Hung by the Fire (Operation Reindeer Retrieval Book 4) Read online

  When a falling meteor split, the crowd gasped in shock and applauded like it was a firework.

  One piece continued on its original path to the ocean, but the smaller piece broke off and streaked past the observatory.

  The thud of the impact sent ripples of excitement through the gathering.

  Violette looked up at Xander and said, “How much do you want to bet that it struck a volcanic pocket?”

  Xander smirked. “I am thinking that I will not take that bet.”

  “You are catching on.”

  “I am a slow study, but even I can learn.” He grinned and squeezed her to his side.

  “I am getting a feeling about the impact point. Do you want to stop there on our way to the workshop?”

  “I think that would be an excellent way to bid a temporary farewell to Violette Xenic.”

  She winked. “Excellent. You have the collar?”

  “In my car. When you say the word, we will go.”

  She smiled softly, and they watched the stars fall and wink out, becoming part of the earth.

  It was a wonderful last look at humanity and what even the most jaded of them could become when they were shown a bit of wonder.

  When the guests were gone and the grounds were quiet, they walked to his car, and he took out the collar. “Are you ready for this?”

  “Oh, please. This is the uniform of my day job. It becomes a necklace on my throat no matter what form I wear.”

  She stood there in her evening gown and waited for him to put on the mark of her service to the workshop. When he buckled the cool leather against her skin, the magic wrapped around her and let her know it was there to call on when she needed it.

  His car would disappear when he did, so it was up to her to peel off the snowflake and return it to its box. Once that was done, her reindeer form and instinct to run home would take over.

  She pried it off and set it in the small box that she fished from her purse. She handed both to him when she was clear of the protective snowflake.

  “Are you ready, Xander?”

  He nodded and patted the pocket with the flash drive she wanted him to carry. “Ready when you are.”

  Violette grinned and shifted into her Christmas reindeer form.

  Despite the warning, Xander looked shocked as she took a few steps before kneeling down so that he could climb on.

  Having him on her back was rather fun. He gripped her horns, as instructed, and she activated her cloaking magic and took off.

  She ran to her home and saw what she had expected to see. The impact point of the meteor was a few dozen metres from her home. An orange worm of lava was flowing toward her erstwhile home, and there was nothing to be done.

  Be careful what you wish for, it could come back to bite you in the ass.

  After watching for a few minutes, she took to the skies again and began her northward journey to bring them both home. She didn’t know if she counted as naughty or nice, but she was willing to submit to Xander’s judgment. He may be a little slow, but he definitely got to the right conclusion in the end.

  It was his own brand of Christmas magic.

  Author’s Note

  Join the reindeer next week when Comet seeks out her mate in Twisting the Pole.

  Thanks for reading,

  Viola Grace

  http://www.violagrace.com

  About the Author

  Viola Grace (aka Zenina Masters) is a Canadian sci-fi/paranormal romance writer with ambitions to keep writing for the rest of her life. She specializes in short stories because the thrill of discovery, of all those firsts, is what keeps her writing.

  An artist who enjoys a story that catches you up, whirls you around and sets you down with a smile on your face is all she endeavours to be. She prefers to leave the drama to those who are better suited to it, she always goes for the cheap laugh.

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Hung by the Fire

  Author’s Note

  About the Author