24. Violet
Chapter twenty-four
Violet
I really should get used to waking up to the sight of frost patterns dancing across the ceiling. My fingers trace lazy circles on Jack’s bare chest as we lay tangled in silky sheets, watching the morning light filter through the crystalline windows.
“You’re staring at me again.” Jack’s deep voice rumbles beneath my palm.
“Just admiring my work.” I trace a line of bite marks along his collarbone, evidence of last night’s activities. “You wear my marks well, my Lord Winter.”
His hand captures mine, bringing it to his lips. “As you wear mine, my love.”
The silvery mark on my arm pulses with warmth at his touch. It’s been three days since our wedding, and each morning I discover new aspects of our bond. Like how his magic responds to my emotions, creating delicate ice sculptures when I’m happy or sharp icicles when I’m frustrated.
“The council meeting isn’t for hours,” Jack murmurs against my skin. His lips trail down my neck, and frost blooms wherever he touches. “Perhaps we could—”
I silence him with a kiss, sliding on top of him, feeling the firm contours of his body align with mine. Magic crackles between us, his winter powers merging with my healing energy in a familiar dance. The temperature drops as desire builds, ice crystals forming in the air around us, a response to the intensity of our connection.
“Fuck the council meeting,” I murmur against his lips, my hands exploring the planes of his chest, relishing how his careful control slips and frost spreads across the sheets.
“Such language from my Lady.” His voice is a low rumble, but his eyes darken with lust, hands gripping my hips with an urgency that sends a thrill through me.
I can feel the hard length of him pressing against me, insistent and demanding. My own body responds in kind, aching for him, for the union that our powers are desperately seeking.
“Violet,” he groans, my name a prayer and a curse on his lips as he bucks beneath me.
I reach between us, wrapping my fingers around him, positioning him at my entrance. His cock slides into me, igniting a rush of sensation that’s as overwhelming as it is intoxicating.
The moment he enters me, our powers surge together as we move, the rhythm of our bodies setting a pace that is both frenzied and deliberate. His hands move to my breasts, teasing my nipples into hard peaks, sending jolts of pleasure straight to my core.
Golden healing light mingles with arctic blue, creating aurora-like waves above us, a celestial show for no one but us. I feel his pleasure echo through our bond, a feedback loop that amplifies my own, every thrust, every gasp, resonating deeper than anything I’ve ever known.
I can feel the rigid control he’s famous for unraveling, thread by thread, as I grind against him, our bodies moving in perfect sync. His fingers dig into my hips, pulling me closer, deeper, as if he can’t get enough.
The friction between us builds, and with each stroke, I’m certain we’re not just fucking—we’re merging, two souls becoming one in a dance as old as time.
The room fills with swirling snow and starlight as we chase our release together, the world outside forgotten. His touch is electric, each caress sending jolts of pleasure coursing through me, stoking the fire within me.
I ride him harder, faster, chasing the crest of the wave that’s building within me, feeling him swell inside me, hitting that sweet spot that has me seeing stars.
“Come for me, my Lady,” he growls, and the command in his voice is my undoing. My orgasm crashes over me, a maelstrom of pleasure that rips a scream from my throat. He follows me over the edge, his cock pulsing inside me as he finds his release, our powers flaring brightly, the room alight with the force of our climax.
We collapse onto the bed, a tangle of limbs, our breaths ragged and our hearts pounding in unison. The magic slowly recedes, leaving us in a warm cocoon, the afterglow making the world outside seem distant and unimportant.
Curled against his chest, I watch the frost patterns he’s creating on my skin.
“I never thought I could have this,” I admit. “This happiness, this sense of belonging.”
“Nor did I.” His fingers trace my spine. “I spent centuries believing love would destroy everything I built. Instead...” Ice flowers bloom around us, their petals catching the light. “Instead, you made it stronger.”
“We made it stronger,” I correct him, pressing a kiss to his jaw. “Together.”
His arms tighten around me, and I feel his smile against my hair. The winter kingdom flourishes under our combined magic—my healing abilities complementing his winter powers in ways neither of us expected. Even those who may have initially doubted me have come to accept that their king’s mate brings balance rather than destruction.
“What are you thinking about?” Jack’s question pulls me from my thoughts.
