Before I can reply, Gideon and the king join us.
We stay for breakfast, and I’m pleased to discover that my appetite has returned, at least a little. A steaming mug of tea warms my hands, and the fragrant scent of cinnamon rising from it feels wonderfully comforting after the terror of the night. Platters of warm bread, roasted vegetables, and honeyed frost-apples sit on the long wooden table inside King Theron’s tent.
For the first time since the blast in the cabin, the realm feels almost normal. Almost.
I glance across the table at Gideon. He sits close enough that his knee keeps brushing against mine, a silent reassurance that he is here and that we are both safe. He appears outwardly calm, but the bond reveals a different story. Beneath his calm expression, grief continually moves through him in deep, dark waves.
Lachlan. He’s thinking about Lachlan.
My chest tightens, and I try to send him a wave of comfort.
He catches my eye and gives me a gentle smile, and I sense his appreciation through the bond.
When the meal is over, we say our goodbyes to Helena and the king.
It’s time to prepare for our journey to Frostfall. Rather than flying, we’ll be traveling with the wagons. Wagons that aren’t horse-drawn but instead glide across the air directly above the ground, propelled by winter magic alone. We’ll need to stay with the wagons because they will be transporting the frozen bodies. My chest tightens again.
As we wait for the soldiers to finish preparing the wagons, I spot a frozen lake in the distance, and I grasp Gideon’s hand and lead him there. He follows without question, and we soon arrive at the frozen lake that glitters brilliantly under the morning sunlight. The soldiers’ voices fade into the background, and we hear only the wind whispering through the trees. It’s peacefulhere, and I hope the quiet moment will help my mate collect his thoughts and perhaps even start to come to terms with his brother’s death, as well as his guilt over what almost happened to me.
“A soldier went to retrieve Lachlan’s body from the cave,” Gideon eventually says. “Gods, he was my brother. My only sibling…”
The pain in his voice makes my eyes burn with tears. Stepping closer, I slip my arms around his waist and rest my cheek against his chest. “I know.”
“He was lost to his grief,” Gideon says. “He was mad with it. I’m not sorry I killed him, yet I’m sorry I had to do it. I hope that makes sense. Gods. Most of all, though, I am sorry that he hurt you. I am sorry that he scared you.”
I tighten my hold on him. “I understand, but you did what you had to do. You didn’t have a choice. And you saved me. Then you healed me.”
His arms come around me then, holding me with a tenderness that makes my heart swell with boundless affection. “I almost lost you.”
“But you didn’t,” I whisper. “I’m still here. And I’m not going anywhere.”
He snorts lightly. “As if I would let you go anywhere. I will never let you out of my sight again.” He runs his hands through my hair, tightening his arms around me. The bond remains a warm hum between us, a comfort as we both think of all that might’ve gone wrong yesterday.
But we both survived. We are still whole.
And the battle in Hollins went better than I ever expected, thanks to the Winter King’s mercy. Thanks to Helena’s persuasive ways. I know over two hundred soldiers died, and the mayor too, but no one else in Hollins got hurt. My father is alive and well, and so are the Geltrinns.
Gideon turns me to face the mountain behind us, and he points to a small clearing amid the snow-covered pines. “I was thinking right there would be the best spot for our cabin. We would have a perfect view of the frozen lakes, the endless forest, and the valley below.”
Then he sends me an image through the bond, and I see it as clearly as he’s picturing it. A large but cozy cabin trimmed in glittering silver and blue, in the style of the Winter Court, stands tall in the clearing. It’s surrounded by frost-apple trees, ice-berry bushes, and wandering reindeer.
“I think you picked just the right spot,” I murmur, awestruck by the vivid details in the shared vision.
Resting my cheek against Gideon’s chest, I listen to the steady beating of his heart as we share a quiet moment built on trust.
In less than an hour, we’ll embark on our journey to Frostfall. I’ll see what is left of his crumbling home province, and then we’ll lead his people back to the ussha-blessed human lands. It won’t be an easy task, but we will share the burden of any difficulties that arise.
As he tightens his arms around me and his winter-cold breath caresses my neck, I come to a comforting realization: wherever Gideon is, that is where my home will always be.
“Yes, little moth,” he murmurs. “Always and forever.”
EPILOGUE
One year later…
ISABEL
Just as Iremove the tray of ice-berry scones from the oven, I hear footsteps in the hallway. My heart quickens. Gideon sends me a wave of affection as he enters the kitchen. I glance over my shoulder to offer him a gentle smile in return, and my breath promptly falters at the sight of his bare, muscular chest.
