Christmas Chaos (Christmas Magic Book 2) Read online

  “Yes, but you’re not going to like it.” He ran a hand through his dark hair. “When the star exploded, it released a magic into the atmosphere that destabilized the barrier that protects our realm.”

  I gave him a blank look. “What does that even mean?”

  “It means that a human was found within the borders of the Northern Realm a week ago,” Dash explained. “And my herd have discovered evidence of non-magical animals in the forest close to the North Pole.”

  I was shaking my head, still trying to understand, when Melody responded. “But the barrier repels humans and other non-magical beings. They shouldn’t be able to go anywhere near the Northern Realm.”

  “Exactly,” Dash replied. “Which is how we know the barrier is failing.”

  “Well, that doesn’t sound good,” Alfie said, piping up for the first time since Dash had broken the news. He was normally pretty positive about things, but even he looked troubled by what Dash had said.

  “Not good at all,” Dash agreed. “The worst part is that we suspect dark Christmas beings will be capable of passing through the barrier as well. The royals already have the protectors arming themselves to defend the realm.”

  The situation was sounding more dire by the minute. Dark and light beings had always hated one another. There would definitely have been a war by now if we hadn’t been separated for so many years. As it was, brawls often broke out in the Human Realm when the light and dark beings crossed paths. I didn’t hold the same hatred for dark beings as most clauses did, but I was one of very few who felt that way.

  “Has anyone tried to fix the barrier?” I asked.

  “Yes.” Dash nodded. “But nothing has worked. It’s not completely destroyed yet though. From what I understand, the barrier is just unstable. It disappears for brief moments before it flickers back to its normal strength.”

  “And that’s good news?” I asked uncertainly.

  “Not really,” Dash continued. “The barrier is growing weaker and more unstable every day. The lapses are growing longer, and it’s only a matter of time before it dissolves altogether.”

  “And what happens then?” Melody whispered.

  “And then, all hell breaks loose,” I replied before Dash could answer. I shuddered at the thought of a world with no magical barriers. I could already imagine the chaos that would ensue if dark beings, light beings, and humans were all tossed in together. It would only be a matter of time before one of the realms declared war on the other.

  “So, is the Southern Realm experiencing the same problems?” Melody asked.

  “Potentially,” Dash replied. “Though I don’t believe anyone from the Northern Realm has attempted to enter the south. We don’t want to alert the dark beings to the weakness between our realms if it can be avoided.”

  My suspicions that the royals didn’t just want to hear our side of the story were growing. If a human had entered the Northern Realm, they had much bigger problems to deal with.

  “Dash, what aren’t you telling us?” I said.

  His gaze flicked toward me, and the moment our eyes met I knew with absolute certainty he was holding something back. “I can’t tell you any more than what I’ve already said.”

  “So, there is something you’re avoiding.”

  “Yes,” he replied. “But it’s not my place to tell you.”

  It was comforting to know Dash wasn’t lying to us, but it didn’t change the fact that Melody and I were still in the dark.

  “And there’s no way we can decline the summons?”

  “Not unless you want an army of clauses rocking up at your front door tomorrow.”

  I huffed out a breath, trying to remain calm despite the concern that was churning in my gut, and glanced at Melody. “How do you feel about going to the North Pole?” I asked. She’d done so much to help us capture Crow, but she was still so fragile after being imprisoned by him for years. I wanted to protect her from any sort of danger, and I didn’t trust that she would be safe if she came with us.

  “I’ll be fine.” Melody straightened her shoulders, and though there was still a hint of uncertainty in her gaze, her eyes also held evidence of a fierce determination to overcome her worries.

  I wished I shared her confidence, but the thought of returning to the North Pole still made me nervous. What if I ran into some of the other clauses I used to train with when I was younger? Would they still remember that I had used my powers out of season?

  At least now that the Christmas season had begun, people would no longer think it was strange that I could use my powers. Still, I didn’t like taking the risk—not that I had much of a choice.

