The Oldest Elf Read online

  “Sure. I will just play with the boys in wrapping again. Thank you. This has been the best Christmas I have ever had.”

  His smile was in his voice. “And you are all I would ever wish for. Thank you for being mine this season, Anora Snow.”

  She was falling asleep herself, she yawned and mumbled her thoughts out loud. “And thanks for being you, Sahn-Tah Kelas. I love you.”

  —

  Keeping his eyes open was no longer a problem. Her soft body was curled against him and her words rang in his ears. I love you. If it was true, he would be the happiest elf in the world. There would be nothing that he wouldn’t do to keep her happy in his Christmas-based world. If only she would stay.

  The reindeer were taking them home automatically. After Christmas night, he was never able to steer them home. When they landed, he carried his beloved to their chamber. He undressed her and shucked his own clothes. The instant that he crawled in next to her, she turned to him. He smiled, for the first time feeling the love of a good woman and the love he could feel in return. It was opening his heart to all possibilities.

  Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

  Chapter Nine

  Sahn-Tah was dead to the world. If his chest had not been rising and falling gently, she would have thought he was a corpse. Anora tried her best not to wake him, but she needn’t have worried. When Wally brought her breakfast, he dropped the dish cover and sleeping whatshisface didn’t move. Nothing would get him up.

  She ate her breakfast and then wandered around the complex, visiting the stables. Imagine her surprise when she saw eight females sitting around a table and having lunch. “Um, hello?”

  “Anora, come and sit.” One of the eight spoke and the others agreed and invited her to sit at the extra chair.

  “No offense, ladies, but I thought that there weren’t any women here.”

  “Well, after all the time you spent staring at our asses last night, the least you could do is to look at our faces.”

  It finally hit her. The reindeer. These were the reindeer. “So, you are shape shifters?”

  “You have got it in one. Bravo!” They clapped and then asked, “Can you name us all?”

  “Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen,” The vixen in discussion smiled and winked. The others raised their hands as their names were called, “Comet, Cupid, Donder, Blitzen. Is that all of you?”

  “Yeah. Rudolph got married.” The room burst into giggles and then girl talk ensued.

  In her time with the reindeer, Anora confirmed that Sahn-Tah’s Workshop was a penal colony. Elves were sent there to be punished for transgressions by being forced to serve humanity.

  It seemed to be working.

  It was only when Dancer asked her her full name that the room fell silent. “Oh, stars. That is too funny. Well, I guess if you want to stay here you can.”

  “What? What is so odd about my name?”

  Dasher filled her in, “According to legend, when Sahn-Tah was sentenced here, he asked about taking the local women as lovers. They laughed and told him that there were no women. He was told that he had to make a lover out of snow.”

  “What!” So that is why he had gone kind of blank when she had given him her name to start with. He had to make a lover out of snow. Anora Snow. “How long has he been here?”

  “Over a thousand years. He is the oldest elf on earth right now. The next oldest ones are still in Underhill.” Comet chipped in that tidbit, then reached for the pretzels.

  “Huh.” She needed to mull that one over.

  “So, are you going to stay? You should. I have heard him laugh more in the last three days than in the last three centuries.” Blitzen was sincere, her multicoloured eyes all wide and doe like.

  “I don’t know. I have a life back home, not much of one, but it is mine.”

  “You could build a better one here, with him.” Cupid took her hand and smiled at her. “There are worse men out there than one who can make dreams and wishes come true.”

  “Yes. But what would I do here, aside from eat, sleep and fuck?” Her words were cynical, but the intent was to be direct. She succeeded. For the next twenty minutes, they listed all the ways that she could help out and become part of the Workshop team. “Fine. I will discuss it with him. When he wakes up.”

  “As long as you promise to discuss it with him, we will let you be. But if you haven’t by the end of three days, you will be walking home.” Dasher crossed her arms and the room had a good laugh. Anora kept the laughter going until the reindeer were slumped on the floor with tears streaming down their faces.

  “Remember that the next time you want to strong arm me.” She let them go and smiled as they staggered back to their chairs, rubbing their sides as they did so.

  “What have you been doing with my reindeer?” Sahn’s voice was husky.

  When Anora turned to look at him, he was stark naked. His eyes seemed bleary and he was leaning heavily on the doorframe.

  “Just having a conversation, Sahn. Let’s get you back to bed.” She nodded to her new companions and walked to the door, putting Sahn’s arm around her shoulders.

  His voice was plaintive. “I woke up and you were gone.”

  “You told me to keep busy while you slept.”

  “But you were gone.” He was confused, exhausted and very, very naked. Elves stopped to stare as they walked slowly back to his quarters. She was guessing that they didn’t see him in this condition very often.

  She tucked him back into bed and crawled in beside him. He spooned her until he fell asleep again and then she slowly moved out of his arms and across the room. Wally was outside the room, waiting.

  “Can you get me some paperbacks or a television and dvd player?” She looked quickly back at the bed when she heard a grunt. “He doesn’t want me to leave and I think it would be best for everyone if I stayed close.”

