Page 23 of Caught By Her Guardian
The moment Santa’s boots vanished inside the chimney, Azure sprang to action.He reached the side of the sleigh and vaulted over the edge, landing lightly in the back.He froze for a moment and listened.He hadn’t heard Santa coming up the chimney yet, so he hadn’t realized something was afoot on the roof.Slowly, he exhaled.
He’d made it.
Carefully he tucked himself into the corner under the magic cloak and forced himself to stay perfectly still.Even though no one should be able to see him, Santa was a powerful warlock—the most powerful in the world—and there was no telling what he might sense.
A minute later, the faintest whooshing sound signaled Santa’s return to the rooftop.Azure held his breath.
He listened as Santa hauled himself into the sleigh, his movements seeming sluggish, most likely from the exhaustion of using his magic all night.The journey was almost over, and Santa’s magic was nearly depleted.He had enough to get himself back to Northernmost and into the perimeter, and then Santa would be at his most vulnerable.
The reindeer snorted and Santa cracked the reins.The sleigh lifted from the roof and Azure nearly fell over as the sleigh launched back toward the North Pole.
The trip wouldn’t take long.
Azure carefully unwrapped the leather roll with the Frostfang knife and pulled it out.Just one strike of the blade, and Santa wouldn’t live to replenish his magic or save the Well from Frost’s plans.
As the temperature grew colder, Azure knew they were close.He gripped the knife and readied himself.
The sleigh slowed, and Santa let out a grunt of exertion as he crossed the barrier.
Azure smirked and rose to his feet, the cloak sliding from his shoulders.
Now.
Pixie stood with her mate outside the shimmering magical perimeter.Hunter was still in his polar bear form, his breath making clouds in the cold air.Maverick and Sebastian, in their snow leopard and wolf forms, were nearby, scanning the darkness for signs of Frost and his evil followers.
She couldn’t take her eyes off the sky though.
She’d never seen Santa come back into Northernmost.
Hunter grumbled and nudged her with his nose.
“Oh, it’s him!”She grinned as Santa’s sleigh appeared, highlighted by the Northern Lights.She leaned against Hunter and watched as the sleigh lowered slowly toward the magical perimeter.She barely breathed, so captivated by the sight.
Unease rippled through her.
Her wings twitched and she straightened.
“Hunter,” she said.“Something’s wrong.”
He growled softly, scanning the area.His fur was dusted with snow, his muscles taut under his massive frame.He was ready to fight.The entire security force was.But no one knew where the attack would come from.
The sleigh dipped lower, passing through the magical perimeter.She could tell by the way the sleigh moved so slowly that Santa was tiring, his magic nearly depleted.
There was movement at the back of the sleigh.It looked like the stars were moving in a strange, unnatural way.
Her heart lurched in her chest as she saw a figure appear, rising behind Santa.
“No!”She flapped her wings and shot into the air, cutting through the magical perimeter and racing toward the sleigh.Below her, Hunter bellowed in alarm.
She saw something shiny in the male’s hand as he raised it to strike and knew it had to be Azure because Frost had silver hair and this male had dark hair.
Azure raised a thin blade, aiming for Santa’s unprotected back.
Pixie slammed into Azure and grabbed him by the collar, yanking him backward.He let out a strangled curse as he lost his grip on the blade.She didn’t give him time to react.With a mighty heave, she dragged him from the sleigh, her wings straining against his weight.She used her momentum to carry Azure outside the magical perimeter.When they cleared it, she let go, hovering in the air to watch as he tumbled toward the frozen ground and the waiting shifters.
Pixie didn’t hesitate.She dove after him, landing nearby just as Hunter and the others charged forward.
A fury of fur, claws, and snarls descended on Azure.