“How wrong you were about that prophecy.” I prop myself up to look at him properly. “Remember how convinced you were that I would ruin everything?”
“I prefer to remember how thoroughly you proved me wrong.” His hands slide lower, clearly intent on starting another round of pleasurable activities.
I could definitely get used to mornings like this.
I lead Alana down the frosted corridor, watching her eyes widen at each new marvel. Her head swivels back and forth like she’s at a tennis match, trying to take in everything at once.
“So, this is where you’ll live now?” She reaches out to touch one of the ice sculptures, then yanks her hand back. “Holy shit, it’s not even cold!”
“Magic.” I wiggle my fingers at her. “The ice here only feels cold if Jack wants it to.”
A group of winter fae glide past us, their crystalline wings catching the light. They bow their heads slightly in acknowledgment.
“My Lady,” they murmur in unison.
Alana’s jaw drops. “Okay, that’s going to take some getting used to. You’re like... actually damn royalty now?”
“Trust me, I’m still adjusting too.” I guide her toward the kitchens. “Wait until you see where they make the food.”
The kitchen doors swing open to reveal organized chaos. Frost sprites dart between stations, carrying trays of sparkling delicacies. The head cook, Marigold, looks up from where she’s directing the controlled mayhem.
“My Lady!” Her smile brightens the already gleaming room. “And this must be the famous Alana we’ve heard so much about.”
“Famous?” Alana elbows me. “What exactly have you been saying about me?”
“Only the good stuff.” I snag a pastry from a passing tray. “Like how you’re the best nurse in Colorado and saved my ass more times than I can count. ”
Marigold claps her hands. “You must try our winter berry tarts. They’re made with berries that only grow in eternal frost.”
She presents Alana with a crystal plate. The tarts shimmer like they’re dusted with diamonds.
“These are incredible.” Alana’s eyes roll back in pleasure as she takes a bite. “After all these fancy meals, Vi, you’ll never touch hospital food again. These gourmet dishes will have ruined you for life.”
“That’s fair.”
A commotion at the door draws our attention. Several kitchen staff scramble to bow as Jack enters, his presence immediately commanding the room.
“Ah, there you are.” He approaches us, nodding politely to Alana. “I trust you’re enjoying the tour?”
“Your Majesty.” Alana attempts an awkward curtsy that makes me snort.
“Please, just Jack is fine. You’re practically family now.”
“Family that you tried to freeze to death during that storm,” I remind him, but there’s no heat in my words.
“A regrettable misunderstanding.” His lips quirk up at the corners. “And not within my control. Though it did work out rather well in the end.”
Alana looks between us, shaking her head. “You two are disgustingly cute together. Who knew the Lord of Winter was such a softie?”
“I’m the one who had to watch you and Brad make eyes at each other for months. Talk about wanting to vomit,” I tease.
The temperature drops slightly, and I pat Jack’s arm. “She’s teasing us, love. No need to frost the pastries. ”
The warmth returns as Jack relaxes, though he maintains his regal posture. “Perhaps we should continue the tour? The library is particularly impressive this time of day.”
“Yes, let’s go see the library.” I tug Alana’s arm, eager to show her my favorite room in the castle. “You won’t believe the collection they have.”
God, I sound like such a nerd right now.
Alana grabs another tart before following us. “Is everything in here made of ice?”
“Not everything.” I trail my fingers along the smooth white walls as we walk. “Though Jack does have a flair for the dramatic when it comes to interior design.”
Jack’s shoulder brushes mine. “I prefer to think of it as maintaining aesthetic consistency.”
“See what I have to deal with?” I roll my eyes at Alana. “He talks like he swallowed a thesaurus.”
The massive library doors swing open at Jack’s gesture, revealing towering shelves that stretch up into shadows. Sunlight streams through stained glass windows, casting rainbow patterns across ancient tomes and scrolls.
Alana’s mouth falls open. “Holy shit. This makes the Library of Congress look like a magazine rack.”
“Many of these texts are the only surviving copies in any realm.” Jack’s voice carries that note of pride I’ve come to recognize.
I catch him watching me as I show my favorite reading nook to Alana—a window seat lined with furs and cushions. His expression softens when our eyes meet, and warmth blooms in my chest despite the perpetual winter chill .
“Violet practically lives in here.” Jack’s formal posture relaxes slightly. “I often find her asleep surrounded by medical texts and histories.”
