Page 10 of The Naughty Or Nice Clause

They started towards the village, down a street of snow-cleared cobbles.

“Can you please relax? My head is throbbing enough without your squeaking,” he groaned.

Lyla was too distracted by the candy-cane lampposts lighting the way to argue. She stared, transfixed, at the beautifully painted shop windows full of toys, clothes and crafts. The smell of hot chocolate and mince pies emanated from a bakery they passed, and her stomach growled, desperate for breakfast. However, the clear starry night above told her that it was already late here.

“I didn’t think the village would shock you so much, considering that your own house is like a shrine to the season,” Klaus mocked. Lyla would have smacked him if she hadn’t been holding on to a curious Jones for dear life. His soft fur was the only thing grounding her in reality.

“How much longer do you have to carry me? If you’d let me get dressed before warping us here, I could have put shoes on!” She wanted to free herself from his arms as people passing them on the streets and came out of the busy shops began to stare at their display, though they lost interest quickly. Lyla noted that everyone looked to be in a great hurry, many carrying wrapped parcels. A few people even flew past them on bikes. Lyla wouldn’t have dared to cycle on the icy streets, but judging from their matching beige uniforms and stuffed satchels, they seemed to be delivery workers. Her only relief was that everyone was dressed like it was the 21stcentury; at least she hadn’t time travelled, and she would be able to find something to wear. Anything would do, if it would stop the staring.

“Once we reach the rank, we can take a sleigh.” Klaus said it like taking a sleigh was the most rational thing in the world. “I didn’t want to give you a chance to change your mind. The bell wasn’t supposed to take us to town, but magic can be unpredictable.” He tossed her in his arms to adjust his grip on her, and she grunted as he tried to pull her in closer.

“Magic?Youbelieve in magic?” She laughed, and he tossed her again. The fear of being dropped silenced her.

“Magic, energy – whatever you want to call it. I don’t know what’s so funny.”

A couple stopped to stare at them, whispering to each other.

“And you thought they wouldn’t gossip,” she snarked.

“Oh, I knew they would gossip about my return, but I’d rather they think I’m lovingly carrying you through the village than dragging a shoeless woman through the snow,” he explained.

Lyla doubted they were judginghim.“You really are the master of perception,” she grumbled, burying her face in his shoulder, ashamed of being seen in such a state of disarray. In a small town, word was sure to spread.

“Comes with practice,” he said arrogantly.

She gritted her teeth and tried to distract herself from her anger by getting answers. “You’re from here? From the heart of Christmas itself?”Christmas can’t be a place, can it?The bewilderment only furthered her pounding head.

“Born and raised,” was all he said.

“Can we go into a shop, so I can get some clothes at least?” Lyla begged.

A group of elderly people came out of a restaurant singing Christmas carols, but in a language she didn’t recognise. The tune was familiar from when her parents used to take her to church. Dad had stopped going after Mum’s accident, and she couldn’t blame him for his loss of faith.

“No, most will be closing now, and I don’t have the right coin. I can find something once we reach the house. The rank is at the end of the alley,” Klaus said.

The right coin? Must have their own currency. Not like I have my purse anyway. Or my phone!

They reached a set of stairs, and she was forced to snuggle even closer to his chest, terrified he would drop her on the ice-covered steps. His dress shoes weren’t exactly made for ice and snow, yet he didn’t stumble or sway.

“Are you going to talk to me? Or are you going to keep giving me the barest of information for the remainder of the twelve days?” Lyla asked, watching him curiously. She realised he was nodding.No –he’s greeting everyone we pass. Who the hell is this guy?Jones squirmed in her arms, and she struggled to hold him.

“Since the village is intent on watching our every move, and since you are an outsider, it’s better to wait for explanations until we reach the house.” He kept his voice low, which she guessed meant he didn’t want anyone to hear. “I’m trying to get to the sleigh rank without anyone stopping us. Once they start talking, you really will think you are dreaming, and I don’t need you running off with no shoes and a damn cat.”

They reached a lamppost marked with green candy-cane stripes as opposed to the red on the rest, and Klaus dumped her back on her feet.

“I can’t run – sure, where would I go? I don’t even know where I am,” Lyla muttered, trying to use Jones to warm herself. The cold was already eating into her bones. She’d never thought she’d see the day where she longed to be held in Mr Klaus’s arms.Nor did I think I’d be trapped in a winter wonder land which I travelled to by bell.

Klaus held out his hand as a small sleigh pulled by a reindeer came down the laneway. The animal grunted as it was reined to a stop.

“As I live and breathe! I don’t believe my own eyes. Mason? Is that you?” the older driver said delightedly.

“It’s been a long time,” Klaus said, handing the driver a coin which didn’t look like any euro Lyla had seen. She didn’t have time to inquire before he pushed her into the back and pulled a fur blanket over her lap. As a rule, she was extremely opposed to the use of real fur, which it seemed this was – but her numb hands and legs demanded warmth, and with the snow falling faster, she would freeze without it.

“A long time? Sure, it must be the guts of a decade. Your return will certainly brighten up the village,” the driver continued.

“Just a visit, Argyle. If we could get going? We’re in a bit of a hurry,” Klaus said kindly, and the driver waved a hand.

“Say no more. Where to, Mr Klaus?”

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