Chapter 15

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

C larice stretched languidly, her muscles pleasantly sore as she blinked away the remnants of sleep. The moss beneath her had been surprisingly comfortable, though not quite as cozy as their bed back home. There was a faint, distant glow from the direction of the entrance cave. Morning.

She rolled over to find Rudi already awake, his mating marks glowing with a steady warmth that made her heart skip.

“Storm’s passed. We should get moving.”

His voice was gruff, almost shy as he helped her up, and she wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing close. When she smiled up at him, he kissed her, his hands tightening on her hips as the kiss deepened. With a frustrated groan, he pulled back.

“We have a mission, remember?”

Though his voice was stern, his antlers gave away his feelings, glowing softly.

“I know, I know.”

She bit her lip, failing to suppress her smile as she watched him gather up the supplies he’d brought back to the hot springs the previous night. He’d insisted on feeding her, even though she would have been content simply to remain in his arms.

The little fokuso chirped from its makeshift nest, drawing her attention. She knelt beside it, offering some dried meat from their provisions. The tiny creature’s eyes lit up as it eagerly accepted the food, its fur tickling her palm.

Watching Rudi work while she was caring for their unexpected charge, she felt a surge of contentment. Despite their urgent mission, it was as if all the scattered pieces of her life had finally fallen into place.

A short time later they were on their way. The sleigh glided smoothly across the new snow, leaving twin tracks in their wake. She snuggled closer to him, his warmth a stark contrast to the crisp morning air nipping at her cheeks. The fokuso slept contentedly in her lap, curled into a fluffy ball against the cold.

Her heart filled with happiness each time his hand brushed against hers, or when he adjusted the blanket around her shoulders. The mating marks on his chest peeked out of shirt, their soft glow visible even in the bright sunlight. She couldn’t resist reaching out to trace them with her fingertips, delighting in the way his breath caught.

The mountains rose around them, tall and beautiful. Fresh snow sparkled like diamonds under the winter sun, untouched save for occasional animal tracks. They made excellent progress, the sleigh’s engine humming steadily as they covered mile after mile.

Despite that, her worries increased as the morning wore on. What would happen when they found Niklaus? Would he listen? Would he agree to help save the village? It all seemed too much to hope for but she clung to that sliver of faith, refusing to give in to despair.

As if sensing her worries, Rudi smiled down at her, his antlers catching the morning light.

“We’ll find him,” he assured her. “We’ll convince him.”

She leaned her head against his shoulder, his presence bolstering her courage.

The hours melted away, and the landscape shifted around them. The craggy peaks gave way to rolling hills blanketed in snow and dotted with stubborn conifers. They stopped very briefly to eat and care for the fokuso, who devoured its share of the meal with adorable ferocity, before setting off again.

By the time they reached Silverglade, her legs were stiff and she was grateful for Rudi’s assistance as he helped her down from the sleigh. She cradled the fokuso against her shoulder as shade looked around. The town was larger than North Haven, with two and three story buildings lining a network of streets. A child pointed them toward the address Miran had provided—a converted stable set back behind a much larger one, smoke curling from its chimney.

Inside, warmth and the scent of fresh-cut wood enveloped them. Niklaus sat at a workbench, his white beard dusted with sawdust and his broad frame hunched over an intricate wooden toy. More toys, beautifully designed and painted, covered the nearby shelves.

Even for a Frostarii, he was a big male, his deep blue skin sparkling in the overhead light, but his size felt reassuring rather than alarming. His eyes crinkled with genuine pleasure at their arrival.

“Rudi! I’m so pleased to see you.” His deep voice filled the small space. “And who is this charming young lady?”

“This is my mate, Clarice.”

She blushed at the pride in his voice and Niklaus beamed even wider.

“I’m delighted for both of you. What brings you so far from home? Is this a mating trip?”

The joy in his expression faded as they explained Eldrik’s ultimatum. Her stomach knotted as she described the fear gripping the village, how he was using their dependence on his power source to force them into submission.

