Page 24 of Naughty Elf: Merry

“He needed ho, ho, ho-ing lessons,” I told Hernan.

“But no one else knows that.” He held me close, maybe because he thought I was going to blurt out that “Santa” was fake.

I wouldn’t, and I didn’t. The kids were excited, showing their parents their gifts. I sort of understood Hernan’s reasoning in that the person dressed up in the red-and-white suit and fake beard brought joy to a lot of people this evening. And maybe not everyone was as happy as we were and needed Christmas cheer in their lives.

“Have you ever tried eggnog or mulled wine?” We crossed the street to a bar where lights were blazing and people were milling about near outdoor heaters.

“Nope.” They weren’t a thing in the village, though maybe the Santas kept that for themselves. There was a Santa who enjoyed one too many drinks in the evening.

Hernan ordered eggnog, and we found an unoccupied booth in the corner. I sniffed the drink when it arrived. Yum.

“Cheers!” We clinked glasses.

I took a tiny sip. “Tastes like a dessert with vanilla and cinnamon.”

“This is a Christmas tradition on the tree-lighting night. Everyone stays up late and celebrates the beginning of the festive season.”

I took another sip of the delicious drink and my head tingled. I liked it. Made me think I could do anything and be anybody. But I pushed my glass to Hernan.

“I thought you liked it.”

“I do, but Santa #1 always said elves couldn’t drink much ‘cause we’re so small.”

While it made my insides all melty, I wanted to be me and not stand on the table and sing a Christmas carol or smooch and fondle Hernan while everyone cheered.

Though people shouted over the music playing, I was adjusting to the noise level outside of the North Pole. I didn’t want to stay here all night, but Hernan and I chatted about the festival and what he had planned for his next pottery project. We held handsunder the table, but I was pleased to get out of the stuffy room and into the biting air that nipped at my skin.

“Is it very different to Christmas at the North Pole?” He held me close as we wound our way among the crowds on the sidewalk.

“Oh, yes.” While we had lights strung in trees, we weren’t much for Christmas caroling. “Christmas was more about making the children of the world happy than celebrating amongst ourselves.”

“Maybe that’s what we should do. You and me. Volunteer on Christmas Day and help out kids who don’t have much.

I pulled myself out of his grasp and walked backward in front of him. “You’re a good man. I’m so glad fate led me to you.”

We weren’t mated. There was no mark on either of us, but I was happy to wait. I never wanted to be anywhere except with this dragon shifter.

Chapter 18

Hernan

The day of the festival was finally here, and it started dark and far too early in the morning for my liking. Unlike me, Merry was up and ready to go before I’d even had my first sip of coffee. He was excited for the day—and I was too—but I would have been a little more excited with a couple more hours of sleep snuggled into his side.

I’d set up my booth the night before and was all ready to go on that front. I had a lot more items this year, thanks to Merry. Partly because he helped me far more than he needed to—this was my job, not his—but mostly because he gave me so much inspiration that I was creating like I hadn’t in years. I wasn’t struggling to find a design; instead, my struggles were in how to get all of my ideas into my work in the time I had. It was a Christmas-tastic problem to have.

“Here you go.” Merry kissed my cheek and handed me a travel mug.

“Let me guess—hot cocoa?”

“Peppermint mocha. That way you can scent me all day long, even when we are in our own booths.”

I’d told him that he scented like peppermint mocha in passing. It was sweet that he remembered and even sweeter that he wanted to ensure I couldn’t forget about him. Not that there was ever a chance of that.

As soon as we arrived, the usual chaos of the event began. Both of us went around helping everyone get themselves straightened out. By the time we officially launched, everything was ready. I could see the snow globe station from my spot at the booth, and as great as it was, it wasn’t nearly as wonderful as hearing the laughter and giggles from people working on their projects.

As I had in most years, I sold a ton. But for the first time, that wasn’t my focus. Sure, the money was great, but so was simply being here, surrounded by the Christmas spirit like this.

Around lunchtime, one of the festival’s “elves” came to relieve me so I could take a break, eat, and walk around. It was nice having volunteers doing this for us. It had been Merry’s idea. In years past, if you didn’t arrange for someone to watch your booth, you didn’t even get a pee break.

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