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“Say it,” I grip her chin tighter.
“Aiden…” I can see hesitation in her eyes, hear the quivering in her voice. Soon, she’ll be hiding in her frozen castle, refusing everyone access.
“Say it, Elsa,” My tone becomes harsh and non-negotiable.
A sigh rips from her. “I love you, Aiden. No matter what.”
“No matter what, huh?”
“Yes, dickhead. No matter what.”
She wraps her small arm around my midsection and buries her face in my chest. I rest my chin on the top of her golden locks and inhale her coconut scent.
“You used to smell like cotton candies and summer,” I tell her. “And fucking Maltesers.”
“Hey!” She pushes at my chest. “Don’t go insulting my Maltesers. I love them, okay? Besides, you should be honoured I shared them with you. They’re delicious.”
“Not really. I only ate them because you kept shoving them down my throat.”
“You ungrateful arsehole.”
I chuckle, running my fingers through her hair. “I haven’t eaten them since back then.”
“Me neither. I remember wanting them when I was a kid, but Aunt’s strict diet didn’t allow me regular chocolate and sweets. I never asked Uncle for them, though.” Elsa pauses. “I guess deep down, I knew I shouldn’t eat them alone.”
“I’ll buy them for you.” I smile.
“I’ll share.”
We remain like that for a few minutes. For a moment, I forget that we’re in the basement where the red woman tortured me and then died.
I forgot the sight of Elsa lying motionless in her own blood.
For a while, it’s just me and her finding our roots.
When I kidnapped her here, all I wanted was to give her back the connection to her past. Not knowing what would happen was dangerous and left me with no backup plans — except for really kidnapping her and never returning.
I’m not comfortable with the unknown. I thought if she remembered she saved me on the expense of her mother’s death and her own metaphorical death, she’d hate me.
“Do you regret saving me?” I ask in the quietness of the room.
It’s the only vulnerable question I’ve allowed myself over the years. Her mother would still be alive if she didn’t save me.
Her electric blue eyes bore into mine with a deep sense of affection. “I regret many things, but saving you was never one of them. You were my light and I had to protect you.”
“Even if the cost was your mother’s life and your memories?”
“That’s mental illness. It’s neither yours nor my fault.”
I nod once.
I doubt she truly believes that, but I’ll let it pass. We have the entire future to revisit this.
“Who do you think saved me?” she asks.
“I don’t know. I was already passed out at the time.”
She bites her lower lip like she does when in deep thoughts. I lean down and kiss it, making her blush.
