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“Nonsense. How often does someone say they got to ride in Santa’s sleigh? Besides, the reindeer could use the warm up before the big night. We’ll be there in no time.”

“A ride in the sleigh? You know—” Oliver started.

“Stop it,” Carol interjected. “Don’t even ask.”

Oliver clammed up.

“Come on, we must get going,” Ez said. “Holly, thank you for the refreshments as always. I hope to see you two soon after the holidays.”

“We plan on being there for the Valentine’s Day party,” Holly replied.

“Excellent, I’ll see you then,” Ez said.

“Santa, can you make a pit stop on the way back? I want to get my broomstick and a thing or two,” Alice said.

“Of course,” he replied. “Never hurts to practice landing.”

Chapter 16

On an Eight Reindeer Open Sleigh

Alice floated up to the roof of her purple and black house on top of Guinevere. The snow crunched beneath her black, thick-soled boots as she marched toward Santa’s awaiting sleigh. Red with curly stripes of gold and silver decorated the sleigh. Brass fixtures adorned the ends of rounded points. Exquisite and expertly crafted; one would not expect anything less from the master craftsman.

The eight reindeer huffed and snorted as Alice walked past with her broomstick clutched in one hand and her black satchel in the other. She smiled and winked as she passed. Their bridles and reins with their names engraved on brass plates were secured to the supple brown leather straps. Silver bells hung off their sides.

“So the hourglass is how you do it?” Oliver asked, leaning over the front bench seat from the back seat.

“I can slow down time to a standstill. It’s what allows me to move all throughout the world in a single night,” Santa answered. “Of all of my Christmas magick, time is what I master the best.”

Oliver let out a low whistle as he sat back in his seat. The benches were spared no lack of detail. Brown, supple leatherwith indents like a Chesterfield sofa. They were so soft it was like sitting on a cushion of air.

Alice approached the sleigh and handed the broomstick to Ez before joining the rest of Santa’s crew. She took her seat next to the jolly man himself, flinging her bag on her lap. Alice gave a quick glance and a subtle nod toward Santa.

“What did you get?” Ez asked.

“A few potions I had left. A couple bottles ofDrink Me Juicein case I need it. It helped against the Savinos,” Alice answered.

“You can never be too cautious,” Carol said.

“Alright. Everyone, hold on tight,” Santa said. With a flick of his wrist, the reindeer bucked, and the sleigh took off into the night with the bells of the reindeer jingling for all to hear.

Alice had used her magick to darken the area around her roof from prying eyes. The cloud covered sky and moonless night also provided the best cover for their clandestine deeds. While their trip from the North Pole flew by in a streak of flashes, Santa took his time flying through the town of Newbury Grove—a view Alice very much enjoyed, especially with Hugo tagging along on their broomstick adventures. Her heart fluttered with anticipation and excitement.

“The town definitely looks different from up here,” Carol said.

“We could sell tickets,” Oliver added.

Carol shot him a discerning glance. Max sat between the two. Her tongue wagged into the air as they flew through the sky.

“What?” Oliver asked. “I saidcouldnotshould.”

“Ho, ho, ho,” Santa belted out in a joyful tone. “Maybe we should.”

“See?” Oliver said. “He agrees with me.”

“You sit back and enjoy the ride,” Carol said. “And Santa, don’t encourage him.”

The sleigh flew over the town center and out toward Wildgrove Park. The roads were dark and empty, but Santa reached for the hourglass. He twisted the ring higher to slow time. The surroundings flew by in a flash to hide from prying eyes. The sleigh descended and banked into the opening pathway of Wildgrove Park.