Page 29 of Santa Daddy, I'm Not the One

“Do you mean he’s a nonbeliever?”

“Yes. But through no fault of his he ended up here. My elves made the mistake, and so I’ll bear the consequences.”

“And how will you do that? If that tree dies, you will be no more, and where will that leave us? Terrorized by Frostheart.”

“I haven’t figured it out yet, but I will.”

“That is not good enough.”

“Then what do you want me to do, Elder Baelis?”

“There’s an ancient—”

“No!” I barked before he could even finish. “We don’t follow those rules anymore.”

The old rules would have the person who offended the tree shed their blood to make amends, but no way would Iallow them to hurt Landon. We had outlawed the practice for centuries for a reason.

“If you don’t come up with a solution, you’ll have no choice but to comply.”

The elders took their leave, their ominous words lingering. Swearing under my breath, I hurried back to my room, relieved to find Landon’s clothes on the floor. I entered the bathroom. Steam rose gently from the large, clawfoot tub, filling the room with a comforting warmth. The tub was carved from a single block of ice, its surface smooth and inviting and enchanted to never melt. Ornate tiles of blue and white, depicting scenes of winter wonderlands and magical creatures, covered the floor, while plush, snowy towels were neatly stacked on a shelf nearby.

Landon lay submerged in the water, only his head peeking out, his eyes closed as if trying to shut away the world, his shoulders relaxed, a slight flush on his cheeks. The water, infused with fragrant oils, shimmered with a soft golden light, casting a peaceful aura around him. He seemed so much more at ease here, away from the accusing eyes and whispers of the town.

“Landon?” I called softly, not wanting to startle him. His eyes fluttered open, meeting mine with a mix of relief and residual fear. “How are you feeling?”

“Better,” he said, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “The warmth helps.”

I smiled back, relief flooding me. “I’m glad to hear that. I spoke to the elders. They’re worried, but I’ve assured them we will find a solution.”

Landon’s expression turned serious. “What kind of solution?”

“I don’t know yet, but I promise, whatever it is, it won’t involve harming you. We’ll figure this out together.”

He nodded, a silent understanding passing between us. I stood, my hand lingering for a moment longer. “I’ll leave you to enjoy your bath. If you need anything, just call for me.”

As I turned, Landon’s voice stopped me. “Nils?”

“Yes?”

“Will you join me?”

“In the tub.”

“Yes, silly.”

“Are you sure?”

He nodded. “I love it when you hold me.”

No other words were necessary. I stripped out of my clothes and stepped into the warm water. The spellbound heat encased me, melting away the last vestiges of my tension as I settled down behind Landon and drew him into the cradle of my arms. His body relaxed against mine. The fragrant steam rose around us, subtle notes of lavender and mint swirling.

“Can I call you Daddy?” he asked.

“Yes. You never have to ask permission for that.”

He sighed. “I wish I had a Daddy like you back home waiting for me when I leave.”

My throat constricted as a bittersweet feeling welled up within me. I wanted to ask him to stay, but this was the worst possible time, so I said nothing while hoping that he wasn’t working with Frostheart.

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