“I have to be here. The couch is my friend during breaks.”
His face turned down in concern.
We both went back to work. I checked in with the midnight shift at Control every hour. They were running constant storm scenarios in conjunction with sleigh functions.
The storm kept approaching. The next day the sky was overcast and the stars could not shine through. Our little night-world was cast in even more darkness. The lights of the village were our sun and stars and warmth.
I went outside for a few minutes to get away from everything. And to observe the sky and horizon with my real senses. Snow fell softly all around me. It should have been a peaceful, cozy sight. But there was a strangeness in the air. Electric. We already knew the ionization was up. I sensed more. I couldn’t see it, but I felt it straight through to my bones. Like an itch I couldn’t scratch.
I worried. That was also part of my job. Things we didn’t understand could affect our technology. Santa’s magic was immune, but he relied on us for other important things, like not getting lost. It wasn’t Earth, here and present right now,that might mix him up, but the time flows. Our tech concerning that would be considered advanced and alien to humans. But we understood it as best we could and implemented special nav, which kept Santa oriented so he could return to us. He might be a powerful and magical elf, but he risked becoming lost in unknown eddies and currents like any brave explorer. His reindeer, too.
I went inside, brushed off the snow, and back to my office. I checked on Fallon. He looked tired, his fine, shiny hair damp at the temples. He announced he was fine. In a few hours, I’d send him home to snatch a few more hours of sleep.
“I’m taking a break for a half an hour nap,” I told him. “Wake me if there are any developments.”
I turned out the lights in my office and collapsed on my couch. My mind raced. I probably wouldn’t sleep, but at least I was resting.
The next thing I knew, my eyes snapped open. I immediately looked at my smart watch. I’d been out for two hours. I’d forgotten to set the alarm.
I stretched, called out for the lights to brighten, and rubbed at my eyes. Two hours. I hadn’t meant for that to happen. My head was heavy. Groggy.
My assistant, Lance, had returned after an eight-hour break. I called out to him, adjusting the tangles of my long hair. “Coffee. Strong. No cocoa this time. Nothing. Just straight black coffee. The biggest mug you can find.”
He returned with a tray, a carafe, and my favorite mug decorated with moons and stars.
Fallon’s office door was closed, but the light shone through the windows facing the hallway. He was still here. I’d meant for him to go home for sleep an hour ago. I wanted him at full capacity leading up to Christmas Eve.
I took my mug and knocked on his door.
“Come in.”
He was bent over his screen typing away on the keyboard. When he looked up, his eyes were bright. He was breathtaking. I had to curb my urge to gasp. What entity had sent this fawn to me? It was dangerous, these feelings. Skin both hot and cold. Stomach tightening. Arousal curling through me. Alpha instincts kicking in. These weren’t my usual leadership instincts. They were far more personal. A desire to fixate, hone in, possess. All targeted on Fallon.
I blinked hard, then took a gulp of hot coffee to settle myself. It burned my tongue and throat all the way down.
“I got updates from Control,” Fallon began. He recounted the last two hours I’d missed.
I forced myself to focus on his words. Not his breaths, which seemed more rapid than usual, nor his flawless skin and deep dark eyes. Not his chest rising and falling, nor the spread of his legs as he sat slightly squirming in his chair. Nor the wonderful scent of frozen strawberries and sweet cream that seemed to fill the room. None of that.
I looked him up and down before catching myself. I almost gave myself away by apologizing. I bit my burnt tongue and ignored my outright transgression.
He finished his speech and stared up at me as if waiting. For what?
“Yes, thank you for all that.”
“But what about the continuum?”
“Continuum?”
“I did a new equation.”
I hadn’t been listening too well. Now I needed to apologize. “I’m sorry. I just woke up. Can you repeat that part?”
“It shows the properties in the storm could affect it.”
This was huge. I needed to get my act together and focus. “You saycouldaffect it?”
“It's not a fact yet. But it's a possibility.”
