Holiday Second Chance Romance (Clarice and Trevor) novel Chapter 47

47 The Elven Kingdom (Part 1)

Clarice POV

+25 Parare

As I start to rouse from sleep, I hear a whispered voice. I can’t quite make it out at first, but then I realize it’s Nick. “I just want you to know that I love your mommy and I love you too. You are going to be my little girl. I’m going to protect you from all the icky boys,” he says. I slowly open my eyes and realize his face is resting near my belly. My heart squeezes in my chest when I realize he is talking to our daughter. She is our daughter, even if she never shares DNA with him. “I know you can’t be the next Santa because of the whole legend thing, but that doesn’t make you any less special,” he says.

I can feel tears edging my eyes. “In fact, you’ll be even more special, just like your aunt Chrissy. You’ll be the one that helps keep your brother on schedule when he takes over for me. You’ll make sure he doesn’t screw up. He’ll think he is the sh*t because he gets to where the red suit, but he’ll only be able to be Santa because of you. You make sure if he ever gets too big for his britches, you remind him of who is really in charge, or you tell dad, and I will,” he says. I can’t stop the giggle that escapes my lips.

“Are you eavesdropping, my sweet Clarice,” he asks, his eyes meeting mine. “I most certainly am,” I say as he moves until he is hovering over me. “I’m listening to the perfect man tell our daughter how loved she is already.” He chuckles and presses a kiss against my lips before he pulls back and looks into my eyes. “I am far from perfect. In fact, I can promise you that the word has never been used to describe me,” he says.

“Then that’s because no one has ever known the real you.” I cup his cheeks in my hands. “I have never felt safer and more loved in my life than I do when I’m with you. The fact that I just woke up to you telling our daughter that she will be even more special than the future Santa Claus leaves me with no words. I never worried that you wouldn’t love our daughter, but knowing that she will always have you in her corner when others look at her as less because she isn’t your magical heir means everything to me. I love you, Nick.”

“I promise you if I ever hear anyone treating our daughter like she is less than and that includes her brother, they will wish they didn’t piss me off. They will also earn a permanent place on the naughty list,” he says, and I giggle. He presses another kiss to my lips before he moves down my body and presses a kiss to my belly. He looks up at me and his eyes hold so much love. “I have some place special I want to take you today. Are you up for teleporting to the Elven Kingdom,” he asks.

I practically squeal as I sit up, almost knocking him over. He chuckles as he pulls me onto his lap. “Seriously, are we going to the Elven Kingdom? Is there a castle? Is there a king and queen,” I ask, unable to contain my excitement. “I promise you it’s not that exciting. There is a

At the then Kaplin (Part 1)

castle and a king and queen, but they are the most boring elves you’ll ever meet, he says, “Do they have pointy ears, 1 blurt out and cover my mouth,

Nick throws his head back and laughs. “Oh,1 can’t wait to tell my mother you asked that question, he says. My eyes get big. “Don’t you dare tell her. I was just thinking about what Santa and the elves looked like in every picture i saw as a kid, I don’t want your mother mad at me” “First, my mother would never be made at you. Hell, I think if she had to pick between the two of us she would pick you” he says with a wink.

I slap at his chest playfully. “Second, elves do have pointy ears. We aren’t really sure how the humans figured it out. One must have been seen many years ago, but it’s about the only part of what they look like that’s right. Elves aren’t small. In fact, they can be quite big. I’m part elf because of my mother. That’s actually why we are going to the village that surrounds the castle today, I want to introduce you to my grandparents,” he says,

“Your mom’s parents or your dad’s parents.” “My mom’s parents. Her mother is an elf and her father was born human. He actually stumbled upon her while hiking in the woods near the entrance to the kingdom. She was being mischievous and hiding from her sister when she ran into my grandfather. The minute he caught her, before she could hit the ground, they were in love,” he says. “Seriously, love at first sight.”

