My mother had taken me away from the Northern Realm for good reason. She’d told me never to trust the clauses in the North Pole, and though she’d never said it aloud, I felt certain that included the royals.
The king and queen were strong leaders of our realm and known for their rigid application of our laws. My powers weren’t against the law, but that was only because no one knew they existed. As the only being who could use magic out of season, I would be seen as a threat. The royals were known for dealing with threats quickly and effectively, and I really didn’t want to be dealt with.
I had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach, and I just hoped my instincts were wrong.
Chapter Three
We all piled into Dash’s old truck to drive up to the castle. His scent seemed to fill the cab, and I found myself drawing in a deep breath of it as I got inside. The smell was rich and slightly earthy, but I found I didn’t mind it. It was familiar and seemed to put me at ease as Dash started the engine and began the drive toward the castle.
I sat back and watched the city pass by out the window. The lampposts were glowing with soft twinkling light and all the shop fronts were darkened. It was late so there were hardly any beings out in the streets. The city felt as though it were sleeping, and I found myself wishing I were sleeping too. It had been a long day.
It was hard to believe I’d been wiping down tables only a couple of hours ago and that my biggest problem had been the fact Sam wanted me to wear festive antlers. What I wouldn’t give for the antler problem right now. I’d happily wear them the rest of the year if it meant avoiding the castle.
But the castle was coming closer with every second that passed. When Dash exited the city and started to drive up the winding road toward the imposing building, my heart began beating faster. It had been years since I had trained in the castle, but I still remembered every rock and tree we had to pass to reach it.
My skin turned cold as we approached the massive wrought iron gates that marked the entrance to the castle grounds. It was one of only a few openings in the massive walls that surrounded the estate, and looking up at the tall gates, I found myself feeling intimidated—not that I’d admit it aloud. They were so much bigger than what I recalled. The castle was a true fortress and one I’d have no chance of leaving should the royals not wish it.
I’d never met the king and queen of the North Pole before, but I’d seen them from a distance. They were both incredibly powerful, and the way they held themselves with such authority was impossible to ignore.
I’d attended a Christmas feast with Mom one year, and the king and queen had been there to begin the festivities. The two of them had radiated with power, and I remembered how the scent of their magic had invaded my senses. The sweet smell seemed so much more fragrant than that of an ordinary claus.
Together, they’d summoned a feast to appear on the empty tables before us, and it was the first time I’d ever felt true awe upon witnessing another claus’s power. The feat not only took strength, but it also required great skill to summon more than one object at a time. The two of them had summoned hundreds of plates of food, which I’d thought was impossible.
I think that was part of the reason I was scared of ever being near them. They were so powerful that I worried they might sense there was something different about my magic.
Dash slowed the car when we reached the gates, and a tall claus guard clad in golden armor approached the driver side window. Dash lowered the window, and the guard’s stern expression relaxed a little when he saw who was behind the wheel.
“The king and queen are expecting me,” Dash said.
The guard’s eyes flicked toward me and then to Melody who was sitting in the back seat. I thought he was going to question our presence in the car, but after a moment’s hesitation, he took a step back.
“Go ahead, Dasher.” The guard nodded to one of the men who manned the gates. The massive iron gates squeaked as they slowly started to open inward, and Dash wound up his window as he waited for the way to clear.
“Friend of yours?” I nodded to the guard.
Dash shook his head. “As son of the herd leader, I’ve been to the palace one or two times before.”
Dash must have been to the palace more than one or two times if he was being recognized so easily, and I began to wonder just how much influence he had in the Northern Realm.
Dash drove through the gates and into the castle grounds. Snow covered the wide-open spaces on either side of the driveway, and up ahead, the huge stone castle reared up into the sky before us. It was a massive structure with four large wings and a myriad of towers that shot up above the roof. They were all different heights, but there was one single turret that soared above the rest. It rose high into the sky and was positioned right in the center of the castle. My gaze was always drawn to that one point whenever I entered the castle grounds.
I hadn’t spent any time within the castle itself growing up. All my training had taken place near the stables at the rear of the complex. The castle guards lived on the grounds and were in charge of teaching young clauses how to fight. Their barracks were right by the training facilities too.
Dash didn’t drive toward the rear of the building though. Instead, he took his battered old truck up the sweeping driveway that led to the front entrance. He parked right in front of the main stairs without hesitation. As soon as the engine was off, he jumped from the car and threw his keys to a valet who was waiting nearby. The elf was tall with long golden hair that was pulled back into a ponytail, and he wrinkled his nose in disgust as he caught the keys and eyed Dash’s vehicle.
“Don’t worry about moving old Gandalf here. I’ll be back soon,” Dash said to him.
The elf looked pleased to hear he wouldn’t have to touch Dash’s old truck. I, on the other hand, wasn’t ready to part with it. Melody was quick to follow Dash from the car, but I hesitated as I looked out the window and reared my head back to look at the castle looming over me. I very much wanted to stay right where I was. I didn’t want to meet the king or queen, and I wasn’t ready to be questioned by them.
