Page 43 of The Enchanted Frost

Frost’s icy blue eyes softened, his voice filled with quiet awe. “Yet because you obtained the heart of an immortal being, your soul has fused with mine. You’re no longer bound by the cycle of life and death, but your existence has become part of winter’s magic, healing the balance that was threatened by our love. The very love that jeopardized everything is what ultimately saved us—we were both willing to make any sacrifice necessary for the other’s good, and such a love is more powerful than we even realized.”

I stared at him, trying to process the enormity of his revelation. All the fears and anxieties about losing him and forcing him to choose between love and duty no longer loomed over us, dissolving like snow under the first warm breath of spring. The revelation washed over me, a deep sense of peace filling the space where fear had once been.

“Does this mean…” My voice trembled with a mix of awe and disbelief. “We can be together? Forever?”

Light filled Frost’s expression as he nodded. “We can.” Tenderness filled his voice as he cradled my face, his touch cool but filled with love. “We can rule together, not just over winter, but over the world we now share. Together we’ll do more than oversee the season—we’ll bring balance, not only to winter, but to all who depend on it.”

My heart swelled at the thought. No longer was I an outsider in his world, nor was he trapped between love and duty. We were equals, bound not only by love but by the very magic that sustained winter itself. I smiled through my tears. “Winter will be more than just cold and darkness. We’ll bring something new to the season—something kinder, warmer.”

Frost’s lips curved into a rare, genuine smile. “With you by my side, I have no doubt we’ll create something beautiful.”

We embraced, the weight of our shared destiny settling around us like a blanket of fresh snow. As the light around us dimmed to a soft glow, the warmth remained—a testament to the magic that had recognized our shared hearts—and I felt a sense of profound rightness, as if everything had finally aligned. No longer was I simply a mortal trespassing in his immortal world; I was his equal, his partner, sharing the power of winter itself with him.

I rested my head against his chest, smiling softly. Through our sacrifice, we had gained something far greater—each other, forever entwined, with a future that now stretched beyond the limits of time.

EPILOGUE

The world outside our realm was silent, blanketed in a soft layer of snow, but within the glacier palace the air hummed with a quiet, comforting magic that I had grown intimately familiar with during my time as Frost’s wife. I watched the dancing snowflakes through the frost-covered window decorated with the patterns Frost had created in my childhood. My breath no longer fogged the glass—there was no more sharp contrast of mortal warmth against the winter’s chill; I was now part of this realm and the endless cycle of winter, and though the cold surrounded me, I had never felt more alive. For the first time in my life I truly belonged.

As I stared across the endless expanse of frost and snow, I marveled at how much this realm had become my home and basked in the sense of purpose I had found here; Frost told me I brought something different to winter now that I was part of its guardianship.

The cold had always been pure and beautiful in its stillness, but now I could add a touch of warmth withoutdisturbing the balance Frost so carefully guarded. The drifting snowflakes seemed to shimmer just a bit brighter, the ice-carved trees possessed the softest glow, and I could feel life beneath each frozen surface, waiting patiently for its time to emerge. Winter no longer felt harsh or isolating, but instead cradled a gentleness, a reminder that even in the coldest season, there was comfort, warmth, and love. This was my role—to bring hope’s warmth to the cold, to balance the heart of the season with a tenderness only I could offer.

I was gently tugged from my reminiscences with the arrival of soft padding footsteps—a sound I’d come to know well. A smile tugged my lips. I didn’t need to turn to feel Frost’s presence; the familiar energy that pulsed from him always called to something deep within me.

He slipped his arms around my waist and pulled me against his chest, his embrace as warm to me as any summer sun. “Admiring your kingdom again?” he murmured into my ear, his breath sending shivers down my spine, though not from the cold.

I leaned back into him, resting my head against his shoulder, and let out a contented sigh. “Ourkingdom,” I corrected.

I felt his lips curve into a smile against my neck. “You always remind me but I still can’t get used to it. You, standing here, with me. It feels like something out of a dream.” Affection filled his soft voice.

I laughed lightly, tilting my head to meet his gaze. “Then we’re both dreaming…and I never want to wake up.”

His fingers traced a gentle line down my back before turning me in the cradle of his arms so we faced one another. Even after all this time, I still marveled at him—the way his eyes sparkled with that ice-blue glow, the way his silver hair caught the light like spun frost, the way his touch remained soft and tender even though he wielded the raw power of winter. He had regained all of his breathtaking immortality…with the added tempering of human compassion. And then there was the way he looked at me, as if even with all he had experienced within his eternal existence, I was the most precious thing in his world.

He brushed a strand of hair—which had transformed in the FrostHeart chamber to both the color and sparkle of fresh snow—from my face. “I never thought I could have you with me, ruling by my side—my beloved Queen of Winter.”

I smiled as I rested my hand on his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath the fabric of his cloak. “Neither did I,” I whispered, my voice full of wonder. “But here we are.”

Frost cupped my cheek, his thumb softly brushing my skin. For a moment, we simply stood there, lost in each other.

There was no need to fill the quiet with anything but the warmth of our connection, one I never would have imagined over the course of my mortal life. Only by it coming to its frozen end had I been able to discover this new beginning beyond anything I could have ever imagined, even amid the wealth and privilege that had once been mine.

We basked in the reverence for a long, beautiful moment until he spoke. “Have you gotten used to the snow yet, my queen? You don’t seem to miss the sun.” His tone was playful, evidence of the happiness he shared.

I raised a teasing eyebrow. “There seems to be plenty of warmth whenever I need it.”

“And yet you still seem to be rather attached to my cloak.” His eyes danced.

The sound of my laughter drew Shiver’s notice; his head poked out from the soft bed where he was curled in a frosty ball and he peered curiously over.

“I admit to the attachment, but not to being cold. It’s puresentiment for the cloak’s owner.” I snuggled deeper into the cloak before leaning up to press a soft kiss to his lips.

His embrace tightened around me, pulling me closer as he earnestly returned my kiss, his slow and sweet. A mischievous gleam filled his eyes when we parted. “I will do my best to ensure you’re never cold again.”

I laughed again, the sound echoing through the grand halls of the icy palace, and nestled back against him, savoring the feel of him. Outside, the snow fell endlessly, but in this moment everything was perfect in the life we’d carved out together—one built on love, sacrifice, and the unbreakable bond forged in the labyrinth.

I lifted my head as I felt Frost stiffen in surprise. “What is that?” He pointed to the corner of the room, where a cozy fire crackled upon an ice hearth—a blaze I’d kindled with magic this time instead of the poor matches I’d once depended on for my very existence.

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