Carved in Ice and Glass: A Snow White Fairy Tale Romance

30. The Princess

Calista’s thread remained intact.

But Stella’s was broken.

It was such an easy fix. A life for a life. The simplicity of it called to me, beckoning my magic forward. I couldn’t refuse, not when the answer was so plain.

It was an exchange. That was all.

I pulled Calista’s thread, then tugged on the broken remains of Stella’s. My hands knew what to do even if my mind didn’t. This magic was still so new to me, but my fingers seemed to move of their own accord as if they knew this power. They knew what to do with it.

And so, I wove the strands together, substituting Calista’s for Stella’s. The nobles had seen Calista’s true form. My stepmother had served her purpose.

A torrent of pain shot through me, stifling my movements. My back arched, and I threw my head back with an anguished scream as fire burned my blood, scorching me from the inside out. Gods, the pain was too much…

And yet, I’d never felt more alive. The sharpness, the sting of it, brought clarity to my mind, which had been bogged down by sorrow and trauma. I could see clearly. The scream continued to pour from my lips, but I kept my hands suspended in the air, still holding onto those pieces of thread, those strands of life.

I had to continue weaving. I had to finish this.

Gasping, each breath wet and ragged, I kept moving my fingers, determined to complete the exchange. This magic could kill me if it wanted to. But I refused to lose another person I loved.

Warm hands pressed against me, drawing me close. I sank into Theron’s embrace, using his solid form to support me, to keep me upright. His woodsy mountain scent surrounded me, enveloping me in something so comforting and familiar that it felt like home. I leaned into it, relying on his presence, his strength.

He was here, even though he should have died. Somehow, he was here.

With him by my side, I could do this.

My fingers continued working, despite the pain coursing through me. The glowing pieces of thread shifted and moved at my command, and as I continued, the fire in my blood subsided. My breathing calmed, my pulse slowing. With one last firm tug, my work was complete.

Calista slumped over, her form limp and unmoving. And Stella’s body knitted itself back together, bit by bit, her head and limbs moving together as if an invisible hand were stitching her up.

With a loud gasp, Stella jerked upright, her eyes wide as she ran her hands up and down her body in shock.

“Shivering bones, Eira,” she said hoarsely. “What did you do?”

I laughed, overwhelmed with relief and sudden exhaustion. And then my strength left me. I fell against Theron’s firm chest and succumbed to the darkness.

* * *

My head was spinning. My mouth tasted like sand. With a hoarse cough, I opened my eyes, my vision blurry. Where was I?

A chair creaked nearby, and a familiar voice said, “Eira?”

I tried to speak, but it was like gargling pebbles. I swallowed and tried again. “Theron?”

“I’m here.” His warm palm captured mine, and our fingers laced together.

Just his nearness, his presence, lit up something within me. I shifted, finding myself tangled in sheets and blankets, but Theron pressed a hand to my chest to keep me in place.

“Not so fast, Your Majesty.”

Your Majesty.A small part of me missed how he’d called me princess.

But I supposed I would never be a princess again. I was the queen now.

My eyes grew wide, and I turned to look at him. He was wearing a fresh tan tunic with a dark brown vest and matching trousers. His hair had been slicked back, and his beard was trimmed. He looked elegant and regal, although I did yearn for the musky and wild hunter I’d grown accustomed to.

“Theron,” I said again, my voice urgent. “What happened? How long was I asleep?”

“You resurrected Stella.” His voice was sharp. “You almost killed yourself, Eira.”

I squeezed his hand, gritting my teeth against my impatience. “Answer the damn question, hunter.”

He chuckled. “You’ve been unconscious for three days. Stella is fine. Your recently appointed courtiers are managing state affairs quite well.”

I arched an eyebrow, full of doubt. “Really?”

He huffed a sigh. “They are doing as well as they can. No civil wars yet, although there have been several riots, but they’ve been quelled. Word has spread of Calista’s deception, and many of her forces have shifted loyalties. To you.”

To me.Blood and ice, I couldn’t believe it. My mouth opened and closed, and a swell of dizziness overtook me. Fatigued, I leaned back against the pillows, gasping for breath. My tired gaze shifted to Theron, who looked at me with worry etched into his face.

“I’m fine,” I said. “I’m just… still a bit weak.”

“That was reckless and stupid, Eira.”

I nodded feebly. “I know.”

He sighed and ran a hand down his face. “I can’t protect you from everything.”

“You don’t have to. I can protect myself.”

A smile twitched at the corners of his lips. “I know that. I want to protect you from everything. But I can’t. It’s something I must come to terms with.”

Warmth crept up my throat as I looked at him, drinking in his features and memorizing every inch of him, from the faint scar above his eyebrow to the tanned skin of his forearms. “I almost lost you.” My voice broke on the words.

