Loving Blitz (5 page)

Making sure to add only what he needed, Cupid made quick work of packing. His small trunk was heavy, but nothing he couldn’t carry. The bell in his room jingled, and Cupid smiled. Blitz was at his door. With a quick sweep of his apartment to make sure everything was in its place, he answered the door to a smiling Blitz.

“Ready?”

“Ready.” Why was he feeling nervous? He’d never felt nervous around Blitz before.

Blitz took hold of Cupid’s trunk and tucked it under one strong arm. With a thank-you, Cupid closed his door and followed Blitz down the hall. He never tired of its deep-red hue or the elegant silver wall sconces neatly arranged every three feet. There were nine doors, all with red velvet curtains in front, some parted, most closed. One apartment lay empty now that Rudy lived with Jack in his palace. Cupid tried to not let the thought sadden him. Rudy was in love and happier than ever. That’s what mattered most.

They headed out back into the stables where one of the hands had prepared them a sleigh, along with the massive buck with enormous antlers that was to pull it. Blitz must have come out earlier and made the arrangements. The pale-blue-and-silver sleigh was cozy, just big enough for the two of them. Cupid wondered why Blitz hadn’t asked for a slightly larger one. The Rein Dears had all types of sleighs in various sizes for their use.

There were plenty of warm, furry blankets draped across the royal blue velvet seat, and Cupid climbed up to sit underneath them. After Blitz placed their trunks on the back of the sleigh, he slipped in beside Cupid and took the reins. Cupid tried not to fidget. The two of them were pressed up against each other. This sort of sleigh was typically reserved for getting cozy with a sweetheart.

In seconds they were off, the bells on the sleigh jingling merrily as Nutmeg trotted briskly from the stables with instructions to take them to Sandalwood Grove. Cupid hoped the friendly old dwarf still lived in her tiny house. There was a nip in the air, enough to make Cupid’s cheeks rosy.

“Are you warm enough?” Blitz asked, maneuvering them toward the main road of North Pole City, which would lead them toward its borders.

“Yes, thank you.”

Cupid returned the waves of the many elves and sugarplum faeries who they passed. Elflings ran behind their sleigh and around them, though they made certain to stay clear of Nutmeg’s hooves. Cupid was humbled by the adoration they received wherever they went. Although they were celebrities, Cupid never felt like one. He loved what he did and felt honored to have been chosen for such a wondrous position. With a snap of Blitz’s wrists, Nutmeg picked up his speed, and they were off on the main road leading out of North Pole City.

There was a vast expanse of snowy field to cross before they could get to the borders of the Enchanted Woods. The bells on their sleigh continued to jingle merrily, and Cupid hummed his favorite Christmas carol. He rummaged through one of the baskets at his feet and drew out a sugar cookie.

“Would you like one?”

“I’d love one.” Blitz opened his mouth. With a chuckle, Cupid broke off a piece and placed it in Blitz’s mouth. “You make the best cookies,” Blitz said through his mouthful.

“Oh, are these the ones I made for you yesterday?” Cupid noticed the blue-and-white sprinkles. They were. He was surprised Blitz had any left. Usually they were gone the same day Cupid made them.

Blitz nodded before he swallowed. “I was saving them. What better way to have lunch than sharing them with you?”

Cupid didn’t know what to reply. Instead he took the other piece of cookie and put it to Blitz’s lips. He opened his mouth and Cupid popped the cookie in, surprised when Blitz closed his mouth with Cupid’s fingers between his lips. Now Cupid was quite certain his face was on fire. He slowly pulled his fingers out, his eyes meeting Blitz’s when he heard a dreadful sound.

“Blitz?”

“Hmm?”

“What’s that sound?”

Nutmeg made the most frightening noise and he jerked to the right. Cupid let out a yelp as he was squished up against Blitz, who threw an arm around him and held on tight. A shadow spread out from the Enchanted Woods toward them, covering the white snow in darkness like a blanket.

“What is that?” Cupid wasn’t too proud to admit he clung on to Blitz for dear life. He’d never seen anything like this. It was terribly disconcerting. The shadow grew, and Blitz took hold of the reins.

“Hold on tight!” Blitz pulled the reins to the left and Nutmeg changed direction, heading west and away from the spreading shadow. Hundreds of crows burst from the forest, screeching and squawking as they followed the shadow from the skies. The wind whipped at them and Cupid held on to Blitz, hoping, whatever the strange darkness was, that it would go away.

