“Christmas… Christmas…”
“There you are.” Marius entered the library behind her, his eyes drooping like he hadn’t slept in days. The baby on his shoulder had no such issue. She was sound asleep, her tiny features and round cheeks perfectly peaceful. Olivia had hatched only a few moon cycles ago, and her sleep schedule seemed to be completely flipped.
“You look exhausted. This little one keeping you on your toes?” Charlie stood and gave her favorite uncle a gentle hug, careful not to disturb Olivia.
Marius grunted. “Thank the Mountain dragons don’t need much shuteye. Neither of us are getting much these days. I caught Harlow asleep standing up yesterday. Right in front of the sink with the water running, out cold.”
Charlie grimaced. “I heard you pacing the halls with her outside my room last night. Or I should say I heard her. An incredible set of lungs on this little beasty.”
“Sorry to wake you. I was trying to take her far enough away from our chambers she wouldn’t wake Harlow and the other whelps. But these obsidian halls carry sound like nobody’s business.”
“No worries.” Charlie shot him a commiserative smile. “If you ever want to leave her with me for a night so you two can catch up on some sleep, I’d be happy to take her.”
“Mountain, that is generous of you. Harlow told me to bring her to try to wake her up so she’d sleep tonight, but you can see how that’s going. The Mountain herself could erupt and this one would snooze through it during the day.”
With a supportive pat to his shoulder, she grinned. “You are doing an excellent job, Marius… An excellent job convincing me never to have children.”
They both laughed, although inside her chest, a deep sadness bubbled under the surface. Children were something she doubted she’d ever have to worry about. She didn’t have much of a romantic life to speak of. Although she was a princess and had been told she was beautiful by dragon standards, she was not a dragon, and her would-be suitors in the kingdom had balked at her feathery white wings and inability to shift. Aside from a few kisses at royal gatherings, she’d had only one true lover, a vampire from Nochtbend who’d lost interest once they’d had sex and he’d tasted her blood. She’d agreed to the bite, not knowing that her blood, seeped in her magic, carried an electric charge that burned his mouth. He’d stopped courting her after that.
Charlie gave herself a mental shake and glanced at her uncle. “Um, it sounded like you were looking for me?”
Marius’s eyes had gone blank for a moment. He started, running a hand down his face. “Yes. I spoke with Raven before the group left for Darnuith this morning, and she told me to let you lead Elder Council next week. As far as I’m concerned, I’m happy for you to help with whatever you’d like to help with. I’m surprised your mom and dad didn’t leave the palace in your hands, honestly. You’re more than capable.”
“Thanks, Uncle Marius. I appreciate that. You can count on me to help in any way you need.” Her gaze flicked toward her toes. “To be honest, I was disappointed they wouldn’t leave me in charge, but the spell they’re doing with Avery is very stressful for them all. I’m sure it’s more about them than about what they think of me.”
He squeezed her shoulder supportively. “It’s very mature of you to put their feelings ahead of your own. But I want you to know that as their delegate, I need your help. I’ll have a schedule sent over. Maybe you can manage the morning staff and I’ll do the evening shift, when I’m up anyway.”
“Done,” she said confidently. It wasn’t like the palace needed much managing. The staff had it running like clockwork.
Marius gave her a nod as if they’d reached some sort of formal agreement. She’d always been exceptionally close to Marius since the time he’d rescued her from the underworld when she was just discovering her powers. She wondered if he actually needed help or if this was his way of soothing the burn of her parent’s decision. If it was, she loved him even more for it.
“What are you doing in here anyway?” he asked.
She placed a hand on the book and quirked a smile. “You’re going to think it’s dumb.”
“I highly doubt that. You’re a brilliant girl, Charlie. Nothing you’re interested in is dumb.”
As always, her cheeks warmed at the compliment, but her wings might have plumped a little too. “I thought it would be nice to put on a Christmas for Avery and Xavier.”
“A Christmas? Oh, isn’t that some sort of Earth celebration?”
She nodded. “I heard Avery tell Xavier that they’d miss the holiday while they were in Darnuith performing the spell. She seemed really disappointed. Technically I could probably time walk them back a few weeks so that they could experience it with their clan, but I thought it would be a fun surprise if I threw a Christmas here instead. We can celebrate what hopefully will be her newly won immortality in a way she’s comfortable. I’m sure Mom and Clarissa would appreciate it too, considering they grew up on Earth.”
Marius’s gaze warmed tenderly. “Incredibly thoughtful. And smart about avoiding the time walking. It’s dangerous.”
She shrugged. “Not as dangerous as it used to be.”
He cleared his throat and changed the subject. “How does one throw a Christmas? I admit I know nothing about Earth celebrations. Harlow and I had an Earth wedding, but Raven planned the entire thing. All I can guess is that there’s probably cake. Humans have a cake for everything.”
“I remember your wedding cake!” She giggled. “And Mom made Avery a smaller version to celebrate her fifty-year birth anniversary. It was good too.”
He nodded. “So maybe a cake for their return.”
“But what makes it a Christmas cake?”
He shrugged.
“That’s why I’m here. I’m doing research. The library sent me this book, so hopefully there’s something here I can use.”
