Scrooge set Pen down next to Dee and Dum, our focus going to the porch.
Hare stood there, his stub tapping against the wood, arms folded.
“About fuckin’ time.” He sniffed sharply, not looking at either of us. “I’ve had to take care of everything here.”
“Hare…” Scrooge took a step forward.
“Whatever, asshole.” His eyes narrowed on his friend. “Hope it was worth it.”
“We got what we were seeking,” Scrooge replied.
“Plus some,” I mumbled, thinking of all our adventures since leaving this cabin.
“Good.” Hare grabbed the door handle. “Well, dinner will be ready in a few.” He hopped into the cabin, slamming the door.
Scrooge scoured his forehead, picking up the package again and strolling for the house.
“Hare will come around.” Dee grasped my hand in hers, her joyous face grinning up at me. “He tried not to show it because he doesn’t want anyone to know he cares about you, but he’s been terrified for you both. The more time went by, the worse he became. I think he was sure you both were dead.” She swung our arms as we traveled to the front door, Scrooge, Pen, and Dum going in first. “I’m so happy you are back, Alice.”
“Me too.” I grinned down at her.
“Our family feels whole again.”
Her words startled me because deep down I felt them too. They had been my strength when I was at my weakest, their words and faces were comfort even when I didn’t recognize how much I needed them. When everything was crumbling around me, they were my truth.
My family.
Chapter 27
A welcoming fire crackled in the hearth. Scents of vanilla, lemon, chocolate, and cinnamon wafted through the cabin, causing a thundering a growl in my stomach. My tongue craved one of Hare’s treats. But that’s where the welcome stopped.
The small room was spewed with dirty clothes, snacks, cooking utensils, card games, drawings, towels, and blankets, reminding me of my little sister’s sleepovers when she was young. Within five minutes, they exploded all over the living room with magazines, hair stuff, sleeping bags, food, and clothes.
“This is actually better than it was before.” Dee let go of my hand, running for the sofa, crashing in next to her brother. “I yelled at them every day to pick up their stuff.” She rolled her eyes. “Boys… right?”
“Right.” I grinned, shaking my head. I never grew up with a brother, and now my sister was by far tidier and more structured than I was.
“Hey!” Hare stomped back into the living room. “I told you I am not your maid or your mommy. Pick up your own crap. And don’t act like you weren’t as bad.” He pointed a spoon at Dee. “You fuckin’ Pucks are messy, love living in cluttered chaos.”
“It’s homey.” Dum dug underneath himself, pulling out a pair of tongs. “Oh hey, I was looking for these earlier.” He used them to scratch his back.
“Tinsel tits!” Hare bellowed at Dum. “You—you—I can’t even look at you right now. I used those to cook last night’s maple-butter spaghetti.”
I winced. “I thought elves were supposed to be clean, neat, and organized?”
“They are at Santa’s shop. Extremely disciplined, down to the last detail. The place runs meticulously.” Scrooge set the package near Pen, who was humming “Santa Claus is Back in Town,” swishing his flippers over the white rug in circles.
“Ohhh! A present.” Pen’s eyes lit up, clapping his flippers.
“Don’t touch it. Not for you.” Scrooge pointed at him, turning back to me. “Then they go home and are the complete opposite. Unbelievable hoarders. Disgustingly messy… and Santa wasn’t much better.”
Knowing Jessica, that had to drive her even more batty. Not a surprise, she was a minimalistic, clean freak.
“Alice.” A low voice came from the hallway, jerking my head around. “You have returned.”
Rudolph stood there, tall, fit, wearing only a pair of the red pants Nick seemed to have numerous pairs of. His wounds had healed, his antlers starting to grow back. Even though his manifestation had come to me on Earth, seeing how utterly beautiful he was in person, jolted my chest.
“Rudy,” I breathed, the tie that bonded us flaring to life. Not able to stop myself, I ran for him, wrapping my arms around his torso. His arms curled around me, pulling me into him.
“It is so good to see you. I have missed you.” His voice was still monotone, but strangely I felt so much depth in it. “I was so worried about you. But you came back. To us… to me.”
