“Rise and shine!” a sing-song voice called as blinding light flooded the room.

Zander shielded his eyes as he adjusted to the brightness. Asa stood in the doorway, her staff glowing. She smiled, tilting her head with playful charm, brushing her golden hair.

“Sorry about the intrusion,” she said, though her impish grin suggested otherwise. She stole a quick glance at both Zander and Alfread, winked, and softly closed the door.

Zander rolled out of bed and dressed quickly.

“Did you see the way she smiled at me?” Alfread beamed in his own radiant way as he got up. “Zander, what do I do?”

Zander stifled a laugh and forced a stern expression. “First, forget every ribald jest your father ever used. Those are the things we get to say after we’ve established our life’s mate bonds.”

Alfread’s entire being was focused on Zander’s advice as if he were the Seeress of Meladon, preaching the Divine King’s word on the day of prayer. Seeing how utterly important this was to Alfread, Zander tried not to let him down.

“Alfread, you’re the best looking, best listening, most poetic soul, and you might still ram your affection against Seraxa’s Wall and splinter your heart into a thousand pieces if you overthink this. You’re good enough for any woman—even this shining star. If it’s meant to be, Leverith will make it so.”

Alfread took a deep breath. “Brighter than the stars,” he said.

Zander clapped his friend’s back. “That’s right. I love you, brother. She will too.”

They emerged from the room—Zander in ill-fitting armor, Alfread looking princely in well-tailored leather. Asa leaned against the wall, wearing riding clothes that left her sandy-brown shoulders, toned arms, and chiseled calves exposed. She eyed them with a grin that made Zander believe she liked what she saw almost as much as Alfread must’ve liked the tight fit at her ample chest and bottom. Zander, so stricken, looked away to keep true to his life’s mate, and pictured Alexia wearing even more revealing clothes.

“Do you two always sleep together?” Asa asked.

“No!” Zander blurted, prepared to defend his manliness from the witch’s accusations.

Alfread more calmly replied, “Only when my boss’s heir abuses his privilege to play pranks on men that threaten his esteem.”

Asa brushed her hair out of her eyes with one of the most endearing smiles Zander had ever seen. Alfread smiled back, bright and confident.

She averted her gaze, as if shy. “No judgment from me. I grew up in Ferrickton, sleeping on straw. The Leverian University was the first time I experienced actual comfort. Countless times Lira and I collapsed in the nearest bed after drilling together for a dozen or more angles.”

“How did your magic awaken?” Alfread asked.

Good question, Zander thought. Keep her talking about herself.

Asa led them down a stairwell. “Do you want the long or short version?”

Alfread rushed ahead of her, opening the door into the courtyard. He met her gaze with his best smile. “I want the version you want to tell.”

She brushed her hair again, the edges of her lips curving. “The longer the better.”

Charismatic Alfread’s brief appearance was at its end. He blushed extravagantly as she brushed past him.

“I was twelve, working as a scullery maid in Lord Ferrickton’s manor, when Uncle Barnett told me that my father’s legs had been crushed in a cave-in.” Her aura seemed to dim. “The town’s medican said he’d never walk again. I refused to accept it. I hugged my father, sobbing into his shoulder, unable to believe that this man I loved wouldn’t walk again, that he wouldn’t chase me when the leaves fell or toss me in the air and catch me. I pleaded to Norali and to Leverith, begging for a miracle, for a more hopeful future. I closed my eyes and tried to see a future where my father walked beside me again.”

Asa inhaled, her lips trembling. “He held me, promising me that everything would be okay. I told him it would, because I was going to take care of him. That’s when I felt the energy flow into me—light and love—it emerged, golden and blue, twining around my father’s shattered legs as I saw the future of him throwing me into the air. When he stood and tossed me, it was one of the happiest moments of my life.”

“That’s a beautiful story,” Alfread said. “I shan’t ever forget it.”

Zander doubted Alfread ever forgot any story. The boy was a bipedal repository of books.

“Full of love and hope,” Alfread said, “your prayers were answered by Norali and Leverith. Your strength, your love, your hope—you were an amazing girl.”

Asa grinned and gestured toward herself, exuding charm. “If I was amazing then, how did I become this?”

“Stellar question,” Alfread said, his voice trembling. “How did you become amazing and radiant?”

She laughed and waved a hand through the radiant light surrounding her. “I think the light deceives you, Alfread.”

As they reached the castle stables, Alfread said, “I believe that the light shines with the radiance inside of you. How else do you explain your aura, Radiant?”

Asa stopped and smiled, enjoying the flattery. “That’s my new favorite theory.”

“You’re welcome,” he replied with a dramatic flourish.

