North Pole City Tales 03 - Vixen's Valor (2 page)

“Uh-oh.” Dasher shook his head. “You have that look in your eyes.”

Blitzen let out a heavy sigh and sat back. “This is going to be nothing short of a disaster.”

“Thank you for the support,” Vixen muttered. He stood and headed for the tufted, red-velvet loveseat in front of the fireplace. On his way there, he caught Vale Frost’s eye and gave the elf his most charming, come-hither smile. Then he sat down, crossed one leg over the other and waited. Seconds later, a figure hovered to his right, and Vixen held back a smile.

“May I join you?”

Vixen looked up and blinked innocently, as if he hadn’t been expecting anyone. “Of course.”

As Lieutenant Vale walked over to sit, Vixen discreetly nudged over, so when Vale sat, they were almost touching. With a timid smile, Vale cleared his throat and faced Vixen.

“It’s lovely to see you again.”

Vixen leaned in a little closer. “Likewise, darling. Where have you been hiding yourself?” He gingerly reached out and smoothed out Vale’s pelisse, amused at the subtle fidget from the heroic lieutenant.

“Hiding?”

“Yes.” Vixen jutted out his bottom lip and stroked the fur of the pelisse. “I haven’t seen much of you around since that day in the field when your cousin had his little temper tantrum.”

Vale cleared his throat once again and absently fiddled with the braiding in his jacket. “Oh, well, I thought you were interested, but then I saw very little of you. I assumed you’d had second thoughts.”

“Don’t be silly. I had the Big Flight and then the celebrations that came after, plus all the post-flight procedures, the preparations for the next flight, the appearances, the charity events, the interviews, and so on. You know being a Rein Dear is very demanding.” His hand came to rest on Vale’s leg, and Vixen did his best not to laugh at the way the elf’s eyes widened.

“Um, yes, of course. Forgive me. I shouldn’t have assumed.”

“That’s all right. How about you make it up to me?” Vixen said, his tone low and sultry as he ran a finger up Vale’s leg.

“Would you… would you join me on a sleigh ride sometime?”

Well, Vixen certainly hadn’t been expecting that. How very… quaint. Admittedly, he’d been hoping the lieutenant would have offered something a little more glamorous, but if a sleigh ride is what it took for Vixen to capture his quarry, then…. “I’d love to. How about you pick me up tomorrow after my test flight at the Claus Causeway?”

“I’ll be there,” Vale replied with a broad smile.

“In the meantime, how about you offer a thirsty elf a drink?”

“Oh!” Vale blinked and jumped to his feet so quickly, he gave Vixen a start. “How very rude of me. Of course. What can I get you?”

“Something bubbly.” Vixen gave him a wink and was forced to bite down on his bottom lip as Vale backed up and turned, colliding with the loveseat’s armrest. Embarrassed, he motioned awkwardly to the seat.

“I didn’t see it. Excuse me.” With a bow, he quickly strode off toward the bar. Dasher’s voice whispered hoarsely in his ear.

“He’s adorable.”

Vixen looked up at his Rein Dear brother and gave him a wicked grin. “He’s completely smitten. Just you wait. By the time the Big Flight comes around, I’ll have him wrapped around my finger.” He could just see the headlines now. For once, he’d be on the front page instead of Rudy. Finally, he was about to get what he’d always wanted.

Chapter Two

V
ALE
PACED
the corridor outside the breakfast room of his family home, his gloved hands wringing together. Was he actually going to do this? He came to a halt in front of the large gilded mirror and frowned at himself. “Of course you are. You are not a coward.” Whatever the outcome, at least he knew he had gone in with the most honorable of intentions. He could no longer hide the truth. So what if his father was the king’s brother and chancellor? Or that he commanded the Toy Soldier army in Jack’s absence? It was true, Malachi Frost was feared in many circles, but Vale had never feared his father. His father was a good elf. He had raised his sons to be forthright, honest, courageous, and honorable.

Taking a deep breath, he walked into the room. His father sat at the head of the elegant table, the
North Pole City Gazette
in his hands while Hollis sat to their father’s right, a newspaper also in his hands. Neither looked up when he entered the room.

Courage, Vale. Courage. If Jack could do it, so can you.
He looked to his cousin for strength. Head held high, Vale began his declaration. “Father, brother, I have something I must confess.”