  Silence had fallen over the room, but it was broken by the soft sound of Tomi’s footsteps as the tiny tomten sauntered into the living room. He eyed each of us suspiciously once he noticed Dash was there.

  “You’re leaving again,” he said, scowling at me. For such a small being, he managed to pack a lot of punch with his death glares.

  “I won’t be gone for long.”

  “I don’t believe you,” he grumbled.

  “Don’t worry, Tomi,” Melody said, scooping him up in her arms and holding him close to her. “I’ll summon you so much mac and cheese you’ll be eating like a king for the next month.”

  His greedy little eyes lit up, and he scowled at me once more. “She cares about me at least.”

  I threw my hands up in the air. If I so much as tried to touch my tomten, he bit me, and yet Melody was able to cuddle him as though he were a pet. I really didn’t understand why he hated me so much. We were bonded for life, and that connection brought most paired tomten and clauses closer together.

  Guilt flickered in Melody’s eyes as she looked back at me. She clearly didn’t want to come between Tomi and me, but I didn’t hold it against her. “Go summon him his food. I’m going to get changed.”

  She nodded and left the room with Tomi still in her arms while I turned to Dash. “I assume you want us to leave tonight?”

  “Yes, as soon as possible.”

  “Well, you’re lucky that both Melody and I have the day off work tomorrow, or there’s no way that would be happening.”

  Dash shook his head at me. “There are other jobs, Clio. This is important.”

  “You clearly don’t understand.” I turned and headed to my room. I wasn’t even sure myself why I cared so much about working at The Rusty Gate. I certainly hadn’t enjoyed it today. I’d even daydreamed of what it would be like to return to my life back in the Northern Realm.

  Living there wasn’t an option for me though. As much as I might want to be among my own kind, I had to keep my powers hidden from other magical beings, and that meant remaining in the human world. The truth was, I didn’t like being alone. It had just been Tomi and me these last couple of years, and The Rusty Gate had given me a purpose beyond just surviving from one day to the next. Dash had never had to hide who he was, so there was no way he’d ever understand it. I felt much more certain about defending my job as I entered my room. I had every right to want to keep it.

  Now, for my next problem. What in Christmas was I supposed to wear to meet claus royalty?

  The streets of Bramblewood were dark as we got into Dash’s car. Alfie had disappeared before we left, and Tomi had retreated to his room, refusing to open the door and say goodbye when it came time for us to leave. I decided on wearing my usual plain black T-shirt and skinny jeans to meet the royals. I had no desire to dress up for them and pretend to be something I wasn’t. Melody seemed to have decided the same thing because she was dressed in something similar.

  We were all silent as we drove to the sleigh point just outside of Bramblewood. Dash was gripping the steering wheel tightly, and his forehead was creased as though whatever he was thinking about made him uncomfortable. I kept glancing at him, wondering what he was keeping from us. He was usually so direct and honest, so I found it unnerving that he wasn’t fully explaining the reasons behind dragging us to the North Po
le.

  I just hoped I wasn’t leading Melody directly into danger.

  The car slowed when we neared the old barn that the sleigh point lay within. Thankfully, the rain from earlier in the night had stopped. Unfortunately, the clouds remained, and there was no moonlight to see by. My eyes struggled to adjust to the darkness as I stepped from the car and started toward the barn. I followed Dash closely, knowing the shifter would have far better sight than me in the low light. Still, it didn’t stop me from stumbling on rough patches of muddy ground.

  I could hear Melody was struggling too, so I allowed my magic to flow into my fingertips, bathing the ground around us in the soft golden light that swirled around my hand. It was official; I was now a torch.

  I continued to light our way as we entered the barn and headed for the sleigh point in the middle of the building. The strong smell of peppermint hit me as I stepped into the sleigh point, and I allowed the magic in my fingertips to wink out of existence now that I knew we’d reached our destination.

  “Do you want to take Melody or should I?” Dash asked.

