Chapter 42 Jayne
Naming Day had arrived, and the sun was out, making the snow glisten like diamonds had been strewn across it.
The statement my father had released the previous morning, stating that Janvier Frost was officially being welcomed back as a non-royal member of the Frost family, had been well received.
I was grateful for that. And for the general sense of forgiveness that seemed to dominate the conversations concerning what had happened.
Crispin, guilty of not only Delton’s murder but of threatening us, would of course be punished and would undoubtedly spend the rest of his days behind bars.
Larsen had proved he’d been behind the failed brakes in the crawler and linked the phone number found on Delton’s desk to a burner Crispin owned.
Lastly, the pages torn from the book in the archives had been discovered in his apartment. He was well and truly cooked.
The archives were temporarily closed, but Ezreal was hard at work finding someone to take the job of caretaker. Flora had tendered her resignation, but it had been determined there was no real need for her to leave, as she’d passed a lie detector concerning her brother’s activities.
Also, she’d done a good job on Naming Day, and since there truly were no indications that she’d known what her brother was up to, I was all right with her staying.
Unsurprisingly, there were a lot of older citizens of the NP who remembered Janvier and were happy to be able to talk about her again. My father had even offered her an apartment in the palace, but she’d declined, saying Little Reykjavik was where she belonged.
My mom had already scheduled a family dinner so that we could all get to know each other, Flora included. It was probably going to be a little weird initially, but we’d find some common ground, and life would go on.
Now, as Sinclair and I sat on one side of the dais, looking out at the vast crowd awaiting the ceremony, I felt a sense of peace that all would be well. I had no idea what the future would bring us, but at least I knew we were safe, like Sin had said.
Also on the dais were my mom and dad and Sin’s mom and dad. Uncle Kris, Aunt Martha, and Aunt Zinnia were all in the front row. Behind them were more dignitaries and important people.
Gorgeous sprays of white and blue flowers bookended the dais and created a hedge before it. White, silver, and blue bunting draped everything, and dramatic ice sculptures in the shapes of a crown and the royal insignia completed the decorations.
Smiling faces were everywhere I looked. If the news about Janvier had upset anyone, it wasn’t evident.
The citizens who’d shown up today—and there were too many to count—weren’t shy about how happy they were for us.
They wanted us here, they had no problem with their future king not being a hundred percent winter elf, and things were back to normal.
Or as normal as they got in the North Pole.
LeRoy and Charlotte smiled from the third row of VIP seating as Ezreal, who was the Master of Ceremonies, stepped up to the podium. “Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, and citizens of the North Pole, I am pleased to welcome you to this historic Naming Day.”
Lots of applause. In the depths of the audience outside of the arranged seating, I could just make out signs that read, “We love you,” and, “Long Live Prince Jack.” The words touched a spot deep inside me, reminding me that we were definitely loved. More importantly, that our son was loved.
Ezreal used his own personal magic to send his voice across the crowds. “To begin this monumental day, Lord Anson Crowe, father of the Prince Consort, has prepared a spectacular surprise.”
Anson stepped up to the podium, shook hands with Ezreal, then turned toward the audience. He spread his arms. “Cast your attention to the skies!”
High above the crowd, from all four directions, fireballs appeared. They pulsated and danced as they rolled through the air until they came together above the stage and exploded into a brilliant display of fireworks.
The crowd was enraptured, all eyes skyward. Then, out of the largest burst of colorful sparks, stepped a colossal blue dragon that looked like it was made of lightning. The fierce creature glimmered and glowed, the image somehow clearly visible despite the bright sun.
With its tail switching, the dragon stomped a circle through the sky, marching over the crowd, roaring great breaths of fire into the air, and leaving a wake of vanishing embers. There was no chance anyone didn’t get a good look at it. Mouths were open in disbelief.
Then the dragon approached the stage and bowed. The heat radiating off it was unmistakable. When it straightened, it flew straight up, where it exploded into a shower of sparks. As the tiny blue coals fell, words formed, burning bright as if drawn in the air with fire.
Congratulations, Prince Jack filled the sky, glittering and pulsating for several long seconds, then vanishing in a heart-shaped wisp of silver smoke.
The crowd went wild, cheering and applauding and hooting for more. I laughed, unable to contain myself at my father-in-law’s amazing display. I had no doubt no other Naming Day had ever had such a spectacle. This would be one for the books.
Anson took a bow and returned to his seat. Even though Ezreal returned to his place at the podium, nearly a minute went by before the noise died down.
I squeezed Sin’s hand. “That was amazing. Your dad slayed.”
He nodded, his smile filled with pride. “Yeah, he did.”
Finally, Ezreal began to speak. “I am now honored to present his royal highness King Jack, grandfather of Prince Jack, and her royal highness, Princess Jayne, mother of Prince Jack.”
My dad and I got up to approach the podium. I had JJ in my arms, who was asleep, although I wasn’t sure how long that would last. I gave a tiny wave to everyone, not willing to let go of JJ more than necessary.
LeRoy was snapping pictures like crazy, no surprise there, as I was in my new gown and my new necklace.
My dad lifted a hand to the happy crowd.
“I am so pleased to see all of you here today. And I am truly honored to share this day with the incredible citizens of the North Pole. Today, the House of Frost acknowledges the second in line to the throne, the son of Princess Jayne and Prince Consort Sinclair, his royal highness Prince Jack Anson Frost Crowe.”
He laid his hand on JJ’s head. “By this proclamation, I entitle him to the throne and all the privileges, honors, and duties contained therein. May winter obey his every command.”
Ezreal brought my father a sheet of ice.
Magical ice, the same kind we’d seen in the royal vault.
My father let go of JJ to take the ice. He placed it on the podium and used his finger to write upon it.
Once he was done, he held it up for all to see.
JJ’s full name was on it, sparkling in the sun.
“With this signature, his name is sealed. Long live Prince Jack!”
“Long live Prince Jack!” the crowd shouted in return.
Fat, perfectly formed snowflakes fell like confetti as the cheering continued. My father’s magic announcing that, just like that, Naming Day was done. No one could ever say our son was not the legitimate heir to the Winter Throne.
One snowflake drifted near JJ. He stuck his hand out, eyes alight with interest, and the snowflake stopped falling and began to slowly rotate right in front of him.
Sin’s mouth came open as he joined us. “Are you doing that?”
“No, I think he is.” Our son was going to be one very powerful elf.
“Wow,” Sin whispered.
“You can say that again.” I kissed JJ’s cheek as my mom and Sin’s parents came to stand with us.
Sin put his arm around me. He’d been cleared to use a cane today, which he somehow made look very dapper.
Like he’d planned to use a cane as part of his outfit, which was a beautiful navy pinstripe suit with a white shirt and tie.
“I’m so glad it’s done,” he whispered as he waved to the crowd.
“Me, too.”
“I bet you are. Because now we can have cake.”
I laughed. He wasn’t wrong.
And, truly, what was better than sharing cake with my family while celebrating the best thing that had ever happened to me? I hugged JJ close and leaned into my husband.
Cake was really just the icing on an already amazing life.