Page 12 of Tempted By the Orc

I couldn’t hide forever.

I had known it all along, even though I had wanted to pretend otherwise. Running had bought me time, but the Dark King was relentless. He wouldn’t stop until he had me in his grasp, until he had used my magic to twist Christmas into something beyond my worst nightmares. I had thought I could escape him, thought I could outrun the darkness that was hunting me, but now I knew better.

Azrael knew my secret. He knew I was a reindeer shifter, and he wanted to use my powers for his own gain. He wanted to erase Christmas from history, to turn the holiday of hope and joy into one of fear and sorrow. And he wouldn’t stop until he succeeded.

The thought made my stomach churn, and I had to close my eyes to keep from being overwhelmed by the tidal wave of guilt that threatened to drown me. I had run from my responsibilities, from my family, and now it felt like I was to blame for everything. If I had just stayed, if I had faced Azrael head-on, maybe things wouldn’t have gotten so bad. Maybe Christmas wouldn’t be in danger.

But then I thought of Noel. Of the warmth of his embrace, the way he looked at me like I was something worth protecting, something precious. He had been a light in the darkness, and if I hadn’t run, if I hadn’t found him...

I wasn’t sure I would have made it this far.

Still, the guilt lingered, clawing at my insides as I thought of the children all over the world—the ones who believed in Santa, who waited eagerly for Christmas morning, their eyes filled with wonder and joy. I couldn’t bear the thought of them never knowing the magic of Christmas. I couldn’t let Azrael take that from them.

“We have to stop him,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “We can’t let him destroy Christmas.”

Noel turned to me, his brow furrowing. His dark eyes softened as they met mine, and I could see the concern etched in his expression. “We will,” he said, his deep voice steady and sure. “But we need a plan.”

A plan. I let out a shaky breath, trying to gather my thoughts. What kind of plan could we come up with that would outsmart the Dark King? He had armies at his disposal, power beyond anything I could imagine, and all we had was this quiet warm cottage in the middle of a snowstorm.

But then, Noel’s hand found mine, his strong yet gentle touch grounding me in the moment. “He wants you,” he said quietly. “He wants to use your magic. That’s his weakness.”

I blinked, staring at him. “What do you mean?”

Noel’s eyes darkened with thought, and I could see the gears turning in his mind. “Azrael’s obsessed with the idea of taking your magic and using it to erase Christmas. He believes that if he has you, he has control over the holiday and everything it stands for.”

I nodded slowly. That much was true. Azrael believed that by marrying me, by tying me to him, he could gain control over Christmas magic itself. He didn’t understand the truth, though—that the magic wasn’t something he could take or possess. It was something deeper, something tied to the joy and love of the holiday.

But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t try.

Noel’s grip on my hand tightened, his eyes flashing with determination. “We use that against him.”

I frowned, not quite understanding where he was going with this. “What do you mean?”

“We give him what he thinks he wants,” Noel said, leaning closer, his voice low but intense. “We build something—a decoy. Something that will lure him in, make him think he’s getting exactly what he wants. And when he comes for it, we trap him.”

“A decoy?” I repeated, my heart skipping a beat.

Noel nodded. “A magical treehouse. Something grand, something that looks like it holds the key to Christmas magic. I can build it. I have the skills. We’ll make it look like it’s a wedding gift you commissioned for your nuptials, the one that supposedly holds all the magic he’s after.”

I stared at him, my mind spinning. A magical treehouse, designed to lure Azrael to his own trap. It was risky, but it just might work.

Noel’s eyes softened as he watched me, his voice gentle. “You can’t keep running, Rue. And I can’t hide you forever. You already know that.”

I bit my lip, the weight of his words settling over me. He was right. Azrael would find me eventually, and when he did, I needed to be ready to fight back. I had to protect not just myself, but the future of Christmas and joy of the world.

“We’ll send word I’ll be waiting for him in the treehouse,” I said slowly, my voice barely above a whisper.

Noel’s jaw tightened, his eyes hardening with resolve. “It will be a lie of course, a ruse we’ll use to make sure he can’t hurt anyone ever again.”

The determination in his voice sent a shiver down my spine, but it also filled me with a sense of hope. For the first time in days, I felt like we had a chance. It was dangerous, yes, but it was better than waiting for Azrael to come and take me to a fate worse than death.

I nodded, my heart pounding. “Okay. Let’s do it.”

Noel gave me a small, reassuring smile before he stood, already moving toward the door. “I’ll start gathering the materials. I can have the treehouse ready by Christmas Eve if the weather holds.”

I watched him go, my chest tightening with a mix of emotions. Relief that we had a plan. Fear of what was to come. And a deep, growing affection for the man who was willing to risk everything to protect me.

As the door closed behind him, I let out a long breath and turned toward the window. The snow was still falling, gently now, the storm having calmed for the moment. But even with the quiet of the evening settling around me, I couldn’t shake the anxiety twisting in my chest.

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