  “I’ll do it.”

  Melody had never been to the North Pole, so she wouldn’t know what to visualize to transport herself there. She essentially needed to piggyback either Dash or myself, and I’d rather she stayed close to me.

  I took her hand in mine, already dreading our arrival at the destination I was supposed to be aiming for. It would be so easy to simply focus on another sleigh point and take Melody somewhere else, to a place much more enjoyable than the royal court.

  In the blink of an eye, Melody and I could be on a beach somewhere, soaking up the sunshine and drinking cocktails. I was very tempted by the idea, but I knew it would only be a matter of time before we were hunted down. If the royals wanted us enough, they wouldn’t leave us be. And if that happened, I was far more likely to have the truth about my powers uncovered, which wasn’t a risk I could take. It was far safer to answer a few questions and be on my way—even if it did feel like I was walking into a lion’s den.

  “You ready, Melody?”

  “Yes, I’m ready.” Her voice was calm and confident, and I was amazed that she could be so strong after everything she’d been through. I wondered if perhaps she didn’t view the North Pole and the royals with the same trepidation as me. Melody, after all, had nothing to hide.

  I took a deep breath in before I pictured our destination in my mind. I visualized the immense pine tree that soared up into the sky over the sleigh point. I imagined the fairy dust that lit up the branches of the tree and the vivid array of colorful buildings that surrounded the large snow-covered square.

  My skin tingled as electricity buzzed through me, and I felt the familiar tug of the sleigh point jerking me forward. The moment we arrived at our destination, my nose started to prickle. Ice-cold air brushed against my skin, and the sugary odor of magic surrounded me. I opened my eyes and immediately had to shut them again as I let out a sneeze.

  “Stupid pine tree,” I grumbled, opening my eyes again to glare up at the ancient tree above us. It was setting my allergies on fire, but even I couldn’t deny how beautiful it was tonight. Trails of golden fairy dust lit up the tree as it wove along the huge branches, and the night sky beyond it was awash with the dancing pink and green colors of the aurora borealis. It had been a long time since I’d seen the sky light up in such a way, and it took my breath away.

  “Wow,” Melody whispered, as she took it all in. She let go of my hand and stepped closer to the pine tree, staring upward with wide eyes and awe. “It’s so beautiful here,” she said, looking back at me. Her eyes were glistening with tears, and I could see she was truly moved by our home realm.

  It saddened me to think she’d never had the chance to live in the North Pole, and I wondered if she might change her mind about living in the Human Realm now that she’d seen where she was from. I worried that perhaps I was about to lose my new roommate.

  Dash arrived suddenly, making me flinch. He’d appeared so close to me that our skin was practically touching. He lurched forward, his face pale as he tried to stand tall. “I really do hate sleigh lines.”

  I didn’t doubt it one bit. It wasn’t the first time I’d seen him with travel sickness after riding the lines, and I doubted it would be the last. “You’ll be fine in a minute.”

  He looked very unwell, but I knew that shifters’ bodies healed at rapid rates. The ability was tied to their Christmas magic though, so at this time of year, it might take Dash a little longer than he’d like.

  “Are we going straight to the castle?” I asked.

  Dash nodded and I looked over my shoulder toward the royal castle that sat high on a hill overlooking the North Pole. The huge wall that surrounded the castle shone with a metallic color, and I could just see one of the stone turrets of the castle peeking out from behind it. The silver wall gleamed despite the night that surrounded it and was a stark contrast to the dark mountain that reared up behind the castle. My body was tense as I took it in, feeling both a sense of fear and nervousness about what was to come.

  “Lead the way,” I said, waving my hand at Dash.

  The moment Dash stepped out of the sleigh point and started toward the edge of the square, a shout rang out through the night.

  “Put your hands up!” someone yelled, stepping out from behind a car that was parked across the square. His light blue magic swirled in one of his hands, and he was quickly joined by a host of other clauses all dressed in protector uniforms that molded tightly to their bodies. The black Kevlar that armored them made the protectors hard to spot at night, but now that they were drawing on their magic, I could see them appearing from every corner of the square. Magic was lighting up all around us, and we were surrounded.

