Page 10 of Trapped in the Christmas Cabin

“Lookat this—it’sperfect,”Kellibreathed.

“Yeah—maybetooperfect,”Klausmuttered.“Idon’t know, sunshine—Idon’t trust it.”

“Whatare you talking about?Wehaven’t even gone in yet.”

Kellidropped his hand and went up the three steps that led to the neat front porch.Shewas just about to put her hand on the knob when a soft, feminine voice spoke to her out of nowhere.

“Welcometo your romanticChristmasCabinhere at theChristmasvillage,” it said.

“Oh, uh…”Kellilooked around but she didn’t see any shimmering golden sparkles in the air.“Areyou a person?”she asked at last.“Imean, are you one of theQuestarianscientists?”

“Iam the voice of your cabin,” the voice replied.“Whileyou stay hereIwill do everything in my power to ensure you have the most romantic experience possible.”

“Oh, well thank you,”Kellisaid, nodding.Shelooked back atKlaus, who was still standing on the curving, lighted path.“Comeon up—the house has anAI,” she told him.

“Fuck,” he muttered.“Sothe fucking thing is alive?”

“Iam not alive,” the voice answered, clearly hearing his voice.“Iam simply programmed to optimize your romantic experience.”

“Thankyou,”Kellisaid politely.“We’reready to go in now.”Asshe spoke, she put her hand on the doorknob and turned it—or at least shetriedto turn it.Butthe knob wouldn’t turn—not even a fraction of an inch.“Er…why won’t it open?”she muttered.

“Here, let me try.”Klauswrapped his long fingers around the knob and twisted it…but again, nothing happened.Hegrunted.“Damnthing’s stuck.Orlocked.”

“Excuseme, cabin?”Kellisaid loudly.“Wecan’t get your front door open.”

“Inorder to open my door, please observe theChristmastradition,” the soft female voice admonished them.

“Christmastradition?Whatthe fuck is it talking about?”Klausasked frowning.

“Idon’t kn—”Kellistarted to say, but then a soft glimmering caught her eye.

Lookingup above their heads, she saw that a sprig of spiky green leaves and red berries had appeared.Itwas just hovering in midair, not touching anything.

“Ohlook—mistletoe!”she pointed at it, which causedKlausto look up too.

Hefrowned.

“Whatthe fuck is mistletoe?”

“That’sthe ‘Christmastradition’ the cabin is talking about,”Kelliexplained.“OnChristmas, it’s anEarthcustom to kiss under the mistletoe—it’s supposed to bring good luck.”

“Youare correct,” the cabin’s voice said.“Pleaseobserve the tradition in order to open my front door.”

“Sowe have tokiss toget in?”Klaussounded so suspicious thatKelliwas kind of offended.

“Sowhat if we do?”she demanded, putting one hand on her hip.“Wouldkissing me be the worst thing in the world?”

“Inever saidthat!”he protested.“Don’tgo putting words in my mouth, sunshine.”

“Nevermind words—you’d better start putting your mouth on mine if we want to get in and look around.”Kellipointed to her lips.“Orare you afraid to kiss me?”she added, raising an eyebrow.

Ifshe was being honest, she was kind of enjoying this.She’dfantasized about kissing herProtectorbefore and her heart was pounding with excitement.

Klausseemed to take her words as a challenge.

“WhywouldIbe afraid?”he growled.“Comehere—oneChristmaskiss coming up.”

Hebent down butKellistill had to stand on her tiptoes to reach him.Sheput her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his.

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