“You guys never left me, even when I didn’t remember you.” I tilted back to stare up at huge, soft dark brown eyes.
“Great, this is absolutely touching,” Scrooge grumbled behind me. “But where is Nick? He’s vital in this, and we have a lot to plan and catch you guys up on.”
Rudy took a deep breath. His regard narrowed on Scrooge like he could see right through him. It returned to me as he squeezed me again before he stepped back.
“He took off a couple hours ago, saying we were driving him nuts.” Dee shrugged, going on her head, her legs hooking over the top of the sofa like monkey bars. Her brother instantly copied her, their legs knocking into each other. “He’s been doing it a lot lately.”
“Where is he going? There is nothing around here,” I questioned.
Dee and Dum shrugged in unison.
“We need to find him. We have to start planning now.” Scrooge stabbed at the table with his finger. “The queen is coming, and we need to be ready.”
“Oh no… I have slaved all day on this meal.” Hare slammed a stack of plates on the table. “You can take a fucking moment to sit down and enjoy it. Even if it’s the last thing you do.”
The urge to laugh bobbed at my throat, but I stuffed it back. Poor Hare was ready to snap. “Gathering you couldn’t make more mead?”
His lids narrowed on me. “Oh, I’m sorry I didn’t have time to go frolicking in the woods in search of mistletoe with all things wanting to murder me. I was too busy planning my vacation to Christmas Coast, where I would be jet-skiing and drinking cranberry piña coladas in a coconut.”
“Wait.” I blinked. “You guys have a beach in Winterland?”
“Not everyone celebrates Christmas in cold weather; half the world is in summer,” Scrooge replied.
“Why the shit aren’t we there?” I exclaimed. “Drinking cranberry coladas.”
“That’s… that’s what you are wondering about? The beach?” Hare’s voice rose in disbelief. “I-I can’t. That’s it! I’m done!” He ripped off his apron, hopping out the front door, banging it on its hinges.
“Uh-oh.” I cringed. “I think I might have broken him.”
Scrooge smirked, cracking his armor, our eyes meeting, causing my blood to flare. “Probably good for him; he seems wound a little tight.”
“Seriously.” Dum flipped back down off the sofa. “He’s been a miserly curmudgeon since you’ve both been gone.”
“You mean he’s being a Scrooge.” I tried to hide my grin, my eyes sliding over to the man in question.
“Exactly!” Dum tossed out his arms, nodding, his head still upside down.
Scrooge watched me, his head shaking with amusement. “Watch yourself, Ms. Liddell.” The humor dropped away, filling with intensity. “You don’t know how miserly I can get.”
“Looking forward to finding out.”
He took in a deep breath, a nerve in his cheek twitching as he turned away from me. “Guys, this place is disgusting. Pick up your shit before we eat. I’m gonna take a shower, and it better be spotless.” He brushed past me, strolling around Rudy, heading down the hall.
Disappointment echoed in my chest, wishing he had given me any kind of sign he wanted me to follow, but since leaving Land of the Lost, he was keeping me at arm’s length.
Dum, Dee, and Pen started picking up without question. Scrooge was definitely in charge here. Hare and I were barely able to keep it together, but with one order f
rom Scrooge, they jumped.
Penguin started to sing “My Favorite Things,” being as helpful as see-through wrapping paper, getting distracted by everything he picked up.
“Alice.” Rudy walked farther into the room, his lips pressing together, his gaze directly on me. “I am so glad you have come back. The time left me with a lot of time to think. I’ve come to the conclusion—”
“You know what else?” Hare barged through the front door, cutting off Rudy, spinning me to him. “I haven’t heard one, ‘Thank you, Hare, for keeping these fuckers alive. You did an amazing job all on your own.’ Because you know no one else pitched in. Especially that fat naked asshole.”
“Thank you, Hare.” I strolled over to him, going down on my knees to look him in the eyes. “You did an amazing job. I know how much the two of us struggled… I don’t think I could have handled it all by myself. You have my utmost respect and appreciation.”
He shifted on his foot. “Yeah. Well.” He cleared his throat. “That’s a little better.”
