North Pole City Tales: Complete Series Page 14

  “I didn’t ask for something to kill Rudy! I just asked for something to scare him, something you wouldn’t be able to break. I never thought it would lead to this. You know I love you.”

  “Lies!”

  The fury that blustered from Jack knocked Rudy and his friends off their feet. He fell onto the snow, the vicious gales of ice and snow nearly blinding. It was now or never.

  “You all stay here.”

  Tim threw his arms around Rudy, holding on tight. “You can’t go out there. He’ll kill you!”

  “He won’t,” Rudy promised, though he wished he were more certain. He kissed the top of Tim’s head before pushing him toward Noel, who looked equally panicked.

  Noel shook his head as he spoke. “He might not remember you.”

  Rudy swallowed hard, a lump forming in his throat. “Then I’ll make him remember.” Fighting against the harsh winds, Rudy used the thick pine trees to conceal himself until he was behind Jack, who now had Hollis in his icy grip.

  “I know you’re there,” Jack said calmly. “You Christmas elves are an insolent bunch, foolish and rash, leaving everything up to your silly little feelings.”

  “Jack, put him down,” Rudy said, coming around to Jack’s side where they could see each other. His lover’s scornful gaze cut deep, but he couldn’t allow Jack to continue on this path. He appeared as if he were carved from ice, which normally wouldn’t have startled Rudy, except the heart encased within was just as frozen as the rest of him.

  “Jack, I know you believe he betrayed you, and what he did was wrong, but he doesn’t deserve to lose his life over it. It was my life he endangered, so shouldn’t I have a say in his punishment?”

  Jack let out a scoff. “You? Don’t be absurd. You’re weak. What’s more, you make me weak.” The emptiness Rudy saw in Jack’s eyes was almost too much to bear, but he wouldn’t give up on Jack, not without a fight.

  “Put him down,” Rudy ordered.

  Jack narrowed his gaze, a sinister smile creeping onto his handsome face, a face that had once expressed such love and admiration. Those sneering lips had once smiled at him with such joy, had parted in ecstasy, had kissed Rudy until his knees grew weak. Rudy wasn’t about to lose that.

  “Or what?” Jack asked.

  He’d be a liar if he said he wasn’t terrified, but he had to do whatever was in his power to get Jack back, no matter the cost. Kringle said he had it in him, that he was the only one with the power to melt Jack’s heart. By holly, he sure wished Kringle had told him how he was supposed to do it. Taking a deep breath, he broke off into a run, charging Jack, who readied himself, a cruel smile revealing his pleasure at being challenged. He swiped an arm to one side, the force of his gesture throwing Hollis onto the snow several feet away.

  Jack summoned a barrier of ice, and Rudy threw an arm up to shield his face, bracing himself for the harsh impact of his body colliding with the solid mass, but instead, Rudy crashed straight through it, the wind knocked out of him when his body rammed into Jack’s, sending him reeling back. Rudy lay dazed in the snow for a moment before he quickly rolled onto his side, his gaze on Jack’s stunned expression.

  It lasted but a few seconds before Jack let out a cry and charged him, his arms wrapping around Rudy’s waist to lift him and slam him down onto the now solid ground. In the seconds it had taken Jack to lift Rudy off the ground, he had frozen the snow for the purpose of causing more damage. Rudy’s body hit the sleek surface with such force, cracks splintered the ice, and he stifled a cry as the pain rippled through his body. Jack wasted no time, straddling Rudy and pulling back a fist to hit him across the jaw.

  “Do you really think you’re a match for me?” Jack pulled back and struck Rudy again, each blow feeling as if he were running face-first into a glacier.

  “Jack, stop,” Rudy pleaded, struggling to move Jack’s much heavier frame off him. It was impossible. Jack put his strength into his weight, pinning Rudy beneath him. There was none of the Jack he loved before him, only winter’s true elemental form, harsh and cruel. Whatever Jack intended, he wasn’t about to back away. In fact, he took things to the next level. “Are you going to kill me, Jack? Is that what you want?”

  “I’m going to teach you your place. If you’re too weak to survive, it only proves your insignificance.” Jack’s hands clutched at the sides of Rudy’s head, the pain excruciating as the cold penetrated his skin. He cried out and clawed at Jack’s hands, trying to dislodge him. If he didn’t do something, Jack would finish him. Rudy shut his eyes tight and searched deep inside him. There had to be something in there, something he could call upon. Memories of him and Jack flashed through his mind, of their nights in bed together laughing and making love, of Jack’s smile and the little creases that formed at the corners of his eyes. He loved Jack with all his heart, would never stop loving him.

