His arms tightened around me. “You brought me back. I’m okay now.”
I nodded against him, and we stood there simply holding each other for a long time.
He was back. My big sweetie brute was back, and I was never going to let anyone take him away from me again. Ever.
“You’re staying with me forever now, just so you know.”
He snorted quietly, clearly worn out and exhausted. “I like that idea.” After a few minutes, he asked, “You know Snowball isn’t my middle name, right?”
I snorted. “It was a good guess, though.”
He chuckled quietly and kissed my neck. “Thank you for coming.”
I leaned back and glared up at him. “Of course I fucking came. Did you really think I’d let you be taken over by some selfish, horrible, evil asshole? No fucking way.”
His gaze turned fond as he cupped my cheek with one of his big furry hands. “I know.”
“You better.” I gave him a small push that was more like a nudge, especially since I just pulled him closer.
He snorted, then leaned down and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to my lips. “I love you, my sweet and grouchy werewolf.”
I snorted but met his gaze. “And I love you, my big and beautiful snow yeti.”
His gaze softened further, and he leaned down for another kiss before he gasped in pain. “Mphphpmm. Holy crapola.”
“What? What’s wrong?”
His shocked eyes met mine, wide and filled with something like wonder. “It’s… it’s back.” He looked down at his chest, and I followed his gaze.
“What do you…” I trailed off as I watched in fascination.
Lanche’s chest glowed a bright blue, pulsing with his heartbeat. I was scared something was wrong for a few seconds before I realized the shape of the glow was one of an icicle.
My eyes shot up to his. “It’s back? Your icicle?”
He nodded, still looking mystified.
Before I could stop him, Lanche placed his hand over his heart, and I could feel him push with his magic. Slowly, the icicle poked out of his fur, coming right out of his chest and into his hand. Thank goodness it passed through his skin without leaving even a tiny mark behind—yay for magic. That could’ve been horrific.
But… now it was out in the open again.
What the actual fuck?
I gasped and pushed on his hand. “What are you doing? Oh my Mother, Lanche, put it back. Please, baby, put it back.”
To my horror, Lanche held the icicle out to me. “It belongs to you now.”
“What?” I pushed his hand away from me. “No fucking way. I already lost it once. I’m not going to be responsible for it again. No way.”
“You didn’t lose it. Someone stole it from you.”
I scoffed. “Yeah, not any better. And now that everyone in the entire territory has seen what you can do, it’ll be in even more danger. Put it back. Now.”
He shook his head, grabbed my hand, placed the icicle in it, and curled his fingers around mine, folding them between both his hands. “It doesn’t… fit anymore.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means that I love you, and you love me, so my icicle is yours. Forevermore.”
