Page 33 of Once Upon a Midnight Clear

“No!” She gasped, covering her mouth with a gloved hand.

“That’s not the worst of it.” His stomach churned as he stepped closer. “Mother, she said if we didn’t bring her the slippers, she would destroy the village and the Spirit of Christmas.”

Her face blanched for a moment before she regained her composure. She dropped her hand and turned away, facing the falling snow.

“That’s ridiculous. She wouldn’t hurt me.”

“Are you certain?” he demanded. “She wants the slippers no matter the cost. Mother, you have to tell me how to return Ella to her world. It’s the safest place for herandthe slippers.”

She turned to face him, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “I’m afraid I can’t do that, my dear.”

He huffed out a frustrated breath, folding his arms across his chest. “Why not?”

“Because you have to find your own way.” She gave a weak little smile.

His eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Is this some sort of test?”

She blinked, giving him her best innocent look. “Whatever do you mean?”

“She told me you were her fairy godmother,” he said. “Care to explainthat?”

“Oh…well, thatmightbe true.” She moved to the railing, gazing out at the falling snow, but she didn’t elaborate. “It’s so peaceful here, isn’t it?”

“Did you send her to the ball?” he asked, his tone demanding.

She cut him a sideways glance and bit her lip. Guilt washed over her face.

“Youdid!” He huffed and ran a hand through his hair. “Why?”

When she said nothing, he began to pace. “For the same reason you sent me? You planned this whole thing, didn’t you?”

She spun to face him, her cloak swishing around her. “I only want the best for you.”

“The best being, what…?”

“Well, it’s clear there is no one here in Rovenheim for you. You needed a little push.”

“A push you willingly gave me.” Fury flickered through him. “You lied to me.”

She shook her head. “I never lied. I told you there was a Christmas ball that needed some holiday magic. You delivered.”

Again, he folded his arms across his chest. “And how did I do that?”

She waved toward the cabin where Ella slept. “You gave it to her. If it hadn’t been for that pesky clock tower clanging its midnight bell, you would have kissed her and then—” She clamped her lips shut.

Suspicion lanced through him. The only way she knew he was about to kiss Ella was if she spied on them. “You were responsible for the mistletoe. And thenwhat, Mother?”

She waved away the thought. “I simply must go, my darling. I’m needed at a yuletide celebration in Wickershire.” She gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

“No, Mother—”

But she poofed away in a cloud of pale blue smoke. He disliked her cagey responses to all of his questions. He should have known she was up to something when she insisted he attend the Christmas ball in Whitebridge.

His mother, as he knew, was determined to spread her Christmas cheer to every kingdom and village within her power. Likely why she insisted on him going to that ball in the first place. Also, likely why she flitted off to Wickershire, wherever that was. She was the Spirit of Christmas, after all. But then, things were not going well in Rovenheim, so why wouldn’t she stay and help him?

Unless she expected him to figure it all out on his own. The destruction of the Christmas Star atop the tree in the village square was more devastating than he cared to admit. Add that to the mystery of the slippers and getting Ella back to her world, he wasn’t sure where to begin.

He paused at the railing, watching the snow fall in the peaceful night. Slivers of moonlight filtered through the treetops making the snow glisten under its pale light.

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