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I crumbled on the inside, and even if I could feel my body, I was icy cold from terror. “Isn’t there antitode?”
“The potion will keep you warm against the chill while you’re stiff. It’ll only last a short while until it wears off. For now, I need you safe because I’ve got to get me some beaver.” Jax chuckled at his own dumb joke while I drowned in fear. He hauled me across an oversized branch ladened high with crystalized snow. He pressed my back to the trunk and undid the tie, keeping us bound. Fast to spin around, he worked the rope around the tree and me, tying me in place.
He proceeded to scoop armfuls of snow and piled them around my legs, then upward.
“Don’t bury me. Please,” I pleaded.
He hurried, covering me to my neck. “Didn’t you ever want to play snowman? Just pretend it’s that.” He glanced down to the ground at the fight, but I couldn’t move my head to witness the battle. Tears welled in my eyes. What if they died while I was tied to a tree?
He kissed me, stilling my words, and whispered, “Just remember, sweetheart, I adore you.” Then he covered my face with snow, leaving my mouth and nose uncovered.
Moments later, I was alone. I was a snowwoman being hidden in the tree, while three men who were somehow crawling into my heart, making me care about them, were facing deathly danger.
The sounds of a battle ensued, and I stood there, immobile, hating the hopeless feeling. How the world seemed to close in around me. Why the fuck couldn’t Jax have at least poked out holes for my eyes? I was furious that the man had covered me in snow when I’d experienced plenty of danger my entire life. And I’d always gotten out of any sticky situation.
I had no idea how much time had passed, but the silence stretched out, and I doubted anyone was with me anymore. Or were the men all dead, lying on the ground, having drowned in their own blood?
It wasn’t long before a prickly sensation crawled through my body. My feeling slowly returned, and I cheered on the inside, willing myself to move my arms. But it all came on in slow motion, as if like snakes slithered over my flesh before I finally gained back mobility. I pushed the snow off me, the icy cold creeping over me.
I wiped my face clean, staring down to find only the sleigh below. No animals. No bodies. Even the frozen moose was gone. Where was everyone?
Patting my body, I found the cord around my waist and pulled at the knot that unraveled at my touch. My gloved hands trembled, and my teeth chattered. But I had to move and find the men. I hurried down the tree, studying the mosaic of footprints, and it was clear they all led away from the site, toward the mountain range. Which meant one thing. Krampus was behind this, and he’d captured not only my sister, but my men.
Fury replaced my earlier fear, and I wanted Krampus to suffer. To pay for hurting those close to me.
I climbed into the sleigh and pulled out the blanket before wrapping it around my shoulders. Overhead, the sun peeked out from behind the curtain of clouds. I stared out into the distance, well aware I had to somehow save everyone, not to mention, save Christmas.
I snorted a laugh at how ridiculous that sounded and dug around the front seat of the sleigh for any weapons I could use.
