Page 34 of Return of the Nutcracker Prince

“Of course.I was there for the celebration.You captivated him, even as a boy.”

Lunch forgotten, Clara sank into deep thought.If Klaus chose her to be his princess, would those mages finally accept her?

Her whole life, she’d run to books to escape her life.Fairy tales with princes and dragons.And in her mind, every prince had looked like her Nutcracker.

She’d eschewed courtships prior to the Berengar fiasco.Perhaps that’s why Papa had decided without her.But the more she thought about it, the more she realized that she’d fallen for Klaus as a teenager.Could it be fate like he said?

Clara loved the way he treated her, the way he deferred to her, and the way he held her.She wasn’t just safe with him; heheardher.He cared for his people and listened to them as well.

And she… she cared for him.

No, shelovedhim.

But now was not the time to dwell on it; she didn’t dare distract him.After the battle, after they returned home victorious, she would tell him.

For a moment, she daydreamed about staying in the Land of Sweets and marrying Klaus.Could she lead his people?Surely he would help her.They could be a true team, like her parents were.

“I wish you could stay.”She wished the same.

When lunch was over, the mages were the first group to enter the caves.It would take them until evening to reach the other side, then they would ambush the enemy camp when night fell.Clara tried not to think of the sweet mother she’d met in the storeroom.Hopefully, her mate wasn’t here.

She’d rather just attack the Mouse King instead of going through his minions.But she wasn’t in charge.

True to his word, Klaus kept her with him.He marched in the back of the mage contingent, just in front of the artillery.Only the cannons had kept their horses, the guns too heavy for the soldiers to pull.She ignored the whispers and dirty looks from her fellow Casters.They were just jealous.She’d prove herself in this battle and then they would stop.

Mother Gingerbread led the way through the dark, dank tunnel.She was glad for Klaus’s grounding presence.Eventually, they had to strike a few torches to see; Zelda had ordered the Casters to save their energy for the battle ahead, so their magical lights were out of the question.

In the darkness, Klaus grasped her hand.“Don’t forget your promise, Clara.”

“I’ll do my best.But I’m expected to stay with the other mages,” she whispered back to him.

Torchlight flickered over his face as he begged her with his eyes.“Mage Gingerbread knows what I asked of you.”

“She knows more than that.”Clara swallowed, and focused her gaze dead ahead.“The Casters don’t like me.They called me your pet.”

His hand squeezed hers in a vise.“Does it bother you?”

“Yes,” She blurted out, her volume still low.“I want them to take me seriously.”

He heaved a sigh and released her.“I’m sorry.I’m not sure if I should help or if that would make it worse.”

“It would be worse, I’m sure.”She reached for his hand once more.“But you’re forgiven.”

She could stand any embarrassment as long as he stood by her.

“You’ll show them today.I have faith in you.Then they won’t bother you anymore.”

“It’s hard.I feel so at home here, but most of the people must see me as an outsider.”

He squeezed her hand again, reassuring her, but said nothing.

The closer they got to the end of the cave, the quieter everyone became.Even the horses seemed to understand the danger.When they found the end of the tunnel, Mage Gingerbread called for a halt with a hand gesture.

Ahead, all she could see was a stone wall.Then the wall glowed as their head mage chanted.When the spell was complete, the wall disappeared, and the tunnel opened to the Land of Flowers.

The sun must have set while they traveled; now it lay low in the sky, its reddish glow highlighting the strange flowers that grew along the hills.

“Wow.”Clara barely breathed.She wished she could see it in the light of day; the colors looked exquisite.

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