Chapter 16

Ivy listened with rapt attention as Knox told her about the fight that erupted after Julius pulled a gun on Knox. He'd had a few people on his side, but they'd been outnumbered by the higher ranked males in the leap who fought by Knox's side.

"Were you hurt at all?" she asked, scanning his handsome face, even though it was unlikely he'd still be injured after a day with his advanced healing.

He shook his head. "No, Julius had the gun but didn't know how to shoot. He managed to get a few shots off but they were wild and didn't hit anyone. I disarmed him and gave him a chance to surrender, but he attacked so I had no choice but to put him down. Two of his cousins faced the same fate, unwilling to give up and take their punishment. Others were on his side, but they surrendered and faced punishment."

"What kind of punishment?" she asked.

"If we had a jail, I could imprison them, but we don't, so I exiled them." Knox had slashed their upper arms with his claws, and Calix wrapped a rag soaked in a chemical to prevent the claw marks from disappearing. They would scar over and be permanent, a reminder to anyone who saw them that the males weren't to be trusted.

"Can they join up with another leap?"

"If they could find one to take them, but I wouldn't take a new member who'd been exiled unless their story was one that led me to believe they'd been treated wrongfully by their alpha. Those males don't have a good story to tell so I doubt they'll end up in another leap. But I don't care, so long as I never see them again." He'd told her that if they stepped foot in Wildwood Crossing again, they'd be killed, so they'd left town while she'd been unconscious.

"And Zara is okay, you said?"

"Yep."

"I still want her to be my personal guard," she said.

"I figured you would," he said. "She's waiting to hear from you whenever you want to talk to her. We'll head down for the full moon for our joining ceremony, but we'll only be gone one night from Northernmost."

"Good," she said. "I don't mind moving down with the leap, but I'd like to spend as much time as possible with my dad and Alder."

"Of course."

"Now," she said, with a low purr in her throat, "I think we both had some good ideas?"

His leopard responded to her sultry tone with a purr of its own. Sweeping her up into his arms, he carried her to the bedroom to see where the day took them.

The night of the full moon came quickly, as Ivy spent her days working for Santa and her nights tumbling in the sheets with her sexy mate. And also packing.

Santa had spent most of the time over the last week behind closed doors speaking with the elder elves. She knew he was planning for Frost's replacement, but who it would be, she couldn't guess.

Alder was her only brother. She loved him dearly even when he was being a coal-head. She couldn't imagine him being evil and her having to deal with it the way Santa had to deal with Frost.

"Ready to go, sweetheart? The leap is waiting," Knox said. He strode into the bedroom where she was tying her hiking boot. She was dressed to be out in the cold for a long period of time. Leopards stayed in their shifts for a few hours, prowling through the forest of their territory and looking for things to chase. She was going to walk with Knox while he was in his shift, and Zara, plus Maverick and Chase, were also going to be with them.

"I am," she said. She finished tying her boot and stood. "How do I look?"

She'd picked dark jeans and a thick sweater and had put her hair up in a high ponytail. She was foregoing her red coat for an insulated parka that would keep her warm, paired with gloves and a matching crocheted headband to cover her ears.

"Gorgeous," he said. He pulled her close with a growl. "Good enough to eat."

"Hold that thought until after you're out of your shift," she said. He'd kept her in bed most of the day. Not that she was complaining, of course. He rocked her world every single time they were together.

"I can be quick," he said with a purr.

"No, you can't." She laughed and ducked from his arms. He pulled her back with a growl and kissed her.

"Fine, fine, let's go make you the alpha female. The sooner we get this going, the sooner I can get you back in bed where you belong, screaming my name."

She grinned. "You're the best mate a girl could ask for."

"You are too."

She grabbed a backpack of her overnight things and they headed out to meet with Maverick and Chase. A few elves were taking over for the Guardians who were heading home for the full moon, including the wolves. She and Knox would be back in the morning.