Cupid glanced behind him. “It’s following us!”

Blitz chanced a look over his shoulder and cursed under his breath. He urged Nutmeg to run as fast as he could, his hooves barely touching the snow as he bounded for the west side of the Enchanted Woods. The ominous shadow spread toward them, kicking up cascades of snow as it chased them. It was malevolent, and gave Cupid a terrible feeling.

“Hide under the blankets,” Blitz ordered.

“What?”

“Get under the blankets. They’ll shield you from the snow and perhaps whatever that shadow is.”

“What about you?” Cupid refused to leave Blitz out here on his own to face who knew what.

“I’ll be fine.”

The wind whipped furiously, icy needles scratching at Cupid’s skin. He bundled up tight, but he refused to cower while Blitz fought to get them to safety.

“Cupid, for holly’s sake!” Blitz’s voice could barely be heard over the roaring wind. The cascades of snow crashed against the sides of the sleigh like waves against a cliff. Whatever it was, it wasn’t Jack’s doing. Jack would never do anything to hurt them, and he would never be so cruel as to send such a wicked force. Cupid threw his arms around Blitz and shut his eyes tight. His first instinct was to try to get word to Jack on the wind, but if they involved Jack, the surprise might be ruined. Then again, there wouldn’t be much of a surprise if they didn’t get through this alive.

“We’re almost there!” Blitz tugged at the reins and Nutmeg took a sharp turn, the sleigh bouncing up off the snow. Cupid would have lifted off his seat if he hadn’t been holding on to Blitz. The forest lay ahead, a beacon of light and safety. Nutmeg swerved and darted from one side to the other in the hopes of giving them a bit more time. The shadow seemed to swallow everything in sight, and Cupid feared it might swallow them at any moment.

Just as Cupid hoped, the moment they sped into the Enchanted Woods, the shadow fell away. Even so Blitz didn’t let up on the reins. He clearly wanted to get away from the menacing darkness. There was a chance it might not harm them, but Cupid had a feeling it served a purpose. Why else would it give chase?

Cupid retained his firm grip on Blitz until they slowed down, and eventually Nutmeg stopped by a creek for some water and rest. Blitz quickly turned to Cupid, rubbing Cupid’s arms with his hands.

“Are you all right?”

Cupid nodded, and a shiver went through him, less from the cold and more from whatever they’d just escaped. He was surprised when Blitz pulled him into his embrace, one hand over Cupid’s head and his words hushed.

“I’m glad. I don’t know what I would have done if anything had happened to you.”

Cupid was further taken aback by Blitz’s unsteady voice. He pulled away and met Blitz’s gaze. “I’m all right.”

“Why didn’t you listen to me and get under the blankets?” Blitz asked, his frown deep.

“I couldn’t leave you out and exposed by yourself. Did you really think I would?” Cupid took Blitz’s hand in his. “You’re my best friend. What would
I
have done without
you
?”

Blitz let out a sigh. “We’re quite the stubborn pair, aren’t we?” He took the reins as Nutmeg sneaked in a little grazing after his drink and rest. They were ready to move again. “What do you suppose that was? I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Neither have I. Do you think we should have sent word to Jack?”

“I thought about it. But I knew you wouldn’t wish to ruin Rudy’s surprise. Jack would undoubtedly begin to investigate. There’s no telling if the wind would have listened. Perhaps if we come across something like that again?”

Cupid nodded. He agreed completely. They had no idea what they’d been up against. There was a strange niggling feeling in the pit of Cupid’s stomach that wouldn’t let him be, but for the life of him, he couldn’t figure out what it was. “We should stay on our guard, just in case,” he told Blitz.

Blitz agreed. He wrapped an arm around Cupid and held the reins with the other. Cupid didn’t question it. Instead he leaned into Blitz. He felt wonderfully warm and safe in Blitz’s arms. Had he always felt that way? He supposed he had, but he just never gave it as much thought as he had lately.

“So where is this dwarf?” Blitz asked.

“On the other side of the woods, there’s a small village. She lives in a little red house.”

“You don’t see many dwarves living among elves.”

“Mrs. Spruce has always preferred the company of elves.” Cupid shrugged. “I couldn’t say why. She never spoke to my mother about it. Simply stated she preferred the elf villages. She’s a very kindly dwarf. I think you’ll like her.” He made himself comfortable again. Hopefully the rest of their journey would go smoothly. He couldn’t explain what had happened, but he hoped it was simply an odd occurrence that wouldn’t repeat itself. As long as he had Blitz, all would be well.