Dash opened my car door. There was concern in his eyes as he watched me, and I realized it was probably because I looked terrified. I couldn’t seem to keep my face from betraying my emotions, and I knew fear was clearly painted across my features.
“It’s going to be okay, Clio,” he said, offering a hand to me.
I didn’t take his hand though. “Is it?” I asked, tilting my head as I looked at him.
Could Dash really promise that? This place was beyond his power and beyond mine. Royal word was law, and if they weren’t happy with me, there was little either of us could do to stop it.
“I’ll make sure of it. I promise,” he answered. He sounded so certain in a situation where nothing was guaranteed. But even so, his promise meant a lot to me.
I nodded and took his hand, letting him help me from the truck. I’d almost forgotten how warm his skin was, and I swallowed as I felt tingles buzzing between us where we touched. Dash glanced down at our hands, and I could have sworn he felt it too.
It was not the time or the place to be focused on my attraction toward Dash though, so I let go of his hand and gestured for him to lead on.
For a split second, disappointment tinged Dash’s expression, but he quickly covered it and turned to start up the steps. He didn’t look at the guards we passed, and he seemed so confident as he walked without hesitation, his head held high.
I wished I had even half of his confidence. I felt like a scared little bird that had accidentally made its way into a house and didn’t know how to escape. I really wanted to fly free, but I didn’t know the way out.
Melody was growing nervous too. Her eyes were wide as she looked around the expansive grounds that surrounded us, and she couldn’t stop looking at the guards who were decked out in their golden armor, much like the claus who’d let us in through the front gates.
We walked up one branch of the
wide staircase that curved around a dramatic water feature and up to the palace entrance. Two stone-faced elves stood on either side of the large oak doors. Their expressions were devoid of any emotion, and they didn’t once glance in our direction as we approached. They opened the doors as we neared, and I had no idea how they managed to do it so smoothly and in unison while looking straight ahead.
As I stepped through the doorway and into the cavernous entrance hall, I got my first look inside the royal castle. My eyes widened as I marveled at the palace interior. Tall stone pillars lined the length of the room, and three floors of balconies looked down from above. The pillars were all a rich bronze color, which contrasted strongly with the intricate blue tiles that covered the floor.
A grand staircase took up most of the room. It traveled all the way up to the third floor where a huge statue of the queen stood at the top of the stairs. Her expression was commanding, and even as a statue, I felt unnerved by her presence.
The ceiling was covered in green foliage, and the twinkling lights of fairies could be seen swirling among the greenery. The room was beautiful, and I was suddenly curious about what the rest of the palace looked like. If the entrance was anything to go by, I bet it was impressive.
“This way.” Dash headed toward one side of the room and past the pillars that surrounded us. Melody and I were quick to follow, not wanting to be left behind in such a large and extravagant place. I could already imagine how easy it would be to get lost.
We followed Dash down a corridor, and I was surprised by how quiet it was in the palace. There didn’t seem to be many guards within the building. No one had tried to stop us since we’d entered, and any guards who spotted us simply bowed their heads in Dash’s direction as we passed.
At the end of the corridor, we came to a large set of double doors with two claus guards standing on either side of the entrance. Their hands rested upon swords that were strapped to their sides, and their bodies were both so muscular that I highly doubted they’d even need the weapons if they wanted to take us down. They tilted their heads in acknowledgment of Dash as he approached, recognition flaring in their eyes.
“Are the king and queen in the audience room?” Dash asked.
The female guard nodded. “Yes, they are expecting you,” she replied before opening the door wide.
“Thanks.” Dash calmly made his way past the guards and into the room. Confidence still radiated off him as he walked inside. How he was remaining so calm was beyond me. My hands were shaking with nerves, and it was taking a whole lot of energy to keep my expression composed.
Melody shot me a nervous smile before she started forward. I took a deep breath in before I followed too, hoping desperately that I wasn’t making a grave mistake.
The audience room was a stark contrast to the rich colors we’d encountered in the entrance hall. A white, plush carpet covered the floor, and the white walls were accented with gorgeous gilded cornicing. An elaborate pattern was painted across the ceiling, and in the middle of the design, a large chandelier hung as a centerpiece to the gorgeous room design.
The place was stunning, but my attention was quickly diverted when I noticed the man and woman who were seated in two large golden chairs by the far wall. I swallowed as I watched them stand, already knowing exactly who they were. King Devin and Queen Ciana, the rulers of the North Pole.
They both looked so regal in their elaborate clothes. The queen was in a floor-length red velvet dress that had a high neck and exposed her slender arms, and the king was dressed in a long red cloak that had a white fur collar and long golden ropes tying it off. Neither of them wore a crown on their head, but they didn’t need one when their authority emanated so clearly from their expressions. The king was older with long white hair and winkles creasing his face. His expression was stern, and I found myself unable to look directly into his eyes. The queen seemed younger. There was no gray in her long brown hair, and her bright blue eyes were serious but kind.
Dash bowed to the two of them, and I quickly copied him. I probably should have curtsied, but who really knew what was expected protocol when meeting a king or queen. When I looked back up, I could see Dash already approaching the royal duo.
