Winter’s Echo by Eve L. Mitchell

Do not reveal my magic.
Do not trust the quiet ones.
Do not stand out long enough to be noticed.

In the frozen kingdom of Crystallese, winter doesn’t forgive mistakes—and hidden power comes with a price.

I’ve survived by staying small. As a trailfinder, I guide caravans through dangerous mountain passes, keeping my magic concealed with silence and discipline. In a world where power must be declared or destroyed, remaining unseen is my only protection.

Until one mistake forces me onto a northbound caravan with no way out.

The journey is brutal. The rules are unspoken. And one man watches me as if he already knows what I’m trying to hide.

He doesn’t threaten.
He doesn’t reassure.
He simply pays attention.

As the cold intensifies and my magic begins to stir, survival demands more than just endurance. Every mile north strips something away—my certainty, my restraint, my belief that silence will keep me safe.

Because in Crystallese, secrets don’t stay buried forever.

And winter is only the beginning.