Page 16 of Return of the Nutcracker Prince

His guest wrinkled her brow.“But I thought they were attacking me.”

He shook his head.“No, they were coming after me, trying to take advantage of your parents locking me up in that cabinet.They must have spied on Uncle Ludwig that night and known where to find me.”Klaus turned back to his parents.“The Mouse King nearly had me, but Clara threw her shoe at him.That’s what made him lose his magic.He turned into a small rodent and fled.His soldiers followed.”

“Is this true?”The queen turned to Clara.

“Not exactly.”She tugged at her cloak.“It was my house slipper.”

Klaus smiled at her fondly.“Regardless,” he continued.“Clara had magic then, and it’s only grown stronger.We were followed to the Enchanted Forest, but she threw up a shield that let us get away.”

Clara tugged at his sleeve.“Are you sure it wasn’t the forest helping us earlier?”

“I’m sure.The Enchanted Forest must be asked, but you commanded.Besides, it would help the mice as soon as it would help us.It’s a neutral zone.”

“What did this shield look like?”The Sugar Plum Fairy rested her chin on her hand, her tone curious.

Clara licked her lips.“Like a wall made of white light, I guess?”

His mother tapped at her chin.“Very interesting.”Just like that, Mother had decided.“We can always test her.Maybe magic from the Realm of Waking could be what defeated him.”

When Clara opened her mouth to protest, Klaus shook his head.Let her think the magic was from a different realm.She’d find out soon enough that wasn’t the case.

At least, he thought so.

“Mother, I’m afraid we’ll need to put that off until later.Neither of us has slept since yesterday.She can’t do magic with an empty well.”

“Very well.She shall have the guest wing.”

As the Sugar Plum Fairy led the way, he tried to give Clara a reassuring smile.She looked over her shoulder at him with wide eyes, and he rose to follow.Alaric went with him.If Mother noticed them trailing behind her, she said nothing.

Klaus’s father grasped his shoulder, forcing him to follow the women at a distance.“Son, this doesn’t excuse you for sneaking out of the castle with your uncle.”

He fought to keep from rolling his eyes.“If we win the war, then it was worth it.”

“You’re not a child anymore.There is no excuse for such behavior.”

“That’s right, I’m not a child and therefore don’t require a curfew.”

Father shook his head.“You are still the prince of this land, and you have a target on your back every time you leave.What if the mice had captured you?”

Klaus breathed deeply in through his nostrils, his hands clasped behind him in agitation.“Please try to understand, Father.I knew there was a mage in the Realm of Waking.I watched her defeat the Mouse King once.And I know she can do it again.”

Alaric shook his head.“And what if she can’t?”

“Then at least we tried!”Klaus stopped as he raised his voice to the Sugar Plum Consort.The servants were staring.Frustration oozed from every pore.He faced his father and lowered his voice to a whisper.“Let Mother have her tested.There must be a reason she has magic.Theremust.”Turning, he continued following his mother in silence.

Mother waved down the head housekeeper and spoke quickly in her ear just as Klaus caught up.Clara grasped onto his arm with a trembling hand, and he wanted to beat his own ass for bringing her here.

This woman had thought their realm a figment of her imagination.But when he asked for help, she agreed.And now his mother was treating her like some sort of suspicious character.He laid his hand over hers at his elbow with a gentle squeeze.She was so brave, his Clara.

They followed his mother’s housekeeper to the guest wing of the palace.Thankfully, his parents left them.Klaus could have taken her there himself, but Mrs.Rein would have her own duties to fulfill.

“I’m sorry.”Klaus spoke under his breath.

Clara shook her head, her face ashen.“It’s not your fault.I chose to come with you.”

“I did not know she’d be so…” Unwelcoming.Harsh.Klaus realized that he’d seen her be cold and unfeeling towards people who she distrusted before, but he’d never dreamed she’d be that way with his Clara.

And yes, he was referring to her as his.Back in his homeland, far away from the engagement that she said would be official in six days’ time, he could pretend she was his.For a little while.

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