"He touched me." I reply deadpan, and I toss the head onto the bed.
She stares. I shrug.
Chapter 13
NEO
Somewhere deep in my chest, my heart does that stupid flutter thing. Only Nox can make the massacre of an enchanted snowman feel like a love language. I walk to the bed, lifting the snowman’s head with a laugh. "You could’ve just stepped away."
"Idid. After I removed his head." Nox leans against the wall with his arms crossed. "Can you fix it?"
I glance at him. "Lucky you’re cute."
"I know."
"I was talking to the snowman." I laugh and bite my lower lip to make Nox jealous. I cradle the snowman’s head in my arms like it is something fragile. It looks ridiculous, holding that lopsided orb of packed snow, coal eyes and a crooked smile in my arms. The carrot nose had fallen off on the way here, Nox had picked it up and put it in his pocket for safekeeping. I walk through the room, my breath fogging slightly in the chill that’s clinging to the snowman’s head. Nox watches from the doorway with his arms crossed.
I take the head to the bathroom and put it in the sink gently. The porcelain is cold, but not as cold as snow. I turn on the tap, letting lukewarm water trickle over my fingers before cupping it and using it to pat the underside of the snowman’s neck. My movements are careful, almost tender, like I amhealing something instead of fixing it. The snow glistens, softens just enough to be malleable. I check the edges, smoothing them with my thumbs, then nod to myself. "That should do," I murmur.
Behind me, Nox leans against the door frame. "You’re treating him like he’s sacred. It’s adorable."
I glance over my shoulder, smiling. "He’s a victim of vampire aggression. I’m giving him a second chance."
I lift the head, water dripping from my wrists, and walk back towards the room—ready to make things right.
I kneel beside the snowman’s body, brushing a few stray flakes from the neck stump, my breath curling in the cold air. The snow is damp from my careful work in the bathroom, softened just enough to bind. I press my palm to the top of his body, feeling the chill bite through my skin, lifting the head slowly.
With a quiet exhale, I lower it into place, aligning the coal eyes and crooked smile with gentle precision. The snow squishes slightly, settling into itself, and I smooth the seam with my fingers. I sculpt the seam like a sculptor would finishing its statue. The carrot nose comes last—Nox pulls it from his pocket, wipes off a bit of lint and pushes it into place with a satisfied nod.
"He looks smug," I say.
"He should," Nox laughs. "He survived me."
***
The doors to the main hall swing open with a dramaticcreak, as if they knew we were coming. I step in first, the snowman and Nox following behind me. Nox is dressed likehe just walked out of a dark romance novel and went into a peppermint fever dream.
The main hallway is absurdly festive. There are candy cane columns and velvet garlands. There’s even a chandelier entirely made of enchanted snowflakes, it sparkles like it’s flirting with us.
At the far end, a trio of elves stands waiting. Ice is nervously adjusting his glitter bow tie. Another clutches a clipboard like it is a weapon. The third is staring at Nox like he’d just walked in shirtless—which, to be fair, he hadn’t. Yet.
I turn to Nox, my voice low and teasing. "Try not to seduce anyone, they’re fragile."
"I’m not seducing," Nox says, grabbing my ass. "I’m just existing."
We walk together, a perfect contradiction—my warmth, his chill, both wrapped in a tension that makes the garlands twitch… and the snowman. The elves straighten as we approach.
"Miss Neo," Ice stammers. "And… the vampire..."
Nox puts a cigarette between his lips. "I don’t recall accepting a title."
I step forward, my voice is as smooth as melted chocolate. "We’re here to talk Holidays. And maybe, just maybe... how to keep ‘the vampire’ from turning your reindeer into emotional support meals."
The elves nod, terrified. Ice clears his throat and holds out a scroll tied with a golden ribbon.
"This," he says proudly, "is the official Christmas list. Approved by the North Pole Council. Full of joy and sparkles."
I take the scroll, unroll it and read aloud:
