Chapter 29
Fintan and I had never been separated this long.
It had my heart thudding against my chest when we approached the cave.
An overwhelming impatience to see him, to know he was safe from the previous blizzard, seized me.
Jack and I conjured clothes once we reached the lakeshore, and I squeezed his hand to reassure him I wasn’t running away.
“Fintan,” I shouted, sprinting into the dark cave, turning circles to search for them. There was no one or anything to be found. They were a troupe composed of a huge polar bear, a stag, and a literal frost giant that’d be almost impossible to hide.
“Sylvie,” Jack called out. “They’re out here.” Amusement bounced in his tone with a light chuckle.
Trotting outside, I gasped at the sight of the frost giant rolling a large snowball back and forth with his feet, making Fintan and Nanok chase after it.
Fintan paused, leaning forward with his bushy tail poised skyward, wagging.
His large, glossy eyes tracked the ball before pouncing on it, clipping the edge with his hoof.
Nanok was in a full charge toward the ball, not having enough time to stop, and barreled into Fintan. They both toppled and rolled.
“Fintan,” I calmly called out, biting back a smile.
His head popped up, antlers and nose covered in snow, Nanok’s dark gaze appearing from the pile beside him. They blinked at us, almost as if confused, before scurrying forward and tackling me and Jack into the snow.
Laughing, I welcomed the outpour of love from my stag and chuckled more when he furiously sniffed me, Jack’s polar bear mimicking the same actions beside us. Our scents had changed since completing the mating bond, his icy earthiness mixed now with my sweeter aroma.
Once the animals settled, Jack pushed to his feet, dusting his pants and hair of excess snow, a broad smile plastered to his handsome face. “Thank you for watching out for them, giant.”
I’d seen the giant playing with the snowball, but it was another matter entirely when he calmly walked toward us, his gait slower than a sloth. His height challenged the trees, and he sank to one knee, bowing his head at Jack. “It was an honor, your majesty.”
My stomach fluttered. I was to be queen. Jakzair’s queen. The idea of it was still hard to wrap my brain around fully. “Thank you from me as well,” I added.
The giant lifted his head, the ice above what would be his eyes shifting upward like arching brows. “Is this her?”
“Yes,” Jack replied, his warm smile melting into a gooey one. He held his hand out to me, helping me to stand. “And she’s to be made queen very soon.”
Everything had transpired so rapidly due to Jack’s dwindling timeline. Diedre’s curse had robbed us of precious hours, making panic and urgency commonplace. Gasping, I clutched Jack’s shirt. “Diedre, we need to do the coronation before she—”
Jack silenced me with a chilly kiss, his full lips gliding over mine, that devilish tongue lapping at mine. “Is it that hard for you to slow down, Sylvie?”
Fintan and Nanok sat next to each other, tilting their heads as if trying to understand our conversation. I glanced at them for answers I knew they couldn’t give, but wished they could all the same. “What do you mean?”
“I have time now, Snowflake.” Jack clasped his larger hands over mine.
“We can stay in the Cove for another three sunsets, the original full timeframe given to me before Diedre’s curse.
Then we must return to our kingdom, where you will be crowned queen.
Diedre doesn’t possess the power to come here. ”
Tears filled my eyes because I didn’t think I would have the chance to explain to Aella, to Tambie, and the others why my time in the Cove would be shorter now that I would be the Winter Queen.
He told me I would never have to say goodbye completely, but I needed to hear it again.
To know that Arcane Cove would still always be a second home.
“Jack, tell me again, I’ll be able to come back to this place. That I’m not leaving an entire family behind when it comes time.” Slipping my arms around his neck, I nervously played with my fingers in his hair.
Jack pinched my chin, keeping my gaze locked with his, and flashed that azure magic in his glacial eyes. “You can come back whenever you wish, Sylvaria. I’m the one tied to my kingdom, and it’ll be yours by proxy as my mate. As for me, I can only return with you every solstice for a fortnight.”
Trailing my hand to the butterfly mark I’d given to him on his forearm, I smiled brightly at his sparkling radiance. “How will I get back?”
Jack pressed a tender kiss to my forehead. “You let me worry about that. For now, I suggest we enjoy what time I have left with your friends.”
“My friends? Not yours, too?” I quirked a brow with a tiny smile.
Chuckling, Jack bopped my nose. “Maybe. In time.”
Frowning over just being reunited with our animal companions, I stroked Fintan’s forehead and between his eyes. “Think everyone will get freaked out if a polar bear strode into the town’s center?”
Jack barked a laugh and ruffled Nanok’s ears.
“Considering the gargoyles, orcs, and minotaur I witnessed and undoubtedly plenty of animal shifters, I highly doubt they’ll mind.
That is, of course—” He grabbed Nanok’s face and pressed his head to his, staring at him. “You don’t sniff out any water folk.”
My hand clapped to my chest. “My assistant Aegean, he’s merfolk.”
“Nanok,” Jack warned.
The polar bear huffed and lightly bumped his head against Jack’s. Jack snickered and scratched underneath his animal’s chin. “I’m only kidding. Even if he had a taste for them, they’re far harder to catch than lake trout.”
“Let’s go, then.” Curling my arm with Jack’s, I shared a leisurely, snowy forest stroll with him to reach the plaza. “Hopefully, Aella hasn’t burned down my bakery.”
When we arrived in town, only a few townspeople were strolling down sidewalks illuminated by candlelit street lamps in the setting sun.
No one paid any mind to us, not even the enormous, fluffy, white bear.
We reached the bakery and I petted Fintan’s neck, cooing at him, and asking him to wait outside.
Faint music fluttered from inside, and strange overlapping scents of sugar, some fruit, and a slight burning smell wafted through the cracks.
Sharing a perplexed glance with Jack, I whipped open the door, making the overhanging bell jangle loudly.
Everything appeared in its place in the front room, all appropriately organized on their shelves.
The treats in the display case, however, left a little to be desired.
What was usually filled with brightly-colored cupcakes, golden brown pastries, and sugar-dusted donuts, now contained—biscuits.
Nothing but rows and rows of biscuits that started as burnt to a crisp and gradually got lighter as the display progressed.
Aella appeared from the back room, a mixing bowl in the crook of her arm.
“I’m sorry, we’re getting ready to change shifts, but—” Her antlers shifted at her forehead when she spotted us, flour smattering her freckled cheeks and nose.
“Sylvie,” she shouted, throwing the bowl and splattering the counter with some of its contents.
“Miss me?” I teased, holding my arms open wide, ready to receive one of her amazing hugs.
Aella vaulted over the counter and smacked into me, knocking me back on my heels, her arms tightly enveloping me. “I’m so glad you’re back. I’ve quickly discovered that I am not a baker in the slightest.”
Wincing from her pinching one of my wings, I patted her back. “I appreciate you trying and watching the shop all the same, friend.”
Aella stiffened and pushed me back by my shoulders, her gaze dancing between me and Jack. “Oh my—you two—” A high-pitched squeal that could bring a pack of werewolves to their knees in agony tore from her throat.
Jack shook his pinky in his ear and smiled. “We’re mated, yes.”
“I’m so, so happy for you,” Aella shrieked, hugging me again and then Jack. “Might I say you both look radiant. Like, actually glowing.”
Sneaking a peek at Jack, I grinned at his eyes glowing that more vibrant blue, pulsing in time with the butterfly marking. His gaze floated down to my glowing diamond on my chest, and I stroked a finger over it.
The bell over the door chimed, and Aegean appeared with his hands on his hips. “What’d I miss?”
We spent the remaining days in the Cove, visiting with friends who congratulated us on our mate-ship and showered us with affection.
Jack appeared surprised, if not taken aback, by how quickly they let him in as one of us.
Hopefully, now he has realized why Arcane Cove and its people were so near and dear to my heart.
We shared food and ale as the nights drew near, Jack withstanding the heat from the hearth so long as he kept contact with me. He looked so serene and content to be able to enjoy a warming fire with pleasant company. It made my heart swell knowing I alone could have given that to him.
On our final day, Jack, Aella, Finneas, and several of the children, along with me, made snowmen in the town center.
Jack and I were under strict orders not to use our powers, forcing us to make it by hand or the “old-fashioned” way, as Finneas described.
I put off telling Aella that I’d be frequenting the Cove less, making my new kingdom a home as well.
A few sobs were shared, but ultimately, she accepted it wasn’t a goodbye by any means and teased that she was jealous of the double life I’d get to lead.
I made plans for Aella to run the shop only, and I’d handle the baking, storing things in the fridge as needed, and warming inventory in the stove before selling it or putting it in the display case.
Half my time was to be spent in the Cove unless there were pressing matters that needed attending as Winter Queen.
As the final night settled over the magical small town that led me to my mate, I curled my fingers with Jack’s, our animal friends at our heels.
We slipped into the freezing lake and took the portal home.
It was time I accepted the role and responsibilities of Winter Queen, and time we finally dealt with Diedre.