It was a week until Christmas. Frost hadn't come for anyone and hadn't caused any problems. Magical people came and went through the Entrance without issue.

The consensus was that he was simply biding his time, and she believed that was true. Whatever he was planning, she was sure it wasn't going to be good, but Santa was the most powerful warlock in the world, even more powerful than Frost. But Frost had dark magic, and that meant he was willing to do things Santa wasn't—like turning good magic users to dark magic.

"I can't wait to get through this Christmas," she said. "I feel so on edge."

"Me too," he said. "But the good news is it's just a few days away. We'll be back home in the mountains before you know it."

"I can't wait."

At the Entrance, Maverick and Chase checked out the area before they let her and Knox through. Calix and Zara were waiting for them and greeted them warmly.

"The leap is waiting," Calix said. "The elders have the law books, and they'll read from them before the ceremony so everyone knows the new laws."

"Thanks for keeping the peace while we were gone," Knox said.

"My pleasure."

Zara gave Ivy a hug. "Are you sure you still want me to be your personal guard? I would understand if you didn't because I messed up, and you nearly got turned into a dark magic elf."

"I already told you when we talked last week that I want you to be my guard. I don't hold any of what happened against you. I'm just glad you're okay."

"I am," she said. "And happy to be your guard."

Ivy smiled at Knox. "It's going to be a great full moon."

"The very best," he said with a wink.

Knox tried not to fidget as the laws were being read by the elders, but he couldn't help it. He was nervous, and he was not a male who got nervous.

When the new laws were read, he stepped up in front of the elders.

"You have an opportunity to leave the leap now if you don't agree with the new laws. I will exile you according to our ways, which means you'll be unlikely to find a new leap to be part of. Would anyone like to leave?"

He stared out at the leap, their faces illuminated by flickering torches around the clearing behind his home.

One by one, the people dropped to their knees, pledging silently to stay in the leap.

He smiled, grateful for the show of support.

"There's just one thing I need to do."

He turned and dropped to one knee himself, pulling out the ring that his father had given to his mother on their mating day. It was white gold and engraved with a ring of running leopards.

"Sweetheart," he said, his voice choking on emotion. He cleared his throat and continued, "You're the best thing that ever happened to me. Not only are you my mate and my other half, but you're beautiful and kind, and you make me want to be a better male. I love you. I loved you the moment I met you in Northernmost. Will you do me the honor of not only mating me but being my wife?"

She stared down at him in silence, her eyes wide and her brows high.

The silence felt like it went on forever.

Then she sniffled, and her eyes glittered with unshed tears. "Yes!"

The leap roared its approval. He slipped the ring on her finger and stood, catching her in his arms and kissing her. "I got your dad's approval, in case you were wondering. They want the wedding up in Northernmost, but we'll have the reception here with the leap."

"I love that," she said. She cupped his face. "Knox, I love you too. You're the best thing that ever happened to me."

They kissed once more, and the leap cheered again, their roars and clapping echoing through the woods.

After the short ceremony that made her his mate and alpha female of the leap, they parted ways for just a few minutes while the females came up to congratulate her and the males did the same with him.

"I can't believe you came to Northernmost to fill in and found your mate," Chase said.

"Timing is everything," he said. And he was glad he didn't have to be up there after the holidays since Asher was ready to return to his duties as a Guardian after Christmas.

He pulled his sweetheart away from the females and took her into the woods alone, where he stripped and shifted in front of her.

"Oh, Knox," she said, her voice filled with whisper. "You're so beautiful!"

She knelt on the cold ground and stroked his fur, which made him purr. He just fucking loved when she put her hands on him, however she did it. She rested her head against his and sighed. "This is the best day ever. I'm engaged and I'm also the alpha female, plus we're mates."

He licked her cheek and she giggled. She rose to her feet and they returned to the clearing where Maverick, Chase, and Zara were waiting in their shifts.

They raced around Ivy as she walked through the woods, her laughter ringing.

