Page 17 of Naughty

"He touched me, does that count?"

Asmon crinkles his nose in distaste.

"Where did the bad man touch you, Kris?"

I punch him in the shoulder, tamping down the smile tilting my lips.

"He grabbed my arm, you moldy candy cane."

He laughs and leans over to where I point, his nose wrinkling up.

"That doesn't smell like an elf."

Leaning in again, he grabs the sleeve and brings it to his nose.

"I know this smell. Where else could he have been?"

Asmon tilts his head up and scents the air, his eyes widening. He starts walking away, and I hurry after him.

"If he was working here, he could have been anywhere, touched anything."

He pauses again, eyes closed. A weary look passes over his face as he turns about.

"There are too many conflicting scents. You've got to give me something else."

"I don't have proof, but I think he was in my study."

With a firm nod, Asmon sets off in that direction. I hope I'm wrong. I hope to the Fathers that he's out somewhere with his family and he didn't actually infiltrate my home. We walk in silence, Asmon's body becoming more rigid as we get closer to the office. I breathe in deep, trying to get even a whiff of what he's smelling, but I get nothing. I even pull my sleeve around, and it smells like whatever the laundry elf cleaned it in.

The only other smells I can pick up are Noel. I still smell faint traces of her on my body. Stifling a groan, I lower my sleeve and pick up my pace. As we near the door, Asmon stops and turns to me, his eyes wide. A prickle of unease skitters up my spine.

"I know this smell. I don't understand it, but I recognize it."

He storms into the room with me hot on his heels. Pushing past Red, he grabs Caitlin and pulls her into his arms. I turn away from their display, not wanting any remembrance of her or them. After a few moments, I turn, and they're standing there, gazing into each other's eyes.

"I'm going to barf any second now. Who the holly is it?"

He shakes his head and touches Caitlin on the nose.

"I hope I'm wrong. I hope this isn't the same smell, but it smells like Marcus."

I give him a blank stare. Marcus. I mull the name over in my brain. I don't think I recognize it. At least I don't recall Father ever saying that name. Asmon gives an exasperated gasp.

"Do you really not pay attention to anything that doesn't pertain to you? Marcus? Marcus Dreher? Ein Hexenmeister? Anything?"

"I vaguely remember hearing something about him, but from what Father said, he's a tottering old man. How could he possibly be behind this? And why?"

"I can't answer the why, but if it's not him, it's a relative." Shaking his head, he looks back up at me, confusion flashing in his eyes. "I met him once. He looked nothing like that elf. Is there some power that can transform North Polians that I don't know about?" He turns back to Caitlin and grasps her chin. "You are not to leave Northport. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Sir."

Her soft, submissive whisper puts my teeth on edge. My mind wanders back to Noel. How beautiful would she be, kneeling at my feet whispering Sir, in that soft, seductive voice? Blood rushes down to my groin, and I shift my legs to hide it. The last thing I need is Asmon thinking I'm lusting after Caitlin. That sleigh has flown, never to return.

"I'm assuming you know where to find him?"

Asmon flexes his jaw and nods. There's a story there, but that's for a much later time. Glancing back over to the monitor, I watch Caitlin hard at work. I can't believe that in just a couple of days, I found my perfect elf, only to have her stab me in the back. Asmon jostles me with a fist to my shoulder.

"Are you going to stay there daydreaming? Or are we confronting him?"

Bristling, I square my shoulders and follow him out. Red follows close behind, and, if I'm honest, it makes me feel a bit better knowing he has my back. No matter what our differences, Red would die for me, of that, I have no doubt. I cast a quick prayer up to the Fathers that it won't come to that.

The city bustles about as we step out into North Pole Proper. Several elves stop what they're doing to stare at Asmon but hurry on when they see me with him. How have I not noticed this before? Did I just not care?

That annoying niggle of guilt worms its way in, but I brush it aside. There will be plenty of time to think about that later. We hurry through the town, heading towards the outskirts. I notice the air dip in temperature and frown. Everything should be controlled by the dome. Why would there be cold spots?

That's when I spot the house. Lights twinkle about the place in a garish display. It's the embodiment of Christmas Spirit. Noting the dark wood and small turrets, I feel like two plump children and a witch would complete the scene. I shiver as that thought rolls through my brain. Are we the plump children?

Red tenses next to me. Even Asmon feels on edge. His eyes dart about the place, never staying in one spot for long. Glancing about, I watch as Blitzen and Dasher start prowling around the house. With any potential exit covered, I breathe a sigh of relief. The two of them together are more lethal than even Red is.

Asmon frowns at the house. "He knows we're coming."

"How do you know that?"

"The last time I was here, there was a whirlwind around it. Now, everything is dead quiet."

My heart stutters for a moment. Could Noel be in there with him? Maybe she's his prisoner? My mind drifts back to the letter. No. If anything, she's the one drawing me in, helping this elf, person, thing in ensnaring me. Growling, I storm forward, ignoring the shouts behind me. This ends here.