Bat and the Blitz by A. Gregory
Raya
Dear candy cane gods.
This is next-level intense.
When I first learned that I would be posted in Christmas Town during Christmas, I expected the whole village to be holiday-crazed. How could it be anything else than every Yule-time cliché imaginable?
I anticipated decorations and lights everywhere. Cheery people rushing busily in the streets on the way to the workshops. Maybe even some super fragrant treats scenting the cold, crisp winter air.
In truth, nothing — and I mean absolutely nothing — could have prepared me for this.
The big red, green, gold, and silver sign that announces our arrival in town is strung up with lights. They twinkle and shimmy a greeting for us as we pass by. I hold my breath, but I’m not sure why. It’s not excitement, exactly. It’s not nerves, either.
It’s a whole new kind of emotion I can’t name. It feels a little bit sacred, like a long-lost part of me is coming back to life.
So fucking weird.
My tummy is full of little explosions that travel up my chest and sit at the base of my throat. If I don’t keep my mouth shut, I’m liable to ooh and aah like a little kid.
Real talk?
I stopped believing in Santa Claus a very long time ago. To be riding into his village like it’s nothing? That’s a little dizzying. I’m half expecting Director Cooper to pop out with a camera, laughing at me for falling for this fake mission.
Then she would kick me out because I’m not as good as my sister.
“You okay?” Klaus asks, giving me a rare — but sexy — worried frown.
“Fine,” I respond, trying to bat away the bad and invasive thoughts.
He rolls his eyes, his concern replaced with annoyance. “Don’t let any of this faze you. This place isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be.”
I snort. “Who hurt you?” I’m trying to be funny, but Klaus’ head snaps up, and his features darken. He doesn’t find me hilarious. At all. “Touchy,” I mumble.
Klaus ignores me and leads the sleigh through the small town. The main street is wide enough to accommodate three or four sleighs. It’s lined with shops and businesses that knock at my curiosity with all the chill of a melting snowman.
Every storefront is decked out with lights and tinsel, with garlands and ornaments. It’s basically a Christmas feast for all five senses.
Part of me wants to get directly to work, while another wants to jump down from the sleigh and explore this incredible little town.
I challenge anyone to be in this magical place and not go full kid.
Impossible.
At least, unless your name is Klaus Thorsen and you’re basically made of steel. He glares at every person we pass, sending daggers toward most stores.
I don’t know what the man has against his hometown, but he really needs to cool his eggnog or heat up his chestnuts.
I open my mouth to share my hilarious Christmas jokes, but his deep-set frown has me curbing my mischievous jabs.
If we’re working together as a team, maybe I shouldn’t antagonize him simply because it’s fun to rile him up. I roll my shoulders back and ignore him, focusing instead on my pleasant surroundings.
It’s hard to imagine how someone would infiltrate this place, but if I’ve learned anything from the world during my time with FUC and the Academy, it’s that everyone has a price.
It doesn’t matter if it’s money or favors or even things.
Everyone can be lured into a bad situation.
“We’re here,” Klaus announces, pulling up in front of a massive bed and breakfast.
It’s something out of a fairytale. The log building is covered in snow, looking more like a giant gingerbread house than an inn. There are red and green ornaments shimmering from every cornice and twinkling lights framing every window and door. It casts happy little illuminated dances against the pure white snow.
The Jingle Bell Inn is adorable, but the owners obviously take great pride in every aspect of their business. I hop down from the sleigh, eager to see the inside of the building. It takes me only a moment to swing my duffel over my shoulder. Klaus mutters something to me, but I don’t hear him. I’m way too busy scampering up the steps.
Am I a fully grown woman with a penchant for leather and motorcycles getting excited about Christmas? Yes. So what? There are no rules out there stating that I need to be a grouch because I’m an adult.
Klaus can be grinch enough for both of us.
The second the door swings open, a fragrant wall of gingerbread spice and mint hit me. It’s warm and comforting. I’ve got an urge to curl up the huge fireplace to read. Me! The lady who has a hard time sitting still for more than a minute at a time.
This place really does have magical powers.
My guess is that nostalgia is the kicker. It clenches your heart and memories tight until you can’t help but give in to the spirit of things.
