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I drag Ellery to the front and stand at her back with my arms around her, and my chin on top of her head.

“This was the whole holidays for me when I was a kid,” I whisper near her ear.

She hums, and I feel it in my jaw.

“See that beaver in a Santa hat? Dad made that.”

Her hands close over my forearms, and she leans into my chest. “Next year, you’re making one.”

“We’ll see.”

“Five, four, three, two…” Pete counts down.

Roslyn flips the switch, lighting up the tree.

“This is even better than the tree at Rockefeller Center,” Willow says, as she and Luca come to stand beside us.

“Let’s get some cocoa.” Luca nudges Willow. “They’re probably going to make out again.”

“Jealous?” Willow teases.

“Not at all. Want to make out?” Luca turns on his full-wattage smile, a little too eager.

She pats his cheek twice and walks off. It’s the first time I’ve seen him lose a conversation. He trails behind her as she disappears into the crowd.

“It’s incredible,” Ellery says, turning in my arms. I brush her hair back off her face so I can see all of her.

“What? Do I have toffee stuck in my teeth?”

“No,” I say, unable to temper my grin. “Just…I didn’t know it could feel like this.”

“Like what?”

“I’ve been counting days for four years. Stopped somewhere around September. Didn’t notice until now.”

Ellery pulls me down and kisses me in front of the whole town.

We took Willow to the airport yesterday. Ellery cried as she hugged her best friend at security.

I get to keep her and Willow has to give her up. I’m the only one who came out of that airport happy.

She’s been quiet since, so while she’s out helping Mom with last-minute preparations for Christmas Day, I decorate her apartment with every fairy light available in Ravenslight Creek. She gave me a key. I’ve never used it before now.

I’m busy stringing the last of them when the lock turns.

“What’s…” She stops in the doorway with her keys still in her hand, and maybe this was a bad idea. I’ve basically bombed her place in twinkle lights. “Nick?”

“Sorry, I thought you could use a little magic after Willow left. If you don’t like it, I can take them down.”

“Never. They’re staying up all year.” She drops her bag on the floor and slams into me. “I love it.”

When I don’t let go, she leans back to look at me, and her smile slips into a question.

“We’ve come through a lot, Elle. There’ll be more.” She could give me the rest of her days, and it still wouldn’t be enough. “But you’re my forever. If you’ll have me.”

It takes two attempts to get the worn leather case out of my pocket. I hope she likes it.

Caleb offered to enchant it for me. A protection spell, good for one fatal encounter, he said. I was tempted. Now that she’s in my world, with all its dark and violent parts, I want to keep her safe. Then I thought about what it would actually be. My decision sitting against her collarbone, and her never knowing it was there. I’ll tell her about Caleb’s offer in the new year, and she can decide.