Neither of them had spoken of what would happen once the wedding was over, but Dasher had high hopes. He couldn’t imagine not seeing Eirik, and he hoped Eirik felt the same about him. The matter would soon have to be addressed, what with the wedding just over a week away. For now, he would enjoy every moment he had at Eirik’s side.
The forest around Jack’s vacation palace was nothing like the Enchanted Woods outside North Pole City that Dasher had steered clear of for so long. Sunlight filtered through the trees, giving everything an ethereal glow. The lush trees were covered in pristine white, and Dasher lifted his face to the sun, hearing the birds chirping cheerfully. He reveled in Eirik’s stolen kisses and wondered how he’d gotten so lucky. Eirik no longer cared who saw them. He hadn’t made any public declarations, but Dasher knew it was not his way. Showing amorous affection for Dasher in front of the world was declaration enough, and as far as Eirik was concerned, what he did in his bedchamber, and with whom, was no one’s business.
“It’s so peaceful,” Dasher said, lost in the beauty around him. “Winter has always been a part of my life, and yet it feels like I’m seeing it for the first time.”
“A new perspective.” Eirik tilted Dasher’s chin up and kissed him. It was sweet and slow. Dasher couldn’t help but release a contented sigh, making Eirik chuckle. He gazed into Dasher’s eyes and stroked his cheek. “After the wedding, I have business to attend to back home in Winter Wonderland. Perhaps you’ll… accompany me? Stay a few days?”
“In your palace? With you?”
Eirik nodded, and Dasher’s heart soared. He threw his arms around Eirik, squeezing him tight. “Yes!”
“Good.” Eirik let out a shaky laugh as if he’d been holding his breath, afraid Dasher would say no. How could Dasher deny him anything?
Soon the convoy had circled the palace grounds and emerged through the woods behind the palace, near the stables. When they arrived, the groomsmen were there to take the horses, and toy soldiers came to help Eirik and Dasher down from their sleigh. Everyone lingered to stretch their legs. His Rein Dear brethren, along with several guests, took the opportunity to talk about the gorgeous scenery and the upcoming big day. Jack called Eirik over, and Eirik excused himself, kissing Dasher before heading off to join Jack. Dasher watched him go, his thick, regal white coat making him look even bigger and more imposing than usual. Were Dasher laying eyes on Eirik for the first time, not knowing who he was, there’d be no mistaking Eirik was royalty. The way he carried himself, the set of his shoulders, and his powerful stride all exuded authority and confidence. Yet under all that fierce power he wielded, there was thoughtfulness and gentility.
Earlier that morning while Dasher had been in his bedchamber preparing for their ride—having been told the forests would be quite cold, even for a Christmas elf, with the mountains close by—someone had knocked on his door. When he’d opened it, he found a toy soldier on the other side smiling at him, a large box in his hands. The toy soldier held the package out to Dasher.
“A gift from His Majesty.”
Dasher took the box with a thank-you, then walked over to the bed with it. His heart was ready to beat out of him. Eirik had sent him a gift? Dasher’s hands shook as he pulled off the lovely pale-blue ribbon. He laid it gently to one side before opening the gift. Dasher couldn’t help his gasp. With great care, he pulled out the brocaded blue coat, the hue a perfect match to his eyes. Soft black fur lined its collar and the hem, and just above the fur, it was embroidered with dazzling white snowflakes and swirls. Each snowflake held a tiny sparkling crystal in its center. It was the most beautiful coat Dasher had ever seen.
Dasher absently stroked at the fur on his collar, unable to hold back his smile at the memory. How had he fallen so deeply so quickly? The truth was that Eirik made it easy. His smile, the timidity he couldn’t seem to help at times, and the fiery passion that coursed through Eirik had made it far too easy for Dasher to lose his heart to him.
A flap of wings caught Dasher’s attention, and he turned, smiling like a dope at the little white bird fluttering before him. It wasn’t just any bird but one made of snow. Dasher reached out to touch it, and it swooped down and away, stopping several feet from him. When Dasher stepped closer, it was clear the little bird wanted him to follow it. Looking around, Eirik was nowhere to be seen. Was his king playing winter games with him? Dasher followed the bird into the woods they’d emerged from, wondering what Eirik was up to. His king was just full of surprises, and Dasher loved it. As he walked deeper into the woods, he noticed the temperature dropped significantly.
