Once Upon a Fiery Christmas (Return to Avalore Book 3) (6 page)

A second statue stood on the other side of the staircase with Sebastian standing next to it. His only movements were the clenching of his fists and the tick in his jaw.

Michael stiffened before setting her to the side as Sebastian finally started moving toward them, his unblinking glare on Michael.

“Don’t tell him.” Chantelle had to figure out what she was going to do. Sebastian obviously didn’t have a very high opinion of her if he thought she would have sex with him while awaiting the news of who was to be her mate. Did she want to tie herself to someone who thought so little of her?

“Chantelle…” Michael didn’t look in her direction, but his tone said it all.

“No, please, I’ve changed my mind. I’m not ready.” Above all, an Avalorian woman always chose when she was ready to take on a mate. Certainly Michael would respect that.

Her heart squeezed as Sebastian reached them. He had yet to glance in her direction. The tears she had stemmed began anew. As much as she loved him, she couldn’t do it. Not now. She had to get through the celebration. Once it was done, she would examine what her future would look like. Whether she would share that future with him.
I deserve better, damn it.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” The words rumbled from Sebastian’s throat. His nostrils flared as he came nose to nose with his best friend.

“Stop, Sebastian. Just s-stop.” Chantelle tried pulling Michael back, but no amount of tugging would budge him. She wouldn’t stand by and let him get hurt for being a friend when she needed one.

“Why don’t you go see if Katie needs help?” Michael spoke through clenched teeth, his voice almost as gravelly as Sebastian’s. Brotherly energy surrounded her. If it weren’t for the charged tension making everyone in the room stare, she’d take the comfort Michael offered.

“No, this stops now.” Chantelle tilted her chin up a notch, swiping at her damp cheeks. “I’m done. He can act like an idiot if he wants, but I want no part of it. No part of him, not anymore.” The words shredded her soul, and her phoenix screeched in protest, but she didn’t back down.

She had never done anything harder, and she wasn’t sure her heart would ever be the same, but she walked away, not looking back, not once. Not even when Sebastian’s pain slammed into her back, his dark energies flooding the room before he was able to rein them in.

Chapter 7

Chantelle didn’t run, she didn’t look back, she just left. Sebastian’s breath caught in his lungs until they burned. As much as he wished it, she wasn’t his, so there was no point in going after her. It wouldn’t change a thing. Unable to tear his gaze away, it wasn’t until pain ricocheted through his skull that he realized Michael’s fist had connected with his jaw.

“What the—”

“You’re an ass. You don’t fucking deserve her.” Michael shoved at his shoulder.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Sebastian’s heart pounded as her words, then Michael’s clamored in his head.
“I’m done. He can act like an idiot if he wants, but I want no part of it. No part of him, not anymore.”
His heart stuttered.
“You don’t deserve her,”
Michael had said.
Chantelle had been pissed, that was certain, but the underlying tone wasn’t anger, it was hurt. His gaze whipped back to the door she had gone through before he looked at Michael again. “What the hell was that supposed to mean?”

“Forget it,” he said before he too walked away, shaking his fist open at his side.

It couldn’t be. He hadn’t been named. He’d seen the Elders speaking with her. Not a single one of them had come to him to announce his naming. Chantelle herself would have told him—

Damn it.
She had tried to talk to him, hadn’t she? He’d been too lost in his own agony to listen. Too stubborn to give her a chance to explain. His head swam and blood pounded loud in his ears. He didn’t remember the exact words he’d said to her when he last saw her. He didn’t have to. He hadn’t called her a whore, but he might as well have. The fact that he had been hurting was no excuse, and still, even after all that, she had tried to reach out to him, and what had he done? He’d shut her out. He had assumed the worst when he had seen the Elders speak with her. He really was an ass, and he really
didn’t
deserve her.

“Chantelle, I… I’m sorry. Please—”
He shouldn’t have been surprised at the empty silence greeting him. He’d done the same to her after all. It didn’t matter. What he needed to say couldn’t be done from afar.

