Page 1 of Caught By Her Guardian
Saint Nicholas, known around the world as Santa, stood near the magical perimeter surrounding Northernmost and stared into the vast darkness.Snow swirled in the biting wind, and he exhaled, his breath disappearing into the night.Overhead, stars glittered like diamonds and the Northern Lights danced and played.It was serene and beautiful, but there was nothing serene about the worry that churned in his gut.
It was almost solstice.
The longest night of the year, when his brother—Angel, who was Jack Frost—would be his most powerful and cast his ice and snow around the world.
For years they’d played a game of his brother trying to kill him so he could take over the position of Santa.It wasn’t that his brother wanted to deliver gifts to children or oversee elves making toys.
It was far more sinister.He wanted control of the Well of Magic, where the magical people of the world and other realms came to replenish their magic.His brother had been good once, living up to his Angel namesake.And then Saint, the eldest Nicholas, had taken over as Santa.As next in line, Angel took on the mantle of Jack Frost.They were supposed to work together: one the bringer of winter and the other the bringer of joy to children everywhere.But Angel was egotistical and arrogant and tried to kill Saint.
Saint had kicked his brother out of Northernmost ages ago, protecting the town and the Well with magic to keep his brother and anyone with evil intentions out.
That didn’t stop him from trying to get to Saint, though.
Battles had been fought, lives had been lost.
Angel abducted magical people and took their magic, often turning them into one of his evil followers.He’d attacked the town, the Portal that was the only entrance into Northernmost, and magical people around the world in his effort to take over the Well so he could turn it to evil and infect every magic user.
They’d both lost their precious mates to the fighting, but that had only solidified Angel’s maniacal behavior.
Just recently, he’d abducted a witch, taken her magic, and attempted to use her to take out one of the shifters and his powerful witch mate who worked for Saint at the North Pole.It was not the most diabolical thing Angel had ever done, but it was up there.
He stared at the Northern Lights and then lowered his gaze.His brother’s lair was out there, underground, filled with evil followers with a deranged warlock guiding them to do horrible things.
He’d genuinely had enough.
Enough fighting, enough bloodshed.
Enough of his brother.
Lifting his phone from his breast pocket, he pulled off a glove and scrolled through his contacts.Pressing the button to connect the call, he turned from the darkness and walked toward the main building, where his office and living quarters, as well as the security team, dining hall, and various businesses, were located.
A musical voice answered on the second ring.“It’s been a long time, Saint.”
“It has been, Calista.How are you?”Calista Larksong was the most powerful fairy in the world.She was also the head Tooth Fairy.When children thought of the tooth fairy, Calista was who they imagined, but in reality, she had many fairies who worked together to gather children’s teeth.Her headquarters was located on a magical island in the Florida Keys, with her tooth-collecting fairies and other nature fairies.
He’d been there once when he was married.It was a beautiful place.
“I’m well.It’s the holidays, and kids are losing teeth like crazy this time of year.How are things in the cold North?”
“Cold,” he said with a chuckle.Entering the building, he made his way to his office.“The reason I’m calling is that it’s time.”
“You’re sure?”
“As sure as I’ve ever been.”He opened the door to his office and closed it, then settled in his big chair behind the desk.“It’s been going on for far too long.It won’t stop unless I stop it.”
“I understand,” she said.“It will take some maneuvering.I need to restructure my fairies and make sure there aren’t any children left waiting.I can’t leave gaps in the collection.”
“I trust you.”
“Give me some time, I can’t make this happen overnight.”
“I’ll be waiting, whenever you can make things work.”
They spoke for a little while longer.He’d known her for decades.Just like his friendship with other powerful, good magic users, such as Mother Nature and Sandman, he and the Tooth Fairy kept in touch and had each other’s backs because Jack Frost was a danger to them all.
When the call ended, he swiveled in the chair, taking in the crackling fire in the fireplace and the two stockings hung from the mantel—one for him and one for his wife.They were never filled, but they weren’t meant to be.Just a reminder of happier times, simpler times.
Christmas morning, fresh from the toy delivery, with his wife waiting for him.
