“Of course I’ll help.” Grandma Rose stood, suddenly looking ten years younger. “I never liked Mrs. Patterson anyway. Time to show that busybody whose town this is.”
She straightened, all five feet two inches of her radiating authority. “Well then. I suppose I’m coming out of retirement. Grace, dear, call Aunt Patricia. Tell her we’re going to need her tax expertise for the wage theft claims.”
“Wage theft?” I asked.
“Oh yes. If these boys have been working under violated contracts, they’re owed back pay with interest. Centuries of it, I imagine.” Grandma’s smile turned predatory. “We’re going to take Santa for everything he’s worth. Now, who wants coffee? This is going to be a very long night.”
“I’m coming too.” Mom hopped up.
Kenai chuckled. “Good thing there are three of us.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Sylvie
Irode on Kenai’s back as we flew toward the library. The night sky was perfectly clear. My grandmother rode sidesaddle on Aleksi, sitting perfectly straight like the queen she was, while my mother clung to Taimyr for dear life. Through our bond, I could feel Kenai chuckling.
“Sorry about the family. I know they can be…a lot.”
Kenai snorted, and through the bond I felt his comfort wash over me like a warm hug. We descended toward the ancient forest, its pines heavy with snow, a little faster than I thought was necessary. As Kenai skidded to a stop, the wind whipped around me and lifted me clean off his back. I landed, thankfully, in a nearby snowbank.
Next thing I knew, Kenai’s white hair and silver eyes filled my vision, blocking out the starry sky above. “That’s what family is, Sylvie. A lot. But it’s obvious how much they care for you.”
I didn’t know if my uncertainty was that obvious, but my mouth twisted with doubt. Kenai tsked softly before pressing his lips to mine. “I see where you get your fire from—and we need that now, more than ever.”
He kissed me again and our bodies pressed together in the snow. I melted into him, letting his warmth give me a moment of reprieve from the chaos we were about to walk into. Then, suddenly, he was flying backward through the air.
“Enough.” Aleksi had grabbed Kenai by the back of his coat and practically flung him into a snowbank. “We have work to do, and you’re both covered in snow.”
Kenai emerged sputtering, his white hair now dusted with fresh powder. “You didn’t have to throw me!”
“You weren’t stopping,” Aleksi said flatly—but I caught the faint twitch of his lips.
Taimyr jogged over, clearly entertained. “Aleksi’s just nervous Grandma Rose is going to corner him alone in library.”
“She asked about his workout routine on the flight over,” Kenai added with glee. “Three times.”
“She’s eighty-two!” Aleksi’s face went bright red above his beard.
“Eighty-two and apparently still has excellent taste,” I remarked, brushing snow from my coat. “Though I should probably warn you—she’s known for being very…persistent. That extends to other areas of interest.”
Aleksi looked genuinely alarmed. “You’re not serious.”
“She already asked me if your father was single.”
“I need to be elsewhere,” Aleksi said, panicked. “Far elsewhere. Perhaps back in Finland.”
Taimyr caught his arm before he could bolt. “Oh no, big guy. Don’t tell me you’re afraid of a little old lady.”
“Your grandmother scares me more than Jólnir,” Aleksi muttered as we headed toward the library.
“Smart man,” I quipped, linking my arm through his. “She should. But don’t worry, I’ll protect you.”
“Protect me?” He looked down at me in disbelief. “You’re half my size.”
“But remember—I have claws.” I winked, and the blush on his cheeks deepened down his neck as I squeezed his bicep. We walked toward the cave entrance, where Mom and Grandma were waiting. Grandma was eyeing Aleksi up and down shamelessly.
“I changed my mind,” Aleksi blurted. “Finland. Immediately.”
