“This type of crystal is one that can be recharged, and it’s kind of like a first aid classification. It can fully heal minor wounds, and it can semi-heal a severe wound, but it can’t heal anything fatal, unfortunately. Salves give the crystal a boost. There’s also a crystal that grows at the bottom of the lake.”
“What is it?”
“Terlivine. It’s a poison crystal used to make a supernatural sick. It poisons magical energy until the body starts to reject it.”
A shiver rushed down my spine. “That’s unnerving.”
“It’s unpleasant to feel,” he muttered. “When I was a child, one had been snuck into the royal throne room, and our family got really sick. It was placed there by a traitor, but it was taken care of before anything bad happened.”
“Thank the Fates for that.” I frowned. Being part of the royal family must’ve been dangerous growing up.
“I agree.”
We passed over the start of the mountain range and excitement bubbled up inside me. “This is really amazing.”
He took a deep breath. “I never thought I’d have the chance to show you all these things.”
“But you do, and this won’t be the last time I come to your realm.” I strained my neck up and kissed his cheek.
His lips curved into a grin. “You want to make a contract on it?”
“What kind of contract?” I arched a brow at him.
A gust of wind knocked into us, and he reared to the left before flapping his wings harder and keeping us upright. “That surprises me, Kit. Are you considering entering a contract with me?”
“You are my mate. I trust you enough to make a contract with you.”
“How do you want to seal our contract this time?” he asked in a husky tone.
My tongue darted out and licked his collarbone, where my mark resided on his flesh. “I can think of a few ways.”
Groaning, he said, “You’re going to kill me up here.”
“No, I won’t. I would never do such a thing.”
He lowered us down on the very top of a mountain where the winds were higher, and my hair flew around wildly. “You are beautiful.” He kissed my lips as his wings flapped behind him.
My cheeks heated as I looked around. Snow crunched under our feet, and the trees up here were something out of a fairytale book. They were small, about my height, and the crystal leaves were abundant. The trunk itself was clear and looked to be ice.
The helarhite crystals were a deep green and glittered under the white suns. I moved toward them, running my fingers down the leaf-shaped crystal to find that it was so smooth. A tingle spread in my fingers, and I smiled, looking over at a man I had known my entire life. “Thorn, these are really amazing.”
“Do you remember the hairbrush I gave you when we were sixteen?”
“I still have it.” I reached into the bag and pulled it out.
His smile widened. “Of course you do.”
Touching the brush made me realize that the frame of the brush was made with that crystal. “Thorn…”
“One thing you do all the time is brush your hair. It’s been that way since we met. I wanted to make sure I could provide you with healing even if I wasn’t there.”
My eyes flooded with tears as I stuffed the brush back into my bag. “I love you.”
“I’ve loved you forever.” He came forward and cupped my face before sealing his lips on mine. “Now, what were you saying about making that contract with me?”
A shudder shot through my body as he pulled away, and the look in his eyes was primal as he pulled back so I could answer. “I’ll make a contract with you.”
“Promise me that you’ll come back to the Ice Kingdom with me.”