The short woman behind the enormous log desk waves me forward. Her white hair spills out of her crisp and starched lace bonnet. It matches the apron draped over her bright red dress, patterned over with poinsettias and holly.
“Hello, there.” Her voice is warm and welcoming, like a cup of hot cocoa. “How were your travels into town?”
“Fine, thanks. I’m wondering if my room is ready. Reservations under Raya Slaski.” As I drop my heavy bag onto the floor, continuing my visual feast of the inn, the woman flips through a big leather-bound book. The thick cream paper makes a loud whoosh noise every time she turns the pages. It almost keeps time to the Christmas song wafting from a small record player sitting in a place of honor beside a huge Christmas tree. “Maybe it’s under Kl—”
“The reservations are made under your name,” Klaus snaps, letting the door slam behind him. “Raya Slaski. Two rooms.”
“Oh, yes,” the cheery lady chortles. “There you are. First time in town?” She narrows her gaze as she tries to stare directly into Klaus’s eye, but he purposefully avoids her.
The jerk.
Doesn’t he want to tell this nice person that he’s from here? Probably not. He doesn’t seem to be too pleased with being back home again.
“I’m Mrs. Jingle. Let me know if you need anything.” She slides two thick candy cane keychains onto the desk, each holding a heavy skeleton key made of shiny metal that looks way too much like gold.
“Thanks so much,” I gush. The second I’m in my room I’m guzzling hot cocoa like it’s going out of style.
“Breakfast is served from six until ten. Lunch is at noon and runs through to one most days. The first dinner set is at six, but there is a late sitting at nine if that’s better.” She beams at me, and I return the sentiment. “You don’t want to miss my waffle tree in the morning.”
“Waffle tree?” I ask, my mouth already watering.
“Every morning during the holidays, I make a big stack of waffles in the shape of a Christmas tree. All the fixings you could want decorate it. It’s almost too pretty to eat.”
“That sounds amazing. I can’t wait.”
“No, thanks,” Klaus grumbles as he grabs his key and disappears down the hall.
I shoot our host an apologetic smile and race after him. “Hey, you might want to ease on the attitude if you want this mission to be successful. In case you’ve forgotten, we need the townspeople’s cooperation for this to work.”
Klaus spins on his heels, nearly crashing into me. He has to reach out and steady me before I land flat on my ass. “Don’t tell me how to do my job, noob. I know what needs to happen.”
“Well, if you don’t want them to know who you are, maybe behaving in a completely different way than your usual sunny self would be to your benefit.”
His eyes turn cold, but he doesn’t respond, choosing instead to let me go. I stumble back but quickly find my balance. He takes the steps two at a time, away from me and toward his room.
If I had the time, I would take a look around and maybe snap a few pictures to show my parents. That’s not my main concern right now. Instead, I chase after Klaus, hissing his name under my breath as to not bother the other guests.
He unlocks his door and tries to slam it in my face, but thankfully, I manage to shove my heavy boot to stop its progress. Klaus glares at me. “What are you doing?”
“Well, before you retreat into your room and go full recluse, we need to discuss our strategy. This is why we should have talked about it in the plane or in the sleigh.”
“We can discuss it in the morning. I need a nap and some food.”
I scowl, sensing the lie. He’s got every intention of going off on his own as soon as he gets rid of me. “Do you not remember Director Cooper’s warning? If you fuck this up, it’ll be the classroom for you. We need to work together.” I arch a brow at him with my arms crossed, waiting for his response.
Klaus’s eyes burn into mine. The dude is pissed. “I told you. I work better alone. Now, leave me be. I need a nap,” he says through gritted teeth.
Really, his anger shouldn’t be an aphrodisiac. I know I should click my tongue at him and ignore his little mantrum, but his annoyance is kind of way delicious. I swear, the more furious Klaus is, the sexier he becomes.
That’s saying something.
The man already has a lot going for him. Between his long hair, beard, and thousands of tattoos, he’s already dangerous to my sanity. Make him frown at me with that glare? I want to push all of his buttons.
That’s why it takes all of my self-control not to tell him that I’ll be going off without him. If he wants to dick around, that’s on him.
I don’t need Klaus to do my job.