North Pole City Tales 02 - The Heart of Frost by Charlie Cochet Page B

heartache. He wasn’t just any toy soldier I could risk revealing myself to. This was the Prince of Frost. One wrong move and I’d never see the light of day again. There was also the fact he seemed determined to drive me mad with his anger and indifference toward me.
    “We were arguing over something silly. It went like any other argument, with one of us walking away for our own good, except when I turned to walk away, I tripped over the toolbox, fell into the landing gear, and banged my head.” Rudy couldn’t keep his heart from swelling at the memory. “He shouldn’t have cared. Any other day, he wouldn’t have. But that day, something was different, something had changed. He was down at my side, his hand to my brow as he helped me up, and although he was still arguing, it was over how I should have been more careful, how I could have seriously hurt myself. When I looked up into his eyes, I saw concern. The changes were so minimal, so gradual, like… ice melting drop by drop. Then came the day of my first Big Flight.”
    Rudy had never been more nervous or excited as he had been on that day. The night sky had been clear, and to this day, Rudy wondered if it had been Jack’s doing. Rudy had asked him once, long ago, but Jack had neither confirmed nor denied it at the time. “It went better than I could have expected. When it was over, he called me into his office to tell me I’d done a good job. I was stunned.”
    “Because he’d praised you?” Noel asked.
    “Because he was smiling at me, genuinely smiling. He gets these little wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.” Rudy felt his cheeks grow warm at Tim’s knowing smile. “Anyway, I didn’t know what to say. By then, I had fallen pretty deep, but like I said, this was Jack Frost. Most creatures were scared to look him in the eye, much less tell him they were in love with him. I thanked him and left.
    “At the after-flight celebration at the Rein Dear estate, everyone was getting merry on eggnog, and I admit I was a little jolly myself. Jack was the only one not drinking, which really wasn’t a surprise. There was mistletoe, and I ended up under it with Vixen. There were rumors circulating about him and another elf around that time, but nothing confirmed. I remember feeling so confused by Jack’s anger when he grabbed my arm and started dragging me down the hall to my apartment. He pushed me inside and slammed the door. I asked him what was wrong, watched while he paced for a while, and I swear when he marched up to me, I thought he was going to turn me into an ice cube. At first, I thought maybe he was upset by seeing two elves kissing, until his lips were on mine.”
    “He was jealous!” Tim declared triumphantly, making Rudy chuckle.
    “You have no idea. By the end of his confession, my head was spinning. When I told him how long I had been in love with him….”
    Tim sighed dreamily. “That’s the most romantic story I’ve ever heard.”
    “You need to get out more,” Noel grumbled.
    “Hush.” Tim elbowed Noel playfully, letting out a giggle when Noel planted a kiss beneath his ear. When they turned their attention back to Rudy, he couldn’t help his unease.
    “Jack has the power to destroy life, but it’s his heart that keeps him from being a monster. If he keeps down this path, we’re going to lose him…. I’m going to lose him, and I’m afraid I might not be able to get through this time.” Rudy couldn’t bring himself to tell his friends they were already well on their way to losing Jack. He had seen it in his lover’s eyes, seen the warmth flickering like a candle flame in the path of a forceful breeze. If they lost Jack… who knows what it would mean for all of them. “Please, you have to keep an eye on him for me.”
    “Us?” Noel sat up, looking alarmed. “We’re no match for him.”
    “Only keep an eye on him, and if he grows menacing, keep your distance. Maybe you can help him get to the bottom of this quickly.