Kreatos swallows. He remains emotionless for a second longer, the longest second of my life, before he opens his eyes. They sparkle.

  “This food,” he says, his eyes finding my mom. “Carol, this food… is exquisite. Absolutely exquisite. I’ve dined in the finest places the universe has to offer. I’ve had dinner with the High Council at the Moonlounge, I’ve ate Tridentfish prepared for chef’s who studied for decades at the Ukula, I’ve even tasted the egg of a Pegaminton, the rarest, most delectable delicacy in the known universe… or so they say at the dispensaries on Xera. I now see that those are just vainglorious bureaucrats talking into the air, for they are all dead wrong. Nothing, absolutely nothing can compare to this. You, Carol, are a genius. What is the secret ingredient?!”

  “Oh, you flatter me!” My mom says, but her smile is so radiant it lights up the entire room. “Oh, I do believe that’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me! I haven’t been to any of those places, I’m not as well-traveled as you are, sir, but if you say my cooking is really so good, then all I can say is… thank you.”

  Kreatos leans forward, a wide grin on his face. I don’t think I’ve seen him smile once since meeting him — yes, the ice, cold, dead smile of a killer, but not this. No, this is a genuine, a real, happy smile.

  “What is the secret ingredient, Carol? I must know! I must bring this home, I must tell everyone!”

  “Oh, it’s just a turkey, really. The real secret ingredient is… love, my dear!”

  Kreatos raises his thick eyebrows. “Love? I haven’t heard of that before — it is a spice? How is it harvested? Oh, let me guess — human tears! Am I correct?”

  Anna and my mom laugh loudly, while I exchange knowing glances with Nikolax. I can finally let go off the breath I’ve been holding, and my shoulder slump down somewhat. We’re not in the clear yet, but Kreatos’s murderlust seems to have been contained. Somewhat.

  “Oh, you’re a hoot!” My mom laughs. “A real joker.”

  Kreatos turns to Nikolax, confused. “I do not understand,” he whispers. “I need this love.”

  “We all do,” Nikolax whispers back. “You’ve heard of xylo, right?”

  “The unbreakable bond between two mates whose souls are meant to be together? Sure, sure,” Kreatos says.

  I’m engaging my mom and Anna in conversation, while simultaneously listening in on the whispered conversations the two men are having. It’s a tricky balancing act.

  “That is what the humans call love. But they are not as stingy with it as we Xera are. Humans love their children, their partners, their friends, their neighbors. Even their pets. Humans have the power to love unconditionally, wildly, recklessly. They are a loving species, through and through.”

  Kreatos eyes go wide with surprise. “And they can even add this love to their food?!”

  “Apparently.”

  “Strange,” Kreatos muses. “So strange…”

  “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. There is much we can learn from these humans,” Nikolax says.

  Kreatos nods thoughtfully. “I didn’t want to believe you, but any creature that can cook this type of dish not class II, not by a long shot.”

  “What class are you two talking about?” Anna says.

  “Uhm, schoolclasses,” I say quickly, talking over them.

  Anna frowns at me. “I don’t think so.”

  “Is that dessert I hear coming?” I say. “Oh, I believe it is!”

  My mom shakes her head. “She hasn’t even finished her—”

  “DESSERT! DESSERT!” Anna chants, just like I knew she would.

  Mom sighs with a smile. “Okay, but only because it’s Christmas, and only because you’ve been feeling so well as of late. You’ll get your dessert early.”

  “YAY!”

  NIKOLAX

  With our bellies full of delicious food, and with several nightcaps flowing through our veins, we head back outside, into the cold.

  Kreatos’s has got one arm wrapped around my shoulder jovially, as he rattles on and on. He’s drunk on love.

  “These creatures, these humans, they’re so kind, so lovely, so trusting! They didn’t even frisk me! I was just welcomed at the table, and given food painstakingly prepared, covered with the nectar of the gods…”

  “You really thought it was that good, huh?” I ask.

  “The best!” He shouts. “The best!”

  “Keep it down, big guy,” Emma says, smiling broadly at me.

