Page 8 of Elven Kisses & Winter Wishes

I nod once more. “Absolutely. Just tell me what needs to be done.”

He hesitates for a moment, then sighs. “Very well. There are three enchanted items we need to retrieve. They should help amplify the Heart’s magic and stabilize it.”

“Great,” I say, pulling out my phone to take notes. “What are they?”

Frost blinks at my phone. “That won’t work here. The magical interference—”

“Oh, right.” I pocket the device and grab a nearby fallen twig. With a quick movement, I scratch a list in the snow. “Okay, go on.”

He raises an eyebrow but continues. “First, we need the Christmas Star. It’s hidden somewhere in my shop, but the shelves tend to...rearrange themselves, and it’s probably lost in a labyrinth at the moment.”

I jot down “Christmas Star—Frost’s shop” in the snow. “Sounds like a scavenger hunt. What’s next?”

“The Snow Globe of Eternal Winter. It’s at ‘Mystic Melodies,’ but Heather Siren keeps it locked away. She’s...particular about who handles it.”

I add “Snow Globe—‘Mystic Melodies’” to my list. “And the third item?”

“An Evergreen Branch from the oldest, most sacred tree in The Whispering Woods. The trees there are sentient and protective of their magic. It won’t be easy to convince them to part with a branch, but they do like Throk, and your friend Candice has spoken to them. Not everyone can understand them.”

I finish my list with “Evergreen Branch—Whispering Woods. Candice and Throk?” “All right, we have our targets. What’s our timeline?”

He glances at the dimming Heart of Haven. “We have until midnight. If we don’t stabilize the Heart by then, the barrier will fall, and Santa’s portal won’t open.”

“No pressure,” I mutter. “Okay, let’s start with your shop. It’s closest, and we know exactly what we’re looking for.”

Frost nods, a hint of surprise in his eyes. “You’re taking charge quite efficiently for someone who just learned magic exists.”

“I’ve known for a whole week now,” I say with a forced smile and then shrug. “Magic or not, this is still a problem that needs solving. I’m good at that.”

I stand, brushing snow from my knees as I think about the problems I’ve encountered in the real world, mostly because nothing has ever been a clear fit. I don’t have time to dwell on that, but oddly, I feel in my element here, at least as we embark on our treasure hunt. “Lead the way to your shop, Frost.”

Chapter 3

AS FROST AND I PREPAREto leave the town square, Grizelda steps forward, her wild mane of hair swaying with each movement. She raises her arms, palms facing outward, and a shimmering energy radiates from her fingertips. “I’ll reinforce the barrier before you go,” she says, her voice strained. “It should buy us some time.”

The air around us crackles with magic, and I watch in awe as an iridescent dome materializes above the town. It’s beautiful, like a soap bubble stretched across the sky, but as quickly as it appears, it flickers and fades.

Grizelda’s face contorts in concentration. She tries again, her hands trembling with effort. The barrier flashes once more, but it’s weaker this time, barely visible before it dissipates entirely.

“Something’s wrong,” whispers Frost, currently orange eyes wide with concern.

Suddenly, the witch’s knees buckle. She sways on her feet, her eyes rolling back in her head. Atlas, her towering troll husband, rushes forward with surprising agility for someone his size. He catches her just before she hits the ground, cradling her gently in his massive arms.

“Grizelda?” Atlas’s deep voice rumbles with worry. “What’s happening?”

The crowd around us murmurs anxiously. I spot Sage, the elderly elf librarian I met a couple of days ago, pushing his way through. His long silver braid swings behind him as he hurries to Grizelda’s side.

“Let me see her,” he says, adjusting the glasses perched on his pointed ears. He places a wrinkled hand on Grizelda’s forehead and closes his eyes. A soft golden glow emanates from his palm.

After a moment, his eyes snap open. “It’s magical burnout. The strain of maintaining the barrier, combined with her pregnancy, has depleted her magical reserves.”

Atlas cradles Grizelda closer, seeming to droop with worry. “Can you help her?”

Sage shakes his head. “My healing abilities are limited, but I know where to find the information we need.” Without another word, he vanishes in a puff of smoke, leaving behind a trail of floating bookmarks.

The town square falls silent, save for Grizelda’s labored breathing. Frost shifts nervously beside me, his hair frosting over at the tips. I want to reach out and comfort him, but I’m not sure how.

Seconds later, Sage reappears, clutching a massive leather-bound tome. He flips through the pages with practiced ease, muttering under his breath.

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