The helplessness she’d been feeling for the last several days flared up again, though not quite as bad. At least her family was safe in Pinebury, but she couldn’t go back until Novalight knew she didn’t have the shard. She couldn’t risk her family being used against her. She’d hand that magic icicle over in a New York minute, global consequences be damned. Unfortunately, there was nothing stopping Novalight’s hired guns from going to Pinebury anyway and using her family as leverage. Just because they hadn’t done it yet, didn’t mean they wouldn’t. Which meant she and Piers had to resolve this fast.

Sophie shivered. Piers stopped and pulled up her hood even though she had a hat on. Her heart tumbled. She murmured a thank-you as he gazed down at her, his gray eyes dipping to her mouth. Warmth coiled through her, and her pulse sped up. Sophie’s lips parted. She hadn’t been kissed since a not-too-tragic date ages ago. The kiss had been utterly uninspiring, and she’d felt so much nothing she’d started to wonder if her girl parts were broken. But lack of use apparently hadn’t damaged anything. All Piers had to do was look at her like he was thinking about kissing her and a hot thump sprang to life between her legs.

“Sophie.” The soft, low rumble of his voice caressed something deep inside her. He brushed a wisp of hair off her face.

Heat shivered down her spine. She swallowed. “Yes.”

“Your nose is very red.”

She blinked and burst out laughing. “Like Rudolf?”

Piers frowned. “I don’t know this Rudolf.”

“Well, he has a very red nose. He’s also a reindeer, which—before you ask—is an animal with four legs and antlers.”

“What makes this animal special? Does it breathe fire? Spit poison saliva? Shoot venomous darts from its tail?”

Her eyebrows crept up. “Wow. Thalyria sounds like fun.”

Piers cracked a smile and started walking again. “Well?”

“Okay, I’ll give you the scoop on Rudolf.” Sophie slipped her arm back through Piers’s. She liked it there. “He brings holiday cheer and helps deliver presents to children around the world. He’s also totally made up—a myth. And our version of magical, I guess, because he flies and has a glowing red nose. Regular reindeer—feet on the ground, no lightbulb noses—are real, though. They’re super cute, but I think they’re kind of smelly.”

“Have you encountered one?” he asked.

“I’ve never been up close and personal with a reindeer. I hit a regular deer with my car once, though.” It got up and ran away, but she’d been so shaken she’d driven well under the speed limit for days.

Piers’s brow drew low. “Were you all right?”

“I was sad. I was scared I hurt it.”