Chapter 9
Dreama smiled at her father as he opened the Christmas gift she’d brought for him from NPC. Roi sat next to her, with his arm on the back of the couch behind her and a cup of coffee in his hand. She tucked her feet under her and leaned against him, smiling as her father opened the old-fashioned pajama set that included a matching robe and nightcap.
“Oh!” he said with a laugh. “I haven’t had a nightcap in a hundred years! I love it, honey. It’s perfect.”
“I’m glad you like it. I made the cap. I’m still learning how to sew.”
“Well, well,” he said, putting on the cap and playfully flicking the pointed end. “You’re learning to sew? That’s wonderful.”
“And I can cook,” she said. “Well, at least some dishes. I’m still learning.”
He smiled. “I’m so happy you’re enjoying living up North. I miss you.” He paused for a moment and added, “Do you remember the little boy on your route who had scary clown dreams?”
She nodded. “I’ve wondered about him since I’ve been gone.”
“I’ve been checking in on him, and the dreams are all good now.”
“That’s a relief.”
A timer beeped, and Sandman said, “The rolls are done. I’ll be right back.”
When he left them alone in the living room, she lifted her head and smiled at Roi. “Merry Christmas Eve,” she said.
“Same to you, my sweet Dreama.” He kissed her, lingering only a brief moment, before nipping her bottom lip with a soft growl and letting her see his beasts as his eyes changed color.
“I love that.”
“They love you.”
“I love you and them.”
Her father came into the room with a plate of fresh cinnamon rolls, and the sweet and spicy scent filled the air.
“Oh yum,” she said, sitting up and lifting one from the plate. Taking a bite, she murmured another yum.
“These are great, Sandy,” Roi said.
“Thanks. I found a little shop on my route yesterday, and I brought them home to reheat for our breakfast.”
“They’re excellent,” Dreama said.
When they’d eaten their fill of the sticky treats, her father handed her and Roi a large box.
“Wait,” Dreama said. “Before we open this, we have some news.”
His brows rose.
She glanced at Roi, who smiled in encouragement.
“I’m pregnant.”
“Wonderful! I’m going to be a grandpa!”
Dreama handed the box to Roi and stood to hug her father.
“Feel free to name him Sandy.”
“Um, we’ll see.”
Sandman laughed, and they sat down. “Now before you open that, I want you to know that I’m not psychic.”
She raised her brows in question as Roi placed the box back on her lap. Dreama pulled off the blue velvet ribbon and lifted the lid. She pushed aside layers of white tissue paper and found baby gifts. Footy pajamas, adorable outfits, stuffed toys, and a pair of hiking boots, size zero.
She lifted the boots from the box, her eyes stinging with happy tears. “Dad? How did you know?”
He smiled broadly. “I just had a feeling. Like the one I had when I knew you should go to NPC in my place. I may be on to something here. Maybe I should play the lottery.”
She moved to where he sat in his favorite recliner and hugged him. “Thank you, Dad. You’re the best father, and you’re going to be the best grandpa.”
“Next Christmas you can bring your little one, right?”
Roi nodded as she sat back down. “Of course.”
“And I can stay the night here with the baby. Roi can come back after the run to pick us up.”
“Wonderful! I’ll get to give my grandkid sweet Christmas dreams.”
The rest of the day passed quickly, and before long, she was saying goodbye and trying not to be too emotional.
“I’m only two months pregnant,” she said, wiping at the tears. “I didn’t think the emotional stuff would show up so fast.”
Her father hugged her a little tighter and chuckled. “I’ll talk to you soon. I want to know how the ride goes tonight.”
“I’m so excited. I’ll call you tomorrow before you leave for work.”
After another round of goodbyes, she moved into Roi’s embrace, blew her father a kiss, and transported home with her mate.
“We’ve got two hours,” Roi said, glancing at the bed.
“Don’t you have some gear to check?” she asked playfully, dropping her coat to the floor.
“In a bit. It’s our first Christmas Eve. We have to make love. I’m pretty sure it’s a law.”
“If it isn’t, it should be.”
* * *
Roi kissed his mate one more time as he stood in the stall, ready to change into his form. Lan, one of the elves in charge of the sleigh team, stood to the side, holding the harness and tapping his foot impatiently.
“I swear,” he muttered, “you newly mated quads are always dawdling.”
Dreama smiled at Lan. “Sorry.”
He sniffed. “It’s not you who won’t shift.”
