Page 174 of Autumn Queens & Shadows

“I hope one day you might forgive me for it. For my selfishness.”

Then she hit me hard and pushed to stand at least a foot away from me. “You made me wait ten years.”

“I’m sorry.” I slid closer to her again and she threw me a hard glare which softened when Rain laughed at her brother’s magic tricks. “I missed you,” I said, putting a finger on her chin and turning her face to me.

She looked out of breath. “It has been barely a day.”

“I missed you so much.”

“This soon?”

“I’m pitiful, aren’t I?” I asked, nudging my nose to hers.

“A little,” she whispered.

I bit into my smile, trying to contain it to not upset her with my happiness. “Take pity on me and let me back. I want to tell you I love you how lovers do. Everyday. As many times as I can say it. In the morning when you just wake up. At night before you fall asleep. When you ache. When you’re happy. When you hate me. Or for no reason at all.”

“I want that, too.”

She was so soft. Like snow and spring wind. Like summer clouds and sea foam. Like a dandelion. “Let me kiss you. Forever, if you can.”

Her chameleon eyes rounded and glassed over like a forest touched by the first rain and sunshine of the season. She nodded and reached for me, and I wondered how I felt in her hands. If I felt like disaster and nightmares. If I felt like gravel and thorns.

But when her lips met mine, it didn’t matter. She wanted me as I was. She had always wanted me as I was.

Snow was fast asleep, her mouth slightly parted while she snored to the point the fresh Myrdur foundations were shaking.

My brother cradled his new-born son in his arms, swaying back and forth. “He looks like her,” he murmured, his voice thick with tears.

“Attitude wise, I feel like he is more of a Castemont,” I said, lightly pinching his fat cheek. “What’s his name?”

“Jonah Malik Castemont. Snow picked it.”

I chuckled, smiling down at the Castemont youngling. “What burden to carry on your tiny shoulders.”

My brother glanced at Thora. “What’s the verdict?”

“He can stay.”

Kil nodded. “Good. I’ll cut his legs if he ever tries to leave again.”

“Not if I catch him first,” she said.

“Will you mind holding him for a while?” he asked us.

Thora reached for him. “Thought you would never ask.”

She sat beside me on the large sofa while Kil laid in bed beside his sleeping wife, his hand was on her face, his lips were on her face, too.

“Do you still hate me?” I heard my brother whisper to her.

Snow’s eyes opened just slightly, and though she was exhausted, she gave him a little smile. “Are you cornering me now because I am out of it?”

“Yes. I want to know if you hate me in all of your states. If you hate me when you sleep, when you eat or think, when you don’t think at all.”

“I still hate you.”

“Alright. I’ll try harder.”