  Jack’s cry of pain startled Rudy and his eyes flew open, a gasp escaping him at the red glow that came from… Holy holly, it came from him. Rudy didn’t stop to question what was happening. He swiftly took advantage of the moment.

  Finding he could shift Jack’s weight, he wrapped his legs around Jack’s waist and twisted, throwing Jack onto his side before Rudy rolled over him, pinning Jack beneath him. He didn’t give Jack time to make a move before thrusting both hands against his lover’s chest, over his heart. Calling upon whatever force aided him, he tried his best to ignore Jack’s cries of agony as a searing heat flashed through Rudy’s body, causing him to glow red from head to toe. He gritted his teeth, sweat beading his brow, and he watched as the ice façade that made up Jack’s body began to retreat, starting from the tips of his hair. It withdrew from Jack’s body until nothing but the spot over his heart remained frozen.

  Jack threw his head back, his back arching violently off the ground, and a heartbreaking cry escaped his lips as Rudy pushed harder against his chest, until the ice beneath his hands melted and some unknown force threw Rudy off. He hit the ground on his back, his chest falling and rising rapidly as he attempted to catch his breath. Shakily, he lifted a hand in front of him, his eyes widening when he realized the red glow was really the subtle lapping of flames.

  Fire. His body was on fire. Well, sort of. Warmth spread through him, but there was no pain. Where had it come from, and how had he summoned it? He remembered Jack and quickly sat up, groaning at the ache in his body. Ignoring that for the time being, he scrambled over to Jack, who was lying on the snowy ground, his eyes closed. The color returned to his skin, making him look like the Jack Rudy had fallen in love with so long ago. Please, let it be him.

  Chapter 12

  “Jack?” Rudy tapped his lover’s cheek gently, hoping it was indeed his lover in there. Jack didn’t stir. “Jack!” Rudy called, slapping him across the cheek.

  There was a grumbled “ouch” and Rudy couldn’t help but laugh, even as tears filled his eyes. Jack’s lids fluttered open, a deep pout coming onto his face.

  “You slapped me.”

  “I did,” Rudy said with a sniff, helping Jack sit up. Hesitantly, he reached to put a hand to Jack’s cheek, only to have his lover eye him warily.

  “You’re not going to slap me again are you?”

  “No,” Rudy replied, biting his bottom lip to keep himself from blubbering like some elfling. His smile faded, and his thumb stroked Jack’s cheek. “Is it really you in there?”

  “Who else would it be?” Jack got to his feet, pulling Rudy along with him. He looked around them, frowning. “How the blasted ivy did I get out here?”

  “You don’t remember?”

  Jack shook his head, his worried gaze falling on their friends huddled together several feet away. “I remember being in the White Hart… and then… I saw a heart carved into one of the wooden beams. I can’t remember why I was there or where I had been before that. I can’t remember a great deal in regard to the past few days. It all seems somewhat hazy.”

  “You remember the heart with our initials?” Rudy asked, his
own heart feeling as if it had doubled in size. “Do you remember how it got there?”

  Jack nodded, drawing Rudy into his arms, his black eyes intense and filled once again with love. “Of course. It was the first time you took me there.”

  “You had confessed your love, and I was so happy… yet at the same time so heavyhearted I couldn’t tell my Rein Dear brothers.” Rudy wrapped his arms around Jack’s waist, letting his head rest against his sweetheart’s chest, his eyes closing at the lulling beat of Jack’s heart. “I went to the little elf’s room, and when I came back, a heart with the letters “J+R” had been carved in the center. I didn’t think I could have loved you any more than I did at that moment. Little did I know you would continue to prove me wrong, each and every day.”

  Jack lifted Rudy’s face toward him and kissed him deeply. Their kiss seemed to go on for an eternity, and a shiver went up Rudy’s spine, one that had nothing to do with the cold and everything to do with the overwhelming warmth he could feel emanating from his prince, all for him. His Jack was once again whole and in Rudy’s arms where he belonged.

  Suddenly Jack broke their kiss, his expression scandalized. “You set me on fire!”

