“He caught me recording one night.”That was mostly true.“Which made it easier to set up shots.”
His eyestalks bobbed in agreement, but he didn’t speak, giving me the room to continue talking.I needed to keep going.
“It was then I realized things weren’t adding up.”
My boss became motionless—even his slime didn’t drip.“What do you mean?”
“There was no sign of magic in that house when I first visited, but it began to form, and not around the small child.Around Timothy.I got curious about his family.He claimed the dragon tattoo on his arm was in memory of his mother.”
My boss leaned back.
This is where I potentially got my ass kicked in a way that was going to make my tail ache.“I’d seen the tattoo, but it hadn’t troubled me.”That was a fucking lie, but I’d rather look a little dense than negligent.“Humans seem to be obsessed with dragons…but with the glimmer of magic, I got a little paranoid.So, I researched the family.Timothy’s mother was a sorcerer.She escaped through a bridge and died here.”
My boss’s slick fingers swiped over the screen as he pulled up my search records.He was silent as he read about Timothy’s mother.“You think he has her blood?”
“If she used him to draw on magic, it’s possible that my presence in his life triggered a renewed connection.”I’d broken Timothy and put him in danger.“His father is connected to hunters, and he turned in his wife.”
My boss swore.No one liked hunters.They didn’t care who they killed as long as they got to kill.They were worse than sorcerers using children to access magic.At least the sorcerers weren’t killing children.
Hunters did.They claimed it was to stop the sorcerers.
“I don’t know what’s more concerning.That you’ve grown close to the human, he is accessing magic, or that his father is connected to hunters.”Two eyestalks watched the screen, and the other two stared at me, which was disturbing.
My tail twitched.“He can access it and use it.He is a potential Santa.”
“I gathered that.”My boss tapped his screen, no doubt making notes and recommending me for extra training.No bonus, and no moreScream and Steam.
“I’ve given him a tracker.I told him it was so I could find him after his father kicked him out.”
My boss grumbled as he swiped the screen.“That’s safer than living at home.”
“I warned him against making wishes.”
My boss’s lips worked as if he was trying to swallow some vile-tasting morsel.“He hasn’t been contacted by any sorcerers?”
“To the best of my knowledge, no.He has been very cooperative and forthcoming.”
All four eyes turned to look at me.“I’m sure he’s been verycooperative.”
Well, when put like that, it did sound bad.“He likes…performing.”
“We can’t leave a potential Santa in the human world.He will eventually attract the attention of sorcerers and hunters, and they will misuse his powers and him for their own gain.”
I studied the slime-smeared desk, wishing for another way.“What now?”
“Leave it with me, but keep monitoring him and doing your recording.Don’t make him suspicious.”He lifted his hand.“I know you trust him.But he may say something to the wrong person without realizing, and then, before we can say Pied Piper, we will be overrun with children.I do not want to be turned into a sentient pile of glitter.”
“Sentient?”A shudder raced down my spine to the tip of my tail.That was even worse.I thought the monster turned into glitter was dead; instead, he was in a million pieces.
“Yes.”My boss studied me.
“They’re still glitter, aren’t they?”
“Sadly, we have not found anyone capable of returning him to his former self.”All four eyestalks bobbed, and he licked his lips.“We haven’t had a Santa on our side for a long time.”
Even though that was a possible outcome, hearing it aloud made my stomach drop.Even though I shouldn’t, I wanted to warn Timothy, so he knew what was coming.I wanted him to understand I was protecting him.
For him to forgive me, but I wasn’t sure that was possible a second time.
