The Choice

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When I entered the fortress, a strange chill ran through me. Something felt wrong. My first thought was Caspian—if he was in danger, I had to find him. The meeting room was the most likely place, so I headed there.

As I got closer, I heard chanting.

This isn't good...

I should have waited for backup, but the thought of Caspian alone with whatever was inside made me run even harder. The scene was worse than I imagined. A woman—pale, otherworldly, encased in a wall of ice—was reaching toward him. Caspian stood frozen in place, his expression caught between fear and temptation.

Before I could call out, something lunged at me—a twisted creature, half-wolf, half-man. Instinct took over. I slipped my dagger from my boot and slashed it across its leg. It stumbled back with a howl, crippled but alive. I didn't have time to finish it.

I shoved Caspian aside, sending him sprawling into a pile of rubble.

"Back off, you wicked snow-witch!" I snapped, planting myself between him and the creature in ice.

The witch's laugh echoed like breaking glass. "Feisty, aren't you? How delightful. And who might you be?"

"None of your business."

Her eyes glittered. "It doesn't matter. One drop of your blood, and I'll be free. Surely you see your prince can't win this war alone."

"Leave him out of this."

"Oh...have I struck a nerve?" She teased.

My hands clenched tighter around my dagger.

Before I could move, Peter burst in, shoving me aside. I landed squarely on top of Caspian.

Of course I did.

"Princess," Caspian murmured beneath me, smirking. "Comfortable?"

I rolled my eyes, "Very"

He chuckled. "Did you really just call the White Witch a...wicked snow-witch?"

"I...might have."

"Even in mortal danger, you're impossible." He brushed his hand against my cheek, his expression softening. "And yet...I wouldn't have it any other way."

I froze as his voice dropped to a whisper. "I love you, Maria."

For a heartbeat, I couldn't breathe. Then I smiled. "I love you too, Cas."

His eyes widened. "You—what?"

"I was going to tell you in the castle, before everything went to hell."

Relief broke across his face, and he pulled me to my feet. Slowly, carefully, he leaned in.

"Wait," I whispered, "What if someone sees?"

She glanced around only to find the room was empty now, only broken ice left behind. The other had gone, and she hadn't even noticed.

"Who exactly is going to see us, princess?"

I shoved his chest lightly. "Oh, just shut up."

And then I kissed him.

It wasn't careful or tentative—it was fire and breathlessness and every bottled-up moment between us.

When I pulled back for air, he grinned at my dazed expression.

My cheeks burned. "That was my first kiss...and no, you didn't disappoint."

His eyes widened. "Your first— "

"Don't look so smug, prince." I smirked.

"Too late," he said, before pulling me into another kiss, deeper, more urgent than the first.