Ash pulled the keys from his pocket and tossed them to her. “Where are you headed?”
“I just want to stretch my legs.”
He paused and studied her more closely. “Going hiking? By yourself?”
“Just a short outing. Don’t worry. It’s a well-worn trail.”
Ash didn’t look one hundred percent convinced, but he just pulled her in again, lifting her chin with his hand. “Dinner date in the gazebo tonight?”
Holly smiled. It was one of her favorite things. “Can we invite Sofia?” She paused for a moment, thinking about her suggestion to Sofia the night before. “And Isaiah?”
Ash didn’t even hesitate. “Of course. I’ll ask them today. Six o’clock?”
“I’ll be there.”
They embraced once more, Holly taking in the scent of evergreen that was Ash’s aftershave. She would never get tired of it.
Thirty minutes later,Holly was at the trailhead. The forest looked different with all the snow melted. The first signs of spring were already appearing, though she’d been warned by Ash that it was probably a false spring. Still, her eyes caught on the sage and lime colors that sprang up in such stark contrast to the bright white they’d had for the last month.
Before long, she approached the tall tree Sofia had indicated a month before. Holly walked to it and stood where Isaiah had, closing her eyes.
She nearly let out a yelp as a tingle shot up her spine and down her arms. The sensation seemed to wrap around her wrist, encircling the watch where she stored Cheer for the North Pole.
Holly looked around quickly, but the trail and forest were quiet. “What in the stars…?”
She suddenly had a thought and took a deep breath, trying not to panic. Slowly, she inhaled the fresh mountain air as she considered her options. She could either wait for her upcomingtrip to the North Pole to chase down the idea that had taken root, or she could use her watch to call Clementine. Once they’d discovered the form of magical communication the previous year, Holly and Clementine had agreed to use the system to touch base if urgently needed.
Holly held the watch up to her ear and listened to the soft chiming pattern, which changed constantly. Once she caught the rhythm, she tapped along.Tick, tick, tick. Tick, tick. Tick.
The watch started to glow, and a few minutes later, Holly glimpsed the serious face and ice-blond braids of Clementine.
“Ms. Claus. Is everything all right?”
Holly remembered the last time she had called, when they had been on the brink of a full-blown Christmas emergency. She rushed to assure Clementine. “Everything’s fine, I think. But I’ve experienced something… strange. I was hoping to talk to Lumi Kringle.”
Clementine nodded, her golden eyes glinting on the surface of the watch like liquid amber. “I’ll send Auryn for her. Be right back.”
Holly stood to the side of the path as she waited.
Five minutes passed then ten.
Finally, Clementine reappeared on the watch face, breathless. “I’m so sorry, Ms. Claus. I’m afraid Lumi is nowhere to be found. And I couldn’t find Auryn either.” Clementine’s normally smooth face was scrunched in concern.
Holly thought she had a pretty good idea where Lumi Kringle—the oldest elf—might be. Most likely, she was in Finland, living her alter-ego life as a human operating a café.
But Auryn’s being missing seemed strange. He had never left the North Pole in his life.
“He’s probably at the ski park,” Clementine said.
Holly’s shoulders relaxed. It was the offseason for the elves, after all.
“Okay. Thanks, Clementine. I’ll get in touch with Lumi. Everything okay there?”
“All’s gooey. Are you and Ash coming for the reindeer games next cycle?”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Holly said, smiling at the thought. Ash hadn’t been back to the North Pole since his first time there on Christmas Eve. She couldn’t wait to see his reaction to the reindeer games.
Holly broke the connection on her watch and took one last look around the trail. Something was definitely off. She just hoped it wasn’t what she thought it might be.
