Loving Blitz (9 page)

“And if he is honorable, he will atone for that mistake,” Jack snapped.

Rudy tried his best to get Jack’s attention, but Jack wouldn’t look at him. “It was an accident.”

“The courts will decide that.”

Rudy shook his head, his expression a mixture of pain and determination. “I will not speak against Hollis.”

The wind whipped furiously through the room, and Blitz wrapped his arms around Cupid to keep him warm. Jack’s pitch-black hair began to grow white from the roots to the tips, his deep voice resonating throughout the room.

“You will be summoned and perform your duties as requested by the courts. Or do you plan to betray your civic obligations as well?”

The windows slammed open and the snow burst in, fluttering wildly through the room, and the wind tossed it from here to there. Regardless of Jack’s fury as he unleashed his pain on the room, Rudy stood his ground.

“I understand your anger, and you have every right to feel betrayed, but don’t I have any say in this?”

“Bringing charges against Major Hollis or not is your choice. That does not mean the courts will do the same. We must all face the consequences of our actions, no matter our status or title. That is all I have to say on the matter. If you need me, I’ll be at my father’s palace.”

Rudy’s voice could barely be heard above the roar of the wind, but Cupid heard it perfectly. He was rather certain the others did as well. “I always need you, Jack.”

“I’ve never doubted that. Until now.”

Cupid’s gasp mirrored Rudy’s.

Tears sprang in Rudy’s eyes and he managed to get a hold of Jack’s sleeve. “How could you question my love for you?” Something in Jack seemed to melt, and his voice softened. The winds died down to small gusts as the snow fell in tiny flakes.

“I would never question your love for me. I question your judgment where that love is concerned.”

“How can you say such a thing? Your love for me is no different.”

“You’re right.” Jack let out a heart-wrenching sigh. “Perhaps we’ve been too quick in assuming love alone could sustain our relationship, much less a marriage and monarchy to lead.”

Rudy looked as if he were about to crumble, but he appeared to be fighting the urge. A lone tear managed to escape and roll down his cheek. “Jack, what are you saying?”

“Forgive me. I just… I need time to think. On all this. On us.” Jack wiped the tear from Rudy’s cheek before turning and walking out of the room, with Dancer and Prancer escorting Major Hollis. Lieutenant Vale swiftly followed after a few soft-spoken words with Vixen, who stayed behind to comfort Rudy.

“Oh gods.” Rudy turned to their uninvited guest, anger and confusion flashing in his pale blue eyes. “What have you done?”

Blitz pulled away from Cupid, his fists curled at his sides. “How dare you—”

“How dare I speak the truth?
I
have nothing to hide. I’m a Dockalfar elf, a title I wear with pride. Unlike my supposedly innocent brother.”

Cupid swallowed hard. He wouldn’t. How could he do this?
Why
would he do this?

“Brother?” Blitz looked around the room at several equally confused elves.

Gunne turned and smiled wickedly at Cupid. “It would seem you have a dark elf amongst your precious Christmas elves.”

The entire table let out a collective gasp. Blitz stared at Cupid in disbelief. “You’re… Dockalfar?”

“Cupid?” Rudy took a step toward Cupid, then seemed to reconsider.

“Tell them,” Gunne taunted. “You may have shunned your dark heritage, but it still lives within you. You can hide it behind your smiles and sweetness, pretend to be a Christmas elf all you like, but the truth is you’re of Dockalfar blood.”

“Stop it!” Blitz turned to Cupid and took hold of his hand. He placed it against his heart. “Cupid, tell me he’s lying. That you could never be a dark elf.”

A million excuses crossed Cupid’s mind. He could simply deny the whole thing and Blitz would believe him; he could see it in Blitz’s eyes. But he couldn’t. “It’s true. My father is Dockalfar. His dark magic flows through my blood.”

Blitz released Cupid. “It’s not possible. You can’t be. You’re too good and sweet.”

Gunne scoffed. “Trickery. He’s used the very powers he detests to deceive you. He may have been born of a faery mother, but his heart and soul belong to the darkness.”

“
You
. It was you who sent those horrid shadow beasts after us.” Blitz marched up to Gunne. “You allowed them to attack your own brother!”

Gunne shrugged. “I thought if his life was in danger, he might reveal himself and show his true strength. How very disappointing. Seems he’s quite the failure at being a magical creature in general.”

Blitz lunged at Gunne and managed to punch him across the jaw before he was tossed across the floor by a dark force.

“Blitz!” Cupid ran to his side to help him up, surprised when his Rein Dear brothers picked Blitz up and pulled him away from Cupid. They stood huddled together to one side, their pained expressions aimed at Cupid.