“If it gets any colder, Eirik, you’ll have to hold me close and keep me warm.”
The wind howled, and the cold intensified. Dasher’s teeth began to chatter. He hugged himself tightly, peering through the now blustering snowstorm that had appeared. Had he done something to upset Eirik? It would hardly be the first time, but if Eirik were angry with him, he would have said so. Eirik had seemed perfectly happy in the sleigh with him. No, Eirik wouldn’t resort to such cruelty.
“Eirik?”
A shadow swept past, and Dasher froze. “What the holly?” Darkness spread through the forest like a blanket, rushing toward Dasher. A sense of dread filled him, and he broke into a run, startled by how quickly the snow was growing.
Running in the snow was commonplace for a Christmas elf, but it was a different matter when he couldn’t see where he was going. Around him was nothing but white, no matter which direction he turned. The wind whipped furiously, lashing at his cheeks and stinging his face as if piercing his skin.
He noticed a red spot on the freshly fallen snow at his feet, then another. Touching his face, his fingers came back coated with blood. The ice wasn’t simply stinging him, it was cutting him. Something sharp and cold sliced through his arm, and he sucked in a breath. More red dots fell onto the snow, and if Dasher’s entire body hadn’t already been shivering from the cold, it would be doing so out of fear. A hiss caught his ear, and he turned to find a monstrous shadow looming over him. Dasher opened his mouth to cry out for help, but only a garbled sound escaped as a large icicle pierced the layers of his clothing to impale him. Dasher gasped for breath, sputtered blood, and fell to his knees on the snow, his numb fingers closing around the solid ice sticking out from his body.
Falling onto his back, Dasher gasped for air, tears rolling down the sides of his face as agonizing pain shot through him. It was as if he were being torn apart from the inside out.
“Eirik,” Dasher gasped.
A whirlwind of darkness grew near, the stench of putrid decay almost making Dasher gag. Its garbled voice spit in fury, and yet there was an odd familiarity to its mangled words.
“He can’t have your heart. I would rather see it ripped from your body.”
Terror ran through Dasher, and a scream tore up from his throat. “Eirik!”
The ground began to quake beneath the many layers of snow, and a fierce gust of wind exploded through the trees, its strength so ferocious it cleared the branches of snow. The shadow shrieked, vanishing with the darkness and leaving only the sun and silence.
“Dasher!”
“Eirik.” Dasher fought the anguish threatening to consume him. Tears blurred his vision, even as joy overflowed when Eirik dropped to his knees beside him. Eirik looked stricken, his eyes filled with heartache. Eirik’s gaze went to the wound in Dasher’s side, and he quickly gathered Dasher in his arms, a cloud of snow lifting them.
“You will not leave me. Do you hear?”
“I’m sorry,” Dasher said, feeling the crisp air against his stinging cheeks as they moved swiftly.
“I won’t allow it, Dasher.”
Dasher chuckled, but that quickly gave way to a cough that sent jolts of pain through his broken body. “I’m afraid the darkness answers to no one, my love. Not even the King of Frost.”
“Please.” Eirik’s voice broke, and Dasher desperately clung to Eirik. Dasher was so very scared. He didn’t want
to leave Eirik, not yet.
“Eirik—” Dasher cried out when Eirik laid him gently on a soft bed. How had they gotten indoors so quickly? It didn’t matter. The roaring fire coming from the hearth was wonderful.
“Hold on, love. Kringle is on his way.” Eirik cradled Dasher against him, an arm around his shoulders and his free hand stroking Dasher’s hair, his face, his neck. He was so warm. There were tears in Eirik’s eyes. He shook his head. “You can’t leave me. Not when I’ve just found you. You promised to cherish my heart, remember?”
Dasher smiled up at him. The pain was beginning to subside, and sleep was coming for him. At least he was in Eirik’s arms. “I did promise. It’s what I wished for.”
“What’s that, love?”
“Your heart. I wished for your heart.”
