Page 13 of Elven Kisses & Winter Wishes

Frost glances at me, his currently-navy eyes scrunched by a frown. There’s a question in his gaze that makes my palms sweaty.

“Enough riddles,” says Frost, turning back to Paulie. “Will you give us the snow globe or not?”

The parrot preens, clearly enjoying our frustration. “Where’s the fun in just handing it over? I propose a challenge. Solve my riddle, and the snow globe is yours.”

I sigh, running a hand through my curls, which are starting to tangle. “Fine. What’s your riddle?”

Paulie clears his throat dramatically. “I am not alive, but I grow. I don’t have lungs, but I need air. I don’t have a mouth, but water kills me. What am I?”

I furrow my brow, considering the clues. Not alive but grows, needs air, water kills it... “Fire,” I say confidently. “The answer is fire.”

Paulie’s eyes widen in surprise. “Aren’t you the clever one? Perhaps that hidden spark of yours is brighter than I thought.”

“What do you mean by ‘hidden spark?’” I demand, growing frustrated with the bird’s cryptic comments.

The parrot cocks his head, regarding me with an almost pitying look. “Oh, sweetie. You really don’t know, do you? There’s magic in you, clear as day to those who can see it. Right, Frosted Flake?”

Frost shifts uncomfortably beside me. “Paulie, that’s enough. We solved your riddle. Give us the snow globe.”

But I’m not ready to let this go. “Frost? What is he talking about?”

He hesitates. “I... I’ve sensed something different about you since we met. A kind of energy, but now’s not the time to discuss it. We need to focus on saving Evershift Haven.”

Paulie cackles again. “Oh, this is too good. The elf can see it, but the girl’s in denial. Trust me, honey, that spark in you is just waiting to ignite. You might want to look into that elvish grandmother of yours.”

“Elvish grandmother?” I repeat, my mind reeling. “That’s impossible. My family is completely normal.”

“Is it now?” Paulie asks, tone dripping with sarcasm. “I suppose those pointed ears you’re sprouting are just a fashion statement, then?”

My hands fly to my ears, and to my shock, I feel the slightest point at the tips. “What’s happening to me?”

Frost places a comforting hand on my shoulder, causing a jolt of electricity from his touch. “We’ll figure this out, but right now, we need that snow globe.”

I nod, trying to push aside the whirlwind of questions in my mind. “Right. The snow globe. Paulie, we solved your riddle. Please, give us the Snow Globe of Eternal Winter.”

Paulie cackles, flapping his wings dramatically. “Congratulations, clever ones. You’ve earned passage to the next challenge. Prepare yourselves for a magical obstacle course like no other.”

“Next challenge? You said—” Being swallowed in a flash of light distracts me from finishing the sentence. In a blink, we’re transported to a whimsical landscape. Floating platforms hover in the air, connected by shimmering bridges of light. Colorfulcreatures dart between the platforms, shifting and changing their forms as they move.

“This is certainly different,” I say, taking in our new surroundings.

Frost nods, also scanning the area. “We need to be careful. These pocket dimensions can be unpredictable.”

“I hope there are no floffels.”

We start making our way across the first bridge, its surface rippling beneath our feet like water. When we reach the first platform, a small, imp-like creature appears before us.

“Riddle me this,” it squeaks, its voice high-pitched and mischievous. “I have cities, but no houses. I have mountains, but no trees. I have water, but no fish. What am I?”

I furrow my brow, considering the clues. “A map.” I respond with confidence.

The imp grins, revealing pointed teeth. “Correct. Proceed, clever ones.”

We continue through the course, solving riddles and navigating increasingly bizarre obstacles. At one point, we have to cross a chasm by stepping on musical notes that appear in the air, each one playing a different tone when we touch it.

Midway through the course, we reach a platform that seems to pulse with energy. As soon as we step onto it, a shimmering bubble forms around us, lifting us high into the air. “What’s happening?” I ask, pressing my hands against the translucent surface. It’s surprisingly sturdy.

Frost frowns, tracing patterns on the bubble’s interior. “It seems the enchantment has glitched. We’re trapped until I can figure out how to dispel it.”

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