Page 67 of Ice Queen

Wolfe and Rowan appear at my side, along with Silas and Jonah. I’m surrounded by all the people I love, celebrating a union I thought would never happen. Little Wren dances and dances until he collapses into a heap and starts snoring. I smile, looking at my nephew as I sweep my hand over my stomach.

The sight of Wren no longer fills me with fear and resentment. I look at my nephew with nothing but love, and I finally understand how Wolfe felt all those months ago. Love hits you right in the gut—and love for a child? Forget it. Mine isn’t even born yet, but I already feel overwhelmed.

“Have I ever told you how gorgeous you are?” Asher nuzzles his face into my neck, dropping a soft kiss behind my ear.

I smile, sliding my hand around his waist. Tonight, I’m not a queen. My responsibilities are shoved aside for a few blissful hours, and I just enjoy basking in the light of my new life. My new love.

When the dancing winds down, I stand up and slip my hand into Asher’s. Silas grins, wrapping me in a big bear hug, then Jonah does the same.

Finally, Wolfe comes to stand in front of me and drops a soft kiss on both my cheeks. “I’m happy for you, Penelope. I haven’t seen you smile this much since we were kids.”

Leaning my head on Asher’s shoulder, we walk toward the exit. No one protests or asks us to stay longer. They let us leave and we let them dance and drink long into the night. I’d much rather be alone with Asher, anyway.

Our wedding night is tender. Slow and passionate, then intense. Asher worships my body and makes me feel his love from head to toe. I do the same for him and when it’s over, we’re sweaty and tangled in each other’s arms, smiling as a blanket of happiness covers us both.

“How do you think the public will react to the news about the baby?” Asher slides his hand over my stomach.

“Well, when we announced our engagement, the reaction was supportive. They might not expect it to happen this fast, but any controversy will blow over. It has to.”

“They want you to be happy, you know.” Asher kisses my temple.

His words ring through me, and I let them sink in—the true meaning of them. The people of Nord want me to be happy. There was no outrage when Asher and I announced our engagement. Not talk of corruption and controversy. There was only…celebration. Happiness that I had finally found someone after Xavier.

The articles and editorials shocked me, if I’m honest. We broke the news about a month ago, and the positive reaction was another reminder that my isolation and my coldness were a defense mechanism that only hurt myself. I can only imagine the celebration in the kingdom when we announce the pregnancy.

Asher tightens his arms around me, letting out a long sigh. “I love you, Penelope.”

Warmth floods me from head to toe. “I love you, too, Asher. More than you know.”

Our baby girl is born at the beginning of March, healthy and screaming her little lungs out. Asher and I cry—a lot. My love for my daughter is overwhelming. It drags me under, and I let it.

Of course people do the math. They know it’s only six months between the end of September and the beginning of March, and rumors fly. It’s not exactly what I’d like as the Queen of Nord, but if I’m honest, it’s hard to care.

I have a daughter. I bore a child of my own body.

The words of a few people in the kingdom? Whispers and gossip?

Meaningless. My daughter is a princess, and anyone who denies it isn’t worthy of my attention.

The negative whispers about my affair with Asher soon fade, though, and when we release the first pictures of Princess Neva, there’s nothing but rejoicing. The whole kingdom celebrates our daughter as the miracle she is—the heir no one thought would exist.

Asher’s father doesn’t speak to him for a full year. We send pictures of our baby girl and try to reach out every couple of months, but silence answers back. Mr. Gerhard is angry with his son, which is understandable. Asher sold off a huge chunk of the company without remorse, then handed in his resignation. He basically launched a grenade at his relationship with his father and was ready to accept the consequences.

Even though Asher assures me it was worth it—and every time I see him with Neva, I believe him—it still pains me to think he can’t have a relationship with his father. Every time we hear nothing back from Farcliff, I know it hurts Asher, but he brushes off his pain and gives me a soft smile. My brave man, ready to face anything for the sake of our love.

Finally, before Neva turns one, we receive a letter in the mail. Asher opens it, jaw clenched, then lets out a long sigh. His shoulders drop, and it looks like some of the pain he’s been carrying is finally easing. “He wants to meet her,” he says, lifting his eyes to mine. “My father wants to meet his granddaughter.”

I smile, nodding. “Let’s invite him to Nord.”

And so, another relationship begins to mend. It started with Asher and me, mending our own hearts. Then that healing extended to our families, to our kingdom, to everyone who had called me cold and heartless and barren. The love we have for each other permeated every nook and cranny in Nord, and it healed all the bitterness it touched.

His father might never fully forgive Asher, but at least the conversation is starting. That frost can melt, just like the ice that used to encase my own heart. Love has the power to do that. Asher’s love, my love, Neva’s love—it blankets everything in warmth and goodness and makes me forget what it felt like to be alone.

With Asher by my side and Neva in my arms, I’m not turning my back on my duty. I’m a better queen than I was before, because I have them. I have their love and support—and I can give it back tenfold to my people.

I thought my coldness made me strong, but I was wrong.

Asher’s love makes me stronger. Unbreakable.

He makes me, quite simply, happy.

* * *