Page 28 of Return of the Nutcracker Prince

“You watch.He’s going to have to fight off every man at the banquet.If he’s not in a duel tomorrow at dawn, I’ll eat my wings.”

Clara sighed, a chill stealing up her spine.“You know I’m supposed to marry someone back home.”She couldn’t possibly go through with it, but Trixie didn’t know that.God, would Mama ever forgive her?

“But is that person a prince?”

She hesitated.“No, he’s the son of a baron.”

Trixie waved her off.“The prince outranks him.Therefore, forget him.”Then she narrowed her lavender eyes at her.“Unless you love this fiancé.”

“Heavens no!”She gasped.“I’d rather die an old maid.”

Trixie tilted her head.

Sighing, Clara explained.“This man is not of my choosing.My parents chose him for me.”

“Then you should introduce them to Prince Klaus.”

“If only…” She stared off through the window at the setting red sun.It was too bad Klaus hadn’t gotten to her papa first.If all Mama cared about was money, Klaus would certainly be her first choice.But how would that work with him coming from another realm?

She sighed.Tomorrow was her first battle as a trainee mage.She hoped and prayed they would be victorious.

“I’d better go.Thanks again, Trixie.”

“Have a wonderful time, Miss Clara!”Trixie curtsied and fluttered her wings, which Clara had insisted she leave out in her presence.Staff were prohibited from flight, but she liked Trixie just the way she was and didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable.Frankly, she envied Trixie’s wings and could never keep them hidden had she been born a pixie.

Klaus stood at the bottom of the crimson-carpeted staircase, waiting for her.He’d shed his military jacket in favor of a hunter green coat with matching cravat, a gold brocade vest and white pants.As always, his boots shone.

“Afraid I’d get lost?”She looked up at him from beneath her lashes, inwardly thrilled to see him again.

“More like afraid someone else would capture your attention.”He lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.

“How are preparations?”She hooked her hand around his elbow as they made their way towards the banquet hall.

“Coming along nicely.Did Mother Gingerbread explain the plan to the mages?”

“Thoroughly.”

“Are you nervous?”His azure gaze searched hers.

“I imagine anyone would be.”

“We have thrown you to the wolves, as Uncle Ludwig says.I can’t say how sorry I am that it turned out this way.”

“That’s not your fault.”Clara spoke firmly.It was the Mouse King that had spread his reign of dark magic, instead of taking care of his own people.If he’d been happy with what he’d had, they wouldn’t be rushing to train a new mage.

Of course, that would mean that Klaus would have never gone back for her.She would have lived her entire life without knowing the truth of what happened that night ten years ago.So, she was grateful to the Mouse King for bringing them back together.

Almost.

The ballroom’s doors stood wide open, with a whirlwind of activity inside.If only her mother could see this.Dwarves, pixies, mages, and men in soldier’s dress roamed the huge, circular room.A chandelier of magic orbs of all colors hovered in the center of the ceiling.And scarlet drapes lined the two-story arched windows encircling them.

Klaus insisted she sit next to him at the head table, pulling out the chair next to his.“I’ve not seen you all day, and I should like to enjoy your company.”

“As you wish, Klaus,” Clara responded, secretly pleased.

Galiena sat to his right in the center of the head table, with his father and Mother Gingerbread.When the chair on her left slid back, Clara had to look twice.

“My dear goddaughter, I trust everything is going well?”

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