  “Of course. Any movie preference?”

  “Regency romances and light hearted romantic comedies, please.” Another grunt from the bed and she nodded to Wally and then closed the door.

  Stripping quickly, she crawled into bed with Sahn and snuggled against him.

  “You won’t leave me?” He was nuzzling her neck.

  “No. I will stay as long as you want me.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I love you. Now go to sleep.”

  His lips curved against her neck and she smiled in return. She would stay as long as she could. One day he might break her heart, but for now, being a part of him and being with him was her Christmas wish.

  As she drifted off, she thought to herself of a tiny girl with dark hair and bright blue eyes. When the little girl laughed and tilted her head, pointed ears were evident.

  What an odd thing to dream.

  New Year’s Eve

  “Anora, I am so glad you could make it. No one has heard from you since Christmas.” Cynthia was showing off her house again and her new husband.

  Anora wondered whom he would grope this time.

  “And who is this?”

  The implication was that a guy like Sahn should not be with a woman like Anora. She simply smiled. “Cynthia, this is Sahn Kelas. He and I spent most of the holidays together.”

  Sahn bowed gracefully to their hostess and smiled down at his beloved. “And I hope we will spend them together from now on, Anora.” He removed her coat and the elf-spun gown caused Cynthia’s eyes to bug out.

  “Let’s just try and survive the party first, Sahn. There are a ton of women here who just set their radar to track you.” The old Anora was raising her head. She knew that Sahn loved her, but there were some fabulous women here. Would he be tempted?

  —

  The first hour was spent introducing her companion to every woman at the party who still had an active hormone. Several of them tried to get him under the mistletoe.

  Anora skulked in the shadows, listening to the men speculating that a guy who looked like Sahn had to be gay and the wo
men were wasting their time.

  It was only when Sahn grabbed her by the arm and dragged her under the mistletoe that the men changed their tune. The steamy kiss that had her bent backward over his arm got the attention of the room and, when he finally released her, one of her legs had moved around his hips to hold him against her and her fingers were woven in his hair. Reluctant applause rewarded their kiss and the partygoers looked at both of them differently after that. In their eyes, the two were now a couple.

  “Sahn, what are you doing?” The elf was on his knees and in his hand was a tiny box. “Oh. My. God.”

  “Anora Snow, will you marry me?” The wicked twinkle in his eyes belied the question in his tone. He knew she was going to say yes. She was going to delay it. For a few moments anyway.

  “What will you give me aside from that rock?” Her gesture was to the ring in the box. The diamond was enormous and the rubies on either side looked like huge drops of blood.

  He stood up and leaned in so that the heat of his breath tickled her ear, “A daughter.”

  She blinked in amazement and met his insistent gaze. “How can you be sure?”

  He leaned in again to whisper, “I am Santa, it is what I wanted for Christmas. All that I could wish for.”

  “Then I am going to say yes, because I wished for it too.” She squealed with happiness and jumped onto him, clinging like a monkey. He caught her and they spun happily in their own world.

  “Ahem. Will you care to share your good news?” Cynthia was looking at them, partially happy for them and put out that they were causing a spectacle at her party.

  “Sahn has just proposed, and I have said yes.” His arms were still around her and so was the feeling of his love. “And as much as I would like to ring in the New Year with you all, I think that we are in for a more private celebration.” She looked at her new fiancé and smiled. “Shall we?”

  “As my lady commands.” With a wink to their hostess and applause from the crowd, they took their leave.

  —

  Cynthia followed them out the door to wave them off, speechless at Anora’s sudden confidence. Her jaw almost hit the floor when she saw the reindeer and sleigh parked on her front lawn. Shock set firmly in as Anora and her hunk of a boyfriend cuddled and then rose into the air with the sleigh and shot into the night sky.

  “Holy crap. She is boinking Santa Claus.”

  —

  Merry Christmas to all, and Happy Holidays!

  Author’s Note

  In the last year it has come to my attention that the spirit of Christmas seems to be sadly lacking from our modern lives. So, I have given Santa the Spirit of Joy for Christmas, I hope he enjoys her, and I hope that you enjoy their coming together.

  Here is wishing you the happiest of holidays from Viola Grace and Extasy Books.

  P.S. If you wish to learn about Westa and Henry, read Getting Lucky, Sisters of Silverwood Book 1.

  About the Author

  Viola Grace was born in Manitoba, Canada where she still resides today. She really likes it there. Her hobbies have included cross-stitch, needlepoint, quilting, costuming, cake decorating, baking, cooking, metalwork, beading, sculpting, painting, doll making, henna tattoos, chain maille, and a few others that have been forgotten.

  Her writing actively pursues the Happily Ever After that so rarely occurs in nature. A brilliant mind, with a twisted sense of humor.

  Viola can be reached at this email:

  [email protected]

  Viola’s website is located at:

  http://www.violagrace.com