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They found an empty table and sat together, and were soon joined by other Guardians and their mates. Before long, the conversation turned to the upcoming holidays and the travel ban being lifted so everyone could go to their respective groups. By the time the meal was finished, he and True had decided to visit her family first, who would be back in North Dakota after their trip, and then go to his family.

“How long can Winter stay with your family if they don’t let non-owls join?” Aralyn asked.

“I talked to my mom about it yesterday,” she answered, cutting a wedge of waffle and spearing it with her fork. “She said that he could stay for a few days, but I’m expected to pack my things and be ready to move elsewhere.”

“So you’ll come back here?” Pixie asked. “Because you’re working with the toymakers now?”

True looked at Winter and he smiled. He was about to say they hadn’t made any decisions yet when True said, “We’re still deciding, but the truth is I’d be happy wherever Winter is, and he made a commitment to the Guardians. Even if I didn’t love woodcarving and working with the toymakers, I’d still want to be here.”

His brows rose. “Really?”

“Don’t you think so?”

“I’d love that, but I don’t expect you to honor my promises.”

She leaned toward him, her eyes flashing to the amber of her owl for a brief moment. “Your promises are mine too, mate. Here, down south, wherever. I’m yours and you’re mine.”

“Be still my freaking heart,” Emberlin said with a chuckle. “You two are too cute.”

True’s cheeks pinked. “It’s the truth.”

“It is for me too,” Winter said. “I’d like to stay here if you want to.”

She nodded.

“Then let’s toast to the Guardians keeping the band together,” Hunter said, lifting his energy drink. “I don’t want to have to train anyone else for a long time.”

“Hear, hear,” Winter said. He touched True’s mug with his and said, “To the future, sweet love.”

“To us,” she said.

Winter passed the toy shop, very aware that his mate was inside, carving an animal or another toy for a child’s Christmas wish. He thought about the bear she’d made for him and how detailed it was. Her talent and creativity amazed him. He’d hated leaving her in the toy shop, but he was glad she was enjoying herself.

He’d been humbled when she said she’d stay with him anywhere. He felt the same about her. And he was glad she wanted to return to Northernmost after the holidays, because now that she was with him, it really did feel like home. Before, it had been where he lived, but now it felt like it was full of love.

He paused his patrol and stared at the building where she was but didn’t go in. They both had jobs to do, and his was to keep everyone safe. Especially her.

Resuming his patrol route while his bear grumbled at not being with her, he passed the barracks where the elves lived, and what had once been Santa’s home before his wife was killed by Jack Frost. After her death, Santa had remodeled a storage room off his office in the main building into an apartment, and the little cottage had been boarded up and never used again.

It was a sad testament to the seemingly never-ending war between the brothers. If only Frost would see that dark magic had corrupted him and just move on, things could go back to the way they’d been before he’d taken up the fight for control of the Well. Back when they were brothers who loved each other, not enemies determined to destroy one another.

Winter shook his head and kept walking.

Hunter and Sebastian were farther along the perimeter with two of the other elves on patrol, spread apart enough that they weren’t distracted by each other and could focus on the job. The wind gusted suddenly, sending a swirl of snow across the path. Winter frowned.

The storm, which had come back hard the night before, had eased by the time they went on patrol, but it felt like it was building again.

His bear stirred uneasily, and he felt it too. Something wasn’t right.

He reached the Portal, which was closed with Santa’s magic, the bones of the ancient, extinct beast pale against the dark sky. Slowing his steps, he scanned the sky beyond the magical perimeter. Snow whipped across the landscape, and the hair on the back of his neck prickled.

The temperature dropped a few degrees.

Winter’s radio beeped and he answered. “Yeah?”

“Did you feel that?” Sebastian said.

“Yeah, the storm is picking up again.”