  “Yes, darling, but only because I love you.”

  “How?”

  “I don’t know.” Rudy held his hand up, watching mesmerized as he summoned the red glow, which gave way to subtle flames. Where had it come from? Was this what Kringle had been referring to? Was it possible the Spirit of Christmas had known Rudy carried this inside him all along?

  “Is it safe?” a tiny voice called out, and Rudy couldn’t help but chuckle.

  “Yes. Our Jack is back.”

  Everyone came running, though they all slowed when they got close. Tim and Noel edged nearer one step at a time, and Noel peered at Jack with uncertainty.

  “Is it really you?”

  “It is, Grumpy-pants.”

  Tim and Noel launched themselves at Jack, who despite his surprise, quickly gave in to their affection and hugged them close. Rudy could imagine how very frightened they’d been. It was easy for him to forget he wasn’t the only one whose life Jack had touched. Vixen approached Rudy to whisper hoarsely at him.

  “Are you certain he’s back to normal?”

  Jack released Tim and Noel before walking over to put his hand on Vixen’s shoulder, giving it a squeeze that made the Rein Dear wince. “If you hurt my cousin, I’ll turn you into a snow cone.”

  “I would say that’s a yes,” Rudy replied with a grin. Poor Vale. If he truly had his heart set on Vixen, he was in for a challenge. There were stark differences between Rudy and Jack, but between Vale and Vixen? It was like comparing the moon to the sun, and much like the sun, those who got too close to Vixen usually ended up getting burned. Something told him they were all in for a difficult time if Vale insisted on attempting to court Rudy’s vexing Rein Dear brother.

  From the corner of his eye, he saw Hollis carefully approach him. He lowered his head and his voice was quiet when he reached Rudy.

  “I’m so sorry, Rudy. I truly never meant…”

  “What’s going on?” Jack asked, frowning at his cousin.

  Rudy looked from Jack to Hollis, then to poor Vale, who looked on the verge of blacking out. Hollis squared his shoulders and turned to face his cousin.

  “Jack, I—”

  “Hollis came to apologize to me for the trouble he caused by telling you about my argument with Fig.” Everyone’s stupefied gazes landed on Rudy. He gave them all a pointed look, and even Noel, the most outspoken of all of them, took Tim’s hand in his and nodded his understanding.

  “Oh.” Jack gave his cousin a glower but said nothing else about it. He did, however, address Rudy, his expression softening. “I know you probably didn’t want to worry me, but promise me you won’t keep such things to yourself. We’ll work through them together.”

  Jack was right. Rudy had hoped to spare his lover the worry, but they should have discussed it. Even if nothing came of the incident, Rudy should have trusted in his Jack to be there with him through the nasty ordeal. “I promise to trust in you, in us, during the bad as well as the good. May I have a word with your cousin?”

  Jack nodded, and Hollis nervously followed Rudy while Tim drew Jack’s attention with his excitement at having gotten to see Mayor Kringle again. Rudy made certain Jack was occupied by their friends, and that he stood out of earshot, before addressing Hollis.

  “I know I promised him I wouldn’t keep secrets, but I believe this should be the final one. I know you love him, and he you. It would break his heart to remember your betrayal. However, I know you only had his best interests at heart, despite your absolutely asinine behavior. I’m willing to put this behind us.”

  Hollis gaped at him. “You… you would do that for me?”

  “No, I would do that for him. Quite frankly, I have a fierce urge to give you a nice shiner, but that wouldn’t help matters any. Your behavior was undignified and shameful. If you ever try anything so foolish again, I swear I will stand back and let him turn you into an icicle. Do I make myself clear?”

  “Yes,” Hollis replied dejectedly. “I really am so sorry, Rudy. I truly never meant to hurt you. I got so wrapped up in my own miserable plot that I failed to think about the consequences of my actions. He does love you so fiercely. I didn’t think about what I was attempting to take from him for my own selfish reasons. You’re a good elf, much better than I. I know now what he sees in you.”

  Rudy nodded, believing Hollis’s words. The young toy soldier was impulsive. Jack was always jumping in to keep the silly elf from hurting himself with his own ridiculous ideas. Rudy hoped this would serve as a lesson to him. “You should probably try to find Fig and make certain he doesn’t come anywhere near Jack.”