“You’ve spread your poison,” Blitz growled, pushing away from his brethren. “Now leave before I tear you apart with my bare hands.”

Gunne’s menacing smile grew wide. “Do you really think you’re a match for me, Christmas elf?”

Blitzen took a step forward, only to have Cupid grab hold of his arm. “Please, Blitz.” It broke his heart to pieces when Blitz pulled away from him. Gunne’s laughter resonated through the room.

“It looks like my work here is done.” He turned to Rudy. “Oh, congratulations on the engagement. Good luck being married to a winter spirit. I hear they can be quite coldhearted.”

Rudy advanced, only to have his Rein Dear brothers stop him. Gunne was right about one thing. Christmas elves were no match for a Dockalfar, and they all knew it. Gunne whistled a cheerful tune as he strolled blithely from the room, leaving them all in shards.

Cupid braced himself as he turned to face his friends. All eyes were on him. He could see all the different emotions running through their expressions, from hurt to furious to confused. He loved his brethren, but as his eyes met sparkling silver eyes, he discovered there was only one whom he loved most with all his heart.

“Blitz….”

Dasher took hold of Blitz’s arm and pulled him along with them as they left. “Come, brother. We need to find a way to fix this mess. Mayor Kringle will deal with him.”

“But….” Blitz shook his head, his tearful eyes on Cupid, who was frozen to the spot as if Jack himself had encased his feet in ice.

“He’s betrayed us. Lied to us all these years. He’s not one of us.” Dasher’s voice broke, but he regained his fortitude. “It was all a lie. Dockalfar prey on our sentiments, and when you least expect it, they crush you.”

Cupid watched them go, and his heart splintered. How could this have happened? Everything had been so wonderful, and in a matter of seconds….
Gunne.
Cupid ran in the opposite direction, through the corridor, and out into the garden, where he found his brother. Anger flared through Cupid at Gunne’s callousness.

“How could you?”

“It was good to see you, Brother.” Gunne smiled pleasantly. “You’re always such fun.”

“That’s it? That’s why you came? To destroy me? To hurt my friends?” Why now, after all these years? And to send that terrible beast after him? To hurt him? “You’ve gone too far!”

Gunne blinked at him. “Have I? Seems to me all I’ve done is revealed the truth, something you could never do. And you call yourself an elf of the light.”

Cupid stared at him. How could Gunne be so heartless? It was true they’d never been very close, and Gunne seemed to hold some form of resentment toward him, but they’d never interfered in each other’s lives. Once an elf renounced his Dockalfar life, he could never go back, and contact with any Dockalfar, whether friends or family, was extremely limited.

“Do you hate me that much?” Cupid asked, feeling hurt his brother would go through such lengths simply to see him miserable. “What have I ever done to you?”

Gunne spun toward him, his eyes filled with rage. “You had a choice to be with your real family or these pathetic little Christmas elves, and you chose
them
! Do you know how tiring it is to see your stupid face in the papers year after year after blasted year? How bloody perfect you are, how kind, generous, warm, blah, blah. I got sick of it.” He shook his head in disbelief. “All the power you wield inside you, and you choose to deliver toys.”

“Yes, I deliver toys, but I do so much more. I love being a Rein Dear. I love spreading joy and laughter, love and good will. I didn’t choose them over you. I chose the freedom to live my life as I saw fit. I chose the light.”

“You don’t get to choose! You’re Dockalfar!” Gunne hissed. His black eyes shone with fury.

“No, I’m half-Dockalfar.”

“You’re right. You can’t possibly be full Dockalfar. You’re a pitiful little elf. Pathetic. No good at being a faery, a Christmas elf, or a Dockalfar. Tell me, Cupid. What are you any good at?”

He wouldn’t let Gunne hurt him anymore. Cupid had chosen the path of light, just like his mother. “Think what you will of me. It won’t change the path I’ve chosen.”

Gunne sneered at him. “Your ‘family’ of Rein Dear brothers have abandoned you. So has your lover. The moment they were told what you really were, they turned their back on you. Some family.”

Cupid had heard enough. He needed to find Blitz and talk to him, talk to his brethren. They had to see he was still the same elf he’d always been. Most importantly he had to try to fix things between Jack and Rudy. Not to mention poor Hollis. The thought of him imprisoned because of that blasted Gunne had Cupid curling his fingers at his sides. “Leave.”

“What are you going to do?” Gunne pursed his lips in thought. “Perhaps I’ll find that hotheaded little lover of yours and cast a spell on him. Help his wounded heart.”

