“That’s a big job.” Christmas lunch was shared by all of the company’s workers. So basically, it was like the entire North Pole eating together. Fortunately, the catering staff had their own brand of magic. “Tell them I said hi and I’ll send a picture when I get a chance.”
“Will do. I guess you’re home from the party now. I thought you’d be there longer. How did the signing go today? I’m guessing good, judging by the fact that you had me send more books midway through.”
“It was amazing.” I filled him in on the details and gave him the day’s numbers.
“Wow.” He sat back, shaking his head. “That’s outstanding.”
“It is…really, really good.”
His brows narrowed. “But?”
I grimaced. “There’s a reason I’m home early. Do you know who Luna Nyx is?”
He nodded, his expression growing serious. “Yes. Sanders’ ex-wife. She’s also the Mistress of Nightmares. She was a working reaper before she met him, though. That’s how she met him, but that’s a story for another time. Being the Mistress of Nightmares, that came later. She got that power in the divorce, actually.”
“How are the nightmares controlled?”
“She’s got an hourglass just like Sanders’. Much darker magic, obviously.”
That was the hourglass I’d seen swinging at her waist.
My dad went on. “Although frankly, I think Sanders was happy to give the nightmares up. That was never his bag.”
I nodded. That matched up with what Olive had said.
He laughed softly. “Way more than you wanted to know, probably.”
“Actually, it’s not.” And the reaper thing made total sense, having seen her. “How do you know so much about her?”
“I’m the Winter King. It’s my job to know about things like the elementals. The full-blooded ones are certainly a unique variety of elf.” He shrugged. “We’ve never had a problem with one. Maybe because your uncle bridges the gap between us. But knowledge is power when you’re the one in charge. You’ll see.”
“I guess.” But that time was so far in the future it was hard to imagine.
“So what’s up? Why the questions?”
I took a breath. “Luna showed up at the party tonight. Uninvited, in case that needs to be said.”
Ice vapor curled out of my father’s nose and mouth, a sure sign that he wasn’t happy. “She showed up.”
I nodded. “She didn’t really cause any problems. She said she was just in town to support Sanders’ book launch. In fact, they ended up dancing together.” I shrugged. “Seemed pretty chummy to me.”
Spider got up and trotted off somewhere.
My dad steepled his fingers together and shifted in his chair. “But you wouldn’t be calling me if you didn’t think there was a potential for trouble.”
“Yeah.” I leaned forward, putting my elbows on my knees. “I’ve had two nightmares in the last twenty-four hours and I know someone else who’s had one. I’m not saying Luna’s the cause—I don’t even know when she arrived in town—but it’s sort of coincidental that on the night the Sandman arrives, my dreams go dark.”
“Agreed.”
“If she is here to create problems…well, we can’t have that. And I don’t know what to do about it. Plus, Olive, Sanders’ assistant, seemed pretty sure that Luna was up to no good.” I exhaled. “Or could be.”
“She’s a powerful woman. Luna,” my dad corrected himself, “not Olive. As a former reaper, she literally has the power of life and death in her hands. And the power to cause fear? That’s no small thing either.”
She wasn’t exactly warm and cuddly in person either. “But she can’t control Sanders, can she? What could she do to him? Give him nightmares?”
My dad paused for a beat. “I don’t think so, but I don’t know for sure. Most elementals are a curious and powerful breed, Jay. Uncle Kris is proof of that.”
I loved my uncle, but my dad was right. Uncle Kris had his idiosyncrasies. “That’s what worries me. Is there anything I can do? Any way to prevent her from causing trouble?”
“I don’t know. Let me talk to Kris and I’ll get back to you in the morning. In fact, call me when you get into the office. That should give your uncle and me a chance to come up with something. Kris knows them both better than I do so he should be able to offer some help.”
“Thanks. I’ll talk to you in the morning, then.”
“Be safe, sweetheart. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
The snow stopped swirling. I sat back and tipped my head onto the back of the couch so I could stare at the ceiling for a moment. My life. Never a dull moment.