“All right, all right,” Roi said. “One more kiss.”
“You said that ten minutes ago,” Dreama said. She giggled and kissed him, then stepped back to watch him change form.
Although his favorite shift was the polar bear, Dreama’s was the reindeer. One of the first times she’d seen him shift was into his reindeer form, and he’d taken her for a trip around NPC.
He changed forms swiftly and shook himself out, banging his antlers on the sides of the stalls as he stamped his hooves.
“I love your antlers,” she said, grabbing hold of them lightly. “I hope our sons are all quads. It would be so cool for you and our son to be on the team together.”
“That’s never been done,” Lan said as he put Roi’s harness on. “But it’s a really sweet idea. Maybe it will happen with this new generation.”
“Hey,” Rhys said as he stopped in front of the stall, “have either of you seen Declan?”
Roi shook his head.
Dreama said, “No. But you should check with Mrs. C because when we checked in with security this morning before going to my father’s, I saw them talking on one of the monitors.”
Rhys frowned. “I hope he shows up, or we’ll have to get someone else outfitted.”
Just then, SC and Mrs. C came into the barn, stopping at each stall and greeting the team. Rhys moved to his stall after speaking to SC about Declan, said goodbye to his mate and child, and shifted.
Mrs. C said, “I hope he shows up in time. I just don’t understand what’s keeping him.”
“I’m here! I’m here!” Declan said, rushing into the barn. He shed clothes along the way, and Roi didn’t miss his flushed and happy expression.
Dreama hummed. “I think Declan has a great story to tell, don’t you?”
Roi nudged her with an agreeing snort.
The team was called to line up, and Dreama walked with Roi to his position in the third row, next to Vaughn, the Comet position. Dreama pressed her hand to the top of his snout and kissed him. “I’m so happy to get to share this night with you, Cupid. You’re my favorite reindeer.”
All the males snorted in protest, and SC laughed. “The mates are allowed to play favorites, fellows.”
She smiled at Roi. “What’s the saying? Good flight, good night, Merry Christmas?”
He nodded with a snort.
She raised her voice and spoke the chant, her words echoing in the rafters of the barn as the others joined in, from the mates to their children to the elves and shifters who helped the night go off without a hitch. Dreama climbed into the sleigh, settling next to SC. Around her shoulders, she draped a beautiful, red, fur-trimmed cloak meant to keep her warm through the dark night.
“We’re chasing the night, daughter of mine,” SC said as he situated himself beside her. “Are you ready?”
“I am. Thank you for this, Dad.”
“Love you two,” Mrs. C said.
“Love you, Mom,” Dreama said.
Santa looked at Dreama. “You can say it this time.”
Roi’s brows would have risen if he’d had them. He’d never heard of SC allowing anyone to say the phrase before.
“Can I?” she asked breathlessly.
“For my only daughter? You bet.”
“I hope I don’t mess up.” She giggled nervously.
Roi watched SC hand her the reins, which she gripped tightly. Her eyes were bright with happiness and her smile was so wide he thought her cheeks probably ached.
The ceiling opened, and Roi focused his attention toward the front. He braced himself for the onslaught of magic. Dreama’s voice rose above them, filled with power just like SC’s, but slightly different, flavored with an emotion that reminded him of sweet dreams.
“On Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer, on Vixen, on Comet, on Cupid, on Donner, and Blitzen!”
As the last name was called, the reindeer and sleigh lifted from the ground, magic swirling around them like falling snow. From one heartbeat to the next, they were airborne, flying through time and space at a rate that no human eye could track.
Dreama whooped a cheer as they raced for civilization. “Merry Christmas and sweet dreams to all!”
“That’s not how that goes,” SC said with a big, belly laugh.
“Just for tonight.”
They did just as SC had said, and chased the night, moving from city to city, stopping only long enough to leave presents for the believing children and then moving on. Roi was so happy to share the night with his fated mate. It was hard to believe that a few months ago he’d been wondering if he’d ever find a mate, let alone one so special like his sweetheart, who spent time every night helping the children of NPC sleep. In six months, she’d be able to help their own child sleep. A little boy or girl, part shifter and part dream walker, grandson or granddaughter of Santa, Mrs. Claus, and Sandman.
Roi bellowed in happiness as they headed home, anxious to spend their first Christmas morning together, in front of their romantic fireplace in their beautiful cabin, at the top of the world.
Nothing was better than that.