The tremulous hold Cupid had on his temper snapped. “You touch him and I’ll—”

“You’ll do what?” Gunne laughed, his dark eyes sparkling with malice. He grinned and looked behind Cupid. When he took a step forward, Cupid blocked his path. He wouldn’t allow Gunne near Blitz. Gunne laughed at him.

“Do you really think you’re a match for me, little brother?” Gunne moved his hands out to his sides, his palm facing out. “I’m going to crush that Christmas elf of yours and turn him into dust.”

“You went out of your way to show the monster I am. How about I show
you
?” Cupid concentrated all his energy on calling for the dark magic of his ancestors, the part of himself he buried deep so long ago. He could feel it swirling inside him, spreading from his middle.

Gunne advanced, and Cupid let out a fierce cry as the darkness burst free from inside him through his hands, the blast knocking Gunne off his feet. The trees shook, some ripped from their roots, and toppled over. The snow beneath his feet had shot away from him. Cupid’s chest hurt, and it took him a moment to clear his blurred vision. It was only the start. At least until he caught the smug look on Gunne’s face.

“Now I’m satisfied.”

Cupid turned in the direction Gunne was looking and a lump formed in his throat. Blitz lay in the snow, and he wasn’t moving. “Blitz? No. Oh gods, no.” He ran to Blitz’s side and dropped to his knees. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Please wake up.” He cupped Blitz’s face, grateful to see he was breathing, but he wouldn’t stir. Cupid had no idea what manner of magic he’d used. He’d denied his Dockalfar heritage and therefore never learned to wield his magic properly. What was he to do? Cupid looked up and found Gunne had vanished. Of course he had. The damage was done.

“Please, Blitz. Stay with me.” Cupid bent over Blitz and kissed his lips. “I love you. Please don’t leave me before I’ve had a chance to tell you so.”

“You’ll get the chance to tell him, you’ll see.”

Cupid gave a start. “Dasher?”

Dasher hung his head in shame. “He wouldn’t leave you. When our hearts saw only your deception, he saw your goodness. He said he wouldn’t leave without you. We were blinded by our heartache. I’m so sorry.”

“
We’re
sorry,” Donner said gruffly, his violet eyes filled with remorse. “You’re one of us. Always will be, no matter what.”

A tear rolled down Cupid’s cheek and he quickly brushed it away. Maybe Gunne was right. He was no good at being a faery, no good at being a Rein Dear, and no good at being a Dockalfar. What good was he? “I’m not one of you. I’m… a monster. Look what I did to Blitzen.” Cupid brushed Blitz’s hair away from his brow. He looked as if he were in a deep sleep. His handsome Blitz was strong and kind. He deserved so much better.

“It was an accident,” Comet insisted.

“I should have confessed sooner. Then none of this would have happened.” Cupid hugged Blitz close. “I’ve ruined everything.”

Dasher knelt down beside him. He placed his hand gently on the back of Cupid’s head as he’d done countless times. The tender touch drew Cupid’s attention, and he met Dasher’s gaze.

“Your brother’s actions are not your own. We’ll find a way to fix this. I promise you. You’re one of us. We love you, Cupid, no matter what you may call yourself.

Cupid didn’t know what to say other than “Thank you.”

“Come on. We’ll take him home. The only one who can help him now is Mayor Kringle. He’ll know what to do.” Dasher pointed to the garden path. “Donner, call us a sleigh. Comet and I will take him through the gardens.”

Donner ran off to call an emergency sleigh, and in no time they were lifting Blitz onto the velvet tufted seat in the back of the large double-seated sleigh. Cupid climbed up and gently lifted Blitz so he could rest Blitz’s head on his lap. Dasher made certain Blitz was toasty warm under a thick blanket before joining the rest of their brethren up front, and then the sleigh was off, speeding toward the Rein Dear Estate. Cupid tenderly brushed Blitz’s hair away from his brow and closed his eyes, concentrating on sending a call out to Mayor Kringle. He prayed Mayor Kringle heard his call for help. Only he possessed the power to heal his dear Blitzen.

When the sleigh arrived, Dasher, Comet, and Donner carried Blitz inside and into his apartment. Cupid swiftly followed, making sure Blitz was comfortable in his bed, a blanket over him. They waited for Mayor Kringle, with Cupid watching over Blitz while his brethren paced. The fireplace was lit with warm flames and the room became toasty warm. The smell of Christmas filled the air, and Mayor Kringle ducked his head as he walked into the room. He stopped at Blitz’s beside and looked him over.