The soft whispers that had risen behind him quieted the moment he faced the people milling about. They all shuffled around, careful not to look in his direction, yet no one was working, not really. There was still a lot of work left to make this event come together, but without someone leading the group, it wouldn’t be done. As much as he wanted—needed—to chase her and beg forgiveness, he would do this, if for no other reason than to brighten her colors for a short time. Seeing them so dull and grey had been like a kick to the gut. He didn’t know exactly how he would make it up to her, but somehow, he would find a way.

“Listen up. We have to finish this. Drake will bring Queen Rhiannon here in the morning, and it has to be ready.” Eyes now glued on him, he pointed to the first person he saw. “Mari, would you mind taking over where Chantelle left off? I think she wanted enough of those little kernels on a string to go around the tree.” At this point, he didn’t care what anyone thought of him taking charge. If they didn’t like it, they could leave. He would get it all done himself if he had to. He started toward the two nutcracker statues he had carved from the massive tree Chantelle had originally cut, but stopped when everyone kept staring at him. He sighed and stopped again. “I’ll make it up to her. I promise. The sooner we get this done, the sooner I can go find her, all right?”

Satisfied, everyone turned back to his or her tasks, all except one, and she was coming straight for him, her glare sharp enough to pierce a dragon’s hide. “Katie…”

“Save your apologies for Chantelle. She’ll need them, and plenty of them, too. I don’t want to hear what you have to say. Not a single word. I’m going to tell you something, and you’re going to listen.” She pointed that small finger of hers right in his face though he dwarfed her in size.

If he wasn’t in such a foul mood, he might actually smile. Of course, that would only make her more angry, and even
he
wasn’t that much of a fool. Katie had a temper, and he was already in enough trouble.

She shook her head, dropping her hand to her side again. “You really messed up. Chantelle’s been in love with you for so long even a blind person could see the two of you were fated.”

He opened his mouth to speak, but she raised her hand, silencing him. “She doesn’t want to speak with you right now, so keep your distance. I’m only telling you this because Chantelle is like a sister to me and I don’t want to see her hurt any more than she already has been.”

Anger sparked in her eyes again, giving them an orange tinge. “Fortunately for you, being without you will hurt her worse, and she’ll come to realize that on her own. For now, stay close, but give her space. Once this Christmas thing is over, you can concentrate on fixing the mess you’ve made.”

With that, Katie spun on her heels and went back to the assembled carolers. She, of all people, knew Chantelle as much as Chantelle knew herself. If he needed to give her space, as much as it would kill him to do so, he would do it.

A slow smile spread across his face. By rights, he probably shouldn’t be smiling, but he couldn’t hold it back.
He
was the named mate to the most stunningly beautiful woman in all of Avalore. Whatever it took, he would earn her forgiveness and they would be joined.

Chapter 8

Chantelle covered her mouth, a soft gasp slipping past her fingers. When she had left the castle several hours earlier, everything had been in shambles. At the center of the Great Hall, the tree stood tall. Little glass balls—red, orange, yellow and blue—all hung on the tips of the branches. Long strands of popped corn circled around, giving the illusion of light snow. The nutcrackers were on either side of the grand staircase, and someone had fastened pine boughs to the railings with ribbons and bows. Long tables covered in pristine white tablecloths and intricate tapered candles awaited guests for the next day’s feast.

The sight before her exceeded everything she had imagined for Rhia’s surprise. Katie had really outdone herself. She had even gone to the trouble of hanging delicate paper snowflakes from the ceiling. How, in the name of all that was light, had she managed to do everything in just a couple of hours? Chantelle should have been there to help. The whole affair had been her idea, but she hadn’t been able to face Sebastian. The hurt was too fresh.

