Rhys frowned. “I hope he shows up, or we’ll have to get someone else outfitted.”
Just then, SC and Mrs. C came into the barn, stopping at each stall and greeting the team. Rhys moved to his stall after speaking to SC about Declan, said goodbye to his mate and child, and shifted.
Mrs. C said, “I hope he shows up in time. I just don’t understand what’s keeping him.”
“I’m here! I’m here!” Declan said, rushing into the barn. He shed clothes along the way, and Roi didn’t miss his flushed and happy expression.
Dreama hummed. “I think Declan has a great story to tell, don’t you?”
Roi nudged her with an agreeing snort.
The team was called to line up, and Dreama walked with Roi to his position in the third row, next to Vaughn, the Comet position. Dreama pressed her hand to the top of his snout and kissed him. “I’m so happy to get to share this night with you, Cupid. You’re my favorite reindeer.”
All the males snorted in protest, and SC laughed. “The mates are allowed to play favorites, fellows.”
She smiled at Roi. “What’s the saying? Good flight, good night, Merry Christmas?”
He nodded with a snort.
She raised her voice and spoke the chant, her words echoing in the rafters of the barn as the others joined in, from the mates to their children to the elves and shifters who helped the night go off without a hitch. Dreama climbed into the sleigh, settling next to SC. Around her shoulders, she draped a beautiful, red, fur-trimmed cloak meant to keep her warm through the dark night.
“We’re chasing the night, daughter of mine,” SC said as he situated himself beside her. “Are you ready?”
“I am. Thank you for this, Dad.”
“Love you two,” Mrs. C said.
“Love you, Mom,” Dreama said.
Santa looked at Dreama. “You can say it this time.”
Roi’s brows would have risen if he’d had them. He’d never heard of SC allowing anyone to say the phrase before.
“Can I?” she asked breathlessly.
“For my only daughter? You bet.”
“I hope I don’t mess up.” She giggled nervously.
Roi watched SC hand her the reins, which she gripped tightly. Her eyes were bright with happiness and her smile was so wide he thought her cheeks probably ached.
The ceiling opened, and Roi focused his attention toward the front. He braced himself for the onslaught of magic. Dreama’s voice rose above them, filled with power just like SC’s, but slightly different, flavored with an emotion that reminded him of sweet dreams.
“On Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer, on Vixen, on Comet, on Cupid, on Donner, and Blitzen!”
As the last name was called, the reindeer and sleigh lifted from the ground, magic swirling around them like falling snow. From one heartbeat to the next, they were airborne, flying through time and space at a rate that no human eye could track.
Dreama whooped a cheer as they raced for civilization. “Merry Christmas and sweet dreams to all!”
“That’s not how that goes,” SC said with a big, belly laugh.
“Just for tonight.”
They did just as SC had said, and chased the night, moving from city to city, stopping only long enough to leave presents for the believing children and then moving on. Roi was so happy to share the night with his fated mate. It was hard to believe that a few months ago he’d been wondering if he’d ever find a mate, let alone one so special like his sweetheart, who spent time every night helping the children of NPC sleep. In six months, she’d be able to help their own child sleep. A little boy or girl, part shifter and part dream walker, grandson or granddaughter of Santa, Mrs. Claus, and Sandman.
Roi bellowed in happiness as they headed home, anxious to spend their first Christmas morning together, in front of their romantic fireplace in their beautiful cabin, at the top of the world.
Nothing was better than that.
Coming Next from R. E. Butler
The Alpha Wolf’s Mate (The Necklace Chronicles Book 4)
~*~ February 13, 2018 ~*~
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Also from R. E. Butler
Wiccan-Were-Bear Novella Series
A Curve of Claw
A Flash of Fang
A Price for a Princess
A Bond of Brothers
A Bead of Blood
A Twitch of Tail
A Promise on White Wings
A Slash of Savagery
Awaken a Wolf
Daeton’s Journey
A Dragon for December
A Muse for Mishka
The Wiccan-Were-Bear Series Volume One
The Wiccan-Were-Bear Series Volume Two
A Wish for Their Woman
The Wolf’s Mate Series
The Wolf’s Mate Book 1: Jason & Cadence
The Wolf’s Mate Book 2: Linus & The Angel
The Wolf’s Mate Book 3: Callie & The Cats
The Wolf’s Mate Book 4: Michael & Shyne
The Wolf’s Mate Book 5: Bo & Reika
The Wolf’s Mate Book 6: Logan & Jenna
The Necklace Chronicles
The Tribe’s Bride
The Gigolo’s Bride
The Tiger’s Bride
The Alpha Wolf’s Mate (Coming February 2018)
Ashland Pride Series
Seducing Samantha
Loving Lachlyn
Marking Melody
Redeeming Rue
Saving Scarlett
Chasing Cristabel
Hyena Heat Series
Every Night Forever
Every Dawn Forever
Every Sunset Forever
Every Blissful Moment
Every Heavenly Moment
Every Miraculous Moment
Every Angelic Moment
Wilde Creek Series
Volume One (Books 1 and 2)
Volume Two (Books 3 and 4)
Volume Three (Books 5 and 6)
The Hunter’s Heart (Book Seven)
Saber Chronicles Series
Saber Chronicles Volume One (Books One - Four)
Norlanian Brides Series
Paoli’s Bride
Warrick’s Bride
Dex’s Bride
Norlanian Brides Volume One
Villi’s Bride
Dero’s Bride
Were Zoo Series
Zane
Jupiter
Win
Justus
Devlin
Arctic Shifters
Blitzen’s Fated Mate
Dasher’s Fated Mate
Prancer’s Fated Mate
Vixen’s Fated Mate
Cupid’s Fated Mate
Uncontrollable Shift
The Alpha’s Christmas Mate
The Dragon’s Treasured Mate (Coming January 2018)
Stand Alone Stories
Purred Promises (Kindle Worlds)
The Alpha’s Honor (Howls Romance)
**Coming in January 2018**
The Dragon’s Treasured Mate (Uncontrollable Shift Book Two)
When dragon shifter Torrence develops a life-threatening allergy to his people’s mating fruit, no female within a thousand miles will mate him. Heading to his father’s homestead in the Tomb Mountains, he finds himself at odds with the local wolf pack, and facing a lonely future.
Cecily Houseman has never been happier. After scrimping for years to have enough money to open her own shop, she’s finally seeing her lifelong dream realized as she hangs out the shutter for Cecily’s Donuts. Although she grew up in Tomb, she’s always felt on the outside of
things. A human among wolves. The alpha’s son is interested in mating her, but even if he is cute, he’s not the right one for her. She’s waiting for that spark to knock her off her feet.
Torrence wakes one morning with a single thought: go to town. The nearer he gets to the town square, the stronger his beast rails in his head. As he comes to a new donut shop, his beast forces a shift so fast and hard that he rips the door off the shop and takes out the town gazebo with his tail. The alpha wolf wants him gone because he’s dangerous, but Cecily takes one look into his golden eyes and knows that he’s the one for her.
* * *