Page 7 of Return of the Nutcracker Prince

Her maid’s expression fell as she sat back down.“You have my deepest condolences, Miss.”She resumed taking out the pins from her hair, handing over her brush as she finished.As Clara brushed it out, she remembered her gift.

“Oh no!I left my Nutcracker in the drawing room!”

“Shall I fetch it for you?”

“I’d like to get him myself.Quick, hand me my nightclothes.”Fritz had broken her beloved Nutcracker out of jealousy once before, and she couldn’t risk him finding it before she did.He might not break her things anymore, but she didn’t trust him not to steal it, just to upset her.

Wrapped in her slippers and night robe, she padded down through the house, with only her melancholy thoughts for company.How could Papadothis to her?Mama hadn’t ever really liked her.She told too many stories and hid in the library instead of socializing.But she thought she had a special connection with Papa.That he appreciated her intellect.Yet he wanted to waste it with the von Galen’s lout of a son.Didn’t he love her at all?

Slipping into the drawing room, she spied the little wooden man on the table just as the grandfather clock chimed the hour.

Midnight.

By the second bong, she had crossed the floor.The Nutcracker shook, moving forward bit by bit.On the third chime, he fell off the table without Clara or anything touching him.It was as if… no, that was impossible.He couldn’t throwhimselfoff the table, could he?

She thought for sure he’d break.Instead, a bright light shone from the Nutcracker, and he hovered off the floor.

“What in heaven’s name…?”

Growing in size while the clock chimed on, her wooden Nutcracker transformed into a man!

Chapter 3

Klaus’sfeetsettledontothe floor, his eyes taking a moment to adjust to the dim light.Clara stood in front of him in a white robe, holding a single candle.Now that he was in his full form again, she was the perfect height.He could hold her in his arms and lay her head on his shoulder.They’d fit perfectly together.Her hair flowing down her back glowed like a halo.For a moment, he let his starving eyes feast on her once more.

“Clara…”

She startled and jumped backward.“How do you know my name?”

“It’s me.Klaus.”At her confused expression, he could have smacked himself.Of course, she didn’t recognize him.It’d been far too long, and they weren’t children anymore.

“Do you remember Christmas Eve ten years ago?”She nodded warily.“I had snuck into my uncle’s bag that year without his knowledge.When he found me, he placed me in the tree.But I fell out, and you caught me.”

Her brow furrowed, but she nodded.“That was how I found the Nutcracker, and Godfather Drosselmeyer gave him to me.But…” She squinted her eyes at him.“Godfather is your uncle?”

“Yes.My Uncle Ludwig.”He took a deep breath and continued, “That night, the mice attacked and nearly overwhelmed me.”

Clara blinked her brown eyes and shook her head.“No…” she seemed to talk to herself.“The mice were part of the dream.”

“No, they werereal.”He chanced taking a step closer.“And so was the way you defeated their king.”

A shudder ran through her, no doubt remembering her first glimpse of the grotesque demon.“I don’t understand.”

“You were the last one to defeat him, and not only has he returned to full power, he’s stronger than ever.”In desperation, Klaus took her free hand in both of his.“Do you remember my country, the Land of Sweets and Toys?It’s the only free land left in my realm.”His heart beat out a march in his chest.“You went with me to visit that night.”She nodded, staring at him likehewas the one with seven heads.“We kissed under the mistletoe.”

With a sharp intake of her breath, Clara snatched her hand back.“Impossible.”

“It’s the truth!”

Her chest rose and plunged with her breath.“I’m dreaming.”

“I may be a Dreamer, but I am no dream.”

“How do I know you’re telling the truth?”She wasn’t taking her eyes off his face.

Turning his head, he let the light hit the scar on his jaw.“When I was in Nutcracker form ten years ago, your brother attacked me with his toy sword and broke part of my chin.It healed, but you can see the mark it left.”Clara gasped and tentatively raised her hand, then pulled it away.“Go on.Feel for yourself.”

Her gentle fingers traced the line on his jaw, and Klaus turned his head into her touch.But he was running out of time.The longer it took to convince her, the closer the mice could be to finding him.How could he express this need?When she drew her hand back once more, he did the only thing he could think of — Klaus fell to his knees, clutching it and kissing her knuckles.“Clara, as Prince of Süssland, I beg you to help us defeat the Mouse King once and for all.”

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