It’s a portaling device that will take me to Cupidale for their holiday party tonight. I look up at Santa, and he grins.
“Merry Christmas, Krampus. Go enjoy retirement.” I blink at him, and he gives me a rumbling laugh. “Oh, and the elves made you a suit to wear. Go visit Calanis.”
“Kris…” I say his real name and his eyes crinkle as he smiles at me.
“None of that. Enjoy the party, enjoy your afterlife.”
I have to hold back a heavy, unfamiliar emotion in my chest. I only told Calanis about the Love in the Veil mixer. So then how did Santa know? Did that sneaky little elf rat me out?
He laughs again.
“I see everything. Now don’t keep Calanis waiting. She’s nearly rattling with excitement.”
I look at the ancient man one last time before leaving his office and heading to the elf village. Right now I’m mostly man, minus the horns. No amount of magic can make them disappear. My footprints press into the snow as I open the workshop doors, I head down the hall to Calanis’ workspace.
When I knock on her door, it immediately opens with a whoosh.
“Oh! Claw, come here!” she says, using her nickname for me. “Come see what Calanis has made for you.” All the elves talk about themselves in the third person, it’s only slightly endearing.
“Did you tell Santa about the mixer?” I look down at her.
She’s a tiny little thing, and she uses a step ladder to match my height.
“Calanis doesn’t know what Claw is talking about,” she says with bright pink cheeks. “Calanis just knows Santa decided Christmas is under a new marketing plan and that Calanis’ bestest friend, Claw, can now pursue the pretty pink cupid, and maybe others?”
This time heat hits my face.
“You told Santa-fucking-Claus about Mortem?”
She pokes me with a pin and shakes her head. “Bad, Claw. We do not use naughty language in the workshop. It’s rule seven hundred and eighty-four.”
“Calanis…”
“Hush. Does the big bad Claw want to see his suit or not?” she says, as a flamboyant suit flies out of the closet, hanging in front of me. “Calanis assumed you would be in your man form for the night.”
I let out a heavy sigh and nod.
“Though, it would be most festive to tinsel your horns.”
“No tinsel.”
She narrows her bright green eyes. “Ladies love tinsel.”
“No.”
“This upsets Calanis dearly.” She crosses her arms over her chest. “It is all Calanis wishes for this Christmas. For bestest friend Claw to wear tinsel and find his lady love. You’ll still come visit Calanis at the North Pole even after you find your loves, yes?”
“Calanis, I think you’re getting ahead of yourself.”
“No. Calanis knows all about Christmas magic.”
“I haven’t spoken to her or Mortem in months. In fact, I all but ran away from the mixer and never looked back. They’re probably together and want nothing to do with me.”
She grabs one of my horns, bringing us face to face.
“Then you will just need to try to win their affections. Perhaps a Christmas Miracle?”
“I think I’m going to need it for them to forgive me.”
