Page 97 of The Naughty List Agreement

“And remind me why that’s a problem?”

“It wouldn’t destroy Christmas,” Nick said, “but the season would run on fear instead of goodwill. And once that shift happens, it’s hard to undo.”

“So this isn’t just about you.”

“No,” he admitted. “It never is.”

“Is the fate of my world on my shoulders?” she asked. For all her faults, she’d never been a selfish person. To be honest, she already loved Nick. The decision was already made in a way, but she wanted all the facts before she committed. She’d never go back on her word.

“Not at all. This is on me. You are my North Star, showing me what I could have had all along if I’d gotten out of my own way.”

Nick was humble, sweet, caring and everything she wanted to take a risk on and have in her life. But the reality of signing a magical contract wasn’t lost on her. He told her she’d have until Christmas Eve but as she leaned back in her chair, she realized that she’d only be delaying a decision she’d already made.

The truth was, the happiest she’d been in her life was this month of December, with him. He frustrated her, teased her, made her laugh, and was the first person she wanted to see every day.

She could take the next few days but her answer would be the same. All of her beliefs of what Christmas was were now tied to this man. Even before she knew he was Santa Claus, he’d become her touchstone for the season.

He watched her carefully. His entire existence hung on what her answer would be. He could say that the responsibility was his, but how was she going to walk away from him knowing that she could have saved him?

“Okay.”

“You’ll consider it?” he asked her, as his heart was pounding so loudly he was sure she could hear it. It was like the drum tattoo that played when troops were marching. But he found he couldn’t focus on anything but her face.

“More than consider it, Nick Bari…”

He held his breath.

“I love you so much it scares me, but it also excites me. Being with you has brought my life into technicolor. Marriage always felt like some sort of outdated tradition but the idea of being your partner, creating a life together, it energizes me.”

Nick scooped her out of the chair as he stood up. She wrapped her legs around his hips as she kissed him slowly and deeply.

“I love you more than you can ever know,” he said.

He carried her into his bedroom and only when she was under him, her limbs wrapped around him, did he start to believe that this was real. That Cora loved him the same way he loved her.

They ate snacks in his bed as she peppered him with questions about Christmas Eve.

“So how do you suddenly have gray hair and a big belly? How do you get into houses on Christmas Eve? Do you have flying reindeer? Also, can I see them?”

A laugh boomed out of him. “For someone who never believed in Santa, you sure know a lot about me.”

“I do live in the world,” she informed him. “So…?”

“I have gray hair and a belly, but only on Christmas Eve. I use Gold Lumen to transform and that’s also how I get into the houses. The reindeer do fly. Animals also have contracts with the Weaver of Seasons. They come into service and retire when they are ready to.”

“I love the idea of that. The Weaver of Seasons has thought of everything.”

“They have. It’s a system to keep the spirit of the Earth in balance.”

“Makes perfect sense. How do you get all around the world in one night?” she asked.

He explained how the Starweave paths allowed him to travel between the stars and that Gold Lumen allowed for time manipulation. “But I’m limited to how many times I can reset the clocks. It’s exhausting to keep going back through the same few hours.”

“What do I do when you’re gone?”

“My mom always hosted a gala for the elves to thank them for their hard work. Also, you can watch my progress through the Yuleglass. It’s that mirror over there. But there’s a large one in the banquet hall that’s only unveiled on Christmas Eve. Everyone gathers there except for the elves in delivery and fulfillment. They’re in the stables working to keep the bags full for me.”

“I hear what you’re saying but it still sounds … fantastical. Like, I know it’s true but I still can’t quite believe it.”