Aella defensively held up her palms and said nothing more as we entered the plaza. Several citizens gathered around a massive tree that rivaled the height of surrounding buildings. Candles with eternal flames hung in multiple places, along with holly, cranberries, acorns, and various carved wooden ornaments—crescent moons, pentagrams, runes, and snowflakes.
“This looks beautiful,” I breathed out, standing at its base and gawking up at it.
A pixie named Flora trotted over to me with her hands curled under her chin. “Doesn’t it?” Her dewy blue eyes sparkled from the flickering flames, and she continuously flapped her translucent, curved wings. “If only they could stop bickering.”
She pointed at two orcs arguing and gesturing toward the top of the tree.
“Hm. Why don’t you have a sugarplum and offer some to the rest of them?” I handed the plate to Flora.
“Oh dear,” she said with a wistful sigh, taking the plate and jostling on her heels, making her black curly hair bounce.
“They’re good. Like orgasmically good,” Aella said to her, motioning for her to eat one.
Approaching the arguing and very large males, I patted my thighs, focusing on the only one I knew by name because he owned The Minty Boar. “Dagnar, what seems to be the problem?”
“Sylvie, hey, great to see you for the tree ceremony this year.” Dagnar smiled, accentuating the two large tusks that protruded over his bottom lip. “We have this sun topper that Apollo made for us to use this year, but we underestimated how tall the damn tree is.” He chuckled at that, but the other orc wasn’t as amused.
“And someone forgot to bring a ladder,” he yelled to the other citizens decorating the plaza fountain and lights with pine garland.
As if providing an answer, my wings furiously flapped behind me. Though Flora too possessed wings, she was far too tiny to lift the topper with her. I gestured for them to hand it over. “I can do it.”
“Your wings,” Dagnar said, staring in awe at them, shimmering with ice and snow. “I honestly forgot you had them.”
“I did a little too, but have recently been inspired to show them off more.”
And not because of the way Jack looked at them, mesmerized. This was forme.
With the sun topper in hand, I marveled at the actual sun vapors floating around its circular golden base. Using the power of my wings, I flew to the top and gently rested the topper there, hovering backward to gaze at the completed tree in all its glory from the best seat in the house.
“How does it look from down there?” I yelled, still hovering and staring at the animated miniature sun atop the tree.
“Gorgeous,” Flora beamed.
Aella made some form of an “ooo” sound while Dagnar offered a thumbs up. The other orc waved his hands at it, sneered, and walked away.
Letting myself slowly float to the ground, I paused to watch the Arcane Cove citizens happily enjoying my sugarplums. They were laughing, chatting, and humming various popular holiday melodies. The heartwarming sight brought a comforting smile to my lips, and I started humming a song, not realizing which one had come to my mind first.
Aella leaned toward me and off-key sang, “Jack Frost nipping at your nose.”
“Don’t make me shove an entire blueberry muffin in your mouth next.” I glared at her.
Aella grimaced. “But I hate blueberries.”
“I know,” I replied, flashing a wicked grin.
Aella playfully smacked me on the shoulder, and we threw ourselves into a childish, frantic game of batting each other’s hands and giggling.
“Well, I for one think it’s absolutely beautiful,” a male’s voice said, deep as the Earth’s core.
Aella and I froze, our fingers interlaced, and I peered around her, instantly hating myself for the disappointment that trickled over me like hot fudge drizzle. It wasn’t Jack. It was Thor.
Aella snorted and tossed her hair over one shoulder. “Were you talking about the tree or me, Norseman?”
“Actually—” Thor’s bright eyes glinted, his auburn hair accentuated by the candles’ flames. “—no offense, but I was referring to Sylvieandthe tree.”
Aella made an exaggerated circle with her head and chin, mouthing the word “okay” before she spun away. “In that case, I’ll go build a snowman with Flora.” She grabbed my shoulder as she passed, pulling me closer. “This could be an excellent distraction from you know who. Take it, Sylvie.”
Taking another glance at Thor beaming at me, his tanned, carved arm muscles bulged from underneath the brown leather vest he wore.
