Chapter 37
The Family Business
Isteadied the reins, trying to look like I knew what the hell I was doing while simultaneously battling the urge to vomit from nerves. The sleigh lifted beneath me, magic thrumming through the polished wood and up my arms like electricity finding its path of least resistance.
At least I looked the part. My mom and the elves had made me a sleigh-riding ensemble straight out of a magical Vogue spread. The red velvet coat was silver-trimmed and shimmered with embedded snowflakes. White fur lined the hood and cuffs in typical Santa fashion. My red leggings were warm enough to survive the stratosphere, and my boots were charmed to never slip on ice. A belt of jingle bells cinched the coat at my waist, which seemed unnecessarily festive until I realized they rang in perfect harmony with my reindeer’s harnesses. They were charmed to be silenced when entering houses.
“You’ve got this, Neve.”
Rudy’s voice in my head was steady, a warm presence against the chaos of my thoughts. The bond between us pulsed with each beat of his heart, his massive form at the front of my team, antlers gleaming with enchanted light.
I took a deep breath and straightened my spine. “Sure, no problem. Just casually flying through a portal with nine magical reindeer. Totally normal Christmas Eve activity.”
The sleigh tilted upward at a steeper angle, and my stomach lurched in protest. Around me, nine energies vibrated through our bond, sending comfort and joy.
Dad’s sleigh glided effortlessly beside mine, his team of reindeer cutting through the air. The silver bells on their harnesses chimed in perfect harmony with my herd’s.
“Ready?” Dad’s voice came through my earpiece.
I gave a jerky nod that probably screamed “absolutely not ready” in fifty different languages.
The veil shimmered ahead of us, an impossible curtain of magic that separated the North Pole from the rest of reality. Dad’s sleigh slipped through first, the barrier rippling like water as he disappeared.
I mentally steeled myself and tightened my grip on the reins.
We burst through the veil, the starry night sky stretching infinitely around us. Below, the lights of a sleeping town twinkled. My first delivery would be with my dad, and then we would split up, each with our own routes.
Dad’s sleigh dipped lower, and I followed, mirroring his movements. The houses grew larger, and I focused my magic along with my dad’s to freeze time in the area.
Dad signaled, and both sleighs dipped lower toward a modest two-story home with a trio of inflatable snowmen in the yard. The sleighs hovered about five feet above the shingles, waiting for us.
Just as we’d practiced, I focused on teleporting into the living room. I didn’t have to know what the inside looked like, just a general idea of it. My stomach swooped, and suddenly I was standing next to a couch.
There was a big dog sleeping curled up next to the fireplace, and had time not been frozen, my leg would have been within striking distance.
I blinked, trying to reorient myself.
Dad winked and gestured toward the tree. With a flourish of his hands, wrapped packages materialized, stacked perfectly beneath the lowest branches.
Right. My turn.
I concentrated on the row of stockings hanging from the fireplace mantel. I flicked my wrist, focusing my intent through the gesture, and watched with satisfaction as each stocking filled with small treasures.
The dog’s frozen form caught my attention again. Its fur looked so soft.
I reached toward it, but Dad cleared his throat and shook his head, pointing to a small table where cookies and milk had been left out.
Dad picked up a sugar cookie, taking a ceremonial bite before setting it back down with a bite missing. I followed suit, grimacing as I sipped the room-temperature milk.
With another subtle gesture, Dad vanished most of the milk from the glass.
“Smart man,” I mouthed.
A tingling sensation washed over me as Dad’s magic enveloped us both. One moment we were standing beside the Christmas tree, and the next we were back in our sleighs.
My dad grinned at me. “You’ve got this, Snowflake. Remember to focus on the living room, not just inside the house. And call if you need anything at all.”
“Right. Living room. Specific. Got it.” I watched as he took the reins and took off, headed for the next street over.
