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the position she was being pulled to and stood at the head of the double line.
    Pain and pressure ripped through her, sending her to all fours. When she was able to move again, she heard the ticking of her hooves on the ground.
    A huge rift opened in the sky above their heads and an elegant elf with snow-white hair stepped through, descending slowly to stand in front of them.
    Hellebore stepped forward and cocked her head.
    He reached out a hand and touched her forehead. You should not be here, little one. There are many who are looking for you and several more who know you are here are demanding your immediate release.
    I am a people person.
    He laughed, flicking a long white cascade of hair behind him. You are much loved and much respected. There is nothing in your life that would put you here. We have found the one who altered the transport charm. He is in line for a place here.
    Excellent. What are we about to do?
    I am going to summon my sleigh, and we will begin distributing the presents that the elf prison has been manufacturing all year.
    So, this is a cycle that has multiple participants?
    Indeed. You ended up in the stable, my little one. After tonight, you will be returned to your place in the world.
    Thank you. Shall we go?
    By all means. Stand by for your harness.
    He wasn’t kidding. A sleigh came through the rift after him, with bags loaded on it.
    She was tugged into position and a harness snapped around her. She shook her head and felt the antlers on her skull. The bells around her neck jangled, and in twenty minutes, she was leading the team of Santa’s reindeer by instinct alone.

Chapter Seven
     
     
    Even as a reindeer she could use her siren song, so she did. Each village and town that they visited was sedated by her song.
    Santa’s appearance was altered by a charm that made him appear to be whatever the humans thought they should be seeing.
    The rest of the reindeer seemed cowed, to use a phrase. She supposed it could be very disorienting to lose one’s penis, even for one day.
    They flew through the night and into the next day. Millions of stops for children who had nothing—no hope, no one who could afford gifts. It was a mercy mission and other children would speak of Santa because of their parents’ efforts. Few would know the true reach of a man who was not a man and the reindeer who were not reindeer.
    It was a night she would never forget.
    When they were exhausted, sweaty and bleary-eyed, Santa brought them back through the barrier.
    Hellebore waited while the harness slipped from her and she was allowed to walk free. Pain pushed on her once again and the magic unbound, releasing her from the reindeer form.
    She looked down and blushed, shaking her hair over her breasts. “Naked?”
    Santa walked toward her and bowed low, holding her hand while magic spiralled around her body. She was wearing a silvery sheath when he completed his contact.
    “Siren, allow me to apologize for your presence here.”
    She nodded. “It is fine. I am aware it was not your doing.”
    “I will escort you to the barrier and open it for you.”
    She bit her lip. “Are any of the others leaving?”
    “I believe that one or two may have earned their reprieve. They will be set free after you are gone.”
    Hellebore nodded and headed to the garage for her keys and her phone. When she had pulled her car out and down to the inn, she had to admit that it handled well. Rown had done a helluva job.
    Hellebore went to the room Irgano had given her and made a face at the shredded clothing. Sighing, she stuffed it all into her bag, grabbed her parka and headed back to the car, checking the trunk for stowaways.
    She could see nine men, and when she tossed her bag in the back, she locked the trunk with a thud. No one was hitching a ride.
    She slipped her arms into the parka and topped up her phone’s charge. With everything set, she drove back to the collection of naked men who were watching her closely. Irgano looked