Loving Blitz by Charlie Cochet

left. Never had he felt so… at home.
    “I love you,” Blitz replied, their heads pressed together.
    “Blitz, I—”
    Blitz put his fingers to Cupid’s lips. “There’s nothing more to say. To me you’re the sweet elf I met all those centuries ago, who bumped into me with an armful of books. I know what happened was an accident. I love you as you are.”
    Cupid’s face could barely contain his smile. He hugged Blitz, mindful of not hurting him in case he was in pain. Blitz insisted he was just fine. Well, it was time to be a brave elf and make right the wrongs he’d brought on himself.
    “I have to go see the king.” Cupid stood and straightened to his full height. It wasn’t much of a height, but his heart was great in size. “I have to fix this.”
    “I’m coming with you,” Blitz said, ignoring their brethren’s protests as he got out of bed.
    “Blitz, no. You should stay here and rest.” Kringle had told them Cupid cast a spell of deep sleep, but Cupid had no idea what other effects that might cause. Blitz, of course, was having none of it.
    “I’m not leaving your side. We go together.”
    There was no point in arguing. His sweetheart was most stubborn. “All right.” Cupid turned to his brethren when he recalled what else Kringle had instructed him to do. “Oh, and, um, Dasher is to come with us.”
    Blitz let out a low groan. “We’re doomed.”

Chapter Eight
     
     
    CUPID HAD been very clear with Dasher. He wasn’t to utter a word while they spoke to the king. They were fortunate the king agreed to an audience with them. He could have very easily turned them away or, worse, had them escorted to the Mountain Fortress for what Cupid had done. The three of them stood in the cavernous ballroom while the king emerged from behind a long blue velvet curtain. He took a seat on his throne and fixed his regal robe. His eyes landed on Dasher.
    “Oh, you’re here.” He narrowed his eyes at Dasher, who had the good sense to bow graciously.
    “Your majesty.”
    With a sniff, the king turned his dark eyes on Cupid. This time he smiled. “Ah, young Cupid. Quite the mess your sibling has made. I believe he’s disappeared.”
    “No doubt run home to hide behind my father’s coattails,” Cupid admitted regretfully. “I’ll deal with him when the time comes. That’s not why I’m here.”
    “Oh?”
    “Because of me, Jack and Rudy have been hurt. I need to help them see how much they need each other. They love each other so deeply. Rudy never meant to hurt him. He was wrong to keep such a secret, I know that now, but he’d only had the best of intentions at heart.”
    “My son is very stubborn. A trait I fear he gets from me.” The king darted his eyes to Dasher, as if he were waiting for Dasher to say something inappropriate. Dasher remained strangely quiet, though he didn’t take his gaze off the king. “I’m not certain what I can do to help you. I want my son to be happy, but I can’t change his mind for him.”
    That much was true. Only Jack had the power to change his sentiments on the matter, but there had to be something they could do. “Is there anything you can do about Hollis?” Cupid asked. Imprisonment would ruin the major. “It was an accident. Hollis had only meant to scare Rudy. It was my brother who gave him a wicked spell intent on harming Rudy.”
    The king sighed. “I will do my best with the courts. Everyone must face the consequences of their actions, but I will make certain the courts know of your brother’s deceit. I will also bear witness to Major Hollis’s character. He might be as hardheaded as a stone at times, but he has a good heart. Far too impulsive, like his father.”
    “I think I know a way to get through to Jack,” Dasher said.
    Everyone turned to Dasher. This couldn’t be good.
    “Oh?” The king laced his long, elegant fingers together, and sat patiently. “By all means, do enlighten me, elfling.”
    “First I would appreciate you not