North Pole City Tales: Complete Series Read online

  Vale paced the corridor outside the breakfast room of his family home, wringing his gloved hands. 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 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? Malachi Frost was feared in many circles, but Vale had never feared his father. His father was a good elf. He 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 in his hands as well. 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 declared, “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 appeared 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 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 during a 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 if something were to threaten that love or war were to loom, your cousin would be anything but soft.” Their father gave Hollis a pointed 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. 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. He 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 to 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 back 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 patted his father’s hand 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 placed a hand on Vale’s shoulder. “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 a smile lit his face and a twinkle of mischief came into 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 hugged his father and kissed the top of the head, making him chuckle. “Thank you.”

  “Get going. And do be careful.”

  “I will!” Vale hurried out of the breakfast room to the foyer where he gave strict instructions to his valet on how to prepare his sleigh. 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’d 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 on the ride.

  As he’d instructed, warm fur blankets layered 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 tugged 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 flick 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. 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 fond memories. 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 insisted he was the eldest simply because he’d been born first.

  “That he’ll break your heart.”

  Vale blinked, surprised by the sincere yet embarrassed expression on his brother’s face. “Is that truly your greatest concern?” It wasn’t like his brother to be so sentimental. Not even when they had been tiny elves. Whenever Vale would scrape his knee, he’d wail and sob big fat tears, but not Hollis. Hollis would square his shoulders, pat Vale on the head, and help him tend to his knee. He supposed in his own way, Hollis looked after Vale.

  “Of course. I know we rarely see eye to eye on matters, but you’re my brother. I love you. The last thing I want is for some foolhardy, opportunistic Christmas elf to get his mitts on you and hurt you.”

  “Oh, Hollis.” Vale threw his arms around his brother’s neck and planted a kiss on his cheek. “You’re so very wonderful at times.”

  “What do you mean ‘at times’? I’m wonderful all the bloody time,” Hollis grumbled, and Vale couldn’t help his laugh. His brother made no move to push him away. “Just be careful.”

  “I will,” Vale promised, releasing his brother and sitting back, a dopey smile on his face.

  It took no time at all to get them to the Claus Causeway, and the toy soldiers at the gate let them in without pause. They left their sleigh with the valet, though Vale promised he would return shortly. With his powers, he kept the wintry winds from getting to the basket and freezing any of the warm treats inside.

  The Claus Causeway was vast and resembled any other airfield, except with far more sparkle. There were snowy fields instead of neatly manicured lawns and a runway that stretched on for miles. Nine bright red hangars decorated with twinkling white lights and a large sign stating the Rein Dear’s name proudly line one side of the airfield. Aside from storing their biplanes, the hangars also contained offices the Rein Dears worked out of. Their helpers and mechanics also worked from inside the hangars. At the very end, an extra-large white hangar housed the causeway’s administrative office where at times Mayor Kringle could be found there.

  Vale followed Hollis to Vixen’s hangar, and they stood outside as, one by one, nine biplanes landed on the causeway in a neat little row with Rudy’s cherry-red plane at the head. Vixen’s plane was fourth in the lineup and, like its owner, was bright and bursting with flare. From nose to tail, it was painted in red-and-white candy-cane stripes.

  The propeller on each plane slowed its spinning, and the Rein Dear pilots emerged from their cockpits. The crowd erupted into cheers and catcalls while the Rein Dears waved, and Vixen blew kisses. The audience wasn’t as large as it would be the day of the Big Flight and mostly consisted of helpers, mechanics, toy soldiers, and friends of the Rein Dears, with the exception of a few determined fans who somehow managed to gain entrance.

  Mayor Kringle tended to keep the test runs private in case there were any mishaps. Although the pilots had hundreds of years of experience, along with the aid of the Frost family where weather was concerned, one never knew what could happen. The Rein Dears broke off into small groups, chatting with one another and their helpers, who ran to assist. Vixen looked dashing in his red-and-black flight jacket, a contrast to his fair hair, which was windswept and falling roguishly over his brow. His flight goggles were perched on his head, and he removed his black gloves. A dark-haired toy soldier appeared on the tarmac, and he approached Vixen, a broad smile on his face. Vixen returned the toy soldier’s smile.

