Page 25 of Gifted to the Frost King (Monstrous Holiday #1)

25

THE FROST KING

S he is beautiful—his mate.

He thought so from the moment he first laid eyes on her. Barely alive atop that platform, clinging to life yet glowing like a star. He could kill the people of her village for leaving her out there like that. There isn’t much time for revenge now. There isn’t much time for anything except this.

The final chance to look at her before it all goes dark.

The other half of his soul lays beside him, breathing softly. The one he’s waited centuries for. He remembers most of it now—the witch’s whispered words. Now that his time has ended, he can at least enjoy his memories once he’s frozen. Everything has changed, and yet there is no preventing this. Watching her chest rise and fall, he tucks away the sight of her as the ice creeps in.

Even the beast has gone quiet in supplication, surrendering to their shared fate.

If she was awake, maybe there could be a chance at ending this, but he knows in his heart it is already too late. The ability to be with her—to feel her warmth around him and bask in it—was one last kindness. He put her to sleep so she wouldn’t witness the change.

He’d laugh if the ice wasn’t already coating his lungs. It’s true—he was never meant to break it. If only they had had more time, but wishing for that would be useless. The ice creeps up fast, consuming his flesh. There is only time now for one final truth to be uttered from his lips.

“I love you, Dove.”

His final breath puffs into a cloud of frost against her rosy cheek.