I got up to change out of my dress and heels, but I’d only just thrown on yoga pants and an oversized sweatshirt when there was a knock at the door. I checked the peephole, but I already knew it was Greyson. I could smell the pizza.
I opened the door. “That was fast.”
He walked in carrying the pizza box and a plastic bag. “I didn’t want it to get cold. Everything good?”
“I don’t know. I guess. Let’s eat and I’ll fill you in.”
He gave me a quick once-over. “I like the tiara with the casual look. The princess at home.”
I reached up and felt the crown still perched on my head. “I totally forgot I was still wearing it.” I eased it loose, pulling free a few strands of hair from my twist. Juniper had done an excellent job of securing that tiara in place. I put the diamond crown back in its box, then ran to the bathroom, brushed out my hair and scraped it into a quick ponytail. The make-up I’d take off later.
Right now, pizza.
Greyson had put the box on the coffee table, and had unpacked the Salvatore’s bag to add a stack of paper napkins, packets of hot pepper flakes, parmesan and two paper plates. “This all right? Or should I take it to the kitchen?”
“No, this is great.” I sat with him on the couch, crossing my legs. It had been fun to get dressed up, but it was good to be in comfy clothes again.
He opened the box and we each grabbed a slice. As we ate, I filled him in on what my dad had said.
Greyson swallowed the bite he’d just taken. “I must admit, I know very little about elementals. I didn’t even know they were a kind of elf. I thought reapers were reapers, Santa Claus was a winter elf and the Sandman was just the Sandman.”
“Most people, I mean, most supernaturals don’t know much about them. It’s rare that you’ll find an elf who will discuss them since they’re such a secret group. Elementals usually just identify with those they’ve surrounded themselves with.”
“Like your uncle and the winter elves.”
“Yes. But he is part winter elf. So that’s not entirely wrong.” I reached for another slice. “And really, very few supernaturals ever run into an elemental. They don’t really mix.”
“Which is why Sanders’ trip here is causing you stress.”
“That’s part of it, yes. I mean, can you imagine if, the first time he’s decided to venture into the human world, something goes wrong and I could have prevented it?” I exhaled a long breath. “Not good. For me or the store.”
Greyson tossed the crust of the slice he’d just finished into the box. “It might be Sanders’ first visit, but he isn’t the first elemental to spend time in the mortal world. He can’t be.”
“No, he’s not. I mean, there’s my uncle. Well, he’s really only here on Christmas Eve. I don’t think you can count that. And he does his best not to be seen.”
“That’s not who I was thinking about.” He leaned down to scratch Spider, who’d just walked in and sat by Greyson.
“Who then? Tell me.”
“Are all reapers elementals?”
“Yes. It’s what they are.”
He opened his mouth, then closed it again. “I’m telling you this in the strictest confidence.”
“Understood.” Now I was really curious.
“The supernatural who owns Insomnia, the
nightclub where we met, is a reaper. Retired reaper, technically. At least I think he’s retired. Anyway, he’s lived here in Nocturne Falls for a while now.”
“Wow. And you know him?”
“Yes. Not well. He keeps to himself. But I’ve done a few things for him.” Greyson shrugged. “Decent guy. Very quiet. A little dark, but then that’s not so unusual considering who he is.”
“Is he…like Luna? Thin and goth-looking? Does he have spiders in his hair?”
Greyson choked on a bite of pizza. “Not that I’m aware of.”
“Well, she did.”
He peered at me. “Are you sure? I don’t know about that. Maybe that was her way of…dressing up?”
“If so, um, ew. The only spider I like is that little black fluffball sitting at your feet.” Spider trilled at me. I smiled, then finished my slice and tossed the crust in the box next to Greyson’s. “I guess I should go to bed. Tomorrow is another long day and I have to be on my game in case Luna tries anything.”
“Of course.” Greyson stood. “Do you want me to come by the store tomorrow? Just in case? Seeing as how I’m technically already dead there isn’t anything Luna can do to me.”