  Hollis’s frown mirrored Vale’s own. “It looks like someone else has his eye on your Christmas elf.”

  “Do you know him?”

  “No, but then, I can hardly keep track of every toy soldier in our service. Your Vixen doesn’t seem all that put off by him.”

  His brother was right. Then again, Vale wasn’t courting Vixen. The Christmas elf was free to spend time with whomever he wished. Vale had heard all the rumors of Vixen and his affections, but Vale didn’t fault him. Vixen was free to do as he pleased, and it was no one’s place to tell him otherwise. Still, Vale couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy.

  “Well?”

  “Well what?” Vale asked his brother, unable to stop himself from sounding disheartened. He really wished his brother wouldn’t look at him like that. As if the answer was obvious.

  “You’re merely going to stand here and watch some toy soldier sweep him off his feet? Honestly, Vale, that’s hardly romantic.”

  Vale was uncertain of what stunned him most: his brother offering advice on matters of the heart or his suggestion he should be bolder. The attractive toy soldier brazenly flirted with Vixen, who in turn laughed and flirted back.

  “For holly’s sake, you’re Lieutenant Vale Frost. Get out there and show that willful Christmas elf who you are and what you want. Or is he merely a passing fancy?” Hollis asked, arching an eyebrow at him.

  “Absolutely not! You know very well I don’t have dalliances.”

  “Then make your intentions known, or that pixie is going to make off with some other elf.”

  Crabapples. His brother was right. If he wanted to win Vixen’s affections, he would have to be bolder. After all, Vixen wasn’t a timid elf in the least. He was intrepid, confident, and unafraid to speak his mind. Bidding his brother farewell, Vale squared his shoulders and strode to the two elves.

  “Forgive me for interrupting.”

  “Lieutenant, sir!” The toy soldier saluted and stood at attention
, the gesture seeming to catch Vixen by surprise. Aware of Vixen’s sudden interest, Vale stood to his full height, lifted his chin, and donned the authoritative tone he used when addressing their kingdom’s army.

  “At ease, Officer. If you would excuse us. I have matters to discuss with Vixen.”

  “Uh, yes, sir. Of course.” The dark-haired toy soldier bowed several times before darting off. Vale turned to Vixen, the heated look in Vixen’s eyes unexpected. He stepped up to Vale and ran his fingers along the gold braiding on Vale’s jacket. Vale steeled himself. It was difficult to concentrate when Vixen focused his attention on him in such a manner.

  “I didn’t know you could be so… commanding.”

  It appeared Vale had just learned something new about the mischievous elf. “One of the many parts I play,” Vale replied, his voice going low.

  “Hm, I’m interested in learning more about this playing,” Vixen purred at him, sending the most delicious shiver up Vale’s spine. He hoped his face wasn’t too flushed. Having smoldering Christmas elves brazenly touching him wasn’t a common occurrence. If he were honest with himself, he’d admit he rather enjoyed it. A lot.

  “I’d be happy to assist. I came to pick you up for our sleigh ride. Providing you don’t mind leaving your toy soldier friend behind.”

  Vixen gave him a knowing look and wagged a finger at him. “Why, Lieutenant, is that the green-eyed monster I see peeking out from behind those alluring eyes of yours?”

  “I’m afraid it might be.” He took Vixen’s hand in his and bowed over it. “Please, call me Vale.”

  “I can work with that. Let’s go on that sleigh ride.” Vixen looped his arm through Vale’s and accompanied him to his sleigh. Vale helped him in, smiling when Vixen gasped with delight. He took one of the fur blankets and wrapped it around himself before sliding in under the rest. He wriggled happily, snuggling in and making Vale chuckle.

  “You certainly know how to travel in style.”

  “I wanted you to be comfortable.” He climbed in beside Vixen and motioned to the basket on the floor before taking the reins. “I had the kitchen put a little something together for our excursion.”