Chapter Four

IT TOOK
several hours for the sleigh to cross the Enchanted Woods and enter the small village. They had four days before Rudy and Jack’s dinner party. It would be an intimate get-together with Jack’s cousins and the Rein Dears, which meant Blitz didn’t have to dress in formal attire. He was very pleased about that.

Cupid was going to do his very best to try and find the Elska by then, or at least track down its whereabouts. He wouldn’t go back to Rudy with nothing. If anyone knew where to find the flower, it would be Mrs. Spruce. Cupid remembered the way she would find even the rarest of bulbs or seeds for Cupid’s mother.

The sun was beginning to set in the sky above, and soon it would be night. They’d have to stay at the inn and resume their search in the morning. Cupid had hoped to get to see Mrs. Spruce today, but the elderly dwarf would be in dreamland by now. They’d lost quite a bit of daylight running from the shadow. It was also getting quite nippy out.

“Are you warm?” Blitz asked.

Cupid snuggled closer. “I’m always warm when you’re around.”

Blitz chuckled. “You’re adorable. Is it okay for me to say that? I know Dasher says it to you all the time and it annoys you. It’s probably the only thing he and I agree on,” Blitz confessed.

“I don’t mind you saying that.” Cupid smiled up at him. “I know when he says it he’s only teasing me. It’s different when you say it. It… means more.” Should he be saying such things? Why not? It was the truth.
Is that the only truth you’ll give him?
Cupid promptly told his traitorous mind to be quiet. His stubborn thoughts weren’t all that went quiet.

Blitz seemed to go pensive for a moment. Before Cupid could ask, Blitz smiled down at him and kissed the top of his head. “We should get some dinner and then rest. We’ll visit Mrs. Spruce first thing in the morning.”

Why was he feeling so strange? And why was his heart beating so quickly? It was just an innocent kiss, nothing more.

“You’ve gone quiet.”

“Oh, just a little tired.” Cupid hated fibbing, especially to Blitz, but he didn’t want him worrying.

Luckily Blitz didn’t get a chance to question him. They’d arrived at the village inn. Blitz helped Cupid down. My, but it was frosty this evening. The snow was beginning to fall in earnest when they entered the inn and stood at the small wood desk. A portly elf with bright red hair smiled at them from the other side.

“Welcome!” she said excitedly.

“Thank you,” Cupid replied with a smile. “We’d like a room with two beds, please. Or two rooms, if you have them.”

Her expression didn’t bode well. “I’m terribly sorry, but the inn is full on account of the Winter Festival.”

“Darn.” He should have called and checked before they left North Pole City. Now what were they going to do? He supposed they’d have to go into the next village and—

“Oh! My brother has a small cabin in the woods not far from here. He’s off in Winter Wonderland and won’t be back for a month or so. I would be honored if you stayed there. It’s not every day we get Rein Dears in our little town.” She rushed off before they could reply and returned moments later with a large iron key.

Blitz put a hand up. “We wouldn’t want to impose.”

“Please, it would make us very happy.”

“All right. Thank you.” Cupid couldn’t believe their luck. It would be miles to the next village. Now they wouldn’t be too far from Mrs. Spruce.

The lovely innkeeper led them into the woods in her small sleigh. It was a little farther from the town than Cupid liked, but he was grateful nonetheless. On the way there, Cupid spotted a great big stone structure not far from them. It looked like some kind of palace. When they reached the cabin, Cupid asked the innkeeper. “What was that structure we passed on the way here?”

“Oh, that’s an old forest palace. Used to belong to some fancy elf family back before the war. When the Frost War swept through here, much of the palace was destroyed. The family’s long gone. It’s nothing but crumbling stone now.”

Cupid and Blitz thanked her and promised they would let her know if they needed anything. Outside, the cabin was charming and colorfully painted, the white swirls and flowers bright even against the dimming daylight. Blitz removed Nutmeg’s harnesses and let him roam free. He was very good, and they knew he wouldn’t wander far. He’d graze and make a little nest for himself in the small stable behind the cabin.

As soon as Nutmeg was seen to, Cupid helped Blitz with the trunks and blankets, getting them inside. It was a cozy cabin but would do wonderfully for them. At least he thought so until he reached the bedroom.