Page 57 of Bite the Power
The words had lodged in her chest like warm honey, sweet and overwhelming.
On the third night, she'd finally succumbed to exhaustion, curling beside him on the massive bed with her fingers still intertwined with his. She'd been terrified that if she let go, even for a moment, he might slip away from her.
She woke to the sensation of his thumb brushing across her knuckles, his voice a low rumble in the darkness. "My miracle," he murmured, thinking she was still asleep. "I don't know whatI did to deserve you walking into my life, but I'll spend eternity being grateful for it."
Her heart squeezed tight as she stirred with a sleepy smile, pressing a kiss to his shoulder. Lying there in the pre-dawn darkness, Tessa found herself reflecting on how completely he'd transformed her world. Love had always seemed too unpredictable, too dangerous—something that left you vulnerable and broken when it inevitably ended. After losing her grandmother, she'd convinced herself that career and independence were safer companions than the messy complications of the heart.
But this—this feeling of belonging, of being cherished and needed and wanted—wasn't the destructive force she'd feared. It was an anchor, steadying her in ways she'd never dreamed possible. Home wasn't a research assignment or a location on a map. Home was him, and the life they were building together in this frozen kingdom that had somehow become more beautiful than anywhere she'd ever been.
Later the next afternoon, a soft knock interrupted their quiet conversation about rebuilding the research station bigger and better. Elora entered first, followed by Bjorn and a distinguished older man with silver-streaked hair and eyes like winter storms.
"Head Elder Thor," Kaidan said, attempting to sit up straighter despite Tessa's disapproving look.
Thor approached the bed with measured steps, his gaze moving between Kaidan and Tessa with obvious consideration. "I've come to speak with the woman who saved our king and our kingdom."
Heat flooded Tessa's face. "I just did what anyone would have?—"
"No." Thor's voice carried the weight of wisdom. "You showed a courage that would make our finest warriors proud. You stopped Magnus from destroying Frosthaven, then foughtto save our king's life. You've proven your worth not through strength of body, but through strength of spirit."
Bjorn stepped forward, his brown eyes warmer than she'd ever seen them. "You've earned Frosthaven's loyalty, Tessa. All of it."
"And you've earned yourself a sister," Elora added with a warm smile, reaching out to squeeze Tessa's hand.
Thor nodded approvingly. "The heart that can thaw the ice in a king's veins due to his stubbornness belongs on the throne beside him."
Emotion clogged Tessa's throat as she looked around at their faces—acceptance, respect, and genuine affection shining back at her. "I don't know if I'm worthy of?—"
"You are." Kaidan's voice cut through her doubts, rich with pride and absolute certainty. His eyes held hers with such fierce love that her protests died unspoken. "You're everything a queen should be, and everything Frosthaven needs."
Later that night, Tessa watched with growing exasperation as Kaidan swung his legs over the side of the bed, his face set in that stubborn way she'd come to recognize meant he'd made up his mind about something.
"Absolutely not." She crossed her arms, positioning herself between him and the door. "You're still healing."
"I'm fine, Tessa." His tone held that commanding edge that made his people snap to attention, but she wasn't intimidated by his alpha posturing.
She softened her tone, reaching out to touch his shoulder. "What's so important that it can't wait until tomorrow?"
Something flickered in his blue eyes—nervous energy that seemed completely at odds with his usual confidence. "Trust me. Please."
The quiet vulnerability in those words undid her resistance. With a heavy sigh, she moved to his side, slipping her armaround his waist to help him stand. His sharp intake of breath made her wince, but he steadied quickly, his hand covering hers where it rested against his ribs.
"You're impossible," she muttered, but she couldn't hide the affection in her voice.
"So you keep telling me." His grin was pure mischief despite the pain lines around his eyes. "Must be why you fell for me."
He guided her slowly through his chambers toward the private balcony, each step measured and careful. The moonlight streaming through the windows painted everything in silver and shadow, transforming the familiar space into something magical.
When they stepped onto the balcony, Tessa let out a gasp. The Aurora Borealis unfurled across the star-studded sky like ribbons of green and violet silk, more brilliant than she'd ever seen before. The entire kingdom spread below them, peaceful and beautiful under the ethereal light show.
"Kaidan, it's stunning, but you really should?—"
He turned to face her suddenly, his expression so intense it stole the words from her lips. The northern lights reflected in his eyes, making them seem to glow with inner fire.
"You've given me back my life," he said, his voice raw with emotion. "Hell, you've given me a life worth living for the first time. I'm done pretending it's too soon to know what my soul already does."
Before she could process what was happening, he was lowering himself to one knee despite the obvious pain the movement caused. Her heart slammed against her ribs as he reached into his pocket, producing a beautiful ring that caught the moonlight.
The diamond was flawless, set in a band of white gold engraved with Frosthaven's crest. It was elegant and powerful, exactly like the man offering it to her.