Niklaus set down the half-finished toy he’d been working on. His shoulders slumped, making his white-furred vest seem too heavy for his frame.

“I’ve been to every settlement within reach,” he said, gesturing at maps spread across another table. “Most energy suppliers aren’t interested in such a small village.”

He sighed and rubbed his temples. “I’ve been trying to locate an alternate source of power, but it’s been challenging.”

The defeat in his voice made her heart sink.

“We need you back home,” Rudi said quietly. “The village needs its leader, with or without another power source. Eldrik’s gone too far. You’ve always protected us. Protected me, even when I pushed you away. Don’t abandon us now.”

Niklaus lifted his head, studying Rudi. A slow smile spread across his face, making his star-speckled skin shimmer. “You’ve changed, young one.”

“He has,” she agreed, smiling up at him, and the marks on his chest pulsed faintly beneath his shirt.

“Very well.” Niklaus rose, his massive shoulders straightening. “The children shouldn’t miss their Wintertide gifts, at any rate.”

Relief flooded through her as she watched him gather the toys, stuffing them carefully into a weathered leather bag. He worked quickly, his movements precise despite his size. When he hoisted the bulging bag over his shoulder, it clacked softly with the sound of wooden pieces clicking together.

“Let’s not waste any more time,” he said, heading for the door. “We have a village to save.”

They set off at once but within an hour, a dense fog surrounded them, the white mist swallowing everything beyond arm’s reach. The moisture clung to her skin, cold and clammy, and the fokuso whimpered from its nest on her lap.

“We’ll have to wait it out,” Rudi said with a frustrated sigh. “It could be hours.”

“We don’t have hours.” She turned to face him, studying his troubled expression. The marks on his chest still glowed faintly beneath his shirt, reminding her of his hidden strength. “Your antlers could guide us through the fog.”

He stiffened, his jaw clenching. “That’s not how they work. They only glow when-”

“When you’re protecting someone?” She reached over and took his hand, his skin warm against hers despite the damp chill. “When you’re channeling energy, like with the crystals?”

His fingers twitched in her grasp. “I can’t control it.”

“Yes, you can.” She reached up with her free hand, touching his face gently. “I’ve seen what you’re capable of. You fought that ice beast. You’ve been working with crystals your whole life. This is no different.”

Uncertainty flickered across his features.

“What if it doesn’t work?”

“Then we try something else.” She squeezed his hand. “But I believe in you. You’re not broken or strange—you’re extraordinary. And right now, your village needs that extraordinary power.”

Niklaus remained silent during their exchange, but she could feel him watching them. The weight of his gaze seemed to press against Rudi’s shoulders, making him hesitate even more.

“Trust yourself,” she whispered. “Like I trust you.”

She held her breath as he closed his eyes, his expression tightening with concentration. At first, nothing happened. The fog pressed in around them, thick and oppressive. The fokuso let out another worried chirp.

Then, ever so faintly, a glimmer appeared at the tips of his antlers. The light wavered, like a candle flame struggling against the wind. Her heart leaped at the sight. The glow strengthened, spreading down the branches of his antlers until they shone with a soft, ethereal radiance that cut through the dense mist.

The illumination cast dancing shadows across Rudi’s face, highlighting the tension in his features as he fought to maintain control. Sweat beaded on his forehead despite the cold. His hands clenched into fists at his sides.

“You’re doing it,” she breathed, fighting the urge to reach for him, not wanting to break his concentration.

The light pulsed stronger, pushing back the fog in a widening circle around them. Through the hazy whiteness, shapes began to emerge—the trail ahead and the trees lining it. The glow reflected off the snow, creating a path forward through the murk.

His eyes opened, gleaming with the same otherworldly light as his antlers. For a moment, uncertainty flickered across his face as he saw what he had accomplished. But when he met her gaze, his confidence seemed to strengthen, and the light stabilized into a steady beacon.