Santa's Naughty List by Mina Carter Read Free Book Online

Chapter One
     
    Cole was a Claus elf. An honest to goodness Claus elf. Which meant that one night a year—Christmas Eve—he heeded The Call, joining his brothers to assume the mantle of Santa himself and deliver presents to all the children in the world. It was a job way too big for one man, even with magic, so generations ago (and elves lived a long time) the job had been split over the Claus bloodline.
    Hundreds of Santa’s, just for one night.
    Including Cole.
    Mia, hidden behind the huge Christmas tree in the center of the Paranormal Protection Agency office, sighed and sipped at her drink. Cheap champagne in a plastic cup, they were rocking it tonight. She snuck another glance at the object of her affections over the rim. Not that he would ever notice a lowly part-elf like her. But, and her chest puffed out with pride, at least that elf part wasn’t common woodland elf. No, she had Christmas-elf blood.
    Sure, that was a step or hundred down from the Claus elves, but she and hers were just as much part of the magic of Christmas as his family. Without Christmas elves, there would be no one to make the toys for Santa to deliver. She loved it when her Grandpops told her about the workshops where they made the toys when he was young. His eyes, now dimmed with age, always sparkled with renewed vigor when he spoke. Toy soldiers, spinning tops, teddy bears and more… They’d made it all. But those were the golden days before electronics had taken over. These days it was all smartphones and tablets, and old elves like Grandpops couldn’t compete.
    She looked down at the small package in her hands and smiled. Her offering for the office Secret Santa, and well, once a Christmas elf, always a Christmas elf. Blood always came out. Inside the bright wrapping paper, with the big red bow, was a tiny knitted teddy bear. She’d made it herself. Never let it be said that a Christmas elf gave a shop-bought present.
    Dropping her empty cup in the trash, she skirted round the edge of the room. The office was decorated for Christmas. The desks had all been moved out of the way, and she had no idea how they’d gotten the tree in. Sparkling with hundreds of fairy lights that owed nothing to electricity, baubles glinted, and it even had its own snowstorm. Flakes settled on the branches, the top shrouded in mist. Magic, obviously. But then the PPA prided itself on using magic-users along with every other flavor of paranormal. Hell, she’d even heard tell that they’d hired a banshee just the other week.
    The sounds of merriment filled the air, getting louder as the evening progressed. Most of the agencies employees were here, the night before Christmas Eve, to celebrate another successful year. She’d been with the agency six months, but it felt like she’d finally found somewhere she could settle. Where she didn’t feel out of place. Even though she was just an administrator, rather than a field operative, she liked the fact she was making a difference, that she was helping people. It was almost as good as making toys.
    Heading for the corner of the room, and the table with all the presents, she pulled up short. A tall figure stood by the table, and a frisson rolled through her. Cole. But then he turned to the side, and she realized it wasn’t Cole, but rather his brother Rhod instead.
    She liked Rhod. Like Cole, he was a Claus, and the potential of Christmas wrapped around him like a cape, which eased something deep inside her. Even though she’d never been to the Pole, even though her family had left when her father was a child, she still felt the pull. Being around Claus elves helped with that deep yearning. A little.
    Rhod put something down on the table. A small, brightly wrapped present with a tag. Turning, he caught her looking at him and winked before walking away. Flushing to the roots of her hair, her cheeks burned but she resisted the urge to rush away and hide. A Claus had noticed her. At least it hadn’t been Cole, a