Nick entered his family home in the early hours of Christmas Eve day and was met with chaos. His sisters were running in opposite directions, and his mother was racing up the stairs. His father was nowhere to be found but his two brothers-in-law were both in the common room digging through boxes as if on the hunt for buried treasure. Not again. Every year felt the same now.
“Uncle Nick!” Salli raced to him and grabbed him around the leg. “You’re here.”
“Why are you awake, child? It’s just past three in the morning.” He hiked her up into his arms, her hair in every direction.
“Everyone was yelling so I couldn’t sleep.”
“Oh, thank god you’re here,” his mother caught sight of him. “I need you at the castle.”
“The castle?”
“Yes. My foolish cousins have decided they want to challenge me
