Loving Blitz by Charlie Cochet Page A

calling me elfling.”
    “Denied.” The king smiled smugly. “Next?”
    Cupid tried his best not to laugh. It certainly wasn’t the time for it, but he couldn’t help his giggle with Dasher’s uninspired expression. Goodness, it was quite possible he’d met his match.
    “Very well,” Dasher grumbled. He stepped up before the king, his expression turning sympathetic. “I think you may have something in your possession that would change Jack’s mind about all this.”
    The king looked as perplexed as Cupid felt. “I do?”
    “Yes. You see, Rudy sent Cupid and Blitz to find an Elska rose for Jack.”
    The king widened his eyes, and Cupid wondered how Dasher knew of their secret mission. Then again, Dasher had a way of discovering information most weren’t privy to. He was quite sneaky.
    Dasher knelt before the king and pointed to his neck. “Your locket.”
    The king was silent for several heartbeats, his expression almost sad. He touched the cravat around his neck. “What about it?” The king’s words were quiet, but Cupid had a feeling the king knew what Dasher was speaking of. The question was, how did Dasher know whatever he seemed to know?
    “Whenever you’re in a large crowd or seem uncomfortable, you hold it between your fingers.” Dasher’s gaze held the king’s. “You stroke it gently with your thumb.”
    The king swallowed hard but remained unmoved.
    “When you’re distressed, it settles you. I assume it belonged to the queen.”
    The king neither denied nor confirmed Dasher’s statement. He placed his arms on the throne’s armrests and looked down his nose at Dasher.
    “I don’t appreciate being studied like some strange beast.”
    “Not a beast, but an elf who lost someone he loved with all his heart. And now we’re trying to make sure your son doesn’t experience the same heartache.”
    “My son’s heart may splinter at the loss of his beloved Christmas elf, but he would not feel the shattering agony of having his love torn from his life in a vicious war.” Anger flared in the king’s eyes, and the temperature began to drop. Cupid took a step toward Dasher, but Blitz stopped him. What the holly? If they didn’t do something, the king would freeze them all.
    The wind howled, icy gusts striking their skin like needles. Cupid and Blitz huddled close while Dasher stood and walked up the steps, stopping just one below the king’s throne. To their horror, they watched as Dasher reached out and placed his hand over the king’s.
    The king leaned forward, his eyes frosting over white and his pitch-black hair draining of its color. “You presume too much, elfling .”
    “I presume nothing. I see. I see a broken king who never recovered from the loss of his queen. I see a king who hides in his palace, fearful of the world he turned his back on for taking what he loved. I see a king who holds the key to his son’s happiness, but in parting with it will be giving up the one thing that still connects him to her.”
    The king jerked his hand away and thrust a palm out, the fierce wind circling Dasher and hauling him off his feet by his neck. Dasher let out a strangled noise and clawed at the air around his neck.
    “You know I speak the truth,” Dasher said hoarsely.
    “I’ve had enough of these games!”
    “Dasher!” Cupid turned to the king. “Please, your majesty. He meant no ill will.” The king ignored Cupid’s pleas. He walked down the steps from his throne, his hand still held in front of him as he guided the wind to carry Dasher.
    “I have tolerated your insolence enough.”
    “You didn’t lose your heart to the ice when she was taken, as Jack did, because you had no heart left to lose. Or so you thought.”
    Why wouldn’t Dasher leave it alone? What did he hope to accomplish? Mayor Kringle must have been mistaken. Bringing Dasher along was the worst idea they could have possibly considered.
    Dasher, despite gasping for air, continued as if nothing were occurring.