Page 22 of Elf-napped

Nicholas was working them too hard. They toiled endlessly; they had no time for family, no time for friends. No time for love or joy of any kind.

Nicholas didn’t care. He had a workforce of thousands who were practically immortal. Or, at least, who would outlast him. He would live about a hundred more years and already had dozens of children who were suitable candidates to be the heir to the sleigh one day.

“Well, eventually, the elves had had enough, and they unionized. They floated Santa out on an iceberg along with his wife and said adios,” Reba says, miming a wave goodbye with her hand. “Then today, they voted for a new Nicholas.”

She looks right at me as if she’s preparing herself for the next bit of information. She draws in a deep breath. “They voted for you, El. They want you to be the next Nicholas.”

Clara has many questions, surprising no one.

“You’re a part of all this? Why didn’t you tell me?”

; “It was never the right time to tell you. Would you have believed me if you had not experienced…all of this?” Reba gestures around the room as if the very air is magic.

Clara warily shakes her head no.

Reba goes on. “So when I heard our friend here was exiled for his little obsession, and I found out why, I came looking for you, Clara.”

“You knew this entire time? That’s why we’re friends?” I don’t like the scared note in Clara’s voice, and I slide my arm around her and pull her back into my side.

“Have you wondered why I haven’t aged in the five years since we met?” Reba asks.

Clara ignores this question. “But if you decided to help him, why did you send me on all those dates?”

Deacon wheezes, stirring his tea.

“You have something to say over there, Chuckles?” Clara barks, and I have to stifle a laugh because I know she’s frustrated and wants answers. I don’t blame her.

Deacon finally answers. “She was matching you with the worst of the worst to drive you to El eventually. Sooner or later, you would get mopey and end up at the tree farm to cheer you up with some holiday fun. All you needed was a little push.”

“I have to take a walk. I need some air.”

Chapter Thirteen

Clara

“I don’t understand why you are so upset,” El tells me when we transition to the outdoors. I’m pacing back and forth in the snow.

I whirl around to face El.

“Clara, your cheeks are flushed with cold. I want to pick you up and take you back to the fire, but I feel like you need to say something to me first.”

Nodding, I reply, “I’m upset. My roommate has been orchestrating my life for years, just to lead me to you. None of this was my choice. Do you understand how manipulated I feel?”

“Very well. You may leave. You have a choice.”

“I don’t want to leave you.”

Eldrin laughs, and It’s infuriating.

“I’m still so mad at them!”

“You have five minutes to get over it because if you agree to accompany me, I have half a billion presents to deliver before midnight.”

I take the full five minutes and trudge through the snow, muttering and doing the math in my head.

Just then, we are joined outside by Reba and Deacon.