Eirik closed his eyes, a tear running down his cheek. When he opened them, he smiled down at Dasher with so much gentle kindness that Dasher sighed. “I’m happy your wish came true,” Eirik replied quietly.
Joy flooded Dasher’s heart. “It did?”
“Yes.” Eirik kissed the top of his head. “You have my heart and my love.”
As the darkness came for Dasher, he closed his eyes and smiled. His wish had come true. It was more than he could have hoped for.
Not again. Please, not again.
Eirik paced the room, his heart ready to shatter while Kringle chanted quietly, his healing hands over Dasher’s wound. The spirit of Christmas had been at this for what seemed like hours, even though Eirik knew it hadn’t been so long. How could this have happened? What the blasted holly caused this? One minute Dasher was standing there beautiful and so full of life, and the next the light was draining from his soul.
Everyone was gathered outside Eirik’s bedchamber, but the toy soldiers posted outside made certain no one entered. It was cruel, he knew, to keep Rudy and the rest of the Rein Dears from seeing Dasher, but Eirik’s priority was saving Dasher’s life, and the only one capable of doing that was Kringle. All the Rein Dears were magically connected to Kringle, and by the time Eirik had made it to the palace, he’d been informed Kringle was on his way. He’d felt it when Dasher had been wounded.
Eirik tried to recall, past all the blood and the horror of finding Dasher gasping for breath, if there had been anyone else there, but all he could see were shadows, Dasher, and a stark pool of red spreading through all the white.
Looking down, he noticed his coat was stained red. Quickly he removed it and thrust it at one of his soldiers. “Have this burned. And for holly’s sake, don’t let the Rein Dears see it. Tell them there is still no change. I will inform them the moment there is.”
The toy soldier bowed and quickly went about rolling up the coat and concealing the stain before leaving the room. Eirik continued to pace, unable to stop himself from casting glances toward Dasher, who looked so small in the middle of Eirik’s expansive bed.
Kringle sucked in a heaving breath, and Eirik stilled as Dasher did the same. The green glow Kringle’s hands had been emitting faded, and Kringle wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve.
“I’ve kept his light from being extinguished, but his body needs to heal. When he wakes, he will be weak and in need of tender care.”
“Of course. I won’t leave his side for a moment. Do you know what caused him to fade so quickly?” Eirik followed Kringle to the washroom, where Kringle soaped up his hands and rinsed them of Dasher’s blood. The concern on his red-cheeked face did not bode well.
“Darkness has followed him here, Eirik.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The ice he was impaled with contained a rotting, putrid substance inside. Dark magic.”
“Dockalfar?”
“No. This poison came from a deep, festering anguish. Who knows how long it’s been following him, growing until it was strong enough to take corporeal form and lash out.” Kringle dried his hands and turned to face Eirik. “My dear friend, he’s in great danger. This creature seems to resent Dasher losing his heart to you.”
Eirik stared at him, his face heated. “What?”
Kringle’s warm smile caused tiny creases at the corners of his jovial eyes. “Come, Eirik. We have never had secrets between us. We have been friends since our creation. You need Dasher as much as he needs you. It’s why I sent him to you.”
This was news to Eirik. “I don’t understand.”
“When Cupid and Blitzen went to see you to aid Jack and Rudy, I instructed them to take Dasher along. If there was anyone who could get through that thick skull of yours, it was him.”
Eirik opened his mouth to reply, then promptly closed it. He eyed Kringle. “No secrets, huh?”
Kringle smiled ruefully. “Well, perhaps this once.”
Eirik rolled his eyes before his gaze landed on Dasher. From the moment he’d laid eyes on the feisty Christmas elf, Eirik had been captivated. He’d simply tried his hardest to deny it. “I hate it when you’re right,” he grumbled.
Kringle laughed, a boisterous sound that made Eirik smile no matter how hard he tried not to. Damn the Christmas spirit and his blasted good cheer. Sadly, his friend’s merriment did not last, and his expression fell. He shook his head somberly. “I believe Dasher’s love for you sent this creature into a frenzy of hatred.”
“He loves me,” Eirik said, the words truly sinking in.
“Yes.”
