Theo's pov
"The Only Place I Want to Be"
England was grey.
Not the rain kind of grey. Not the cloudy, cozy sort. The funeral grey—where even the air felt like it was in mourning.
We didn't even get time to unpack. The moment we landed, we drove straight to the hospital. My mother kept wringing her hands in her lap. Nicol sat on my left, saying nothing. For once, I was grateful.
Dad—my biological one—wasn't going to make it.
That's what the doctors said before we even walked in.
By the time we reached the cold, sterile corridor outside the operating room, I felt like I was standing at the edge of something. Not a cliff—cliffs are poetic. This felt like a ledge in a dark stairwell. Nothing romantic about it. Just descent.
I hated him.
But I still didn't want him gone.
When the doctor came out, I didn't even have to ask.
The look on his face said it all.
"I'm sorry," he told my mother. "He didn't make it through the operation."
I blinked once.
Twice.
Nicol gasped. My mother sobbed.
I just stood there.
Wealth. Inheritance. The empire.
All mine now.
And I'd trade it all in a second just to see her again.
---
I didn't stay long. I couldn't. The moment the formalities were over, I walked out, wrapped my coat around myself like armor, and got in the damn car.
"Where are we going?" the driver asked.
"Back to the airport," I said. "We're flying to Icevale."
---
It was past midnight when I landed.
Snow stuck to the edges of the road like powdery sugar. The streets were quiet. My limbs were numb, but not from the cold.
The car barely came to a stop in front of her house before I jumped out.
Lights were on upstairs. She was awake.
I didn't knock.
I opened the door like I belonged there—because I did.
The warmth of her house hit me like a memory.
I turned toward the stairs and took them two at a time. I knew her room. I knew her.
I opened the door and froze.
Ash and Avi were on the bed.
Kissing.
They jumped apart, startled. Ash looked guilty, Avi grinned like a busted cat.
"What the—Theo?" Avi said. "What are you doing here?"
"Where is she?"
That was all I could manage. My voice cracked. It cracked.
And then the bathroom door opened.
Val stepped out, towel wrapped around her hair, skin flushed from the steam. She saw me—and stopped cold.
"Theo?"
I didn't wait.
I walked across the room, dropped everything I carried, and pulled her into me.
Tight.
Desperate.
Real.
I buried my face in her neck and finally broke.
"She's hugging you," someone whispered—maybe Ash—but I didn't care.
Val's arms came around me, soft and slow. Like she was afraid I'd shatter if she touched me too fast.
"What happened?" she whispered.
"My dad's dead."
I heard her soft gasp. Felt her fingers slip into my hair.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
"I couldn't breathe without you," I whispered. "Every day. I kept thinking about you. I wanted to message you. I wanted to explain everything. The post—it wasn't mine. Nicol posted it. I deleted it. I swear. I didn't want that. I only wanted you."
Her eyes were wide. Wet.
Ash touched Avi's arm. "We should go."
And thank God they did.
The door closed behind them. I heard Ash whisper "Lock it."
I turned back to Val, chest heaving.
She touched my cheek. "You're really here?"
"I'm here. I'm done running. I don't care about inheritance, or power, or Nicol. I want you, Val. Only you."
Her hands slid to my neck, pulling me closer. Her forehead rested against mine.
"I missed you so much," she whispered.
My hands found her waist. Her skin was warm. Familiar. Like home.
And when her lips met mine—it wasn't rushed.
It wasn't fireworks.
It was a quiet ache.
The kind that said we survived this.
I didn't need to ask permission.
We stumbled back, her hand tangled in my shirt, my mouth on her collarbone, the soft rustle of fabric and sighs and something deeper between us than either of us could say.
It wasn't just hooking up.
It was us—finally unbreaking.
Finally real.