Asa chuckled. “No other cognitive-affectomancers have had an aura of light they couldn’t control or turn off. And I’m the only one to have Isihlan ancestry. Master Emmalyn thought it was the interaction between Isihlan and Leverian magic.”

Alfread examined her eyes. “But you’re not a lightseer.”

“Nor am I a shadow.” She shrugged. “Still, the theory makes sense. And now I can trick people into thinking the light is just my inner beauty shining through.” She winked. “Thanks for that.”

Asa approached a small palfrey, its brown coat streaked with white, and stroked its mane. “Good morning, Nora,” she sang, and the horse nickered in response.

“Let me help you up,” Alfread offered.

“I can mount my own horse,” Asa replied, her tone polite but lacking her usual charm. Alfread stepped back, watching her with clear admiration as she climbed into the saddle. Zander had to admit it was an impressive sight—Asa was in remarkable shape. The University must make their witches carry thousands of books a day, squatting with every other step.

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“Do you have mounts?” Asa asked, glancing at Zander.

He quickly pulled his eyes off her, giving nothing but a nod. He didn’t want to steal any of Alfread’s fire.

“We left them at The Wrestling Bear,” Alfread said.

Asa sighed. “I was there last night. Some poor fool got his face pummeled by the bear. People were raving about a giant man with mystically blue eyes who knocked it out.” She fluttered her eyes at Zander.

“Alfread pulled the guy off the stage and took him to safety,” Zander said, trying to steer the conversation back to Alfread.

Asa studied him. “As I told Whelan last night when he begged me to take some more knights, I feel much safer knowing I have a bearbreaker escorting me.”

Alfread frowned at his feet as they passed through the castle gate. Zander pointed at Asa’s shortbow. “You should feel safe because Alfread’s with us. He’s either the best archer in the kingdom or I’m the smallest man.”

Asa flashed a smile. “You’re definitely not the smallest man.” She glanced briefly at Alfread before her eyes flitted to her own bow. “You’re a marksman?”

Alfread nodded, struggling to lift his frown. “I am.”

“Don’t be so humble, Alfread,” Zander said. “He once shot a wolf between trees at twilight while on a galloping horse.”

Alfread flushed, his gaze dropping.

“That sounds impressive,” Asa said, eyeing Alfread’s arms. “You have an archer’s build. You know what they say: ‘Long draw, heavy pull, make a man swole.’”

At first, Alfread beamed at the compliment, then cringed after Zander’s laughter alerted him to the hidden thorns on this rose. This woman would fit right in with Kenneth, it seemed, and Zander didn’t doubt that some of Alfread’s arm strength stemmed from long draws and heavy pulling that had naught to do with archery but still sent projectiles flying.

Alfread cleared his throat. “I can’t help but notice you’re very athletic, Asa.”

“Is that so?” Her tone was playful, trapping Alfread like a mouse between the cat’s paws.

He stumbled through his words, losing that typical eloquence. “I thought cognitive-affectomancers focused more on the sedentary studies of the mind.”

“The mind doesn’t work without the body. We endure intense physical conditioning exercises so that we can improve our reaction times and draw divine energy in more physically demanding situations. Lira and I spent thousands of angles swimming and training in the Ivy Bay to master Dalis’s water and our own bodies.” Her grin widened. “You haven’t truly lived until you’ve swam naked in the sea for seven angles, with a master screaming at you to stay calm and channel Dalis.”

The image of some old crone in a boat hollering at Asa and her companion, also sexy in his mind, while she battled exhaustion and the elements brought a smile to his face.

“I’m glad my suffering amuses you,” Asa said, winking at Zander.

“Gidi knows I’ve done similar things to myself to grow strong,” he said. “Are you going to make Alexia thrash around in the Bear River while you throw stones at her?”

Asa’s devilish grin couldn’t have looked more angelic. “You’d like that wouldn’t you?”

“I’d be in the water with her,” Zander said, “ensuring her safety from pythanaji.”

Asa raised a brow. “Pythanaji, eh?” She glanced down at Zander’s crotch. “Too much long drawing and heavy pulling in Bear’s Crossing these days.”

Zander averted his eyes, wishing he’d been more aware of crossing the boundary, feeling like he was unfaithful to both Alexia and Alfread. He needed to be better, but old habits were hard to kill, and Asa was more charming, and far more beautiful, than any tavern wench he’d ever bandied words with.

Alfread forced a chuckle. “What happened after you healed your father?”

Asa’s aura dimmed as she spoke. “This light surrounded me constantly, but I couldn’t cast another spell. Word reached Rubinia, and Master Emmalyn arrived telling me that I was to go with her to learn magic at the Leverian University. I was terrified. I didn’t want to leave the only home I knew. My aunt was pregnant, and I wanted to be there when her daughter was born…” Her voice trailed off.

