.'

I frowned at the eye in my palm. 'What- literally shout at the tattoo?'

'You could try rubbing it on certain body parts and I might come faster.'

He vanished into nothing before I could hurl the candle at him.

Alone in the frost-gilded forest, I replayed his words and a quiet chuckle rasped out of me.”