Page 117 of Ice Queen

My eyes trail over her face, cataloguing everything. The fact that there are no creases around her eyes, and her forehead isn’t tense. She’s found the peace that only comes when the demons that were chasing you finally fade away. I know it all too well, and I’m honored we found this kind of peace together.

I drop my gaze to her lips, licking my own as a smile splits her face. “Kiss me, Casanova,” she challenges.

She doesn’t have to ask me twice. My lips meet hers, soft and slow. Something that’s just for the two of us, regardless of the chaos happening around us. When I pull away, I note the smile still on her lips, so I press in again, and again until he’s laughing into me.

Her hand lands on my cheek, eyes misty as she looks into mine. “I love you, Casanova.”

“Te quiero, mi reina,⁠*” I whisper, brushing my thumb along her jaw. “Para siempre.⁠*”

And this time, when I say it, there’s nothing left standing in our way.

* I love you, my queen

* Forever

Epilogue - Markus

Four months later

“So this is the infamous Kaitlyn.” Dr. Williams claps in front of him as we walk into his office. Her laugh carries through the room, her real laugh, not the polite one.

“Nice to meet you, young lady.” His hand encases hers, and she smiles.

“You as well.”

Settling on the couch, the bar of light is already on the table, same as it’s always been. Kait’s shoulder presses against mine, her warmth radiating through my shirt, and I think about how far I’ve come. From the first session with Monroe and Lettie, to now having my woman with me. Comfortable enough to share this part of my life with her.

“I want to run through it again.” I clear my throat. “I want to work through the belief that I have to earn my place with the people I love.”

She tenses beside me, but only for a second before her nails drag up and down my forearm.

“I think that’s a great idea.” He reaches for the remote. “Let’s go with something smaller this time. Not the crash,” he says. “Something from your childhood.”

I nod, my eyes fixing on the light as it begins to move.

“I remember when Cecy was three.” The memory easily surfaces. “She fell in the pool. Couldn’t swim yet.” I track the light back and forth. Left and right. “I dove in and got her before my parents even made it to the door.”

My mom gave me ice cream and pastries for months after that. I ate so many sweets that I ended up puking on more than one occasion. Worth it.

“And what positive belief supports that?”

I open my mouth, and nothing comes out. The question hangs in the air. I know the answer. I have for a while now, I just haven’t been able to say it out loud.

Kait silently slides her hand into mine, offering me something visceral to hold on to. This woman is my anchor, the very thing my soul tied itself to all those years ago.

“What does that tell you?” His eyes drop to our joined hands.

I smile down at them, her thumb tracing a slow line across my knuckles.

“That I never had to earn it.” My voice comes out shakier than I mean for it to. “Any of it.”

The light turns off, and Doctor Williams sits back in his chair with a soft smile. “How has the drinking to cope been?”

The question shocks me, not because it isn’t a fair question, but because I don’t remember the last time I even had the urge to drink. I walk past the bowl of bottle caps daily, and I’ve never thought about it more than a decoration.

“I um…” My hand pushes through my hair. “I don’t remember the last time I needed one.”

His arms cross over his chest, lips pulling a bit more at the corner. “And the nightmares?”