Alfread’s soft tone pulled her back. “How did you know it would be a daughter?”

Asa gazed at the rising sun. “Because in my mother’s line, every child for generations has been an Isihlan daughter, ever since Quresh Shadowseer fathered the first of us.”

Alfread sounded like he just finished with long draw, heavy pull. “The Shadowseer! You’re descended from the Shadowseer!”

“That is what my aunt told me. All daughters, all Isihlan with nary a trace of our Leverian lineage showing. My aunt told me that I carried as much of Isihla’s sands in my complexion as her mother did.”

Zander had no idea what in Yadeen’s name they were talking about, but Alfread was in his element. “Incredible! You’re like the daughters of the Sun Priestess! The Shadowseer! Norali shines upon thee, Asa!”

Grinning, she dusted off her riding leathers.

Alfread reined himself in. “What happened when Master Emmalyn found you?”

“I told her I didn’t want to go, but my father convinced me it was my fate. He told me that I’d always been his light, but now I was Leveria’s.”

“Leaving must have been hard,” Alfread said.

“It was very hard,” Asa said, aura dimming. “I always thought I’d have more time with them, but I was gone when both my father and my aunt died. Plague took them both, seven years ago. I was off fighting in Vulcan at the time. Moons passed before I even knew.”

Zander averted his eyes, the pain touching too close to his own heart, tears brimming. At least he’d been there, and he hadn’t had the magic that could’ve saved his own mother. His heart broke for Asa, and he wanted to protect her more fiercely than ever.

“I’m so sorry,” Alfread said with clear compassion.

“When I arrived in Rubinia,” Asa continued, “Master Emmalyn and Kai Blazelord presented me to King Roni. I spent the morning of my thirteenth birthday on my knees swearing fealty. After that, learning how to master cognitive-affectomancy became my life. I went years without seeing my family or even leaving Rubinia.”

“You were a girl far from home, surrounded by strangers, few of them like you,” Alfread said, the echo of his mother’s empathy.

“I was lonely,” Asa admitted. “I grew up with my aunt in a small community that treated us like family. In Rubinia, I was a young girl trying to learn complex magic after years of cleaning dishes, where nobody looked like me, and most treated me like an exotic animal.”

“The light-skinned people born with silver spoons treated the brown-skinned girl with the radiant aura like a novelty rather than a person,” Alfread said, “when you were a lonely girl far from home, doing her best to find her place in a new world where you didn't fit in.”

Asa nodded, sharing a brief gaze with Alfread before her eyes flitted away. Her aura glowed brighter, perhaps more radiant than ever before.

“You persevered,” Alfred continued, his voice choked, “like a brilliant diamond forged by impossible pressure. You became a master. Like your father hoped, you are a light for Leveria.”

Asa glanced at him, eyes uncertain. “I had no choice. Emmalyn, Kai Blazelord, even Lira, never let me give up.”

“Asa,” Alfread said, moving closer to her, “they might have pushed you, encouraged you, or even threatened you,” Asa laughed, and Alfread’s smile expanded as wide as the Bear River, “but you woke up each day and chose to become who you are today.”

“And who am I today?”

“Radiant.”

Asa’s aura flared, blinding Zander for several turns, before it returned to its usual piercing luminosity. “Thank you for flattering me, Alfread. I think people sometimes forget that even cognitive-affectomancers have feelings, despite it being half our name.”

“How could it be flattery if every word is true?”

As they approached The Wrestling Bear, Zander’s heart burgeoned with warmth. Alfread was performing masterfully, but it was not truly a performance. Nothing that natural can rightly be called a performance. A river moving is not a performance, just as a star shining is not a performance. He was simply being himself. His words flowed smoother than any river and his smile shined brighter than any star. Zander believed then, despite Asa’s averted gaze, that Alfread found his life’s mate.

She waited outside the stables while Zander and Alfread retrieved their mounts. Alfread sighed. “Alexia couldn’t stop looking at you. Why can’t Asa meet my eyes without running away?”

Zander opened his mouth to speak but Alfread didn't relent. “The more the sun turns above us, the more words she blows my way, the more I see her shine, the more I am convinced she is my life’s mate. Alas, I know not whether I am hers.”

Zander clapped his shoulder. “Remember your parents. Love is about finding the right moment, and you’re on the right path.”

“You’re right,” Alfread said, light shining in his eyes.

“I am the master of love,” Zander said, brushing Paladin’s silver mane.

The horse neighed happily and devoured the offered apple. “We’re headed to Mirrevar,” Zander whispered, “where we’ll become legends.”

Zander inhaled, feeling the absence of his mother’s locket, thinking of the home he’d never known.