“You know what else?”
“What?”
“I’ve missed the hell out of you.” I pulled him into a hug, his form going rigid from the contact, but I only embraced him tighter.
“Yeah. Yeah.” He patted my back stiffly. “I know. I’m impossible not to miss.” He tried to wiggle away, but I didn’t let him; finally, with a heavy exhale, he gave in, curling into me.
“I missed you too,” he muttered.
“You did?”
He pulled back, rolling his eyes. “Don’t get too flattered. I would miss anyone doing the laundry and controlling these monsters.”
“Sure.” I smiled, knowing he was full of shit. He and I had become such a team.
“I’m glad you didn’t die.” He stared off into the kitchen, his nose wiggling, like he was trying to see if anything was burning. “And I guess I’m glad you brought the asshole back with you.”
“Thank you, Hare.”
“You already said that.”
“No, not for what you did here but what you did on Earth. For saving me in more ways than you’ll ever know.”
“Saving you? Earth? What the hell are you talking about?”
“It doesn’t matter. But thank you for giving me strength.”
“O-kay, crazy woman.” He squinted with uncertainty and stepped to the side. “You know when you sound crazy in the realm of the insane, that’s not a good thing. Something you should get checked out.” He motioned to the kitchen, backing toward it. “I was halfway down the hill when I remembered I had zucchini-and-lemon waffles with vanilla-honey butter drizzle, sweet potato brownies, and cinnamon-sugar crepes baking—and I don’t care if the world is ending—there is no excuse to let art that exquisite be ruined.”
I watched him bound into the kitchen, my heart full of love for this whole group. They had all saved my life, coming to me when I needed them the most, even when I thought they were my decline, they were actually my saviors.
“Roasted Tofurky.” I rubbed at my full belly, sitting back in the chair. Exhaustion tugged at my body. I wanted to curl up on the rug and sleep for days but first a freezing shower. That I did not miss. “I am stuffed. That was delicious, Hare. As usual.”
“Toe fuckery?” Hare paused midbite, blinking at me.
“Tofurky.” I glanced around the table at the confused expressions. “Guess you don’t have it here. It’s a tofu turkey.”
“What the hell is a toe-few turkey?” Hare’s nose scrunched up. “Does it have fewer toes? Doesn’t the stupid thing fall over? I mean, what is the point of that? Do you eat the feet where you come from?”
“No… it’s for vegetarians who don’t want to eat meat—a substitute. It’s not real turkey but looks and tries to taste like it.”
“Okay, let me get this straight. Those who don’t eat meat will name, shape, and spice something to look and taste exactly like meat?”
“Yeah.”
“And you think we’re bonkers here.” Hare snorted, returning to his meal.
“Earth’s changed a lot since my time.” Scrooge rubbed a napkin over his chin and pushed back from the table. He could barely sit still, worry and tension riding every nerve along his shoulders. “Where the hell is Nick? The one thing I didn’t think he’d miss is a meal.”
“Here comes Santa Claus…” Pen wiggled and danced on his chair. He had been chatting nonstop about what they’d been up to while we were away, only quiet when he gulped down a waffle. “Right down…”
“Penguin! Please, for the love of Santa. Shut. Up!” Hare knocked his head against the table, which just made Dee and Dum start singing with Penguin, grinning mischievously.
Hare moaned, banging his head harder.
“Guys. Enough.” Scrooge paced around, running a hand through his damp hair. He had redressed in another pair of Santa’s red pants and white T-shirt. “I need you to be serious.”
Dee stopped, her back straightening, her expression going into her warrior mode. She elbowed her brother, coercing him to stop. Penguin and Rudolph twisted to Scrooge. All eyes were on him.
“The battle we knew was coming is here. The queen has access to Earth now. She wants to kill Santa, crush his soul, which will destroy Winterland, and close the door for good. His soul, his magic, is what keeps this world going. Without it, we’re all dead.” Scrooge’s gaze drifted over to the box on the floor. “And we have it.”
“You have what?” Rudy stiffened.