  My mate knew exactly what she was doing when she invited the bureaucrat for dinner. I honestly thought it was a foolhardy plan, but I trusted her wisdom all the same.

  And what a good decision that turned out to be. I’ve never seen Kreatos, or any Xera for that matter, so jovial and so jubilant.

  We go around the block and then circle back. I jump up on the roof, with Kreatos and Emma in tow, and slide into the familiar seat of my sleigh. The reindeer are pawing at the snow impatiently — they’re not used to waiting on me for so long.

  “Yes, yes, sorry guys and girls,” I say. “My apologies. Let’s head back home, shall we?”

  I grab the reins and we are off, flying higher and higher, feeling the cold wind in my beard. I love the sensation of flying, but now we’re in a bit of a rush.

  I still have a whole lot of presents to deliver.

  Kreatos is loudly singing the Christmas tunes Anna taught him, while Emma crawls up next to me, her head resting on my shoulders.

  “That went well, didn’t it?”

  “That could not have gone any better,” I say. “I’m serious. Kreatos is the most uptight Xera I’ve ever met, and we are a species famously known for out uptightness. The fact that you managed to turn that tight-lipped bureaucrat into… this singing mess… is nothing short of magical.”

  “That’s my mom’s cooking for you,” Emma chuckles. “It can warm even the coldest heart.”

  “I can assure you Kreatos’s heart was not just cold, it was made of the purest and the blackest ice imaginable. And now he’s singing Merry Christmas. It might even frighten me a little bit, to tell you the truth.”

  “Speaking on not lying and frightening things, you know what my mom told me?”

  “What?”

  “She told me to hold onto to you, because I was never going to meet another kinder, warmer, gentler, handsomer man. Can you believe that?”

  “I can, actually,” I chuckle.

  “Color me surprised,” Emma says.

  “I can, we’ll just have to stop over at the tinsel factory and get your but in the tinselator,” I say. “That should do the trick.”

  “Can you believe she bought that?” Emma says.

  “I’m not sure she did,” I say, “but she’s just too polite to point that that we look rather off. Your sister is not hindered by social conventions, however.”

  “Oh, that she is not,” Emma says. “She’s a peach, isn’t she?”

  “She’s a lovely young girl, that’s for sure,” I say.

  And at that, I feel a slight jab at my heart. If Emma were to stay by my side, it would mean she’d have to leave her family, and move to my workshop. And if I were to breed her… she would earn my powers. She would age at my speed.

  We can spend a long, happy life together — but would taking her from her family really make her happy? These dark thoughts are like a thick blanket, snuffing out the joy…

  But I must push them away.

  Tonight, I have packages to deliver.

  A whole planet load of them.

  Emma

  After a long, carol-filled ride, we arrive back at the workshop, all smiles. Kreatos can’t stop ranting joyfully, and even Nikolax can’t stop grinning at his child-like joy. The jolly looks on our faces disappears like snow in the sun when we see the stressful looks glued onto the faces of the elves. Sugarplum comes rushing towards the sleigh, clutching a long parchment that flows yards and yards behind the little elf.

  “Sir, we are terribly behind schedule! In order to keep us on schedule, you should have taken off approximately 6 hours ago!”

  Nikolas jumps out of the sled first, and then helps me climb out. He wraps his big arms around me tightly, pulling me close.

  “I want nothing more than to stay here with you, my love,” he growls into my neck, “but duty calls.”

  As much as I want to celebrate, I’m right there with him. “I know,” I say, “and I’m going to help out.”

  “Are you sure?” He asks. “It’s hard work.”

  “I’m human, remember? We can do hard work. Watch me.”

  Nikolax nods. “Understood. Sugarplum, load the sleigh. We’ve got a few records to break.”

  “Is there anything I can do?”

  We all turn to Kreatos, our eyebrows raised collectively.

  “Did I hear that right?” Nikolax says. “You want to help me?”

  Kreatos nods vigorously, a red gloss on his blue cheeks. “I must admit, after my previous behavior over the last few centuries it seems rather sudden, this change of heart, but I am sure. During the ride back I had some time to think, and I realized that I have made some… mistakes, in my time. Getting you exiled is definitely one of them.”