  “If I can find him, I’ll make certain he knows to keep this matter to himself. Frankly, he would be an idiot not to. Jack already dislikes him for what he said to you, much less for going along with my insipid plans.”

  In agreement, they both walked back to the others, and once there, Jack turned to him, his expression troubled.

  “Why am I out here? What happened?”

  “My plane malfunctioned, and I was badly hurt,” Rudy replied, trying to stick to the truth as much as possible. “It was my own fault. Anyway, I’m afraid the whole ordeal was too much for your heart.”

  Jack swallowed hard, his hand going to his chest. “It happened again?”

  “Yes. Which is why I ended up setting you on fire. Sort of.”

  Jack was at his side immediately, his hands taking Rudy’s. “What about you? Are you all right? Are you in pain? Should you be resting?”

  Rudy chuckled at his lover’s sweet ramblings. “I’m fine, darling. Kringle healed me, but I would very much like to get you home and forget this whole blasted affair ever happened.” Rudy was about to lead Jack away when a bluster of harsh winds surrounded them, and the King of Frost appeared before them.

  “Father? What are you doing here?”

  “Rudy sent word.”

  Rudy sent word many moons ago, Rudy grumbled to himself. Well, better late than never, he supposed.

  “I observed from close by.” The King of Frost cast Rudy a knowing glance, and Rudy wondered if the king was about to expose the truth. Could the King of Frost truly be so cruel to his own son? Did he wish to rid himself of Rudy so badly he would break Jack’s heart by revealing his cousin’s actions? Jack wouldn’t be the only one left heartbroken. What of Vale or their father? What of the scandal it would cause among the toy soldiers?

  The King of Frost turned to Rudy with a guarded smile. “I’m glad to see you’ve recovered. I suppose I owe you thanks for returning my son to me.” He bowed his head, surprising everyone, though Jack looked the most startled of all. However, that wasn’t the most shocking thing to occur on this field, it seemed. The King of Frost turned to Jack. “I did not interfere as I wanted to see what Kringle kept yammering on about. He insiste
d this Christmas elf was special. I now see he was correct. You have my blessing.”

  Jack was left speechless, so Rudy decided to step in. “Thank you, your majesty. May I ask a favor?”

  The king looked at him with amusement. “You may.”

  “You suffered a great loss, yet you never lost yourself. I thought perhaps… you might teach Jack.” Both the King of Frost and Jack stared at him. He turned to Jack and smiled gently, hoping his lover understood his intentions. “Jack, you can’t lose yourself because of me. There are so many who count on you, who look to you for strength. Whatever happens to me, you must continue to be the Jack I fell in love with. You must live on to be the great Prince of Frost. I love you and will continue to love you until my dying breath, but should that final breath ever slip past my lips, you must promise me you will not lose your heart to the bitter cold we have fought so hard to keep at bay.”

  Jack’s eyes filled with unshed tears, and although Rudy had prepared himself for an argument, Jack surprised him by turning to his father, his voice hesitant when he spoke.

  “Will you teach me?”

  A glorious smile spread across the King of Frost’s face, making him appear younger and friendlier than Rudy had ever seen him. “Of course I will.” Before everyone’s eyes, he pulled his son into a fierce embrace. “I’m so proud of you.”

  Rudy couldn’t keep his heart from swelling in his chest. His gaze shifted down to the snow, and he saw the tiny gold button laying there. When he met Hollis’s gaze, he discreetly gestured toward the troublesome object. It would be in all their best interests that the item be returned to the Mouse King’s uniform, and as everyone broke off into cheerful chatter, Hollis swiped up the button and put it in his pocket. There was no guarantee Jack wouldn’t stumble upon the truth one day, but Rudy would guard their secret well as long as he could.

  He loved Jack and would make whatever sacrifices were necessary for his happiness. There might be those who believed he should be forthright with his lover in all matters but bringing his lover unnecessary heartache was more than Rudy could bear. Jack had faced enough hardship in his life. The loss of his mother, the unfeeling years that came after, the distance between him and his father, the scandal of his relationship with Rudy, nearly losing Rudy for good… There was no need for Jack to lose someone else he cared for. Hollis and Vale meant the world to Jack, and he meant the world to them. Rudy wouldn’t hold the young elf’s mistake against him, unless he proved not to have learned his lesson. From the way Hollis smiled at him, Rudy had done the right thing, and perhaps he had even gained a friend.