“That’s the story they tell and, since none of us were there to witness their meeting, we have to believe them,” he says with a smirk. “How old are they?” “They are both just over half a milenia old, but she is a tad older than him being an elf an all,” he says, “Will I get to meet Chris’s parents too?” He smiles but there is a sadness to it. “Unfortunately they aren’t with us anymore. We don’t have many enemies in our life, but a man that felt my grandmother should have been his decided that he was going to get rid of my grandpa Nick. Since the id**t himself never found his one, he had no idea that killing my grandpa would kill my grandma

too,” he says,

“Nick, I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have asked.” “Of course you should. I want you to know everything about me just as I want to know everything about you. Everything won’t be sugar cookies and candy canes from our pasts,” he says. I press a kiss on his lips. “What happened to the elf?” “My father made sure he understood what happens when you hurt our family,” he says. “Are you saying your father,” I say, and run my finger across my neck.

He laughs and grips my finger. “My father is the best man I know, but he can also be the hardest too. He did what he had to in order to avenge his parents. I would do the same. I won’t allow anyone to hurt our family and if they do, it will cost them,” he says. I press one more quick peck to his lips before I scurry off his lap. He chuckles as I sprint for the bathroom. “I’m glad to see you’re so excited about meeting my grandparents,” he says just as I reach the door.

2/4

to Pag and a the aber have lies in hinging my chosen one today the in gong by bus

Cave and get ready for not whered about her sing gay tee wothed shor

wying to keep you he say with a ek

1 roll my eyes and make my way into the bathroom An hour later to Aranced in jean are getting a litle has and a forest grean sweater fick is dressed post an evally in jene and a red Tshirt He reaches into a closet and puts out a puffy blue coat we help me get on, and I look at him confused 1 assume where we are going is cold. You don’t need a

“Nope, one of the many perks of being the next Santa Claus Cold Bowen’t bother me and once we pledge, it won’t bother you either he says. He pulls me into his arms and wrap myself around his middle. A few seconds later, we are standing in an alleyway look at him confused as to why he couldn’t appear in the open. “I haven’t been announced yet. Once that happens, I could appear in the middle of the castle, and it wouldn’t matter, but only Poyals

can teleport,” he says.

He grabs my hand and pulls me out of the alley onto a busy sidewalk. He wasn’t kidding when he said it was cold. I think it’s colder here than in the dead of winter in Colorado. I wonder exactly where it is we are? “Nick, where are we?” He smiles and leans, so his lips are close to my ear. “Well, the North Pole, of course.” “You’re serious. We are in the North Pole.” “Yep” he says popping the P. I look around as we pass shops and people. They are all wearing hats and I wonder if the cold affects them, unlike Nick.

“How come all the elves are wearing hats?” He chuckles, and I can tell he is enjoying my questions. “They can feel the cold, but not nearly as much as a human or nearly as little as me. So they still bundle up, but you’ll get to see my grandma has pointed ears when we finally reach their house,” he says with a wink. “Don’t you dare tell her I asked that, Nick Kringle.” “1 won’t tell grandma, but I’m definitely telling mom” he says and I roll my eyes. “The only reason mom doens’t have them is because she is part human. So her ears are like her dad’s,” he

says.

We walk for ten more minutes before we come to a cute little house with green and red shutters. I smile when I notice the small porch where I can picture his grandparents sitting if the weather was ever warm. He leads me up three steps onto the porch before he knocks twice. When the door opens, the woman squeals and my mouth drops open. She looks like she is in her early sixties. She throws open the door and launches herself at Nick. “It’s been too long since you visited Nick. I’ve missed you,” she says.

When she takes a step back to look at him, she finally notices me. “Oh my goodness, who is this beautiful creature,” she asks as she moves to stand in front of me. “Grandma Glendora, this is Clarice, my one,” he says. Her eyes get like saucers and this time she launches herself

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47 The Elven Kingdom (Part 1)

425 Pors

at me. Thankfully, I’m able to stop myself from toppling over with Nick’s help and I hug her back.

“I can’t believe he finally found you,” she says, pulling back to look at me. “You are a human” she says and her smile widens. “I am. It was quite a shock to find out that magical people existed.” She laughs and she looks even younger. “I’m sure it was. My husband would know a thing or two about that. Come in and meet him. He will be so excited to know our Nick is finally not going to be such a grump and take over his duties,” she says, and I giggle. I can’t believe this is my life.

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