Page 79 of Once Upon a Midnight Clear

Freya’s eyes lit up when she opened the square box and pulled out the snowflake necklace that matched her sister’s. Ivar opened his to find a cloak pin in the shape of the famous Christmas Star that sat atop the giant tree in the village square.

“My goodness,” Ava breathed when she saw the gifts. Tears sparkled in her eyes as she looked at Nicholas. “Please convey our heartfelt thanks to the queen.”

He gave a nod. “I will.” Then he addressed Lars, “Why is the village deserted?”

Lars and Ava exchanged a glance. Ava set Freya on her feet and rose.

“Come, children. It’s time for bed.”

“But I’m not tired,” Ivar said, yawning.

She ushered them out of the room, but Ingrid turned and dashed back to Ella. She flung herself into her lap, slipping her arms around her neck and hugging her tight.

“I hope you marry the prince,” she whispered. Then she released her and hurried away with her mother and siblings.

Ella flushed, feeling the heat crawling up her neck. Her body was heavy and warm. She watched the others walk away, and did her best to avoid looking at Nicholas. She feared if she did, she would ask to stay with him.

Once Ava and the children were out of the room, Lars got to his feet. He stoked the dying fire, coaxing the flames back to life.

“Things changed when Malvina destroyed the Christmas Star.” He faced the fireplace, the yellow-orange light flickering over his bearded face.

Nicholas leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “Changed, how?”

“People stopped coming to the village to shop. The mayor canceled the rest of the festivities. I’d already closed my shop when Ingrid was taken, but since the star was destroyed…” He paused, turned to face them. “It was as though all the joy of the season was destroyed, too.”

“There must be a way to repair it,” Ella said, thinking of the shards of the broken Star at the base of the tree.

Lars shook his head. “I know not. Only that…things are different. Quiet. Sad. Malvina’s attack left everyone terrified she would return and obliterate the village itself. The mayor thought it best to shut everything down. With Ingrid taken and the Star in pieces, it seemed like the best course of action.”

“The mayor was wrong,” Ella said, her words more vehement than she meant for them to be.

Nicholas gave her a surprised look as he glanced at her.

She uncurled her legs and stood, still clutching the tea cup, the porcelain warm in her hand. “There has to be some way to bring back the joy and festivities to the village.”

“Without the Christmas Star?” Lars gave her a doubtful look.

“Yes.”

“Do you have an idea, Ella?” Nicholas asked.

His intense gaze was on her. He, too, rose and their eyes met. His twinkling and full of life and hope. And something more. Something tender that made her heart turn over.

“I do. I want to return to village to see if we can repair the Star.”

“Well, I’m afraid you’ll have to wait until morning,” Lars said. “It’s full dark and snowing quite hard.”

Ella glanced at the window with the parted curtain and saw he was correct. Snow came down in thick blankets of white.

“I’m afraid we’re stuck here,” Nicholas said.

Lars grinned. “That’s all right. We have a place you can stay.”

“I’ll take the sofa,” Nicholas said.

As if it was the most natural thing in the world for the Crown Prince of Rovenheim to sleep on someone’s sofa.

Ella didn’t miss the look of shock that plastered Lars’s face.

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