Page 78 of The Naughty List Agreement

Nick’s breath caught.

The ring was imbued with Gold Lumen to make it easy for him to jump back and forth between rooftops and portal back to the workshop when the sleigh was empty and he needed to reload. That ring was a big part of how he made those deliveries all in one night. With it he could manipulate time, always returning to the mortal realm by 10 pm local time.

Without it, delivering every gift in one night would be impossible.

“This ring is heavy. I can see why you don’t wear it all the time,” she said. “Is it old?”

“Yes. It’s got the Bari seal on it. I inherited it when I took over Bari Toys.”

“Like the tattoo that marks the line of succession. Nice.”

Moving away from the dresser she crossed over the handwoven rug that was under his sleigh bed. Thick and woven with the same motifs used in the Yearweave, it was soft underfoot. He realized she was headed toward the Yuleglass in the corner. To her it would seem like any other full-length mirror, but the moment she thought of a mortal, she’d get a glimpse of what they were doing. The Gold Lumen in the Yuleglass wasn’t coded to him. Anyone could peek into the mortal realm from here, which was why he kept it in his bedroom.

He rushed to her side, consciously clearing his mind so he didn’t think of a single person. The last thing he wanted was to have explain at this moment that he was actually Santa Claus.

But when? When was he going to explain it to her? Because if she was the one, then sooner would be better than later…

CHAPTER 20

December 6th was his feast day. Everyone in the shop knew it was a special day for Nick. It was the date when he honored the first Nick Bari and he also left tiny gifts in the shoes of anyone who put them out. A lot of elementary schools honored the tradition, and at Nick Bari Toys they created a new hand-carved wooden figure each year. Schools and church groups could order them at a discounted price.

But in the toy village at the Winter Wonderland, Nick had to do a little more. It was his chance to thank the elves and mortal workers who put in so much effort and contributed to the success of Nick Bari Toys as well as the holiday season in general.

“Is it your birthday?” Cora asked, when there was a break in customers. Since that night at his place, they’d been seeing each other every night. Sometimes sleepovers, sometimes just drinks at Frosty Jack’s with Hannah, Fliss, and even Buddy came one time.

“No. It’s my feast day.” He explained that he was named after St. Nicholas and what that entailed.

“I’ve never heard of that. No wonder you’re all into Christmas with the tattoos and everything. Is today Pete’s feast day too?”

Nick shook his head. Krampus Nacht was December 5th and it was the night Pete and the Thornwatch moved through the mortal world, confronting those who’d tipped too far into selfishness, pressing the weight of their choices back against them in hopes of correction before Christmas Eve. They stirred guilt, exposed secrets and reminded the naughty that someone was keeping score. Last night would have been busy for his cousin and those in the Thornwatch.

“His was yesterday,” Nick told her, then changed the conversation because it would only get harder to explain. Nick had kept Cora close last night, not wanting her to fall prey to Pete’s punishments. Though his cousin had given his word, any one of the Thornwatch elves who’d come into contact with Cora would have been duty-bound to probe her psyche and punish her. “I have to go to our corporate offices but I’ll try to make it back in the afternoon for your event at the retirement community.”

“That will be nice. I’m not sure I said, but it’s ugly-sweater-themed so you’re going to need to find one.”

“I have something festive I will wear. Do you even own an ugly sweater? You seem to take fashion very seriously.”

“Thanks for noticing. I have one that everyone swears fits the bill, but I love it. It’s a sequined reindeer with a flashing red nose on a bright pink fleece—which reminds me, I have to check the batteries for the nose.”

“I hope you’re pairing it with something that shows off your legs.”

“You’ll have to wait and see,” she said.

Buddy came to grab him and Cora winked at him as he walked away. That sunny feeling that came from being around her was back, making him feel all warm and gooey inside. “You asked me to come and get you when it was time to leave. The deliveries are all organized in the stables. Wils will meet you there and make sure you stay on track.”

“I’ll be returning in fifteen minutes. Keep an eye on things for me.”

“I always do,” Buddy said, looking as if he wanted to say something else.

“Speak freely,” he told the other man.

“I’m starting to like Cora. She’s … different. Not as intense.”

“And?”

“I think it’s a good thing. We need more of her kind in the world.” As Nick watched Buddy go, he realized that Cora was making real progress. He went through the portal back to Hearthvale, taking a detour via his apartments to check the Yearweave. Her knot was still there, but not as large as it once had been and color was starting to seep back into the threads. Now it was a lighter, paler shade of gray with a hint of something stronger and brighter … red, maybe?

He raced into his office and pulled the Naughty List off the shelf where he kept it tucked away. The enormous book made a thud as he dropped it. He quickly opened it and flipped to the latest entries.