“About your affections for a certain Christmas elf?” his father offered steadily. “Or your inclinations in general?”

Vale stared at his father, who simply turned the page of his newspaper. He looked neither flustered nor stunned.

“You… know?”

Only then did his father close his newspaper and lay it gently on the table. He patted the empty space to his left, and Vale dutifully sat. “Vale, you’ve not courted a sugarplum fairy since you were a fledgling elf, and I’m certain you were only doing so to appease your mother. She found the whole thing adorable, bless her soul. That was several hundred years ago. I’m your father. I had an inkling.”

“That and the sappy, starry-eyed look you get when you see that wretched Christmas elf,” Hollis added, revealing his frown when he put down his paper. “Honestly. What is it with this family and Christmas elves? Are there no princes or monarchs of your inclination?”

Vale let out a sigh. “Of course there are.” Must his brother always be so bloody difficult?

“Then why not court one of them? If it must be an elf, at least choose one of your station or above. These bloody Christmas elves are making a mockery of our good name.”

“Actually, they’ve given new life to the Frost family name.”

Hollis eyed his father. “I beg your pardon? Father, you’ve not gotten yourself into Cook’s ‘special eggnog’ again, have you?”

“Hush, boy. And the answer to that would be, no, I have not. As I was saying. It’s no secret the manner of reputation this family has, or has had, in the past. It is one thing for your people to respect you, another for them to fear you. Those who’ve embraced the union of Jack and Rudy have embraced the Frost family. They no longer see us as the heartless monarchy of ice and snow. Kringle knows my brother isn’t the most approachable of spirits. Scares the bloody tinsel off anyone he meets. Rudy’s union with Jack has shown a softer, kinder side to our family. A happy kingdom is a prospering kingdom.”

“Or perhaps our kingdom is filled with romantic fools who’d change their tune the moment a war looms upon them. What good is a softer, kinder monarchy in war?” Hollis griped.

“Ah, my dear Hollis.” Malachi reached over to pat his son’s cheek. “You are still young and have much to learn. Look at your cousin Jack. Rudy’s love brings out his softer side, but we know if something were to threaten that love or war were to loom, your cousin would be anything but soft.” Their father gave Hollis a knowing look that had Hollis squirming in his seat.

Hollis cleared his throat. “You’re right, Father. Forgive me.”

To this day, Vale wondered how much their father knew of the incident where Hollis had foolishly attempted to come between Jack and Rudy, resulting in Rudy getting hurt and Jack almost losing his heart to the ice. He supposed it was likely the king had informed his brother. Vale doubted there was little the two didn’t share.

Rudy had been gracious, allowing Hollis to stew in his regret rather than breaking Jack’s heart by informing him of Hollis’s betrayal. Vale was fully aware his brother hadn’t meant to cause such heartache and mischief. At least the incident had calmed his brother some, and Hollis now thought twice before running headfirst into the fray.

Malachi turned his attention back to Vale and placed a hand over Vale’s. “Whatever you do, know I love you and support you. But I do ask you be cautious. Not everyone in our kingdom is so understanding.” A look of concern replaced his smile. “Are you certain this Vixen fellow is worthy of you? I’ve heard… unflattering words.”

“That he’s a floozy.”

“Hollis!” Vale shot his brother a warning glare before turning his attention to his father. “Thank you for your concern, Father, but I believe there’s more to him than what he presents. I’m looking forward to getting to know the real Vixen.”

“Rumor is Vixen’s always trying to one-up Rudy, which is why he had his heart set on a prince. Since there isn’t one available, you seem to be the next best thing. That’s why he’s accepted your affections. He’s out to snag himself a monarch for the perks, dear brother, not for love.”

Malachi shook his head in disbelief. “For Kringle’s sake, boy. Who put a lump of coal in your stocking? Couldn’t you show your brother the tiniest bit of support?”

Vale couldn’t help his smile at his father’s defense of him. He gave his father’s hand a pat in thanks.

“I’m attempting to spare him the heartache. Vixen is only interested in what he can get for himself, and Vale is too softhearted. He’s bound to let that swaggering Christmas elf walk all over him. Have you thought of what it would do to our family name?”

Malachi rolled his eyes. “Our family name has been known since the beginning. I’m quite certain it can survive one Christmas elf.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Hollis stood, smoothed out his jacket, and walked off, leaving Vale feeling terribly uncertain.