I hesitated as I moved to follow him. Being in the castle basically went against all my instincts, and I felt that now more than ever. I could smell the two rulers’ magic from across the other side of the room, and my body was urging me to run in the other direction not step forward. Still, I followed Dash farther into the room and Melody kept close as we went to stand at his side.
“I see you’ve brought them, Dasher,” the king said in greeting.
“You didn’t leave me much choice,” Dash growled in reply. I shot him a questioning glance, wondering what he was getting at, but Dash was completely focused on the royals and didn’t notice I was looking his way. “Will you release the members of my herd now?”
My stomach tightened at his words, and my gaze focused back on the king as he tutted at Dash for speaking out. The royals were holding Dash’s herd hostage? Why hadn’t he told me that? I couldn’t help but feel a sense of betrayal. Had Dash brought me here in exchange for his herd?
“Not just yet,” the king replied before focusing his attention on Melody and me. I really didn’t enjoy how closely he was eyeing us, and I pushed down a shiver when his gaze narrowed on me. “She’s the one we want,” he said, nodding in my direction.
My eyes widened and darted toward Dash.
“You don’t know that. It could be either her or Melody the nameless one wanted,” Dash replied.
Okay, I may have been nervous before, but now I was terrified. “What are you talking about?” I asked, speaking up despite the fear that was making my pulse run fast. I didn’t care whether I was allowed to speak in front of royalty. They’d dragged me here in the middle of the night, and I deserved answers as to why—especially if it involved the nameless one somehow.
“Dasher has told us everything that happened in the lead-up to the Christmas star exploding.” The queen spoke this time. Her stare wasn’t nearly as penetrating as the king’s when she looked at me. Unfortunately, her warm expression did nothing to quell my nerves. “As a result, the barrier that protects our realm has been destabilized, and if we do not find a solution soon, it will disintegrate altogether. The barrier was established thousands of years ago, and the magic is ancient. No one knows how to fix it.”
“And how does this relate to me or the nameless one?”
“Dasher explained that when he went to see the nameless one for answers, it was clear he knew about the star and its powers. So, we sent our best negotiators to try and convince him to help us.”
“I’m guessing he said no.” The barrier was still broken so it was pretty obvious they hadn’t found the solution they were looking for.
The queen tilted her head. “Not exactly. The nameless one said he won’t tell us how to fix the barrier, but he would tell the claus who came with the reindeer to seek him out.”
I swallowed and glanced nervously at Melody whose eyes were wide. She looked as sick as I felt about the queen’s revelation. We both knew I was the one who had gone with Dash to see the nameless one and that I was who they were after. Melody stayed silent though as she faced the queen, and her expression was blank, not giving anything away.
“We know that both you and Melody were there when Dasher visited the nameless one,” the queen continued. “And that he was referring to one of you.”
My gaze flickered to Dash, and this time, he met my eyes. He had lied to the king and queen. There was a hint of worry in his expression that hadn’t been there before. But I could tell he wasn’t worried about himself; rather, he was anxious about me.
He had been trying to protect me by lying to the royals and telling them that I wasn’t the only claus who had visited the nameless one with him. Dash knew it was dangerous for me to return to the cave since I owed the nameless one a favor. Only, in protecting me, he’d put Melod
y at risk, and I wasn’t okay with that. My stomach twisted at the thought that Melody had been brought here because of me, and I already knew there was no way I could let the royals drag her to the prison.
As much as I didn’t want to return to Incarceror, I knew I had no choice. If the barrier fully disintegrated, it would be disastrous for everyone who lived in the Northern Realm, and I couldn’t have that on my conscience. I might have hidden from all magical beings for most of my life, but that didn’t mean I hated them or that I wanted them to suffer.
“I’m the one he wants,” I said.
Dash instinctively stepped toward me as if he wanted to stop me from speaking. He opened his mouth but then closed it, his brow creasing as he realized he couldn’t say what he wanted in front of the king and queen. “Clio…” was all he murmured.
There was pain and disappointment in his voice, but I ignored it as I tore my gaze away from him. I had been so angry at Dash for bringing me to the royals, but I didn’t blame him anymore. The royals were holding his herd hostage, so he didn’t have any choice. It meant a lot that he’d tried to protect me as best he could even if it didn’t matter in the end.
The queen was smiling warmly down at me as I met her gaze. She seemed pleased that I’d come forward while the king was nodding like he’d known it all along.
“Yes, I sensed there was something different about you,” the king said. “I knew it had to be you.”
I didn’t like how the king was looking at me. His eyes were shrewd and analyzing, like he was trying to figure me out. Could he sense the power of my magic? Did he know my secret? I didn’t want to wait around in the palace any longer to find out.
“Well, it’s nice we have that all sorted. Now, can you release Dash’s herd and we’ll be on our way?” I asked.
“No,” the king said. “I don’t think so.” He barely batted an eyelid as he responded, and his lips were pressed into a hard line as he looked between the two of us.
Christmas Chaos (Christmas Magic Book 2) Page 3