Chapter 14 Frozen in Time
Frozen in Time
Iperched on the couch, legs tucked beneath me, surveying the bizarre supernatural board meeting taking place in my living room.
Empty takeout containers littered every surface, evidence of the Mexican food massacre that had just occurred.
Seriously, these men ate like they were prepping for hibernation—if reindeer hibernated, which I was pretty sure they didn’t.
Dane crunched into another tortilla chip, sending crumbs cascading down his shirt. “We should do something Christmassy tomorrow. Maybe caroling?”
I winced. The only thing worse than listening to Christmas music was being forced to sing it.
Don finished licking salsa off his fingers. “I think we’ve made excellent progress this week.”
Kip grinned at me from his spot on the floor, a knowing glint in his eye that made heat rush to my cheeks. Our cliff-side activities were apparently considered “progress.”
“Neve’s looking less like she wants to murder candy canes on sight,” Cole added, his teasing voice stirring something in me that had nothing to do with Christmas spirit.
I rolled my eyes. “I never wanted to murder candy canes. Just the people wielding them as weapons of mass cheer.”
Pierce snorted from his position by the window. “An improvement.”
My gaze drifted to the back of the room where Rudy stood, arms crossed, keeping his distance as usual. While the others had taken turns dragging me through their Christmas spirit boot camp, Rudy had remained conspicuously absent.
I watched him as Blitz cracked a joke, and eight of them laughed. Rudy remained silent with an indifferent expression.
Why did he keep himself apart? Why, when the others seemed so determined to pull me in, did he push himself away?
And why did his distance bother me so much?
I stared at my fingernails, picking at the remnants of sparkly black polish I’d applied before this had all started. The color was already chipping away, which felt oddly symbolic.
“So what exactly happens next?” I glanced up, finding all of them watching me.
Dash leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “Your memories are coming at you faster now, and your magic is stronger. I think it’s time to move farther north.”
My stomach twisted at the word “magic.” The hot chocolate explosion had been bad enough. What if next time it was worse? What if I hurt someone who didn’t have superior healing?
“I’m not abandoning my life here.” I gestured around my living room, at the stupid yet somehow charming Christmas decorations my house was infested with. “Palm Springs is my home.”
Dash’s eyebrows pulled together as he studied me. “Is working on divorces really what you want? Spending your days watching people tear apart what they once built?”
The question hit a nerve I didn’t know was exposed. Before I could form a response, Vix swung his legs off the armrest where he’d been lounging. “You should quit and focus on studying for the bar. Third time’s the charm, right?”
My mouth fell open. “How did you know I haven’t passed?”
The room went silent as eight reindeer men found the ceiling, floor, and walls absolutely fascinating. All except Rudy, who was intently focused on me.
Heat crawled up my neck. “I’ve failed twice.” The humiliation prickled across my skin like tiny needles. I’d told no one except Mia about the second failure. My parents didn’t even know.
Blitz’s fingers drummed against the coffee table. “Your magic is fighting,” he muttered.
Dane slid closer on the couch, his thigh pressed warmly against mine. “You’re brilliant, but law isn’t your true calling.”
My throat tightened. “And what exactly is my calling? Professional reindeer wrangler?”
I couldn’t quite find what I really wanted to say.
Even with the memories that had come back to me, the details faded quickly.
I could remember skating, my dad wearing a Christmas sweater, and making hot chocolate, but all the finer details and imagery were fuzzy at best. It was as if a blackout curtain had been swapped out for one that let some light in.
I felt cornered, trapped between what my memories were hinting at and the person I’d spent over a decade becoming.
My gaze drifted to the one person who hadn’t weighed in.
“What do you think, Rudy?”
The towering man didn’t move from where he was leaning on a barstool at my counter, his ankles crossed. For the first time all evening, those dark eyes fixed directly on mine.
“We need to move farther north.” It was direct and utterly dispassionate.
“North? Like Sacramento or San Francisco?” My voice sounded small even to my own ears because I knew he didn’t mean anywhere in California.
“Farther.”
“Okay, I could do Seattle.” My frown deepened as Rudy shook his head. “I draw the line at snowy tundra.”
Pierce rubbed his chin. “Vancouver might work. Possibly Anchorage.”
I wrapped my arms around myself, already feeling the cold seeping in. At least this time, it wasn’t from wayward magic. “I have a job. A house. A life.”
Kip’s fingers brushed my ankle from his spot on the floor next to the couch, his touch gentle but insistent. “A life you’ve been sleepwalking through.”