He didn't even care if he found something to hunt, he was just so happy to have found his beautiful mate and to have her in his life.

He'd almost lost her. He wasn't going to make that mistake again.

He'd keep her safe forever because that's what mates did.

And he also made sure she saw stars every time they made love.

Mates did that too.

Solstice was drawing close, and Frost would have to leave to bring winter to the world. He wished he didn't have to, but he was compelled by the position to carry out the one duty demanded of him.

He only had a few magical people on hand to siphon after solstice, so he would have to grab some more on the trip. Maybe he'd turn them dark to join his follower army, or maybe he'd simply drain them, leaving them without magic instead of turning them. If he did that, they'd be forever without magic, unable to replenish at the Well or be helped by his brother. He wasn't in the mood to haul people around, anyway.

He wanted to focus on Christmas, but solstice came first.

Christmas Day was the time when he would have his best chance of killing his brother and trading the mantle of Jack Frost for Santa, and finally being the guardian of the Well of Magic.

He made his way to his office and found Valeth in front of the fireplace.

"Did you find it?" Jack demanded.

Valeth turned around and licked his lips. "Can you replenish my magic, Frost? I'm weak after all the traveling."

"I'll do it after I rest," he said.

One of the problems of not having access to the Well was that Frost had to replenish the magic of his evil followers with his own magic. It meant he had to basically double up on the number of victims to take their good magic, so he wasn't left bereft.

"Now tell me," he said. "Did you find it?"

Valeth opened his coat and removed an old wooden box. It was sealed with wax and covered with dust.

Taking it to the desk, Jack opened it and saw the object he'd been looking everywhere for the last few weeks: the blood dagger.

"Oh, it's magnificent," he said quietly.

It hummed with magic.

Dark magic.

And not just any dark magic, but the sort of dark magic that came from doing morally awful things in the name of power at any cost. The blood dagger was just the tool Jack needed to put an end to his brother once and for all.

He lifted it from the box, the old handle made from the bone of an elf a hundred years ago, the blade forged from obsidian and coated with poisoned blood.

He had the weapon. Now, he just needed someone to wield it.

Putting the blade back in the box, he closed it and set it inside his desk drawer, using a quick spell to lock and protect it.

"I'm going to the surface to cast a seeking spell," he said. "I need to find my prey."

"Can't I use it for you?" Valeth asked.

"You can't get to my brother," Frost said as he headed to the door. "But someone who is filled with good magic can."

He just had to find the right magical person, someone who wanted to make a deal, someone with a need he could leverage to get what he wanted.

His brother dead.

The Well in Frost's control.

And the magic of the world? Dark as the darkest midnight.

Thank you so much for reading Rescued by Her Guardian! I hope you enjoyed hanging out with the Guardians in Northernmost! The final book in the first trilogy this year – Cherished By Her Guardian – is out December 1 st and available for preorder (with the next trilogy starting October 2025)!

Well of Magic Guardian Declan has spent the last nine years protecting the world's source of magic from Jack Frost and his evil followers. As it draws close to Christmas Day, when Santa will be at his lowest power and most vulnerable, wolf shifter Declan can't afford any distractions because they could cost the magical people of the world everything.

Winterlyn has never been able to shift into her arctic fox, despite her parents being alphas and coming from a long line of strong and capable shifters. Without access to her shift, she'll never find a male who will take her for a mate, and getting left out of everything with her people is wearing thin. When an online search suggests she could get help with her shift at the Well of Magic, she finds a witch willing to take her there.

But the witch has an agenda that isn't exactly altruistic, and not only does Winterlyn find herself in the middle of a battle between good and evil over control of the Well, but she also finds her truemate in the snowy land at the top of the world. Can she and Declan keep each other safe while Santa and Jack Frost battle for dominance, or will their relationship be over before it starts?

Preorder your copy of Cherished by Her Guardian from your favorite retailer HERE .

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Read on for an excerpt from Cherished By Her Guardian…