Book Six: Chapter 170

“Ow, what the heck?” he groused. Yuki tilted her head toward Holly. The elf was sitting cross-legged on the floor, her chin in her hands and a huge smile on her face.

“It’s been a very busy week,” Santa began while pulling over a rocking chair. When he sat in it, the wood creaked but held his weight. An elf came in through the door of the workshop with a large plate of cookies and a carafe of milk.

“Thank you, Lester.” Santa patted the elf on the head. “This is exactly what I needed.”

The elf beamed, then walked away.

“That was Lester,” Santa said once the elf was gone. “If everything I’ve learned is true, this will be his last Christmas. Sometime after I go missing next year, one of the giants will eat him.” He shook his head and wiped a tear from his eyes. “Poor Lester.”

“What the farts?” Mike stared in disbelief. “The elves are getting eaten? Why isn’t he doing anything?”

“That he knows the future with such certainty,” Yuki muttered. “He really