As if reading his thoughts, his father patted his arm. “Don’t pay him any mind. You know your brother’s always been a grumpy fellow. Frankly, I think he’s in need of a good romp in the snow if you ask me.”

Vale burst into laughter. “Father! What a thing to say.”

His father pulled back with a shrug, though there was a smile on his face and a twinkle of mischief in his pale gray eyes. “Well, someone had to say it. Go on now. Oh, and don’t forget your uncle’s birthday soirée is in three days. He’s exceedingly against it, as usual, and the family is ignoring him, as usual. Honestly, he’s so bloody paranoid over that damnable scepter we’re lucky he hasn’t cut himself off from the world completely.”

Vale’s heart went out to his uncle. He was quite certain the king’s reclusiveness wasn’t solely down to his fears concerning the powerful scepter hidden within the palace walls but also to the heartache left behind by the loss of the scepter’s keeper. “You understand his concern. If it were to fall into the wrong hands….”

“It would have already,” Malachi replied confidently. “The scepter hasn’t seen the light of day since the Frost War hundreds of years ago.” His expression softened, and his own heartache became evident. “He wanted to destroy it after the war but couldn’t bring himself to. Now it binds him to that cavernous palace.” He sighed heavily, and Vale reached out to take his father’s hand.

“At least he has you.”

His father smiled warmly at him before seeming to gather himself. “Enough tragedy. There’s a ball to prepare for. If you wish to extend an invitation to a certain Christmas elf, I would shake a leg.”

Vale gave his father a hug and a kiss to the top of the head. “Thank you.” His father chuckled.

“Get going. And do be careful.”

“I will!” Vale hurried out of the breakfast room and toward the foyer, where he gave strict instructions to his valet on how the sleigh was to be prepared. Afterward, he picked up the phone on the large white marble table in the hall and put in a call to the kitchen, requesting a basket to be filled with delicious treats. It didn’t take very long for the kitchen staff to deliver the basket. It was somewhat bigger than he expected and rather heavy. With the help of his valet, they carried it outside and down the steps to the impressive white-and-gold royal sleigh waiting for him. They loaded the basket onto the floor, tucking it carefully into a corner so it wouldn’t be jostled too much on the ride.

As he’d instructed, the warm fur blankets had been layered across the tufted velvet seat so his guest would remain warm. Despite being accustomed to the cold, Christmas elves enjoyed being toasty warm, and Vale wanted to make sure Vixen was comfortable. He had just climbed in when Hollis appeared on the other side and joined him.

“What are you doing?” Vale frowned at his brother as he sat back and finished tugging on his white gloves.

“You can drop me off at the Claus Causeway before you go traipsing about with your Christmas elf.”

What was his brother up to? Vale slipped under the blankets beside his brother, his eyes narrowed. “Are you going to reprimand me or tell me all the ways I’m a fool for pursuing Vixen on the journey there?”

“Of course not.” Hollis took the reins, and with a swift, elegant move of the wrists, their pitch-black Clydesdale stallions, Pepper and Mint, were off. The many bells on their harnesses jingled merrily as they made their way through the snow-covered drive and out of the enormous golden gates of their family’s palace. Vale waved pleasantly to their kingdom’s inhabitants as they rode by. The sky was blue, the weather wonderfully crisp, and the scents of Christmas were in the air. Vale inhaled deeply, loving the smell of fresh pine. North Pole City’s Enchanted Woods, one of Vale’s favorite places, surrounded them. When he and his brother had been fledgling elves, their nanny had been forced to drag them away from here countless times. They’d had many adventures. And when Jack would come to play, they all had so much fun… to say nothing of all the mischief they had gotten up to.

“I do hope you’ll use caution. You tend to let your heart run away with you.”

Hollis’s words snapped Vale out of his pleasant thoughts. When had his brother become such a grump? Then again, he’d always been a rather somber fellow. Must take after their uncle. “You said you weren’t going to discuss it,” Vale muttered.

“No, I said I wasn’t going to reprimand you or tell you all the ways you’re a fool for pursuing Vixen. I said nothing about expressing my concern.”

“Which is?” Vale crossed his arms over his chest and waited for whatever blustering his brother was about to do regarding his intentions. Despite being the same age, Hollis always stated he was the eldest simply because he’d been born first.