“Santa’s soul.” Scrooge folded his arms over his chest. “That’s where I went, to the Land of the Lost and Broken to find him.”
“What?” everyone exclaimed, except Hare and me.
“But Scrooge, you could have been lost too.” Dee’s face crumpled with fear at the idea. “Shattered and taken away from us forever.”
“I almost was.” His gaze flicked to mine, then returning back to the group. “Ms. Liddell is the only reason I am here.” He readjusted his feet. “Two things came out of her coming after me. One, she found Santa’s soul and me and got us out. And two, we discovered she is the key between worlds.”
“What?” Rudy jerked to me, his long lashes batting slowly. “You can open the doors?”
“I guess.” I had no idea how I did it, but it seemed I could.
“Of course.” Rudy bobbed his head, his antlers slicing through the air. “That makes sense now. It is how you could follow me here. You had the ability to travel through our doors and enter Winterland when no one else could.”
It did make sense how I was able to pursue him down the hole to this realm, but it didn’t explain why. “But why can I? Why am I key?”
“Because you have that extra muchness, Alice.” Rudy’s black lips split into a tender smile, his bottomless eyes burrowing into mine with passion. “I felt it the moment I saw you. It’s what connects us. You are special.”
“All right,” Scrooge called over, annoyance lacing his voice. “Can we get back on track here?”
“Yeah, fawn all over Alice later.” Hare snickered, making Scrooge’s eyes roll. “Oh, come on. That was funny.” He peered around the table, no one laughing except Dum. “Whatever. You all are a bunch of witless snowholes.”
“I thought it was funny.” Dum held up his hand.
“You don’t count,” Hare scoffed. “You think farting in the bathtub is hilarious.”
“But it is!”
Scrooge palmed his face with a groan. “Guys.”
“Yep, right with you, boss. The queen blah, blah, we all die.” Hare leaned back in the chair, kicking up his legs onto the table.
“Why did I come back again?” Scrooge growled, rolling back his shoulders, starring up at the ceiling.
“You love us?” Dee went on her knees, leaning on the table.
“Debatable.”
“Hare bakes the best Yule log in all the land?” Pen bounced on the chair.
“Only explanation.” Scrooge exhaled, rubbing his head, fatigue weighing him down.
What he had gone through was causing his body to break down, and he needed rest from the traumatic events we went through.
“Do you know how to return Santa’s soul?” Rudy stood up, ambling over to the box, staring at it as if the man himself would pop out like a jack-in-the-box.
“Yeah, because I do it all the time,” Scrooge replied dryly, hovering on the border of irate. “No. I have no idea if he has to open it, or we have to grind it up so he can swallow that shit. I need a fuckin’ drink.”
“If you find one of those, let me know.” Hare crossed his ankles on the table.
“I was just asking.” Rudy’s voice was level, but he stared Scrooge down, ready to challenge him if he had to.
Scrooge’s head lifted, his chest puffing slightly, wordlessly challenging him back.
Shit. “Tomorrow.” I stood up, seeing it accelerate quickly.
“What?” Scrooge peered over at me.
“It can wait until tomorrow.”
“No, it can’t—”
Strolling right up to him, I got in his face. “It. Can. Wait.”
He blinked at me.
“Neither of us is going to do any good if we keep pushing. One night’s sleep and then we can start planning.” I held my chin high. “Don’t fight me. I will win. Because you know I’m right. Jessica doesn’t know where we are. Not yet. We need sleep. And to be honest, you’re being a complete dickhead, and if you don’t get some sleep, someone here, probably me, is going to put you down.”
“Excuse me?” Scrooge’s head jerked between us.
“Did I stutter?”
His shoulders rose, indignation building under the muscles like bricks, his chest pushing out until it hit me. “You want to say that again? I couldn’t have possibly heard you right.”
“You heard me just fine.” I knocked into him, not backing down.
“You think you can take me?” He grunted, fervor flamed in his eyes, his jaw rolling, the world around us disappearing.
“It’s like you’re begging for it,” I seethed, stepping even closer.
“Really?” He leaned over me, pressing into my body, triggering a hitch in my lungs.
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