Chapter 5

Knox froze as his gaze locked with the female. She was maybe a foot shorter than him, with sunshine blonde hair tipped with pink. Her eyes were the most enchanting blue, and holy hell did his body immediately react to seeing her.

Her mouth fell open and her eyes went wide, her cheeks pinking as their gazes clashed. He could feel his leopard writhing within him, demanding to be let out to close the distance to her.

"Hey, are you Ivy?" Maverick asked. "We're your Guardian escort to the Well."

Knox was overcome with possessive feelings as Maverick and Chase drew closer to her. Lurching forward, Knox shoved them both aside and turned with a snarl. "Back off."

They both froze at the authority in his tone.

"Um, what's going on?" Chase asked.

"Back. Off."

Maverick put his hand on Chase's chest, and the two took a massive step backward. Maverick put his hands up and said, "We hear you."

He gnashed his teeth, trying to get hold of his leopard. He could not fur-out right now and shift because he might scare her. Scrubbing a hand through his hair, he inhaled and exhaled, and rolled his shoulders.

He turned slowly to face her.

Her skin had paled as if she was afraid, and he could pick up the scent of her fear. But the moment their gazes locked again, she tilted her head and arched her brow.

"Sorry," he said. His voice cracked, and he cleared his throat. "I apologize. I'm Knox, one of the Guardians."

"You going to get all furry on me, Knox?" she asked, her lips quirking at the corner.

"No," he said with a chuckle. "I was just caught off guard."

"By…?"

"You."

She rocked back on her heels and rolled her lips with a hum. "I need to replenish my magic, Knox. Will you and your friends walk with me so I can do that, and then we can talk?"

"Yes, of course."

He'd been holding his jacket, so he put it on to give himself something to do other than grab her and hurry off somewhere private. He was enchanted by her, and he'd only just met her.

How was it possible that he'd come to Northernmost to help out one of his leap members and had found his truemate?

She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.

Her pointed ear.

She was an elf.

Well, of course she was, she worked in Santa's office and as far as he knew, only elves worked directly for him, except for Storm's human mate, who was helping out in the office until the holidays were over.

It wasn't that he cared that she was an elf. It just threw a wrench into his life in a way he hadn't expected.

His leap was shifter-only. The laws were very clear.

If he claimed her as his mate, he would be exiled and treated as dead by everyone in the leap. But if he didn't claim her?

Well, his leopard would probably claw him from the inside out.

Just thinking about not claiming her sent a chill down his spine and made him want to retch. He'd never do something so cowardly like walk away from his truemate simply because she couldn't shift.

He'd have to figure things out. Later.

For now, he was going to focus on his beautiful mate and getting her magic replenished.

"We can come along, right?" Maverick asked.

"Why wouldn't you come along?" Ivy asked.

"Because he wanted us to stay back," Chase said.

Could a male blush to death? Because he was feeling like an idiot right now.

"It's fine, just…keep your distance."

Ivy giggled and when he gave her a side-glance, she pressed her lips together. But her eyes were sparkling, and he knew she found it funny that he didn't want anyone around her.

He couldn't help it. Until they were mated, he was going to feel strongly about her around unmated males, even his friends.

Or maybe especially his friends, since he was well aware that Maverick was a big flirt and Chase had zero problems finding female companionship.

He offered her his arm. "Let's get your magic replenished, Ivy. We've got a lot to discuss."

As her hand settled in the crook of his arm, his leopard let out a happy purr.

Finally, he'd found the other half of his heart. Who would have guessed she'd be an elf?

Okay, so Knox was the sexist male she'd ever seen in her life. She wanted to run her hands through his hair and see if his stubble was scratchy or soft. She bet it would feel good either way, especially when he kissed his way down… oh stars! She needed to back off that train of thought or she was liable to start fantasizing about him while they were walking to the Well.

Okay, maybe she could fantasize just a little bit longer.

Sexy, sexy male.

Knox purred softly. "You smell really good right now. What are you thinking about?"

"The Nice List?"

"Nice try."

They reached the end of the hall and turned left toward the main doors that would lead them to the closest part of the building to the Well. Santa's office windows looked out over the Well because he liked to be close to it.

"Okay, I was thinking that you're pretty cute."

"Cute is for bunnies and babies."

"And…what are you, anyway?"

"Snow leopard. I'm filling in temporarily because I used to be a Guardian."

"No kidding? When?"

"Ten years ago. I left to take over the leap."

"What's a leap?"

"What we call a group of snow leopards."

She hummed. "I didn't know that. That's a neat name. So I wasn't working for Santa back then, but I'm surprised we never met."

"Timing is everything when it comes to truemates."

"Wait, what?" Maverick asked from where they followed a few feet away.

