Page 34 of The Enchanted Frost

And yet, beneath the surface, I couldn’t shake the lingering knowledge that our time together was finite, the forces threatening to tear us apart growing stronger with each passing day. Her life was but a brief flicker in the endless expanse of my existence, a single snowflake in my eternal blizzard. Yet that flicker had become the brightest light I’d ever known, casting long shadows over the cold, unfeeling void that had once been my only companion.

Previously, I’d never given a thought to my immortal existence, but now I looked forward with something akin to dread to all of the years that would stretch out before me after she was gone. I imagined myself wandering through the empty halls of my castle, Blanche’s absence a gaping wound that would never heal.

I tried to tell myself it would be easier to let go before theroots of my feelings burrowed any further into the frozen ground of my heart. She was a fragile mortal, destined to wither and fade like the seasons, while I would remain unchanging, watching as time passed me by…once more endured alone.

No matter how diligently I tried to build walls of ice back around my heart, she had already found her way in, melting the frost that had encased my soul for centuries. She had touched a part of me that had been dormant for so long that I had forgotten it even existed, breathing life into the cold, lifeless world I’d created for myself; the thought of returning to that solitude was unbearable.

I attempted to distract myself with maintaining my realm, attempting to will the ice and snow to obey my commands as they always had. But every time I tried to retreat into the icy solitude that had been my sanctuary for centuries, I found myself drawn back to her—seeking a single glimpse of her smile, or to hear the sound of her laughter echoing through the halls of my castle—causing the resolve I had so carefully constructed to crumble.

With each passing day—each shared laugh and stolen kiss—I found it harder and harder to imagine a life without her, a life that would stretch on into eternity, cold and empty once more. So I allowed myself to hold onto the warmth she had brought into my existence, and to hope, however fleetingly, that there might be a way to make this winter last forever.

Now as I bent over a book I’d already scoured multiple times, she sat quietly in the far corner of the room, concern etching her features despite her life being the one at risk…and my horrible duty to be the one to end it. Whatever amount of time her soul might extend in my endless immortality would be meaningless without her in it, living, breathing, and sharing my existence.

My usually dormant heart wrenched at the thought, reminding me of the perplexing emotions that distracted me from my purpose as the King of Winter, especially now that I knew that I was able to…I sighed and shook my head.

Somehow, in the short duration of our acquaintanceship, she’d become my one constant in this cold world—more so than the powers I’d always relied on. The warmth she had brought into my life had pierced through my icy exterior, yet every moment spent with her felt like sand slipping through an hourglass—precious and fleeting.

“There has to be a way,” I muttered, my voice barely a whisper against the cold air. “Some loophole, some hidden path that I haven’t yet discovered…”

Blanche rose and crossed the room to stand beside me, her presence enfolding me in a comforting warmth that I grew to crave the longer we spent together. “What’s troubling you?” Her voice pulled me back from the edge of my spiraling thoughts.

I hesitated, but concealing the truth was both dishonest and pointless. “I’ve searched every corner of the winter realm, consulted every spirit, read every ancient text…but nothing gives me hope of saving you without disrupting the balance. I’m bound by the unyielding laws that govern my existence, forces far greater than myself…though there is one who might know a way.” I took a wavering breath before speaking the name I both feared and respected. “Borealis.”

Her brow puckered, a seemingly simple gesture but one I found strangely endearing. The more I came to know her, the more intoxicating I found her. Objectively, she was no different from any other mortal, yet everything about her drew me in. Though her appearance hadn’t changed save for her hair acquiring a shimmer reminiscent of frost, with each passing day she seemed more beautiful. Desires stirredwithin my frozen heart that diverged from my old single-minded purpose of creating winter.

“Who is Borealis?” she asked.

“The Spirit of Winter, a primordial, ancient being who embodies the true essence of winter itself, beyond what I as the season’s king represent.”

She furrowed her brow, my paltry explanation clearly not enough to satisfy her curiosity. “I don’t understand. I thought you were the King of Winter. What is this being’s role in relation to yours?”

I took a moment to gather my thoughts, knowing this would be difficult to explain. “Borealis is the original force of winter, a being that existed long before the current cycle of seasons. His power and wisdom dwarf even mine. He is neither benevolent nor malevolent, but exists on a plane where emotions and morality are irrelevant. His sole concern is maintaining the natural order, ensuring the cycle of life and death remains unbroken. Borealis represents the raw, unfiltered force of nature—a power that cannot be easily swayed or controlled, even by beings like me.”

Her eyes widened, the weight of my words sinking in. “So he’s the creator of the laws that govern your existence?”

I nodded. “Borealis is the one who defined the laws that bind me, thus he is the only one who could hope to overwrite them…and possibly change the fate I fear for you. But…” I trailed off, my mind already consumed by the dangers that awaited us. Though Borealis could be the key to breaking the cycle that bound me to my duty, dealing with him would be perilous. His motives were enigmatic, not to mention that the price for his intervention could be far higher than either of us anticipated.

She stepped closer, determination shining in her eyes. “Wherever you go, I will accompany you…especially if it’s for my sake.”

Protests immediately burned on my tongue. “Why would you take such a risk when you know where my duty still lies, and what I will be forced to do should the elements overcome you on our journey?”

She considered my words carefully. “I know it seems illogical when you’ve made no secret of what your ultimate destiny is, but not only have you rescued me more than once, I’ve enjoyed our time together. It’s the happiest I’ve ever been in my life, making it impossible to resent you. And you are the only one who has ever sought to protect me or to make me happy…making you the only one I trust.”

My heart swelled at her words, filled with a gratitude I didn’t deserve. I shook my head and stepped back from her, as if the mere suggestion was too much to bear. “No. It’s too dangerous. The path to Borealis is treacherous, even for someone like me. You…you could be hurt, or worse.” Mortals’ fragility that I’d never had any reason to give a second thought felt unbearable in this moment.

Fear briefly flickered in her eyes—the awareness of her own weakness that I often saw reflected in the faces of mortals, an emotion I would do anything to dispel…even if it meant venturing to face the one being whose authority superseded mine.

But whatever reservation I thought I glimpsed lasted only a moment before determination took its place. “I’ve already frozen to death once.”

The risk extended beyond her mortal life; her soul was at stake, and with my faltering powers growing weaker the longer she resided in my ice castle, I was less certain I would be able to protect her. The sense of helplessness—so foreign to me after an eternity of relying solely on my power—felt suffocating, especially as an even more alarming thought occurred to me.

“Borealis may judge that my indecision is unacceptable and that he must complete my duty himself.”

Her eyes widened in alarm as she pulled in a quick breath, but rather than falter in her decision, she only stepped closer to me.“Even so, I still choose to be with you through it all rather than wait here where he could possibly use his power as well.”

Sharp pain unlike any I’d ever experienced seized my heart at the thought of anything happening to her, such a contrast to my indifference when I’d first encountered her in that alley. Back then she’d been merely another soul to claim, but now the idea of losing her was excruciating.

She reached out to take my hand, a touch that caused my heart to give an erratic leap. “I’m not afraid, Frost. Not if it means helping you, helpingus. I won’t just sit here, waiting and wondering if you’ll return. I want to be there with you, no matter the risks.”

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