“That tracks.” Alana examines a shelf of glowing manuscripts. “She used to fall asleep in the hospital library during breaks.”
“I did not!”
“You drooled on three different medical journals.”
My cheeks heat. “Those books were boring. These are actually interesting.”
These books feel different under my fingers, almost alive with their own energy.
I trace the spine of an ancient healing tome, watching the silver script shimmer at my touch. “At least these books respond when I read them. Sometimes they even glow.”
Alana leans closer to examine the text. “Wait, are those words actually moving?”
“Living knowledge.” Jack’s voice carries that teacher-tone he gets when sharing his realm’s mysteries. “The texts adapt to show what the reader needs to learn.”
“That would have made nursing school so much easier.” Alana reaches for the book, then hesitates. “Can I...?”
I nod. “It’s safe. They only bite if you try to steal them.”
“She’s joking.” Jack’s cool fingers brush my shoulder. “Mostly.”
Alana carefully opens the book, gasping as the pages illuminate with diagrams of human anatomy overlaid with flowing lines of magical energy.
“This is incredible! Is this how you see patients now? ”
“Something like that.” I peer over her shoulder at the familiar patterns. “It’s helped me understand how mortal and magical healing can work together. See those golden threads? That’s life force - what we’d call vital signs in medical terms.”
“Your understanding of both worlds has already improved our healing practices considerably.” Jack’s praise warms me more than I’d like to admit.
“I just wish I’d known about this sooner. Think of all the patients we could have helped.”
Alana’s expression grows serious. “Speaking of patients...” She closes the book gently. “The hospital’s been asking when you’re coming back.”
My stomach twists. I knew this conversation was coming. “I can’t exactly commute between realms for my shifts.”
“You could, though, right?” Alana’s eyes dart to Jack.
“It’s not that simple.” How do I explain that I’m needed here? That I’m finally where I belong?
“What she means,” Jack steps closer, his presence steady and reassuring, “is that her duties here require significant attention. The integration of mortal and magical healing is delicate work.”
I squeeze his hand, grateful for the support. “I’m not abandoning nursing, Alana. I’m just... practicing on a different scale now.”
“But you’ll visit, right?” Alana’s eyes shine with unshed tears.
I wrap my arms around her. “Of course. Jack’s already working on a way for me to travel more easily between realms. ”
“Good, because I need my best friend.” She pulls back, wiping her eyes. “Especially now that I’ve sworn off men forever.”
“What? Since when?”
“Since Brad.” She slumps against the library wall. “Found him with one of the new surgical residents last week.”
“I’ll take that as my cue to leave,” Jack grins and makes an exaggerated bow. I give him a quick nod before turning my attention back to Alana.
My hands curl into fists. “ What ? That absolute—”
“It’s fine.” She waves off my anger. “I’m done. No more relationships. No more dating. Just me, my career, and occasional wine nights with you.”
“Alana...”
“Don’t give me that look. I mean it this time.” She straightens her spine. “Some of us aren’t destined for magical fairy tale romances with winter kings.”
If she only knew what I went through to get here.
“Besides,” she continues, “after seeing all this—” she gestures at our surroundings “—how could any normal guy compare? What’s the point?”
A chill draft whistles through the library, making the pages of nearby books flutter.
“Speaking of magical beings...” I bite my lip. “There’s something else you should know. About Gabriel.”
Her expression darkens. “The guy who tried to kill you and Jack?”
“He’s... contained. In the dungeons below. ”
“You have dungeons ?” She shakes her head. “Of course, you have dungeons. Wait—isn’t that dangerous, keeping him here?”
“Jack has him under powerful binding spells. But...” I hesitate, remembering Gabriel’s wild eyes and bitter words. “He’s Jack’s brother. Half-brother. It’s complicated.”
“Sounds like a mess.” She wraps her arms around herself. “Promise me you’ll be careful? I don’t trust anyone who’d try to hurt their own family like that.”
“I promise.” I touch the silvery mark on my arm. “But you should have seen him, Alana. He looked so... broken. Like someone who’s been alone too long.”
“Don’t.” She points a finger at me. “I know that tone. That’s your ‘someone needs healing’ voice. Some people can’t be fixed, Vi.”
Maybe. But everyone deserves a chance at redemption.