I blinked at him. “Well, that just filled my head with all sorts of awful new possibilities. Do you think she’d do that? Go all ‘grim reaper, I’m here for your soul’ on me?”
“No. I’m sure all she’s going to do is come by, get a book, and be on her way.”
I frowned as I got to my feet. “Let’s hope. Sure, if you want to swing by that might not be a bad idea. Signing is from three to five, one hour shorter than today’s.”
“I’ll be there.” He gave me a kiss, short and sweet, then headed for the door. “See you tomorrow. Pleasant dreams.”
“That’s the plan.”
Thankfully, my sleep was uneventful. No better or worse than any other night and by morning, I felt about as rested as I usually did. I walked out to the kitchen, ready for the day but in need of some breakfast. After I fed Spider, naturally, because that’s how the ranking went. Spider, then me.
The cat himself sat on the windowsill. It was one of his favorite spots to hang out in because it got sun and he could watch the people below. Right now, however, he was licking the back of one leg like that was his job. He paused to look at me and meow loudly.
I glanced at his bowl. It was empty. “I take it you’re ready for breakfast?”
“Spider likes Chicken Party.”
“I’m very aware—”
“Miss Frost.”
The bellow came from above me, loud enough to register clearly through the floors and distinct enough that I knew whose voice it was.
Sanders. And apparently, he needed me. For once, Spider was going to have to wait.
I didn’t know what he wanted, but it didn’t sound good from the sternness of his shout. I took off for the third floor, running the steps instead of waiting for the elevator and barreling down the hall until I was at his door. I knocked. “Mr. Sanders? It’s Jayne. What’s the—”
The door opened and a very angry Tempus scowled down at me. “My hourglass is gone.”
Big hairy snowballs. A chill swept through me. I swallowed the sense of panic rising up in me. “Your hourglass is gone?”
He filled the door frame, casting me in shadow. “Did I stutter?”
“No, sir.” The mountainous teddy bear of a man was gone, replaced by the hulking, surly elemental now before me. I don’t know how I’d ever thought his size wasn’t intimidating. It was hugely intimidating. “Do you have any idea where it might be?”
He leaned toward me, almost making me flinch. “If I had any idea where it was, do you think we’d be having this conversation?”
“No, sir.” I straightened, pulling myself up to my full height. “We’ll find it.” I glanced past him as best I could. “Where’s Olive? Is she already looking? If she’s checking the apartment, I’ll go out and retrace your steps.”
“Olive went out to get my breakfast.”
I nodded. I guess that explained why I was getting the full treatment. “All right, she can help us when she returns. Can I come in?”
The realization that I was still out in the hall seemed to placate him a bit. He backed up and let me in. The living room was in shambles with cushions pulled off the sofa and books knocked off the shelves. At least he’d done a little looking himself.
I closed the door behind me, not entirely comfortable with being alone and confined with him, but figured my status as a royal should be enough to keep me safe. “Where’s the last place you saw it?”
“It was on its cord, attached to me. Where it always is.” He glowered at me. “Do you understand how important this is, Miss Frost? No one touches my hourglass. No one but me.”
“Absolutely, I—”
The door opened and Olive strode in, bags from Mummy’s swinging from both hands. I should have told her they delivered. My mouth started to water at the scent of the blueberry pancakes and cinnamon rolls, and my traitorous stomach rumbled.
“Olive,” I said loudly to cover the sound of my hunger. “I’m so glad you’re back. Tempus has misplaced his hourglass—”
“I have not misplaced it,” he roared. “It’s been stolen. There’s a thief in this town. In this building!”
“Whoa.” I held up my hands. “You didn’t say anything about it being stolen. Who do you think would have taken it?”
His gaze narrowed. “Who else? The woman who dared interrupt my party last night. The woman who—”
“Luna?” But they’d been so friendly.
“Yes,” Olive said with a somewhat exasperated sigh. “I’m sure your ex-wife strolled in here and took it.”
“Luna absolutely could have,” he snarled.
Olive sighed again, then shook her head and pursed her mouth like she had better things to do. Bags in hand, she walked past him to the dining table, put the bags down, then marched into the back of the apartment where the bedrooms were.