Several brightly wrapped boxes sat beneath the tree, waiting for tiny fingers to tear into them. Although she and Katie had done some shopping for little Max, those came from someone else. The ones they got were still in her closet. Sitting on her heels, she opened the little card with the tip of one finger. “To Max… from Santa.”

She didn’t have to guess who had brought the gift. She would recognize Sebastian’s scent anywhere. A sharp pang pierced through her. In less than twelve hours, she would be expected to sing and celebrate and… be merry, yet all she wanted to do was go home and lick her wounds in private. To try to patch the gaping holes in her heart so she could breathe again.

“I hope you don’t mind. I made a few things for Maxwell.”

Chantelle whipped around, dropping the small box onto the floor with a clatter. Had she been paying attention she would have known Sebastian was coming and made her escape before he arrived.

Even looking at him hurt. She bit her bottom lip to keep it from quivering, wrapped her arms around her middle, and stepped back. “No, it’s fine. I’m sure he’ll be thrilled.”

“Chantelle…” He opened his mouth to say more, then closed it again and sighed before he squared his shoulders and took a step closer. “Was there anything else you needed to have done before tomorrow? I’m all yours.” He didn’t look around at the festive décor—didn’t take his gaze from her at all.

A small shudder coursed through her. He knew. He had to. Michael must have told him. “No, I think everything has been taken care of already. Whoever took over when I left did a wonderful job.”

His shoulders dropped just a fraction. “If you’re certain…”

She fought to blink the moisture from her eyes. “I am. Thank you.”

He nodded once with a small, sad smile, then turned on his heels and walked out the door. She wanted to rush after him and make things right between them, but she needed time to figure it all out. She took a slow look around again. They had thought of everything. All she had left to do was paste a smile on and join in the celebration come morning.
No problem.

She made her way home, aware that someone followed at a distance, likely to ensure her safety, but even more aware that it wasn’t Sebastian.

Chantelle tossed and turned as sleep eluded her. When she finally did drift off, it was to dream of a disgusted, angry Sebastian walking away from her again and again. She woke to a heavy ache in her chest and a damp pillow where her tears had fallen. Blinking the grittiness from her eyes, she looked around, surprised to find morning light chasing the shadows from her room. She jumped out of bed with a start. Of all the days she could oversleep, this was the worst. She had to be at the palace. She showered and dressed in record time and headed out the door.

By the time Chantelle made it to the castle, the great room was bustling. Carolers, dressed in festive garb, warmed their voices by singing a few of the songs they had learned. Katie gave orders to add the last-minute touches that would make the event spectacular for Rhia. More gifts had appeared beneath the tree, and if the number of people arriving with brightly colored boxes was any indication, there would be plenty more. She hurried to add what she and Katie had bought.

Everything was perfect—almost everything. Had things gone according to plan, by the end of today, she would have been joined with her mate and living in bliss. Now all she had to look forward to was assisting in the massive cleanup efforts at the end of the party.

She couldn’t help scanning the crowd first with her eyes, then with her energy, seeking her would-be mate. When she found no trace of him, she sighed and tried to swallow her disappointment. She wasn’t ready to deal with him yet, but after all the work they had put into the celebration, she expected he would at least attend.

Katie clapped her hands, getting everyone’s attention. “Everyone hush! Drake is bringing Queen Rhiannon in now.”

The din ceased in an instant and the only noise was the sound of people breathing. Chantelle held her breath as their queen’s energy came nearer, lifting her spirits. She had missed having her friend around these past few days.

“I’m hungry. Can’t we go eat first? Whatever Evan has to discuss can wait a few minutes, can’t it?” Rhia’s voice drifted into the open doors.

“This will only take a moment, I promise, and then you can feast all you want.” Drake’s words filtered in just as they crossed the threshold.

“I—” Rhia’s eyes grew wide and her hands flew to cover her mouth.

“Merry Christmas.” Drake kissed her damp cheek before taking one of her hands and leading her into the room. “Chantelle and Katie wanted to surprise you.”