  Nikolax shrugs those massive shoulders of him, his arm still possessively wrapped around my waist. “I’m glad you did, Kreatos, or I never would have ended up here, and I never would have met my mate.”

  “That may be so, but your good fortune doesn’t excuse my behavior. I want to make amends, to you, to Emma, and to humanity as a whole. Allow me to help, and ease this burden weighing on my shoulders.”

  My mate shakes his head in disbelief. “What was in that food Carol made, really? I’ve heard of soul food before, but I didn’t think any food could actually awaken someone’s soul. Very well. Welcome aboard, Kreatos. Sugarplum, how is that prototype of yours looking?”

  “It’s, uhm, barely operational, I’ve did some preliminary testing, but she’s nowhere ready to—”

  “Can it fly, Sugarplum?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Then prepare it.”

  The two aliens grab each other’s impressive biceps and butt their horns together, as Sugarplum scurries off, anxiously ranting to himself.

  “Succes, brother.”

  “Thank you, brother.”

  Moments later, the doors to one of the barns open, and to my utter surprise, a red and white chariot comes rolling out, pulled forwards by mechanical horses. I can barely believe what I’m seeing. The majestic beasts are so life-like; except for the fact you can see their inner workings, the gears, the metal, the wires.

  “Sugarplum, you’ve outdone yourself,” Nikolax says. “It’s a beauty.”

  “It’s, uhm, just a hobby project,” he says modestly. “Really, she’s not ready, I still need to tinker with the galloping mode.”

  “You’ve been tinkering with this for a decade, my good friend. She is ready. Let her ride!”

  Sugarplum’s face turns white as snow. “Y-yes sir. I s-suppose.”

  I gently pull at Nikolax’s sleeve. “Are you sure that’s it a good idea? If Sugarplum doesn’t say it’s ready…”

  Nikolax kisses me gently on the bridge of my nose. “It’s ready, trust me. He’s just a perfectionist. If he had his way, he’s tinker with it until the sun burns out.”

  He then turns back to the elves, and starts authoritatively instructing them. All I can do is watch in awe as a massive operation is set up. Containers of presents are wheeled out into the snow and hooked to the back of the sled. This is really happening — we’re about to deliver presents.

  “Sugarplum — you go with Kreatos,” he says.

  “Wh-what?! Sir?! What have I done wrong to deserve such a punishment?” Sugarplum stammers.

  “Don’t worry, he’s not the same man you met this morning. He will help you. Now, we don’t have a lot of time left before the denizens of this world rise — and they each deserve a fat stack of presents underneath their trees. Let’s roll.”

  I am sitting in the sled next to my man as he grabs the reins, a literal mountain of presents right behind us. I don’t see how the reindeer are going to be able to take off, but I’m done questioning things. Anything’s possible with Nikolax by my side.

  He spurs the magical beasts on. They pull hard, and… and nothing happens. They paw at the snow, their majestic bodies struggling, but we keep standing still.

  “It’s not working,” I say. “We’re too heavy.”

  “Excuse me?” Nikolax says. “That’s rude.”

  “No, I mean… this is not the time to joke — Christmas is on the line!”

  He throws his head back and belts out a deep, joyful laugh. “Give them a moment, my mate. You humans are so impatient. It’s what I like about you. Watch.”

  Slowly but surely, the sled moves. An inch. And then another. And then another. Now we’re gliding… we’re moving… we’re picking up speed… I feel the wind, softly at first, and then it turns into a gale, and then… a hurricane whipping my hair around. The sled takes off, every bit of it creaking under the massive weight behind us, but it holds.

  We’re off.

  “Told you,” Nikolax says playfully. “Never underestimate the ingenuity of an elf.”

  I curl up next to him. In the distance we see Kreatos take off, and he’s hollering so loudly we can hear him all the way over here.

  “He’s going to attract a lot of attention, delivering presents like that — a blue, horned alien, wrapped in jet-black armor, riding a chariot manned by mechanical horses,” I say.