“Olive, come back here,” he yelled after her. “It’s been stolen, I tell you. Stolen! We need to find out where Luna’s staying and go talk to her immediately.” He turned to me. “I never should have trusted that woman. Never. To think I almost bought her story about wanting to get back together.”
Olive returned a few moments later to stand at the end of the hall. She crossed her arms and gave him a rather deliberate look. “It’s under your bed.”
He shifted, chewing on his lower lip. “You didn’t touch it, did you?” His voice was distinctly lower.
“Do I ever?” she asked.
He didn’t answer, just shuffled past her into the bedroom.
She sighed, uncrossed her arms and went to the table to start unpacking the food. She glanced at me. “I’m sorry about that. Happens every so often. And I’m always here to take care of it, except this time.”
“Good thing you came back when you did.” Whatever she was getting paid, it wasn’t enough.
“Yes.” She pulled box after box out of the takeout bags. “Would you like to stay for breakfast? There’s more than enough.”
Not for a cold second. “I’ve already eaten, thank you. Besides, I have to get to my office. Have to make sure we’ve got enough stock for the signing this afternoon. And I have a business call with my father this morning.” I was so glad to have an excuse, I didn’t even have to make myself smile. “Work is never done.”
She returned the smile, but it looked strained. I understood. “That’s for sure. We’ll see you later, then.”
I nodded. “Later.”
I let myself out and got back to my apartment almost as quickly as I’d vacated it. I wondered if Kip and Juniper had heard the commotion on the first floor. The store had been open for about twenty minutes.
Rowley and his wife must have heard it. I glanced toward my ceiling. Their apartment was right across the hall from Sanders’, directly above mine. Hopefully, they wouldn’t call me up to explain because I d
id not want to risk running into Sanders again so soon. I needed a break from him. With that goal in mind, I fed Spider, then grabbed a foil pouch of toaster pastries, a Dr Pepper, the box holding my tiara, and my purse—with my keys and phone in it—and went downstairs.
I tossed everything but the tiara box on my desk, then went to put that in the Santa’s Bag. I stood there and waited until the bag went from full to empty so I knew it had safely arrived in the NP. With that done, I went back to my office.
Thankfully, there was a toaster in the employee breakroom. I stuck my cardboard pastries in there to try to bring them to life. Why did I eat these things? Because they were fast and sugary. Not because they tasted great, that’s for sure.
They popped out and I used my magic to waft a little cold air over them so I didn’t burn myself on the ridiculously hot frosting. I pinched them onto a paper plate and took them back to my office. I could have had a delicious Mummy’s breakfast, but there was no way I could hang out with Sanders after that nonsense this morning.
He hadn’t even apologized. I guess that was the temperamental bit my dad had mentioned.
My dad!
Snowballs. I was supposed to call him. Sanders’ outburst had really flustered me. I gave the globe a shake.
He showed up instantly. “Hey, there’s my girl. How are you this morning, Jay?”
“Okay, considering Sanders had a little diva fit after misplacing his hourglass.”
My dad’s eyes widened. “Everything good now?”
“Seems to be.” I took a sip of my Dr Pepper. “So what did you find out about dealing with Luna? You and Uncle Kris come up with anything?”
“Not much. Your uncle just confirmed what I already suspected. We don’t know the full extent of her powers. Like most elementals. Which means she could be a huge threat, or none at all. And because the reaper ranks are so closed, we don’t know much about her life before Sanders either. Sorry this isn’t any help. Your uncle thinks that if Luna shows up, you should take her aside and talk to her.”
“Oh, awesome. I was hoping I’d get to have a delicate conversation with a potentially fatal supernatural today.”
“Jayne, she won’t hurt you. That would be a huge escalation. She’d be taking on the entire North Pole if she did that. No, if she’s going to do anything, it’ll be directed at Sanders.”
Miss Frost Saves The Sandman: A Nocturne Falls Mystery (Jayne Frost Book 3) Page 7
