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“Definitely. But you and I are safe here in Northernmost, and Santa will figure out a way to stop him eventually.”

While the storm raged outside the dome, they stood in silent contemplation. Somewhere out there, Frost and Nightmare had teamed up, and their endgame was Santa’s death and the destruction of Northernmost. Winter couldn’t imagine a more dangerous combination.

Later, back in his apartment, after they’d driven each other wild once more, True curled against him under the blankets, warm and smelling like his best dream.

“Today was wild.”

“Which part?” he asked with a chuckle.

“All of it. Do you realize that less than a day ago I was flying to Hudson Bay and now I’m wearing your marks and we’re talking about the future? It’s crazy and fast, but it also feels really right.”

“Because we’re truemates.”

“I’m so glad you found me out in the snow.” She moved up to kiss him, then settled back down at his side. “What happens next?”

“We’ll figure it out together,” he said. “The important thing is we keep each other safe. Everything else will reveal itself in time.”

Within minutes, she was asleep, her cheek on his chest, and he smiled in the darkness. He was falling hard for his mate and it wasn’t just because she was gorgeous and made his polar bear happy. She was a treasure, from head to toe and all parts between, and he was looking forward to getting to know her better.

Fate and Jack Frost had literally tossed them together, and while he hated that bastard and his evil ways, he was glad he’d been on patrol and found True.

He fell asleep with a smile on his face, visions of a sweet, long and happy future with True dancing in his mind.

The following morning, True woke in Winter’s arms in the dark apartment beneath Northernmost, the most content she’d ever been. After spending an inordinate amount of time in the shower together, they grabbed breakfast in the cafeteria, where she met even more Guardians and their mates, as well as Chase, the last snow leopard Guardian yet to find his truemate, who said her falling out of the sky gave him hope that he might find his forever girl in an exciting way.

She walked with Winter toward the security office for his shift, bummed that he needed to work. As they passed Santa’s offices, a female elf stuck her head out of the main office door and said, “Santa wants to see you two.”

Winter stopped. “Us two?”

“Yep.”

“Okay, thanks, Penny.” He looked at True and shrugged. “I guess we’re stopping to see Santa.”

“Lead the way.”

They walked through the offices, where elves held portions of the naughty and nice list and reviewed them slowly. “I would have thought the naughty and nice list would be digitized at this point,” she said.

“I have it digitized,” Santa said from his doorway, “but not until it’s been gone over by hand this way. The digitized list lets me make last-minute changes. Come on in, you two.”

“Hello,” True said. She paused inside the office, taking in the massive fireplace and the picture window with a perfect view of the Well of Magic. She left Winter’s side and walked to the window to stare out at the beautiful scene.

“It’s a wonder, isn’t it?” Santa said.

“I’m… in awe. I don’t think I’d get anything done in here if I could look at this all day. It’s mesmerizing.”

“Now that the storm has abated, the view is nice again. For a while I could only see the glow and not the Well itself.”

She stared until her eyes burned and she had to force herself to blink. “Stunning,” she said, then turned and joined Winter near the big desk. “So what did you want to see us about?”

Santa gestured to two chairs, and they sat while he settled into a large leather desk chair that creaked slightly. “How are you settling in? Are you feeling fully healed? You can shift if you need to, anytime.”

She smiled. “I’m great, thanks. Emberlin’s healing was amazing, and I’d like to thank her again sometime. And it’s only the second day, but so far I think I’m settling in well.” Winter took her hand and gave it a squeeze.

“Did you speak to your parents? Did your Parliament make it to their destination?”

“They did, and yes, I did.”

Santa cleared his throat. “I’m sorry that you can’t leave right now. It’s imperative that I keep the Portal closed unless it’s absolutely necessary to open it.”