“And because of this, he was almost killed.”
“No,” Kringle stated firmly. “I have heard rumors of such creatures. Lost souls trapped by the grief they suffered in the living world, unable to move on, tricked by dark magic with a promise of peace, only to be consumed by pain. Had it not been you, had he lost his heart to someone else, the outcome would have been the same. It was only a matter of time. This creature is intent on having him. It means to claim his soul.”
“I will not allow it!” Eirik thundered, seeing white in front of his eyes. It struck him then. “Wren.”
Kringle’s eyes widened. “Dear heavens. Is it possible?” He seemed to think about it. “It was said he was consumed by the shadows in the Enchanted Woods. It’s very possible he met his end by this creature. He’d loved Dasher more than words could say.”
“Then he shouldn’t have done what he did!” Eirik was furious, pacing the room, his fingers flexing as he attempted to control his rising ire. Why had Wren not turned to Dasher? If he had, Eirik was certain Dasher would have turned to his brethren. The uproar would have passed. It always did. How many times had Eirik himself been in the papers? Every day leading up to the Frost War, during, and after. The names he’d been called. When Vera had been taken from him, he had been shown very little mercy. Some had been downright cruel, but Eirik had turned to his family. They had kept him from sinking into the darkness of his despair.
“Eirik?” Dasher’s voice was but a whisper, and all at once, Eirik’s fury melted away.
Eirik rushed to Dasher’s bedside and took a seat on the edge of the bed. Hesitantly he reached out to brush Dasher’s hair away from his brow. Color had returned to Dasher’s cheeks, though he still looked frightfully pale. A lump formed in his throat at the tears that appeared in Dasher’s eyes.
“I feared I’d never see you again.”
“I’m here, love.” Eirik cupped his cheek, and Dasher leaned into the touch.
“I was so scared. I had never felt such… anger.”
“Dasher, you must rest.”
“Please.”
Eirik nodded. He lay beside Dasher, nestling close and holding him. He noticed Kringle was no longer in the room, and Eirik appreciated the privacy. His dear friend would most likely inform the Rein Dears that Dasher was on the mend. “Tell me,” Eirik said softly.
“I was outside waiting for you to return, when a little snowbird came to me. I thought you had sent it. It wanted me to follow, so I did. I thought perhaps you were playing one of your winter games, but as I walked deeper into the woods, I felt strange, and the weath
er grew harsh. I knew it couldn’t be you.”
“I would never do anything to harm or frighten you,” Eirik promised.
“I know, but by then it was too late. It was unlike anything I’ve ever felt. A feeling of utter agony washed over me, as if my heart was being ripped from my chest. I think it was coming from the creature that tried to kill me. It… spoke to me.”
“What did it say?”
“It said, ‘He can’t have your heart. I would rather see it ripped from your body.’” Dasher shivered, and Eirik placed a kiss to Dasher’s head, cradling him tight against him but mindful not to hurt him.
“It was referring to me,” Eirik murmured. Was it possible Kringle was right? Could it truly be some part of Wren, now angry and vengeful, hoping to keep Dasher from Eirik? Eirik had to tell Dasher. It would break his heart, but Dasher needed to know.
“Eirik?”
“Yes, my love.”
Dasher nuzzled his face against Eirik’s neck, his voice thick and laced with sleep. “Stay here with me?”
“Always, my love. Always.”
Chapter 7
Dasher stirred, sighing softly at the warmth that enveloped him. He was safe. Even before he opened his eyes, he knew. His body ached, but his heart soared. His eyes fluttered open, and he smiled at the beautiful face mere inches from his own.
Eirik was sound asleep, thick black lashes resting against his cheeks, his full lips slightly parted. Dasher leaned in and tenderly pressed his lips to Eirik’s, relishing the soft moan Eirik released. How had he gone so long without Eirik’s kisses? Without his touch or the feel of his warm body?
“I had this wonderful dream,” Dasher whispered, his heart skipping a beat at the beautiful smile that spread across Eirik’s face.
“Oh?”
“I dreamed you loved me.”
Eirik brushed his lips over Dasher’s. “That was no dream.”
North Pole City Tales: Complete Series Page 43