Page 128 of The Prince and the Ice King

She was beautiful. A half-elf with dark hair and large almond eyes.

When Reardon looked back at Liam, Shayla had joined him, and she held his hand as he stared in awe until his eyes met those of his daughter. She must have recognized him, her expression placid at first, tense, but when she—Joslyn, Reardon remembered—smiled in hopeful encouragement, Liam and Shayla went to see her.

“Reardon?”

Reardon turned back, realizing he’d been left at the bottom of the steps, and hurried inside the castle after Jack, who was picking at the edges of the cloak. “Oh! Of course. You need to dress. I’ll run to my room as well and meet you in the hall?”

Jack nodded and drew Reardon in close to kiss him. Mavis was gazing at Reardon fondly when Jack headed away.

Everything was as it should be, Reardon’s friends all around him, embracing and talking happily, still waiting to pounce and embrace him once he ventured from the Fairy Queen’s side. They tried to pounce on Jack, but while he accepted a few half hugs on his way to his chambers, he begged to be allowed to get clothes on first.

Reardon smiled, but one question still plagued him before he could leave the queen. “Lands can be cursed with immortality. Could you give that to a person, but you simply refused Lombard?”

“I could,” she said, taking him by the elbow and leading him away from the entrance that would soon be filled with others, “but nothing comes without a price.”

“Butyouare immortal no matter where you tread?”

“Yes.” She smiled cryptically.

“Other elves only live forever if they are on your lands. What makes you different? Just your type of magic?”

“I’ll tell you a secret, Reardon.” She leaned in especially close to whisper, “I’m not an elf.”

Reardon jerked back. “Youarea fairy!”

“No.” She laughed. “There are other things in this world—and outside of it. Does it matter what I am if this is who I want you to see?”

She clearly had no intention of divulging what she truly was, but Reardon couldn’t help a wave of curiosity. Maybe someday he would learn the truth, but regardless, with the promise of all he had ahead of him, he bowed and answered plainly, “It doesn’t matter what anyone is, only who they choose to be.”

Jack

Jack took longer than he should have getting ready, dirty from being outside naked in the snow and wanting the warmth of a hot bath before he changed. It was surreal, knowing the sun shone outside.

For once, he wished his private chambers had windows.

Part of him kept waiting to wake from a long dream, and it would be that morning all over again, only Reardon wouldn’t heroically come to his rescue and change everything with a kiss.

But Jack never startled awake. Reardon had changed everything and ended the curse with the simple press of sweet lips and a love he had chosen to embrace against all odds.

Jack dressed in the blue-and-silver doublet Reardon had made for him, donning his crown and heading through the secret tunnels at last, where he could hear much merriment the closer he drew to the hall. He was last to arrive at the head table. Additional chairs had been added to accommodate every court member and their consort, including a seat beside Jack’s for his prince.

“You found it,” Jack said, taking in what Reardon wore. He had almost forgotten he left the green-and-gold doublet in Reardon’s wardrobe.

Reardon flew into his arms as wholeheartedly as he had when they were first reunited.

Then everyone else did too.

“Oh Jack!” Josie embraced him next, as radiant as ever in a golden gown.

Barclay was dressed rather princely himself, in clothing that bore more of Josie’s previously spun gold thread, but he was more reserved toward his king and merely clasped Jack’s forearm.

Liam and Zephyr held no such reservations and clobbered Jack from either side. Zephyr looked like a true courtier again, prim and stately, and Liam wore robes of opulent purple.

Shayla was there then to bow and kiss Jack’s cheek, in matching purple to Liam’s, though she remained in trousers instead of a skirt. Nigel didn’t bother with a bow or curtsy, wearing even more varied colors for his mismatched clothing than usual, but he kissed Jack’s cheek all the same, to which Jack laughed.

He expected Branwen to do no more than pat his shoulder, but his master of arms drew him in for a crushing hug, pulling Caitlin along with him to crush Jack further. They were dressed grandly too, taking this as the celebration it was, with Caitlin’s brunette hair done up in pinned curls.

Reardon returned to Jack’s side after he had been thoroughly accosted by everyone else. Jack took his seat and tugged Reardon onto his lap.

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