Luc finished off his peanuts. “A unique take on the whole ghosts-of-Christmas legend, Wakefield.”

“Can we call him Scrooge?” Balthazar asked.

“Absolutely.”

“Brilliant.” Balthazar smiled. “Shall we go, then? I have a date in the snow with a to-be-determined guest of honor.” He waggled his eyebrows at Stas.

“No,” she and Issac replied at the same time.

“You’re turning down playtime in the snow?” He gave Luc an affronted look. “Who doesn’t enjoy snowball fights?”

“Apparently these two Scrooges.” He gestured to the pair of them in the front seat.

Issac blew out a breath and glanced sideways at Stas. “I suggest you call your mom and warn her that a bunch of adult toddlers are joining us.”

If her parents weren’t already on their way to Kalispell, Stas would have told them to stay home, and have Issac drive her to Havre instead. “How is this going to work? Where will everyone sleep?”

Balthazar’s grin was absolutely wicked. “We’ll just share your bed, Stas.”

“The residence has enough room.” He glared in the mirror again. “Lucian, the Christmas ghost you mentioned will become a reality if your second-in-command continues that train of visual thought.”

The seductive Hydraian blew him a kiss while Luc produced another bag of airline peanuts from his pocket. Had Jacque snagged those for him midflight or something? “B, stop taunting Wakefield.”

“Whatever you say, King Luc,” Balthazar deadpanned.

Luc snorted and popped more of those damn peanuts into his mouth.

“Let’s just go, Issac,” Stas said, tired from traveling all day. A nap sounded great right about now. Or copious amounts of alcohol. “It’s only thirty minutes.”

“Right.” Issac navigated away from the curb, giving up on the notion of expelling the two interlopers from the back. “You need to warn your parents and also inform them that Thomas is indeed alive since they believe him to be dead.”

She gaped at him. “And explain that how?”

“By saying he was on a deep-cover assignment that required the ultimate camouflage.”

Her brows rose. “You expect them to believe that?”

“Thomas will help when he sees them. His gift for insinuating truth is begrudgingly useful.”

“Right. Okay.” She had no idea if her parents would buy it, but what choice did she have? “You two better be quiet back there.” She needed as much focus as she could get.

Balthazar saluted her. “Yes, ma’am.”

Luc just held up yet another bag of peanuts.

Well, at least it’ll be a memorable holiday.

Acknowledgements

Wow. This book was probably one of the most emotional stories I’ve had the pleasure of writing. It took a lot of special people to help make it perfect.

First, as always, Matt: I could not do this without your support. I know I say this all the time, but thank you for putting up with me and the insanity in my head. I love you.

Allison: Thank you for reading and rereading, and reading again, and all the late-night conversations. I would be lost without you as my alpha reader!