Page 7 of Elven Kisses & Winter Wishes

“These garlands need precise placement,” he says, not looking back. “The angles must be exact for proper magical flow.”

“Right.” I roll my eyes. “Heaven forbid we just hang them where they look nice.”

He turns, currently ice-blue eyes narrowing. “This isn’t about aesthetics. The decorations channel magical energy. A human wouldn’t understand.”

“Try me.” I cross my arms. “I’m an accountant. I understand precise measurements and calculations better than most.”

“Numbers on paper are different from centuries of magical tradition.”

“Maybe. Or maybe you’re just stuck in your ways and afraid to try something new.”

A few snowflakes swirl around him as his eyes flash, turning almost black. “I’ve been doing this for three hundred years.”

“And how many of those years did you actually try something different?”

His nostrils flare, and he opens his mouth to retort when a loud crack echoes through the square. We both turn to see a string of lights plummet from the sky, narrowly missing a group of startled elves.

“What was that?” I ask, my heart still racing.

Frost’s expression shifts from anger to concern. “The Heart of Haven. Something’s wrong.”

As if on cue, more decorations begin to fall. Garlands slither across the ground like tinsel snakes, and ornaments bounce erratically, shattering against cobblestones.

“Look out,” I shout, pulling Frost aside as a massive wreath tumbles past us.

He grabs my arm, steadying me. Our gazes lock, and for a second, there’s a definite...sizzle between us. then he blinks and drops his hand. “We need to get to the center of town. Now.”

We weave through the chaos, dodging rogue decorations and panicked townsfolk. The closer we get to the town’s center, the more pronounced the magical glitches become. Storefronts flicker like faulty neon signs, and the very air seems to shimmer and warp.

An enormous oak tree stands in the heart of the square, its branches reaching toward the sky. Instead of the vibrant, glowing entity I saw earlier, the tree now pulses with a sickly, dim light.

“The Heart of Haven,” Frost whispers, his voice filled with awe and fear. “It’s failing.”

I stare at the tree, mesmerized by its fading glow. “What does that mean?”

Frost’s face is grim. “It means we’re in serious trouble. The Heart of Haven is the source of our town’s magic, carefully tended by a caretaker—Grizelda for now, and a different witch when she retires. If it fails completely...” He trails off, clearly alarmed.

My mouth is dry all of a sudden. “What happens if it fails?”

He frowns. “If the Heart fails, the barrier protecting Evershift Haven will collapse, and without that barrier, Santa’s portal won’t open.”

I blink, trying to process this information. “Santa’s portal? You mean, Santa Claus is real too?”

A ghost of a smile flickers across Frost’s face. “Of course, he’s real, though he’s fae—Elven, to be exact—not human. Evershift Haven is a key stop on his route. Our magic helps power his sleigh for the long journey.”

Another crack splits the air, and the tree’s glow further dims. Frost winces as if in physical pain.

“So, what happens if Santa can’t get here?” I ask, dreading the answer.

His tone is full of anguish. “Then Evershift Haven loses its Christmas magic, and without that...” He gestures around us. “All of this becomes harder to maintain. Our home, our way of life, and everything we’ve built here, could be at risk. If The Heart of Haven isn’t revitalized with Santa’s magic, since Grizelda is clearly unable to right now, the entire town would be exposed to the human realm, and Santa’s trip will be delayed too. He might not be able to finish without the symbiotic energy boost.”

I gasp when his words sink in. This isn’t just about decorations or a festival. It’s about the very existence of this magical place, all the beings who call it home, and aboutfour billion human children, who stand to be disappointed too. “There has to be something we can do,” I say, surprising myself with how determined I am to fix this.

Frost looks at me with an arched eyebrow. “You want to help? Even though you’ve only just learned about all this?”

I nod. “I’m new to magic, but I’m good at problem-solving. There’s always a solution if you look at things from a different angle.”

For a moment, he seems to really see me for the first time. His eyes narrow as he studies me. “You’re serious?”

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