Book Six: Chapter 172

Mike looked around the room again, more slowly this time. The edges of the space felt muted, like a stage set waiting for actors to return. The North Pole still glowed behind Santa, but Yuki, Freyja, Holly—everyone—were gone. No footsteps, no residual warmth, no lingering magic signatures he could sense.

“Where are the others?” Mike asked, his voice echoing faintly.

“This message is for you and you alone,” Santa replied evenly. He folded his hands over the edge of the workbench, the chessboard still between them. “You’ll understand why very soon.”

Mike let out a breath through his nose and rolled his eyes, dragging a hand down his face. “Okay, big guy, I guess I’ll bite. Not that you can hear me bitching. Or maybe you can, because Christmas Future is feeding you these lines like candy and you’re essentially just reading off a script.” He gestured vaguely at t