Free Spring Frost by Kailin Gow Page B

a circle; we pushed through them hurriedly. There, in the center of the room, Alistair was standing upon one of the long tables we had been banqueting on only moments before, pinning Logan to the ground with magic: two long spindles of dark light emerging from his fingertips.
     
              “Alistair?” I tried to keep my voice as gentle as possible so as not to frighten him. “Alistair, what’s going on?”
     
              The soothing tone I had attempted to adopt seemed to work. Alistair looked up, distracted – just for a moment. Enough time for Kian to rush at Alistair, attempting to tackle him full-on.
     
              But Alistair looked back down just in time. A single flash of lightning – a black illumination that seemed to blind us all – pushed Kian back against the wall. He fell with a loud crash; my heart briefly stopped. But Kian’s moan of pain brought me some relief – he was alive, I thought. At least he was alive.
     
              “Alistair, what are you doing?” I took another step forward, trying not to spook him. “That’s Logan – our friend! You know that…”
     
              But another voice interrupted us, coming into the fray. “Alistair!” It was a light, sweet woman’s voice. Rose’s. “Please, Alistair – just let Logan go, okay?”
     
              Alistair turned to Rose. I saw his face filled with anger, with white-hot rage. I had never seen a face so devoid of humanity: Alistair’s smile was a mocking, cruel one, but there was no light in his eyes. There was only anger, only pain. “I know what I saw!” he cried. “I saw you with him, Rose. I know what you were doing.”
     
              Kian and I looked at each other in surprise. What was Alistair talking about? But when I followed Rose’s gaze, I was even more shocked: Rose was looking straight at Logan. Logan? What had Alistair seen? 
     
              “I saw the two of you together – so close…you were holding hands, snickering about something, whispering behind my back…”
     
              “What are you talking about, Alistair?” Rose looked genuinely confused. Her eyelids fluttered lightly. “This isn’t like you at all. You’re not the kind of person to get jealous – or violent. And in any case, Alistair, please believe me – you have nothing to be jealous about!” She took another step towards him, pleading with him: her eyes had grown wide with pity and fear. I couldn’t imagine anyone refusing Rose in this state – she looked so soft, so innocent, so pliant. But Alistair wasn’t having any of it.
     
              “Nothing?” Alistair laughed – a dark, hollow laugh. “Nothing, really?” His face twitched with anger; his frustration seemed to seethe through the room like dark smoke. “What do you say to that, Logan? Rose says it’s “nothing!” Well, is it nothing for you too, eh? Do you feel “nothing”? Is that what you feel?”
     
              Logan and Rose exchanged a quick, almost imperceptible glance. I could see Rose draw in breath sharply, her chest heaving with tension. She was poised, waiting – an inscrutable look upon her face.
     
              “Of course, Alistair!” Logan scrambled up to a sitting position. “You  know that. Remember, I was the one who encouraged you to go after Rose. I’m your friend – and you are mine. You know where my heart lies…” Logan shot a sad glance at me, and at my side I could feel Kian stiffen.  “Not even magic could change that. Rose knows it too – and she certainly doesn’t feel anything either.”
     
              Only I noticed Rose colored slightly – very slightly – when she spoke. I too was blushing; I looked down at the floor. I didn’t want Kian to see that Logan could still bring the crimson to my cheeks.
     
              “Come on, Alistair!” Rodney stepped forward, placing his broad chest