  “You’re right — and they’ll call it a Christmas miracle or a trick of the light.”

  “I hope so,” I say.

  “Don’t worry,” Nikolax says. “Humans are very adept at seeing magic right in front of their very eyes, and then still not being able to see it. Can you pass me the list? It’s down by your feet. What’s the first address?”

  I find a massive pile of parchment between my legs, that looks like it’s stretches on for miles and miles. “How many houses are we visiting?!” I gasp.

  “Oh, we’re doing the northern hemisphere, while I gave Kreatos and Sugarplum the south.”

  I swallow the massive lump in my throat. “The northern hemisphere? Like, all of it?”

  “Well, only the people who are most in need — but yes, all of it. I told you it’s going to be hard work. You ready to get your hands dirty, my mate? Metaphorically speaking, of course. The presents shouldn’t get dirty. That would be a waste.”

  “Yes, sir,” I say, as I wonder what exactly I got myself into. “Tell me what to do, and I’ll do it.”

  He pulls me close and kisses me deeply. “That’s my girl. The moment we’re done delivering, I got some things on my mind I can’t wait for you to do...”

  I purr as a joke, teasingly sliding my hand into his thick, fur coat.

  “… but right now, I need you to grab the gifts for the Wilson’s, we’re coming up on our first stop.” He attaches a harness to my coat and clips me to him. “I need you to jump in the back and find me their presents. You’re attached to me, so no matter what happens, you’ll be safe.”

  “Aye aye, captain,” I say, taking a deep breath before launching myself from the sled into the massive train of present-filled containers we’re lugging with us. The moment I’m airborne my life flashes before my eyes — mostly focusing on the time I spent with Nikolax — but then I land in a massive pile of presents, and it’s back to work.

  Only half a planet’s worth of presents I have to sort and deliver.

  No biggy.

  Nikolax

  We arrive back at the workshop when the sun is already up, coating the winter wonderland I call my home in it’s warm glow. My body and mind are exhausted, but we did it. It came down to the wire, but we pulled it off — thanks to Emma’s tireless enthusiasm.

  I’ve always thought highly of humans, but now I realize my esteem hadn’t been high enough. Not by a long shot. Emma’s worked harder, better, and faster than many Xera, or even elves could.

  Now she’s snoring away, her body bundled up next to me, taking her well deserved rest. The moment the sled touches down she wakes up, rubbing her eyes as she peeps at me.

  “Did we make it?”

  “We sure did, my little human,” I say as I kiss the top of her head. “You did well.”

  “I had to,” she yawns. “It was for Christmas.”

  “Christmas is now over,” I say, and with that, a heavy feeling takes hold of my heart once more. The time that Emma has to choose is drawing closer, and I worry deeply, for neither choice is truly satisfactory. I lift my mate up and carry her towards my home. I will draw her a warm bath, and give her time to recuperate.

  Kreatos doesn’t share my dark mood. No, he’s all smiles as he welcomes me back home, his mouth overflowing with all the stories he wants to share with me.

  “The humans, they even fed me! There was milk, and there were cookies!” He says proudly. “I’ve never felt so welcome in my life!”

  “I’m glad you had a good time,” I say. “I take it was a success then?”

  “Absolutely!”

  I find Sugarplum on my couch, his face paler than I’ve ever seen it.

  “Sugarplum, you okay there, bud?” I ask him. “How’d it go?”

  “Fine,” he says, his voice flat. “We lost power, oh, thirty-seven times, nearly plunging to our deaths every single time.”

  “But you got the power back on every single time, correct?”

  “Correct, sir.”

  “That’s my elf,” I say, patting him on the head gently. “You did well, Sugarplum. I’m proud of you. Now, excuse me, but Emma needs to rest.”

  I close the door to my bedroom behind me, and lay my mate down in my bed and draw her a bath. When I return, she is curled up into a small ball, snoring ever so cutely. I cover her with the blankets and lie down next to her, savoring this moment…

  For she might not ever sleep here again.

  EMMA

  The following day.

 

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