Quik began pacing. “Technically, you’re part of Lux’s generation.”
Lux snorted. “You make it sound like you’re from a different one, babe.”
He motioned to her. “Not intentional. My word choice was simply to point out that you and he are siblings. While our children are in a grace period, it seems the Magic is now holding Nick to the same standard it held you and your sisters.”
“Fair point,” Lux acknowledged his reply. “Continue.”
He winked at her before facing Nick. “As a full-fledged Kringle, you’ll need to find your one true love or,” he pantomimed an explosion, “Christmas will be destroyed.”
Nick rolled his eyes. “Isn’t that a bit dramatic?”
“No. It’s not.” Gail pinned him with her gaze, and his sweater was suddenly too warm.
He gulped.
Gail softened her look. “What about that lovely woman from Moose Hollow? The one with the Christmas Shop?”
“Charlotte Morris,” Nick replied automatically. How could he forget the beautiful blonde with an inkling of Christmas Magic in her soul? He’d seen her his first year in Moose Hollow. “She’s not my true love.”
“How do you know?” asked Harvey.
Nick lifted one shoulder. “Because I just do. She’s an excellent friend and practically a Kringle herself–but there’s this barrier between us that makes it, so I can’t imagine a life with her. I don’t even think about her on a monthly basis.”
Lux deflated and turned to Quik. “There went that idea.”
So that’s what they’d been talking about when he walked into the family room.
“Look. I appreciate your matchmaking efforts, but—” he stopped. But what? But he already knew his true love’s name, address, and favorite hot chocolate flavor–but none of that mattered because she’d fallen in love with someone else. “—just lay off. Okay?”
Lux ground her teeth. “We can’t. This affects all of us.”
An alarm sounded on her phone, and she grabbed it. “Candy Brittle!” she cursed. She darted from the room.
“What is it?” Harvey called after her.
Quik was hot on her heels but stopped in the doorway. “Power flux.” He pointed at Nick. “If you don’t get your heart sorted–Christmas will self-destruct.” He disappeared, leaving the room with the feeling of twisted Christmas lights and broken baubles.
Nick dropped his face in his hands and moaned. “Has anyone ever told Christmas Magic that it asks too much?”
Gail set aside her project and settled beside him, rubbing comforting circles on his back. “It never asks more than it gives.”
Nick nodded. Gifts for every girl and boy across the globe, a season full of brotherly love, music that inspired love for God and His Son–Christmas gave and gave and gave.
“I can’t see her again,” he pressed his hand over his chest, “she broke me.”
Gail patted his arm. “You’re never too broke for love to fix you back up.”
“How long do you think I have? Truly?”
Harvey shifted. “Christmas Eve.”
“Would Christmas really be ruined?”
Gail exchanged a look with Harvey. “We’ve come close before. This feels different, though. We have five powerful batteries.”
Nick’s tattoo glowed bright, drawing all their attention and a gasp from his chest. When the brightness faded, so did the tattoo. It wasn’t gone by any means but showed signs of tarnish. His mouth fell open.
Harvey tisked his tongue. “Looks like Christmas might survive–but I don’t know if you will.”
