Kringl (Rescued by the Alien)

Chapter 24

Chapter

Twenty-Four

J oy walked through the village, surrounded on all sides by elves. She held her head high, acutely aware of the twitching curtains and curious eyes behind windows, but she didn't care. Her trust in Kringl, Tami, Tom, and even Snowball was absolute. She knew they would save her, no matter what.

The memory of Kringl grabbing her hand before she left the bakery sent a warm pulse through her chest. She could still feel the buzz of his touch, and she almost laughed at the irony of someone who looked like he belonged on an ice planet being so damn warm all the time. Thinking of Kringl gave her strength as she approached the main building where Velsnickel waited.

Surprisingly, Joy’s feet weren’t heavy, her knees didn’t wobble, her hands didn’t shake. She should be terrified because she was walking into an audience with a dangerous elf with nothing to tell him except for lies he would soon unwind. But none of that scared her. Instead, her heart was light, and she couldn’t stop grinning.

Was this what it was like to be in love? The idea jolted her, even though as soon as it darted through her mind, she knew it was true. She loved Kringl. It wasn’t something she’d planned or wanted, but it also wasn’t something she could have stopped. She knew now that she’d started to fall for him the moment he’d stepped from his ship, and every moment after, she’d been more and more a lost cause.

Not that her feelings made a difference when it came to the alien’s princely duties. But even that didn’t bother her. Loving him made facing down the twisted elf who controlled their village less scary. It made the constant music less aggravating, and it even made the other elves less menacing.

As she took the steps of the main hall two at a time and strode through the doors while the elves scuttled to keep pace, the scents of cinnamon and pine enveloped her. Inside, she paused as her eyes adjusted to the dimmer light. It had been forever since she’d been inside the main hall, but it was still a grotesque parody of a holiday wonderland with gaudy decorations swagged from every post or rafter and an oversized throne on a dais dominating the far end of the room.

She slowed as she walked toward Velsnickel himself, almost shaking her head at his mockery of the jolly Santa from Earth. His red suit, trimmed with white fur, seemed worn and tired. The pointed hat atop his head cast a shadow over his face, accentuating his beady eyes and pinched expression.

Joy's stomach did an uneasy flip, her buoyant mood dampening. She had never seen him angry before; he always maintained a facade of forced cheer. This unmasked fury made her steps falter.

When she reached his throne, the creature curled small hands around the arm rests. "Tell me what you know. Now."

Joy took a deep breath, steeling herself to spin a lie. "I saw a figure leaving the workshop.”

"Who was it?" he demanded, his tinny voice echoing off the high, peaked ceiling.

Joy’s palms were damp, but she didn’t dare wipe them on her pants. “I think it was one of your elves.”

Velsnickel scowled, his furry brows pressing together into a single line. "That's impossible. The elves would never disobey me."

Joy glanced at the elves surrounding her. This was probably true. He was their leader. He was the one who’d led their own escape from the North Pole.

Realizing she needed to buy more time for her friends, Joy backpedaled. "Maybe it was a false alarm or a harmless prank.”

The small alien's expression softened slightly. "Maybe."

Joy’s heart beat a bit faster. Maybe she’d successfully diverted his attention. Maybe she’d convinced him.

Before she could celebrate, an elf burst in from the back of the room, rushing to Velsnickel’s side. As the creature whispered urgently in his ear, Joy watched the leader's face contort with rage.

He bolted to his feet, imposing despite his short stature. His eyes, no longer twinkling with false cheer, burned with fury.

Joy took an involuntary step back, rubbing her palms on her pants and not caring if anyone thought she was freaking out, because she was. She hoped her friends had been successful. If not, she'd soon be occupying an ice cell—or worse.

Then she heard the screams.