Page 25 of Frosty and the Reaper

“What? It’s a valid concern.”

“The Fountain is just an object. It does not decide who benefits from it. The Fountain just produces the magical water.”

“Magic is confusing.”

He chuckled. “No need to pout, beloved.”

When they reached the dock, she saw a small boat was waiting there. After he helped her step onto it, he wrapped his arms around her waist to hold her steady when the boat immediately started gliding across the surface of the lake. Leaning her chin against his chest, she stared up at him.

“Why didn’t we just teleport over to the island?”

“There are magical wards surrounding the island that probits teleporting to it.

It didn’t take them long to reach the island. The boat glided to a stop next to the smooth stones surrounding the island. Instead of sand, they stepped out onto verdant green grass. Rather than bending, the blades of grass felt like tiny springs, bouncing gently beneath their feet with each step they took.

Up close, the island was even more breathtaking. The tree was even larger than it had seemed when they were standing on the shoreline. Even the air felt different on the island. It felt cool and fresh, almost like they were standing out in the open instead of hidden away in a dark cave.

She glanced over at Zander and saw his lips were curved into a soft smile as he watched her. She loved how he automatically reached for her hand again. She’d never thought much about holding someone’s hand before, but the simple gesture seemed intimate when she was doing it with him.

His fingers interlaced with hers, warm and steady, making her feel grounded amid the strangeness of their surroundings. Every time his thumb brushed gently over her skin, a comforting sense of belonging settled over her. The ease with which he reached for her, and the security she felt in his grasp, made her realize just how significant such a small act could be.

It wasn’t just physical closeness.

It was trust, protection, and a silent reminder of the bond between them.

Her brows furrowed as the flowers shifted, creating a path for them to walk on to get closer to the tree. When they were standing under the lush branches, Zander gently pushed her forward with a hand on her back.

“Go ahead. Place your hand on the tree trunk and ask it for what you want.”

Shuffling forward, Kami moved closer to the tree. The trunk of the tree was almost as wide as a car and felt rough against her palm. Her mind went blank for a moment, and she was unable to formulate what she wanted to ask for.

Guilt flickered through her. She didn’t really need a piece of fruit from the Tree of Life. That was something that should be reserved for worthy people who needed it, not just someone who wanted to taste it. She could always give the fruit to her sister instead. Perhaps that would calm Jackie down and help her accept Kami being mated to one of the most fearsome supernaturals alive.

Or maybe she should gift it to her father and the real former queen of the Winter Kingdom. Nick and Bianca Frost were still recovering from what the Goddess of Illusions had done to them. After years of being used as a magical battery to power up the Realm of Illusions, Bianca still hadn’t woken up from her magical coma. It would take a lot for her to recover, so perhaps the fruit might help wake her up.

While Nick was Kami’s real father, the fact he had been tricked into having a child with someone who wasn’t his fated mate was a big problem for him. Even though it wasn’t Kami’s fault, he had refused to see her the few times he had woken up briefly. She didn’t blame him, though. The Goddess of Illusions had messed with his head for years, and that was bound to have lasting effects.

That was a stark reminder that she no longer had a complete family.

She felt Zander move behind her, and he pressed up against her back as his arms wrapped around her, surrounding her with his warmth. She instinctively leaned back into his protective hold, enjoying the comfort he offered. The steady beat of his heart and the gentle pressure of his arms wrapped around her reminded her that she wasn’t alone.

“No, you are not. You still have your sister, your brother-in-law, and your brother.” He squeezed her gently and rested his head on hers. “But above all, you have me. You will always have me.”

That made her smile. Forgetting about the tree, she turned around and wrapped herself around him. “As you have me.”

Leaning down, he brushed his lips against hers in a gentle kiss. Then, he pulled back and rested his forehead against hers.

Their relationship was still new, slowly unfurling like the flowers scattered across the ground near their feet. Even so, Kami already felt love blooming in her heart, and the depth of her feelings grew stronger with every moment they shared together.

She was startled when the tree began to move.

As they continued to embrace beneath the protective arch of branches overhead, the Tree of Life began to glow brighter. It felt as if the tree itself were recognizing the sincerity of their love when three luminous pieces of fruit were slowly lowered from the branches so they hung in the air in front of them.

“You have been blessed.” Zander plucked one of the pink pears off the branch and held it out to her. “Go ahead, beloved.”

She hesitated for a moment, sincerely stunned by the offering. Then, she lifted his wrist so he was holding the piece of fruit between them. “We should both have a taste.”

Leaning closer, he smiled. “Blessings to our mating.”