Theron sobered and leaned closer to the bed, clutching both my hands now. “But you didn’t.”

“Talk about stupid and reckless, Theron, what the hell were you?—”

“You were dying,” he said simply, as if this explained everything.

“But your magic…”

A sad smile played at his lips. “You did more with my magic in five minutes than I did in an entire lifetime. You wield it far better than I ever did, Eira. It’s for you.”

“Theron, you almost died.” My words caught, and heat stung my eyes. The thought of losing him…

Sorrow weighed heavily on his expression. “This kingdom needs you more than it needs me.”

He had said that before, and the words made my chest ache. Resolve coursed through me, and I found the strength to lean forward and meet his gaze. “This kingdom needs you, too. It needs more men like you who are willing to risk everything for their people.”

He smiled. “I risked everything for my queen. It was all for you, Eira.”

Moisture tickled my eyes, and I nodded. “I know.” I inhaled, my breath shaky. “I want you by my side, Theron. I want you to rule this court with me.”

His eyes grew wide. “I—As king?” When I nodded again, he said weakly, “Eira…”

“I can’t do this alone. You know that.”

“You—You have your nobles! You aren’t alone.”

“And what will you do? Skulk off to your secluded cabin, isolating yourself from the world? Is that what you want?” The words were meant to be teasing, but the catch in my voice betrayed my insecurities. If that was what he wanted, I would let him go. I would let him be free at last. I refused to enslave him like Calista had. If he loathed court life so much, I wouldn’t blame him for wanting to escape it.

Theron raised my hands and brushed his lips against my knuckles, sending a shiver of pleasure down my spine. “I go where you go, Eira. I am yours to command.”

“Then I command you to marry me.”

He chuckled and shook his head, his lips grazing my skin again. “I can’t.”

My heart dropped to my stomach. “Oh.”

“Could I be your consort instead?”

I shook my head. “I’ve been thinking about this, Theron. I don’t want someone to merely be attached to me as my spouse. I want someone to share my power, to rule alongside with me. This court needs a king. A king like my father.”

“Make me your assassin. Your commander. Your advisor. Anything else. I want to serve you, but I—I can’t be king.”

I frowned at the weakness in his tone. “Why not?”

He shook his head. “You know me, Eira. My father led a crusade against the very people you’ve sworn to protect. I helped Calista slaughter innocents for years. I can’t wear the crown. I’m not fit for it.”

My eyes narrowed. “Who are you to decide that?”

“Do you really think the people will follow me? Even the nobles of your court despise me.”

“Denton will come around.”

“It isn’t just Denton.”

I sighed. He wasn’t making this easy. “Please, Theron.”

He raised his eyebrows, mischief glinting in his eyes. “Are you… begging?”

My face burned, and I rolled my eyes. “Are you really going to make your queen beg?”

He leaned closer and pressed a kiss to my nose. “As much as I’d like that, I just need time, Eira. This kingdom needs time. I’m not saying I don’t want to marry you. Believe me, I want nothing more than to declare my love for you for the world to hear, and then claim you as my own. Over… and over again.” His teeth nipped gently at my nose, and I shivered as coils of heat twisted in my stomach.

My breath hitched as I prompted, “But?”

“But…” He drew back, and darkness crept into his gaze. I knew that darkness well. He wore it like a cloak, shrouding it around himself until he was swallowed by it. In that moment, I knew he was right. He needed time. He was a man, burdened by the blood on his hands. I saw him differently, but that didn’t matter. He had to see it for himself.

“But I’m not ready,” he finally finished. “My heart and soul will always belong to you, Eira. But I’m not ready for the burden of the crown just yet. Let the kingdom adjust to a new queen first. Once they have accepted you, we can see what they think of an assassin for a king.” His mouth twisted in a grimace.

“You aren’t an assassin,” I said earnestly. “Not anymore. I will never ask you to kill, Theron.”

His throat bobbed as he swallowed. “Thank you.” Something shifted in his gaze as he looked at me. “You don’t have to wait for me, Eira. If it’s a king you want, you should… you should…” He broke off, his eyes flaring with pain.

I squeezed his hands again. “There’s only you, Theron. I won’t take another husband or even another lover. I will wait for however long you need. I swear it.”

He exhaled in relief and nodded.

A slow smile spread on my face. “I’d even be willing to make a bargain over it.”

He laughed, ducking his head. “Don’t you dare. We’ve had enough of those.”

“What, you didn’t enjoy being bound to me?”

“I enjoyed it far more than I should have.”

“See? We should make more bargains, then. Just to keep things interesting.”

He leaned in again, and I closed my eyes, relishing his woodsy scent as it washed over me. His mouth captured mine, and I tugged on his collar to bring him closer.

He chuckled against my lips. “Life with you,” he murmured, “will always be interesting, my queen. With or without bargains.”