As a young stag-shifter, all Pembroke dreams of is being harnessed to Santa’s sleigh. Yet his world comes crashing down when Santa is slain by the imposter Frost.<br><br>War erupts in the Arctic Circle, pitting elf against reindeer, and Pembroke is sent on a perilous mission. If he fails, his herd will be lost. When the mission goes awry, the stag-shifter must put his trust in an unlikely ally.<br><br>Where does one turn in a land of ice and blood? What happens when the enemy infiltrates your heart? What begins as a wavering alliance just might take Pembroke farther than he ever imagined.

Sugar Plum'd

Cupid nodded and dashed out. Rudolf turned towards Pembroke. The Commander’s eye was full, like overturned snow globe. So much swam within the stag’s remaining eye, now milky with cataracts, Pembroke couldn’t tear himself away.


“Follow that elf to the dust and bring it back. It’s the only chance we have.”


The forest of Firwood sang, whistling as the trees’ sap boiled them alive from the inside. Pembroke could hear the shouts of his comrades just beyond the tent.


“Bring it back? Bring it back where?” he asked.


Rudolf smashed his crown of antlers on the table’s edge. A piece snapped off. Before Pembroke could stop him, Rudolf took the broken piece of his antler between his teeth and deposited it in a burlap rucksack.


“Take this. Even in your human form, you should be able to track my signal if you have this.”


Chapter 13