Page 113 of Jingle Spells

“Is she supposed to have light-up antlers?” Luna murmured.

“Whatever works,” Del said, grinning.

The pageant unfolded in a series of somewhat awkward but utterly charming dances, the children circling their respective kings while singing a song that told the tale of the seasonal battle. The lyrics, which Delilah had known since childhood, spoke of the eternal cycle: the Holly King’s reign over the dark half of the year, the Oak King’s dominion over the light.

“The Holly King stands tall and proud,” the children sang, their voices thin but enthusiastic. “His winter kingdom cold and still. But as the wheel begins to turn, the Oak King rises with a will!”

The puppet kings began to move independently, their enormous limbs animated by magic as old as Oak Haven itself. They circled each other like boxers in a ring, and their little followers mimicked their movements in a choreographed battle that was both comedic and strangely moving.

“Remember when you were the lead deer?” Luna whispered, nudging Delilah.

“God, don’t remind me,” Delilah groaned. “I tripped over my own hooves and knocked over three sprites.”

“Best pageant ever,” Scarlett said with a grin. “Papa laughed so hard he cried. And Luna peed herself.”

“I was only three—good grief!”

On stage, the battle reached its climax. The Holly King, who had ruled throughout the dark winter months, began to falter as the Oak King’s strength grew. The children playing the Holly King’s followers dramatically collapsed to the ground, while the Oak King’s court danced with increasing vigor.

“The wheel must turn, the light return,” sang the children, their voices growing stronger. “The Oak King rises, now we see! The days grow long, the earth renews, and all the world feels young and free!”

The Holly King gave one final, magnificent bow, acknowledging his defeat with grace. Then, to the delight of the audience, he removed his crown of holly and placed it at the feet of the Oak King before retreating to the back of the stage, where he would wait until the summer solstice brought his turn to rule once again.

The audience erupted in applause as the children took their bows, their oversized masks bobbing precariously. Ava, her antlers still twinkling, caught Delilah’s eye and gave an excited wave.

After the show, the audience milled around the not-really-a-school-auditorium, congratulating the children and helping to dismantle the set. There was syrupy fruit punch and cookies on offer at the back, so naturally the sisters gathered there.

“So, Luna.” Delilah fixed her youngest sister with a pointed look. “How long are you sticking around this time?”

Luna shifted uncomfortably. “Well, I should really get back to Karpathos. I’m only partway through my lessons with the Protean witches.”

“Oh come on,” Scarlett said. “You can learn to be a shapeshifting blob some other time. We just saved the town from disaster. Doesn’t that earn us a little Luna time?”

“If I remember rightly,” Delilah added, “you literally got stuck in the shape of a lamp just the other day. Maybe take a beat before diving back into advanced transfiguration?”

Luna’s resistance was already crumbling. “I guess I could stay through New Year’s . . .”

“Perfect!” Scarlett slung an arm around each of her sisters. “The three Melrose witches, back together again. Nothing can stop us now.”

Across the room, Kelly was supervising the magical dismantling of the stage, her silver-streaked hair perfectly coiffed as always. She caught Delilah’s eye and beckoned her over.

“Uh-oh, Mama wants you.” Scarlett wiggled her eyebrows. “Probably gonna hand the inn’s keys back to you. And not a minute too soon, in my opinion. Filling in for you this year has been more than enough. I am so ready for retirement.”

Delilah’s stomach dropped. Was that all that was waiting for her? After all her travels with Luna, winning another battle against the magicians, finding and losing Jasper . . . Was she just going back to the reservation desk she’d been chained to for a decade? That’s all there is?

“So, Mama . . .” She decided to just rip off the damn band-aid. “I imagine you’re eager to have someone competent running the inn again.”

Kelly’s eyebrows arched. “Am I?”

“Well, I’m home now, so I can take over from Scarlett. God knows what kind of mess she’s made of the reservations system.”

“Absolute catastrophe,” Kelly agreed, her tone carefully neutral. “But I was thinking of asking Luna to help out for a while. She seems to need a home base between her adventures. And I think all you girls should understand how to run the family business.”

Delilah blinked. “Luna? Running the inn? She’d enchant all the furniture to turn into wildlife at the stroke of midnight.”

“Perhaps,” Kelly conceded. “Might be entertaining, though.”

“But . . .” Delilah floundered. “What about me? What am I supposed to do?”