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Garrick shook his head. “Kinsey explained everything when I woke earlier, before he allowed you to come see me.” His eyes swept over me. “I’m fine. Do you remember what I told you before? Shifters heal more readily when they sustain injuries in their other forms. I’m more resilient if I’m wounded in my wolf form and then transform back—that let me hold on long enough for Kinsey to work his magic. But you—they weretorturingyou.”
“And now I’m whole. And they’re gone.”
“And we’re free,” Garrick whispered, lifting a hand to cradle my face. “Thanks to you.”
“I don’t want to run a kingdom alone,” I blurted.
Garrick’s lips twitched in a smile. “You won’t. Aspen and I will be here.”
I swallowed. “I mean...” My cheeks heated, a blush creeping from my neck all the way to my scalp. “Garrick, I don’t know how the Silverfrosts do this. In my town, a gentleman would court a lady...he would be the one to ask to do so...and he would also be the one to propose. But I suppose now I’m the one asking you if...you would consider that with me? And ruling with me—as my husband?” I cringed at my own awkwardness. I was going about this all wrong, hadn’t even said I loved him yet.
But Garrick smirked. “Starlight, after that kiss we shared, whatever made you think I’d not want to...” He raised his eyebrows. “Court you, or ask for your hand, or any other of your human traditions that would bind us?” Moving his palm from my cheek, he lifted one of my hands in his and pressed a kiss to the back of it. “I want it all with you.”
I sobered. “But are you sure? You would be binding yourself to the crown again. You couldn’t live freely in the mountains, hunting and adventuring. Your life will be consumed with politics and diplomacy and formalities and—”
Garrick’s grasp tightened on my hand, his expression earnest. “None of that matters. Those dreams are hollow and lonely withoutyou. Besides, I should be the one asking if you, a queen with far more magic and power than I will ever possess, could ever condescend to want me, a lowly wolf shifter. Andwhenwe marry” –his smirk widened– “for of course I will have you, I will gladly give up my life as a hunter. I will happily bind myself to the crown again, because it will mean binding myself to you. What matters to me is you, Starlight, and living out the rest of our days together.”
Blinking back overwhelmed tears of joy, I threw my arms around him, leaning in close and basking in the light of his smile, of his brilliant eyes. “I love you,” I confessed. At last. The wordsfelt so good to say aloud. “I should have said it before, when you told me how you felt. You were worried I wouldn’t feel the same, and I suppose I was shy trying to find the words. You’re right—love doesn’t seem like enough to describe it. But still, I should have—”
But Garrick cut me off once again, this time with a kiss, sweet and languid, a delicious reminder that we had an entire future ahead of us.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Somehow, even with the gathered crowd in the vast space of the throne room, the roaring fires and floor-to-ceiling windows behind the dais offering a view of falling snowflakes made the space feel cozy. Perhaps it was the absence of Preston’s and Nerissa’s disgusting presence and the lack of empty-eyed, glamoured humans haunting the castle. Maybe it was the sense of joy and celebration even during a traditionally solemn affair. Or maybe it was Garrick at my side, clasping my hand firmly in his, or Aspen perched on my shoulder, whispering commentary in my ear as I walked down the aisle created between the assembled guests, all silent as they watched me pass.
Beneath the light of sprites fluttering through the air, twirling with ribbons in Silverfrost colors, the Ashwoods sat together. Crown Prince Fitz’s expression was solemn as usual, but he gave a subtle dip of his head as I approached, his silent approval. At his side, his wife grinned without restraint, and I offered a quick smile back. I hoped in the future we would be able to visit one another’s kingdoms regularly. Having a fellow human in this world as an ally—and maybe even someday a close friend—would be invaluable.
Not far away was Charles, adorned in fae clothes that made him look strangely out of place. The fact that he’d stayed to witness this moment of mine, the fact that he watched me nowwith eyes glowing with pride...it made my chest warm. I bit my lip to keep my eyes from watering when he nodded to me, as if silently telling me that this truly was what I was meant to do, who I was meant to be.
And then I turned my gaze forward, toward the awaiting thrones. Both were wrought of white birchwood, engraved with delicate snowflakes and winter animals, and cushioned in rich blue velvet. The weight of those symbols was heavy on my shoulders, but not as heavy as it would have been without Garrick and Aspen with me. Without the Ashwoods as neighboring allies.
You were born for this,I reminded myself. What would Mother and my stepfather think of me now? What would my real father think, the fae man I’d never met who had died protecting both her and me? I hoped they would be proud.
“Keep your speech brief. And don’t forget your show of magic once you accept your crown!” Aspen urged as I ascended the steps.
It was the sage hag, the one who kept memories, who awaited us at the top of the dais, clothed in simple silver and blue robes that matched the Silverfrost banners strung in the beams overhead. Though her stooped posture made her shorter than me, when I paused before her on the dais, I felt small. Garrick released my hand and held his up for Aspen to hop into his palm, and then the two of them retreated to the edge to watch.
Slowly, I half-turned so as to face the crowd and the hag at once, my skirts rustling. My gown was all silver, only a few shades lighter than my hair, and glistening with lace and white beads and pearls in shapes that mimicked frost and snow. It paired well with the silver crown resting in an open box in the hag’s hands as she shuffled forward and lifted her voice.
“Dear court of Silverfrost—and guests from Ashwood and the human world—you are gathered here this morning to bearwitness to a most momentous occasion. For decades we have longed for hope and peace and despaired that our land would fall to chaos. We thought the line of royal Silverfrosts had ended and that our destiny was darkness. But here we are, with a woman of mortal blood no less, who bears the powerful winter magic of her forebears, and most importantly, who carries the light of her ancestors. She’s saved us all, and for that, we owe her our gratitude and our allegiance. As she accepts this crown that is hers by birth and battle, please kneel to show your respects.”
My breath caught in my chest as everyone stood and dropped to their knees. Recognizing me. Even the sprites paused their dancing to perch in the beams overhead and dip into postures of deference. At the edge of the dais, Garrick knelt with Aspen in her pixie form at his side. She lifted her chin, just a little, to meet my gaze and wink at me.
“Florentia Silverfrost,” the hag intoned, drawing my attention back to her, “please step forward.”