I swallowed hard. “So what, I just pack up and go? Where exactly?”
“We can vote,” Cole suggested.
“Lake Tahoe might be a good choice.” Dash’s eyes brightened with possibility as he leaned forward. “Not too far from your life here, but with enough elevation and natural energy to help. Plus, it’s beautiful.”
Everyone started talking at once, excitement in their voices. My head spun with the casual way they discussed uprooting my entire existence. I pictured snow-dusted pines and glittering water, so different from my desert sanctuary, and scrunched my nose in distaste.
Rudy’s voice cut through the chatter. “We’re going to Klarhaven. We leave in an hour. The decision is final.”
The others exchanged glances that ranged from surprise to unease.
It sounded exactly like the kind of place that would appear on one of those “World’s Most Remote Locations” lists where mail arrives by dogsled once a month and everyone knows how to skin a moose.
Perfect for magical reindeer men, but not for a California girl who considered a light sweater adequate winter preparation.
“Hold on.” I shot to my feet, nearly knocking Dane sideways. “First of all, we’re not going anywhere in an hour. Second, no one’s decided anything, and third, where the actual hell is Klarhaven?”
Dash stood, his hands raised in a placating gesture. “Klarhaven is a small town up north.” He turned toward the stoic giant. “Don’t you think that’s too much, too soon? We’ve only restored a fraction of her Christmas spirit. The place is... intense.”
Rudy’s expression didn’t change, but his jaw ticked almost imperceptibly. “She needs immersion.”
Pierce moved to stand beside Rudy. “With Neve’s powers manifesting so unpredictably, Klarhaven might be our best option. The town has natural wards. If something goes wrong…” His eyes flicked to me. “The damage would be contained.”
“Damage?” I sputtered. “What damage? Like the hot chocolate thing? I’m not an unstable nuclear reactor!”
At least I hoped I wasn’t.
Blitz bounced up from his spot on the floor, excitement radiating off him like a dog about to get the zoomies. “So if we’re going to Klarhaven, are we hitting Reinberg too? I miss those little maple candies they sell at The Sugar Shack. Plus, the winter festival’s starting soon, right?”
“Yes, Reinberg too.” Rudy’s deep voice cut through the excitement. “Full immersion. We need to rip off the Band-Aid.”
I crossed my arms. “Hello? I’m still here, and I haven’t agreed to any of this!”
A strange choking sound drew everyone’s attention to Vix, who had paled at the mention of Reinberg. His usual smirk had vanished, replaced by something almost like dread.
Don raised an eyebrow. “Problem, Vix?”
Vix slumped further into his chair, very interested in a loose thread on his shirt. “No problem. Just, you know, considerations. Maybe I should stay behind. Or wear a disguise. Or legally change my name.”
Kip burst into laughter, clutching his stomach. “Oh man, they still haven’t forgiven you? It’s been three years!”
“What happened?” I demanded, momentarily distracted from my protest.
Vix’s eyes narrowed at Kip. “It wasn’t my fault. How was I supposed to know those ice sculptures weren’t load-bearing?”
Cole shook his head, a smile playing at his lips. “You tried to pose on one.”
Vix threw his hands up. “They looked way sturdier than they were!”
“You brought down half the display,” Don added quietly.
“Minor details.” Vix waved dismissively. “The point is, I might not be welcomed back with open arms.”
“Or at all,” Dash muttered.
My head swiveled between them as they continued discussing Vix’s apparent banishment from this Reinberg place. My breathing quickened as reality sank in. They were serious. They expected me to pack up and leave with them to some winter wonderland I’d never heard of.
“Neve would love the winter market.” Dane grinned, his eyes bright with memories. “There are those little star lanterns they hang between all the booths, and the ice rink in the town square is better than any indoor facility.”
“Reindeer sleigh rides are a tourist favorite, but we could arrange a special one for her.” Cole rubbed his hands together as if he were plotting already.
“Hot spiced wine at the Frostbite Inn.” Pierce’s eyes softened slightly as he licked his lips. “Definitely need to go there.”
“Then there’s the enormous gingerbread village Snowshoe Bakery builds every year.” Kip clasped his hands under his chin, and it would have been cute if their talk about Christmas wasn’t grating on my nerves.
“Don’t forget the music you can hear throughout the town and the carolers in the evening.” Don’s voice was full of nostalgia.
“The highlight is the thirty-foot tree they light up on the first night of the festival.” Blitz went to my tree, gently touching an ornament.