  Melody and I immediately threw our hands in the air while Dash paced forward, his hands stretched out before him. “We’re light beings,” Dash said. “Just returning home.”

  “I told you to put your hands up!” the protector yelled again.

  Dash let out a sigh before slowly raising his hands in the air.

  “This sleigh point is restricted,” the protector continued as he closed the distance between us, his magic still whirring at his fingertips. “Any unauthorized access is a violation of the emergency safety protocol and an offense worthy of arrest.”

  I would have laughed if his face weren’t so serious. The borders of the Northern Realm were failing, and they were worried about the sleigh point? When I thought about it though, I began to grow concerned. The barriers were a protective shield for both the borders of the Northern Realm and the sleigh points. And if this one was being guarded, the dark beings must have been trying to access it already, which really wasn’t good seeing as it was right in the middle of town. They would have needed a light being to guide them here, like I’d done for Melody, but once a few of them knew the location, it was only a matter of time before the knowledge spread.

  “My name is Dasher, I’m a reindeer who was sent by the court to issue a summons to these two clauses,” Dash said as the protector came to stand before him. “This sleigh point wasn’t restricted when I left this morning, and I’m sure the court will approve my access to it if there’s a problem.”

  The protector’s eyes flicked in the direction of Melody and me. “I can show you the color of my magic if that helps?” I didn’t wait for his response as I sent a small burst of power toward my fingertips. They lit up golden for a second before my magic disappeared once more. I figured that showing the protector the color of my magic would satisfy him. It proved beyond doubt that I was a light being.

  The protector started nodding, his shoulders visibly relaxing. “You can put your hands down,” he finally said, his magic winking out of sight. “Do you have the summons on you?”

  Dash nodded and produced a piece of paper. I couldn’t read any of the writing on it from where I stood, but I could see a large and ornate golden stamp that I assumed signified the royal seal.

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p; The protector nodded and handed the paper back to Dash. “You are free to go.”

  I let out a breath, relieved we weren’t going to be dragged off to a dungeon somewhere. The protector had been so aggressive I was worried he wouldn’t listen to reason. Clauses could be pretty stubborn sometimes.

  Dash didn’t move to leave though. Instead, he was watching the protector closely. “Now that the barrier has been weakened, have dark beings appeared at this sleigh point?”

  The protector’s eyes widened slightly, and he slowly nodded. “How do you know about the problems with the barrier?”

  “I work closely with the royals,” Dash replied. “How many dark beings have managed to get into the Northern Realm?”

  “A few dark beings got through this afternoon, and more came earlier this evening once our defense was set up. They were being helped by a claus, but we were unable to catch them,” the protector said. “When they saw they were surrounded, they escaped back through the sleigh line. I suspect they’ve been unable to get back through for the last couple of hours as we haven’t seen any since.”

  Dash was nodding as the protector spoke. He didn’t seem at all surprised by what he was hearing. I was slightly startled though. When Dash had told me the barriers were down, I hadn’t thought about the fact that dark beings would be able to use the sleigh points in the Northern Realm. I definitely wouldn’t have believed they’d find a light being who would help them access the realm so soon.

  Melody didn’t appear all that shocked, and I suspected there wasn’t a whole lot that could surprise her. Between her time with Crow and her unscrupulous father, she certainly had her eyes wide-open when she looked at the world.

  “Well, we better get going then.” Dash glanced over his shoulder toward Melody and me. He jerked his head for us to follow him before he turned and started toward one of the streets that led off the central town square we were standing in.

  The protector stood back to let Dash past. I went to follow him but hesitated. I couldn’t wait to get out of sight of all the protectors who were watching us from the edge of the square, but it was hard for me to move when I knew we were headed to a place that held a whole lot more danger for me.