A Holiday in Every Heart by Kate King

Here is a summary with spoilers for A Holiday in Every Heart by Kate King

It’s Christmas Eve, and Alix and Daemon are preparing for their big wedding on Christmas Day. The past two years have been pure bliss for them, growing their kingdom and being together, but now it is time for Alix to take her throne and stand beside Daemon as his Queen. As Alix is getting fitted for her dress, Daemon comes in to talk about their plans for the day, since there is a lot to get done. Part of the wedding ritual is to grant 1000 wishes to anyone who comes up to them, and right now they are two short. On top of that, they both need to go to the human world and meet with Alix’s mother, who has yet to meet Daemon. While they are discussing everything, the seamstress jokingly mentions that they should beware of the Christmas witch, who can ruin all sorts of plans. The joke turns sour when the baker comes running in, saying some kids threw a rock through her window and smashed their wedding cake. Alix and Daemon quickly pay her again so she can rush the replacement. Then Daemon’s mother comes in to announce that the snowstorm has gotten worse, and most likely many guests from other kingdoms will not be able to make it.

The two are then requested to meet in the throne room, as someone is making a request of them. An elderly man explains that his two grandchildren, who no longer have their parents, have been missing for a couple of days and he is asking for their help in finding them. Both Alix and Daemon take the missing children seriously and decide they need to split up to complete all of their tasks. Alix will go to the mortal world and meet with her mom, and Daemon will take a few others and go searching for the children.

Alix goes through the portal to see her mom, and her grandmother is already there waiting. Alix is a little nervous, since Daemon has yet to meet her mother, and at this point her mom doesn’t even believe he is real. Showing up to Christmas without her fiancé will only give her mom more ammunition to insist that Daemon is imaginary.

Meanwhile, Daemon goes to the school the missing children attended, and from there they are led to the baker’s house. Something about the place feels wrong, so Daemon investigates and opens the basement door. He finds bones, skulls, and two terrified children. When the baker realizes she has been discovered, she locks everyone in the basement, and Daemon cannot break out. There is, however, a small enough space for one of the children to squeeze through and go for help, so the youngest girl begins her run.

Alix reaches an impasse with her mom, who refuses to believe her daughter is truly getting married without her, or that Daemon exists. So Alix decides to take her mother through the portal into the fae world. She shows her some of the wedding preparations, and slowly her mother begins to realize Alix is marrying into royalty. Alix’s grandmother pulls her aside and tells her everything, explaining that all of Alix’s books are actually true. Meanwhile, Alix is growing worried, because Daemon should have returned to the manor by now but is still missing. She goes out searching and runs into a terrified young girl who says a witch has taken them all.

Alix breaks into the baker’s home, and a fight breaks out, but she manages to get the cellar door open. Daemon is finally able to escape and quickly finishes the fight, then brings the children back to their grandfather.

Back at the manor, Alix and Daemon are surrounded by their close friends and loved ones, including her now satisfied mother who has finally met Daemon. Alix suggests they marry that night, since none of the nobles will be able to make it due to the snowstorm. Her mother then says she has a wish, the final one Alix and Daemon need to grant to complete the ceremony. She wants Alix to wear her own old wedding dress, which works perfectly for Alix since the seamstress hasn’t finished her dress yet. Hours later, the two are married, surrounded by the people they love. Though, to Daemon’s sadness, they must postpone their honeymoon due to the weather. Even so, nothing stops the happy couple from celebrating their happily ever after.