Page 15 of Frozen Star (Star Touched: Fae Bound #7)

Cierra’s body goes limp in Aerix’s grip.

Finally, after a few painfully long seconds, he lets go.

Her lifeless form crumples to the floor in a heap, dark hair spilling around her like ink, blood pooling beneath her body.

Nausea rises in my throat. Because yes, I’ve seen Aerix kill without mercy countless times.

But Cierra was his sister in all but blood.

They’ve known each other for centuries, since they were winter fae.

And yes, she arranged his turning into a vampire without his consent, but if he wanted to kill her because of it, wouldn’t he have done it ages ago?

Now, he’s standing over her body, ice spreading out from his feet as he drops his dagger to the floor.

When he turns to me, his chest is rising and falling rapidly, each breath sharp and wild.

His eyes are wrecked and desperate as he crosses the room toward me, stepping around Cierra’s body without sparing it another glance.

“Zoey,” he breathes my name a prayer, his hands shaking as he cups my face. “Are you all right? Did she hurt you?”

“I’m fine,” I say, my mind reeling as I try to process whatever just happened. It was so much at once—Cierra’s claim of the wards breaking, and what she said about Aerix’s reasons for saving me at the waterfall—that I’m having a hard time piecing it together.

“You’re my family,” he says suddenly, the words tumbling out in a rush.

“You understand that, don’t you? I turned you.

You’re my family by blood now. We’re bound to each other forever.

” His thumbs brush my cheekbones, his touch desperate, as if he’s making sure I’m real.

“We’re having a baby together. Our blood, our magic, and our souls are intertwined. Forever.”

“Aerix.” My heart pounds as I place my hand on his chest, trying to steady us both. “She didn’t hurt me. Everything’s going to be okay.”

He closes his eyes, exhaling roughly, as if the simple act of breathing is too much.

“The doctor,” he says, opening his eyes again, silver flecks shimmering brighter than ever in his midnight gaze. “She has a theory.”

“Okay…” Dread twists inside me as I wait for him to continue.

“When I turned you,” he says slowly, choosing each word carefully, “my venom wasn’t the only thing of mine spilling inside you.” His voice trails off, his throat bobbing as he swallows. “We were together—fully, intimately together—at the same time as your turning.”

I nod, the memories flooding back. The overwhelming intensity, the fierce connection of our bodies moving together, the sensation of becoming one with him in a way that defied everything natural.

“She thinks that might be the reason,” he continues. “You weren’t fully human anymore, but you weren’t a vampire yet, either. You were something else. Something in between. And in that impossible moment, our child was conceived.”

“So our child is...” My voice fades, unable to find the right word.

“A miracle.” He pulls me closer, his wings trembling as they enclose us in their shadowy embrace. “This baby is proof that you and I were destined to belong to each other from the beginning.”

I say nothing, my breath trapped deep in my chest. Because how can I respond to that? How can I tell him how terrified I am, how young I feel, and how overwhelmed I am by everything that’s happened?

Ever since being turned, it’s like my emotions are crushing me, like they’re too much for my body to process.

Or maybe it’s the effects of the pregnancy?

I don’t know. I really, really don’t know.

And I’m afraid that if I tell Aerix about these feelings, he’ll take it personally.

That he’ll think I don’t want this baby.

Which isn’t true. At least, I don’t think it’s true. It’s just that I don’t feel ready.

I’m lost in my spiraling thoughts as his hands move to the back of my neck, fingers threading through my hair as he pulls me closer, desperation radiating from every line of his body.

“Zoey,” he breathes, and there’s something broken in the way he says my name, as if he’s drowning and I’m the only thing that can save him.

“Cierra scared you. I know she scared you… I should have been here. She never should have been able to get in here at all.” He shakes his head, his gaze wild, his hands lowering to hold onto my shoulders.

“You’re still here with me, right? We’re still in this together?

I need—” His voice cracks, and he swallows hard.

“I don’t know what I’ll do if you try to leave me. ”

His eyes are hot coals as they dig into mine, his body tense, his wings flaring behind him. But with each passing moment, his expression glazes over, as if he’s drowning in whatever’s going through his mind. His grip on me tightens. His breathing becomes shallower, more erratic.

“Aerix,” I say his name softly, pulling him back into focus. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m here with you, always. Because I love you. More than I’ve ever loved anyone in this entire world.”

Instead of the relief I expect to see in his eyes, something darker flickers there. Something frantic—maybe even anxious—that makes my breath catch.

“This child.” He glances at the tower’s open door with another far-off expression, then returns his focus to me.

“Is proof that I was right about us. About what we’re meant to be.

You understand that, don’t you? That this is bigger than us?

That I need to do everything in my power to keep both of you safe? ”

I nod, not trusting my voice. Because Cierra’s body bleeding out on the ground is enough evidence that he’ll do everything he can for me, even if it means killing someone he’s known for centuries.

What he did to her is clearly tearing him up inside, even if he can’t admit it yet.

“Say you won’t leave me.” His grip tightens until it’s almost painful. “That you’ll never leave me.”

The way he says it makes me scared that if I hesitate, he’ll unravel completely.

“I love you, Aerix.” I keep my gaze fixed on his, praying that my steadiness will ground him. “You’re my family. The three of us. Forever. And I’m never going to leave you.”

He shudders against me, like he needed to hear those words more than he needed air.

“I love you, Zoey.” His grip loosens as he presses his forehead against mine, his body still trembling, even though he’s steadying his breaths.

“More than anything. Forever. And I’m going to keep you safe, no matter what I have to do or become to make sure no one can hurt the only things in the world that matter to me—you and our child. ”

His lips move toward mine, but I press a hand against his chest, stopping him.

“Zoey?” he says, a million questions filling the two syllables of my name.

“What did Cierra mean about the wards being broken?” I ask, searching his eyes for answers.

His entire body stiffens, and he walks to the open door, closing it with a resounding thud and using his magic to lock it from the inside. When he turns back to me, there’s something mechanical in his movements, like he’s accepted whatever comes next and has no regrets about it.

I step back, wind stirring around me. “Tell me what’s happening.”

He sighs and runs a hand through his dark hair, conflict raging in his eyes. “The Winter Court launched an attack. Their army breached our borders.”

My blood turns to ice. “The Winter Court? But that means?—”

“It means we stay here.” He moves closer to me again, until there are only inches between us.

“The safest place to be right now is here, in this tower, locked away from the rest of the court. The winter fae don’t know this place exists, let alone how to breach it.

We’ll stay here together, where the rest of the world can’t touch us, and wait it out. ”

I nod, but it’s automatic, as if I’m numbly going through the motions. “And then what?”

His jaw tightens. “And then,” he says carefully, “we’ll figure it out from there. Whatever it takes. But I promise you—I swear to you—that I’ll do everything in my power to keep us safe.”

I want to believe him. But deep, instinctive dread forces me to break away from him and hurry to the spiral staircase leading to the roof, needing to see for myself.

“Zoey!” he calls after me, but I’m already running, taking the steps two at a time.

When I burst onto the rooftop, the cold hits me instantly. Dawn is spreading across the sky, and there, in the distance, cresting over the far hills, is a mass of armored figures. They’re moving swiftly, banners raised high—the Winter Court’s army.

“Oh my God,” I whisper, horror sinking into my bones.

Aerix appears behind me in an instant, his arms wrapping around me.

“Zoey,” he says, turning me away from the terrifying sight.

“Let them fight over thrones and banners. None of that matters anymore. Not to us. Because you—” He presses his palm against my stomach, his voice thick with conviction.

“You’re carrying our future, and we’re going to stay safe in here, together. ”