Page 43 of Return of the Nutcracker Prince

“Her magic doesn’t actually increase because of the ceremony.It starts there, yes, but it increases with the wedding night specifically.”

Klaus strode over and took the glass off the cart, then downed it.“So consummation is required?”

“To release her full potential as the Sugar Plum Fairy, yes.”

He shook his head.“I can’t imagine having this conversation with Grandfather.”

Alaric shuddered.“It was awful.But I digress.”He poured a second shot and knocked it back.“How much do you know about pleasuring a woman?”

Klaus just blinked at him.Nothing.He knew absolutely nothing.With Clara out of reach, he’d never so much asseena naked woman.

“I was afraid of that.Settle in, son, it’s going to be an interesting afternoon.”

Chapter 13

Thenextdayflewby in a blur of activity.Clara was pampered and scrubbed within an inch of her life.Royal Tinkerers used their magic to prepare an exquisite white lace wedding gown fit for a princess.Trixie ensured she ate, shooing other servants away to give her space to breathe.

“This is madness,” she muttered to herself over lunch.

“Madness?”Trixie tittered.“The kingdom is buzzing with excitement.”She flew around the room, expressing her own.“You’ve given us hope, Clara.That’s more than we’ve had since the mice invaded the Land of Flowers.”

Clara furrowed her brows.“It feels like such poor timing, to be so happy when we’re at war.”

“Do you need a torch in the daylight?”

She huffed a laugh.“No, of course not.It would be a waste when the sun’s shining.”

“Exactly.”Trixie crossed her arms over her chest.“We need this now, like we need a torch in the nighttime.”

Their exchanges were so similar to her conversations with Heidi that she felt a pang of homesickness.Rubbing a hand over her chest, she hoped Heidi would be alright when she didn’t return.Her friends would wonder what happened to her...

“Trixie, how long do I have before I need to get ready?”

“About an hour, Miss Clara.What do you need?”

She popped the last gumdrop into her mouth and rose.“I’m going to write a couple of letters to mail when I visit the Realm of Waking.I don’t know how they’ll write back… I’ll ask Godfather if it’s possible.”

In her heart, Clara knew hearing of her marriage to a prince of a faraway land would thrill her friends.Perhaps Adelia or Francesca could hire Heidi away from Mama and Papa if they were so inclined.She wished things were different, but she couldn’t bring her dear maid to the Realm of Dreams.

Writing to them would help fill her time before she became Clara von Süssland.

A knock at the door drew her attention away from Trixie’s spell for her hair.“Who is it?”

“It’s Galiena.”

“Goodness!”Clara nearly ran Trixie over on her way to the sitting room.“Come in!”

Galiena swept into the room in a ruby red, long-sleeved gown.“My dear, you look exquisite.”She held a wooden box in her hands.

“Your Majesty?I mean, Galiena?”She shook her head as she corrected herself.That would take some getting used to.

The Sugar Plum Fairy merely smiled.“I wondered if you would do me the honor of wearing this today.”She lifted the lid of the box to reveal a gold tiara studded with crystals.

Clara gasped.“It’s beautiful.”

Galiena smiled.“It’s our tradition for the princess to wear this on her wedding day, and for court days thereafter, until her coronation.”

She gulped as the sunlight sparked rainbows off the headpiece, throwing them to the wall and carpet.“The honor is all mine.”

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