Chapter 241

alt

Maxwell crouched at the edge of the lake, dipping his hand into the water. His fingers passed through the green flames wh resistance, the fire swirling harmlessly around his skin. “Incredible,” he murmured, awe softening his features.

With a grin. I pulled him by the hand, and we both jumped in. The water enveloped us like a warm embrace, and for a moment, it felt like we’d left the North entirely. The icy surroundings faded into the background, replaced by the feeling of swimming in a southern pin- alive, vibrant, and soothing.

Maxwell swam with an energy I hadn’t seen in him before, his eyes shining like a boy reliving cherished memories. It was as though the

years of loss and hardship melted away with the ice.

“A hot pond in the middle of a frozen lake,” a voice called from the edge, and I turned to see Clay and Lucian standing there. Clay was

grinning, his emerald-green eyes glowing with amusement, while Lucian looked like he was already planning to jump in.