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“The fire?” I arched an innocent eyebrow. “It’s been there for a while.”

Frost made an impatient noise even as an indulgent smile tugged at his lips. “I’m referring to that large objectbesidethe fire that definitely has not been there for a while.”

“Oh, the fir tree? I brought it in this afternoon in honor of the human celebration of Yuletide that occurs every winter.”

Frost chuckled. “I’m rather aware of the tradition.”

“Since it’s our duty to be the best possible caretakers of the human world, I thought it would be useful for us to enter the spirit of the season like the mortals do.”

“Oh really?” My husband’s smile was on full display now.

“Also.” I dropped the bantering tone. “I never got a chance to decorate a tree as a child.”

Frost’s smile vanished. “Did your family not celebrate?”

“Every year my parents threw the grandest party in town. The house was filled with garlands, holly, and the tallest,most magnificent tree that could be found, which was decorated by the servants; I was forbidden to touch a single branch.”

Frost took a deep breath, as he usually did when I relayed a new detail of my past life, before shaking his head and smiling at me again, this time in gentle compassion rather than playfulness. “Then it’s time we decorate your first tree.”

We approached the graceful fir together. Frost contemplated it for a moment, his head tilted thoughtfully to the side, before extending his hand to me. Smiling, I took it and we held our joined hands towards the tree, letting our magic mingle. Tendrils of frost swirled out, wrapping around the tree in a turquoise glow. Joy swelled as the once silent music caressed my hearing. Though I’d caught snippets of the language of winter before my transformation, I could now hear the beautiful woven song as molecules formed and joined to create patterns. The light faded and we surveyed our handiwork—ornate garlands of glittering ice hung from the branches, and intricate, glasslike ornaments swayed gently, catching the light.

“It’s perfect,” I whispered, laying my head on Frost’s shoulder.

“Not quite,” he responded. “I can’t have my tree decorated more finely than my queen.”

Once more he concentrated, wisps of magic swirling out to surround me and settle on my chest. I looked down to see a sparkling pendant, finer than any human diamond, resting above my heart, suspended from a chain of the most delicate ice.

“I’ve never seen anything more beautiful at any ball,” I murmured, touching it gently.

“It’s not as bright as your eyes,” he responded, leaning close to steal another kiss. “I thought they were beautiful when you were mortal, but they’re beyond lovely now. Theyused to be a pretty pale grey that made me think of a snow-laden cloud on a winter morning, but now they’re the exact shade ofourmagic.”

We settled onto the hearth next to our fire that cast soft warmth but didn’t melt the ornaments. “I’ve been thinking,” I said after a quiet pause. “We should visit Borealis. It’s been a while since we’ve seen him.”

Frost made a face. “Do we have to?”

I poked him playfully in the chest. “I don’t want you to ever endure the loneliness that once marred your existence. As one of Season’s Guardians he’s your family in a sense, as are the other seasonal rulers. Not to mention that he’s the one who married us, so shouldn’t you feel a sense of gratitude?” I smirked, knowing he’d have no comeback for that.

He heaved a dramatic sigh, antics marred by his adoring grin. “Very well, but only because I want to show him how well you’ve taken to your new role as well as show you off to the other Guardians. No one ever thought I’d let anyone share my throne.”

I tilted my head with a mock-serious look. “Well, he wasn’t wrong. You are rather stubborn, Frost.”

His chuckle was deep and rich as he leaned in to kiss me again, his lips brushing softly against mine. “And yet you still love me.”

“Always and forever,” I whispered against his lips.

In that moment, I knew that no matter how long eternity stretched before us, I would never grow tired of him, of us. Together, we ruled the winter realm, balancing the icy chill of nature with the warmth of our love. As Frost held me in his arms with the world of snow swirling outside our palace of ice, I knew that this was the happily ever after I had never dared to dream of.

“I love you,” he murmured, his voice low and tender as heconveyed the words that I had spent my entire life seeking, only to discover them in the most unexpected place.

“And I love you.” I closed my eyes and let myself fall into the comforting embrace of the man who was my world, my king…and my forever.