Page 12 of Rescued By Her Guardian

The door shut, leaving her with Maverick and Chase.

“Congratulations,” Chase said.

“Thanks,” she said. “What is he worried about?”

“He said he’ll tell you later, and we’re not going to step over him like that,” Maverick said. “But don’t worry about it. He’s a great male. We’re really happy for you.”

“Thanks, guys.”

The door opened, and Knox smiled at her in relief, as if he’d been on edge while they were separated. “All clear. Let’s hustle, it’s cold as hell out here.”

He offered her his hand and she took it, walking with him into the bitter cold as Maverick and Chase followed, and the door shut behind them.

The Well lay one hundred feet ahead of them.

Now that she was thinking about her magic and getting close to the Well, she could feel how depleted she was.

“So can elves actually do anything with their magic?” Knox asked. “I know that Santa is a warlock and can cast spells, and fairies, witches, and dream walkers use their magic in a similar way, but what elves?”

“I can’t cast spells,” she said. “Our magic just makes us elves, but it doesn’t imbue us with any special abilities.”

“I always wondered.”

“Me too,” Chase said. “Not that I was eavesdropping.”

“Without magic, I’d be human,” she said. “I wouldn’t be here at the North Pole working for Santa and helping to bring toys to the good kids every year. It would be neat to be able to cast a spell like a witch or use my power to do something with nature, like how a fairy can make a plant grow or help kids have sweet dreams like Sandman and his Dream Walkers, but I’m okay with being an elf.”

“I wouldn’t have met you if you were human, I’m sure,” he said. “So I’m glad you’re an elf too.”

They reached the edge of where the Well’s magic pulsed in the air. She knew they couldn’t go any farther and she had to go alone.

She took off her gloves and looked at Knox.

“I was really scared about coming here.”

“Because of Frost?”

“Yeah. He targets elves. It’s why I always wait until the last minute to replenish my magic.” She looked past the glowing Well where she could see the Entrance and beyond that, the dark nothingness of the North Pole.

Knox squeezed her biceps gently through her coat. “I’ll keep you safe, Ivy, I swear on my life.”

“I believe you,” she said.

“Good. I’ll be right here when you’re finished, then we can go to your place or mine to talk.”

The way he saidtalksent a riot of shivers down her spine.

She nodded and strode through the barrier of the magic, already feeling magic stretching within her.

It was true that elves didn’t really have magic, but they were magical and part of Christmas. She stopped at the edge of the Well and peered past the stones to the depths beyond that glowed neon yellow, green, and blue like the Northern Lights. She rubbed her hands together and then stretched out her arms and touched the magic that pulsed and flowed around the Well, opening herself to it.

All at once she could feel it as it moved over her skin, sinking into her and filling her with its power. The Well was an infinite source of power and good magic, and with Santa running things and keeping the Well safe, along with the elves and Guardians, she knew she had nothing to fear.

Especially not with her sexy truemate watching over her.

As her magic was fully replenished, she lowered her hands and stepped away from the Well, crossing back through the barrier. The chilly air caught her by surprise and she hurried to put her gloves back on before her fingers froze.

“Feel better?” Knox asked as he took her hand when she’d gotten her gloves on.

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