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He barely had time to react before Beira’s icy hand was wrapped around his throat. She looked back over her shoulder at Calum and Fern.
“Allow an old woman her revenge, will you?”
Her grin turned mischievous as her face changed. The delicate woman of winter hunched forward as her cloak became tattered and ripped. The surrounding magic lost some of its luster, and the dress Beira had been wearing turned into weathered rags.
Eòin started to scream as her face grew old and grotesque. Her veil was ripped away by the winds, revealing an ancient, scarred face, and only one, gleaming blue eye. The goddess turned into the hag, one of the many faces of winter, which could be both beautiful and ugly.
A flurry of snow formed a small vortex around Eòin and Beira, the anguished sounds of the murderer vanishing on the wind as they disappeared.
Calum and Fern stood in the middle of the street, too stunned and overwhelmed to move. Slowly, the frost and snow melted away and their friends came back to life. They made quick work of Eòin’s few remaining allies before Calum promised to tell everyone what happened when they were back inside. He sent them off to the library ahead of him, demanding they get a head start on the feasting.
Soon, Calum and Fern were left alone again.
Calum pushed some of Fern’s hair behind her ear. He could see her trying to work through everything that had been revealed to them. “Honestly, I can’t promise you that life is ever going to get any less crazy than this.”
Fern laughed, shaking her head as she looked at him. Her professor, her prince, her mate.
This was her home.
“I still choose you, Calum Orem Beifir Welsh Thalanil.” She kissed him in-between each of his names. Calum smiled, feeling like his heart might burst out of his chest.
“I’ll always choose you, Fern Mór McEwan. Now…let’s go before Emmett drinks all the good whisky.”
Epilogue
For the first time, the halls of Calum Welsh’s townhouse were covered in Christmas decorations. Every railing and banister was dripping with evergreen boughs, and wreaths were hung up in-between all the art.
When Fern asked Calum why he’d never decorated, he simply answered that it hadn’t been a priority. To which Fern made a shocked sound and muttered something about it being ‘always winter and never Christmas.’
Fern moved in shortly after the curse was broken. After Calum and Fern accepted the mating bond, it physically pained them to sleep apart. Calum spent one night in Fern’s student housing and declared the townhouse was simply more practical—and safer. He wasn’t wrong.
Calum was dividing his time between Edinburgh and Faerie, splitting the days between his office and throne room. Fern visited frequently, too, but they were planning on spending an extended winter break there before spring semester. When Calum was gone, Fern knew it comforted him to know she was sleeping in his bed, now their bed, and safe behind the wards.
It was the last day of term, and the couple was preparing to host a small party to celebrate the holidays, as well as their mating. Fern’s classes had ended the day before, and she was balanced on a ladder in the study, putting the finishing touches on the massive Christmas tree.
She heard the front door close and glanced at the clock on the mantle.
I don’t know how he always manages to be on time, even if he’s coming from another world.
“Fern?” Calum’s deep voice echoed through the house, and she smiled.
“I’m in the study!” Fern yelled back, biting her lip as she stretched out to rearrange an ornament. She leaned a little too far and slipped, but muscular hands caught her before she fell.
“Careful!” Calum chastised gently, rubbing small circles on Fern’s back as she straightened up.
“I’m fine,” Fern carefully turned around on the step. “You worry too much.” At this height, Fern could wrap her arms around Calum’s neck and look down at him.
He scoffed in response. “I have remarkable restraint for a fae who’s less than six months mated. You have no idea.” Calum’s voice dropped, and he stood up on his tiptoes, his grip tightening around Fern’s waist as he kissed her soundly.
“Yes, you’re very impressive.” Fern grinned and wrapped her fingers in his hair.
She wasn’t kidding either. They were both dressed for the party, but Calum had come from Faerie, which meant he was wearing his court best. It comprised a deep red tunic with black breeches and leather boots, with a sable-trimmed jacket that closed at his neck with a brooch. Fern still felt a flutter of heat rush through her at the sight of him dressed as a prince.
Calum picked Fern up and helped her off the ladder. “Remind me again why we had to have such an enormous tree?”
“Because,” she rolled her eyes, “Emmett was so proud of it when he chopped it down, but didn’t realize it was too small for his apartment. Now, do me a favor and make sure I didn’t leave any lights on the floor in the hallway, will you?”
Calum pretended to be annoyed. “And to think I thought I’d be the one making demands when I finally got my powers back.” He pressed another kiss to Fern’s forehead. “I guess it’s a good thing I love this dress on you so much.” Calum eyed the red velvet wrap dress that she had borrowed from Mara.
