Page 25 of Nice

"Stand down, Asmon. I don't want to keep hurting you," he growls.

A fine sheen of sweat covers Red's face, a testament to just how hard he's working to keep Asmon pinned. What the hell am I supposed to do? Is this the point where I have to choose between two men I don't really even know? Fuck that. I yank my arm down, catching Kris off guard. Before he can grab me again, I race out of the room, turning so I can flee down the hall. Instead of freedom, however, I meet a solid block of man in my path. Looking up, the first thing I see is a stern frown and blonde eyebrows scrunched up in confusion.

"S-sorry," I stammer, trying to ease back from the behemoth. "I wasn't paying attention."

"Clearly," he mutters, grasping my shoulders and taking a step back. "Nothing bruised or broken?"

I pat myself down just to be sure before giving my head an emphatic shake.

"Good. I'm assuming you'll be joining us then?"

He gestures towards the room I just escaped from and panic claws at my insides. I can't go back there. I'm just a human. No match for anything or anyone. Not waiting for my response, the man tilts down and grabs just below my ass before tipping me over his shoulder. What is with these men and the caveman routine? I burst into a flurry of movement, the weight of Déjà vu hitting me like a ton of bricks. Is this to be my life now? Manhandled and tossed about by every male in the North Pole?

As he walks through the room, a loud growl meets my ears.

"For fuck's sake Dasher, put her down. I'm already struggling to get him under control."

The room dips and sways as he lowers me. My gaze searches out Asmon's. His eyes are red and bulging, looking every inch the monster. Fear thrums through my body but it's overridden by the need to go to his side. It's like instinct is driving me as I walk across the small expanse to him. His eyes bore into mine, willing me to come closer. Shouts fill my ears but can't seem to penetrate the fog that's in my brain.

Dasher's hands reach out and grab me again, but I yank free, determined to get close to Asmon. Once I lay my hands on his arm, something shifts between us. His breathing calms down to an even tempo, matching mine breath for breath. His eyes never leave mine. They stalk every moment like a predator watching his prey. Goosebumps explode over my skin as my body clenches with need from his heated gaze.

After several minutes of this standoff everyone breathes a collective sigh. Red eases his arm up in infinitesimal increments until it's just laying on him limply. With a growl, Asmon tosses it off him before drawing me to his side. His warmth seeps into my body as I snuggle up next to him, drawing his strength into me. Kris looks between him and me, a sour expression pinching his face.

"I came to let you all know that dinner was ready," Red speaks up, giving us a little room. "Is everyone calmed down enough to actually eat?"

Asmon grumbles a bit but nods and follows the two others out the door, Kris bringing up the rear.

"I'm assuming they are the Rudolph and Dasher? like from the song?"

Kris snorts behind us, "Quickest way to piss off Dasher is with that infernal song."

"It makes it look like we can't function without Red," Dasher shoots back, not even turning to look at us.

“How do you think I feel,” Red mumbles. “At least people don’t think you have a shiny red nose.”

Lowering my voice, I look up at Asmon. "Does he have the ears of a bat?"

"Shifter." He finally turns to glance at me. "We're shifters. And yes, we hear everything."

My stomach rumbles at that very moment. Thankfully, instead of commenting, Dasher just smirks and looks forward.

Asmon reaches over and grabs my hand, squeezing it for a moment in his tight grasp. Emotion chokes me as we make our way back down the hallway and to the dining room. Unfortunately, it feels more like we're walking towards our death instead of delicious food. The smells already reach my nose even though I have no clue how far away we really are. Every hallway turns into another hallway until we're twisting and turning so much, I don't even have a hope of remembering how to get out.

The only positive is that every inch of this place is decorated in Christmas goodness. My parents never really believed or disbelieved, they basically let me set the pace. With money being tight, that meant a small tree, minimal decorations, but still lots of love. As I got older, the magic disappeared entirely; however, being in Santa's house, I can't help but feel overwhelmed with the good cheer pouring out from every corner. Tears mist my eyes and I struggle to keep from wiping them away. The last thing I need is to alert Asmon to these feelings. Things are already tenuous enough between him and Kris.

I look up at his face, disheartened at the angry expression still dipping down his brows. How can anyone be angry in wonderland such as this? The only thing missing is a snow cloud that follows you everywhere. The crown moldings glint and glisten with twinkling lights. Green boughs dip and sway along each wall. The doors themselves are festooned with garland, lights, and greenery. Truly, it's a sight to behold.

"Why all this cloak and dagger Kris. You realize I've been in this house several times. Hell, I grew up here for a chunk of it."

"Don't remind me," he grinds out, pushing and shoving past me to pull up ahead of everyone to lead the parade. "Besides, you can't begrudge me showing off a little for our lovely mortal. She hasn't been here before and I want to make a great impression."

"What's there to show off? More Christmas crap? No one here cares about that. We live here, remember?"

Dasher and Rudolph pause and turn around, a warning flashing in their eyes. With a grunt, Asmon holds up his hands in defeat and keeps walking behind them.

"If you don't want to be here, why don't we just go home? We don't have to eat."

"We're not leaving until we get to the bottom of this. If that means suffering through another infernal dinner, then so be it."