"You heard me," Knox said.

"Well, no shit," Maverick said. "That's freaking amazing."

"Uh," Chase said.

"I know," Knox said. "I'll worry about it later."

They reached the door, and Knox grasped the handle. "Worry about what later?" she asked.

He looked down at her, his chocolate eyes searching hers. Around the edges were bits of amber, and she suspected it was his leopard peeking through.

"I'll tell you after we're alone. Don't worry about it for now. Let's get your magic refilled."

"Okay." She smiled at him, and he let out a soft growl.

"I'd like to kiss you right now," he said with a soft, growly voice.

Her body pulsed at the thought, and it took every ounce of willpower she had to keep her hands to herself.

"I'd like that too. But later."

He nodded sharply and pushed the door open. "Stay put."

The door shut, leaving her with Maverick and Chase.

"Congratulations," Chase said.

"Thanks," she said. "What is he worried about?"

"He said he'll tell you later, and we're not going to step over him like that," Maverick said. "But don't worry about it. He's a great male. We're really happy for you."

"Thanks, guys."

The door opened, and Knox smiled at her in relief, as if he'd been on edge while they were separated. "All clear. Let's hustle, it's cold as hell out here."

He offered her his hand and she took it, walking with him into the bitter cold as Maverick and Chase followed, and the door shut behind them.

The Well lay one hundred feet ahead of them.

Now that she was thinking about her magic and getting close to the Well, she could feel how depleted she was.

"So can elves actually do anything with their magic?" Knox asked. "I know that Santa is a warlock and can cast spells, and fairies, witches, and dream walkers use their magic in a similar way, but what elves?"

"I can't cast spells," she said. "Our magic just makes us elves, but it doesn't imbue us with any special abilities."

"I always wondered."

"Me too," Chase said. "Not that I was eavesdropping."

"Without magic, I'd be human," she said. "I wouldn't be here at the North Pole working for Santa and helping to bring toys to the good kids every year. It would be neat to be able to cast a spell like a witch or use my power to do something with nature, like how a fairy can make a plant grow or help kids have sweet dreams like Sandman and his Dream Walkers, but I'm okay with being an elf."

"I wouldn't have met you if you were human, I'm sure," he said. "So I'm glad you're an elf too."

They reached the edge of where the Well's magic pulsed in the air. She knew they couldn't go any farther and she had to go alone.

She took off her gloves and looked at Knox.

"I was really scared about coming here."

"Because of Frost?"

"Yeah. He targets elves. It's why I always wait until the last minute to replenish my magic." She looked past the glowing Well where she could see the Entrance and beyond that, the dark nothingness of the North Pole.

Knox squeezed her biceps gently through her coat. "I'll keep you safe, Ivy, I swear on my life."

"I believe you," she said.

"Good. I'll be right here when you're finished, then we can go to your place or mine to talk."

The way he said talk sent a riot of shivers down her spine.

She nodded and strode through the barrier of the magic, already feeling magic stretching within her.

It was true that elves didn't really have magic, but they were magical and part of Christmas. She stopped at the edge of the Well and peered past the stones to the depths beyond that glowed neon yellow, green, and blue like the Northern Lights. She rubbed her hands together and then stretched out her arms and touched the magic that pulsed and flowed around the Well, opening herself to it.

All at once she could feel it as it moved over her skin, sinking into her and filling her with its power. The Well was an infinite source of power and good magic, and with Santa running things and keeping the Well safe, along with the elves and Guardians, she knew she had nothing to fear.

Especially not with her sexy truemate watching over her.

As her magic was fully replenished, she lowered her hands and stepped away from the Well, crossing back through the barrier. The chilly air caught her by surprise and she hurried to put her gloves back on before her fingers froze.

"Feel better?" Knox asked as he took her hand when she'd gotten her gloves on.

"I do."

"You look amazing, you're glowing."

"I feel like it," she said. "It's electrifying."

"Where to?" Chase asked.

Knox looked at her and shrugged. "My place," she said. "I live in the elf barracks on the ground floor."

"We'll walk with you there, and then we'll head to dinner in the cafeteria," Maverick said.

"Thank you," she said.

Knox nodded at them and then whispered, "Walk fast, Sugar Plum. We've got a lot to talk about."

She grinned and picked up the pace, laughing as he let out a growly purr and lifted her into his arms, taking off at a jog. She looped her arms around his neck and nuzzled his ear, whispering, "I like you how you think, Knox."

"You'll like it even more once we're alone."

They reached the elf barracks and said goodbye to his friends. She rested her head on his shoulder as he walked down the hall to her apartment.

She couldn't wait to get him inside her place.

After all, they had a lot to talk about.