Cat Devon: The Entity Who Came for Christmas

“I told you I love him.”

“You didn’t tell me he was a vampire.”

“It wasn’t my secret to share.”

“Are you keeping other secrets?” Pru said.

Zoe nodded before quickly adding, “But none that affect you.”

“How can you be sure they don’t affect me?” Pru said. “We’ve both had sex with vampire Demon Hunters.”

“True.” Zoe nodded. “I’ll bet not many witches can say that.” She paused to hand Pru a Red Velvet cupcake. “Do you love Simon?”

Pru deliberately sidestepped the question. “I love this cupcake,” Pru said. “It’s magical.”

“Actually, it’s not. It’s made by my friend Daniella, owner of Heavenly Cupcakes.”

“Mmm.” Pru wiped a dab of cream cheese frosting from her mouth with the napkin Zoe provided. “She’s not a witch?”

“No. But let’s get back to you and Simon. I know you said you hated him, but if that was the case, why did you have sex with him?”

“I forgot how stubborn you are,” Pru said.

“I prefer to think of it as being focused.”

Pru pointed to the Keep Calm and Carry On red T-shirt Zoe was wearing.

Zoe looked down and laughed. “Daniella got me a T-shirt that says ‘Keep Calm and Eat Cupcakes.’ Damon got me one that says ‘Keep Calm and Read a Book.’”

“Do you miss your days as a librarian?” Pru asked.

“I do at times,” Zoe admitted. “But I love my work as a soap maker. Aromatherapy is a powerful thing. Lavender is one of my favorite scents. It’s meant to have a calming influence, while citrus can be refreshing. Even though I’m not using any magic in my Bella Luna bath and body products, they are still selling faster than I can make them.”

“Because she won’t let Gram use magic to create more product,” Bella said, pausing while washing her face with her front right paw.

“Will your grandmother be upset that we ate a cupcake before the Solstice Yule dinner she’s prepared?” Pru belatedly asked.

“Not at all,” Zoe said. “Gram likes having dessert first. She’s prepared our traditional meal of pumpkin soup, roast chicken, sweet potatoes with cranberries.”

“And eggnog with rum to drink?” Pru asked.

“Yule nog? Yes, of course. But getting back to Simon, you hate him and--”

“And I meant to tell you that the table setting looks beautiful.” Pru was deliberately stalling. She was trying to come up with a way to explain what had happened between Simon and her. Instead she pointed to the small yule log and candles decorated with traditional evergreen, pinecones, cinnamon sticks, and mistletoe. “Good job. I see you’ve got the larger yule log as well.” She tilted her head toward the oak log wrapped in red and green ribbon sitting on the floor at her feet. “You and Gram already placed your wish notes on it.”

“We won’t put it in the fireplace to burn until after dinner. You’re welcome to add yours,” Zoe said, handing her a piece of lavender-scented paper.

Pru sniffed the paper before setting it back onto the coffee table in front of the couch. “It smells wonderful. I’ll write something later.”

“Simon’s arrival has distracted you,” Zoe said.

“Yes, it did.” The last time Pru had seen Simon, she’d been naked in his bed and he’d been ready to walk out on her.

“So come on, tell me. Where did you two meet?”

“Remember the trip I took to that homeopathic conference in London almost a year ago?”

Zoe nodded.

“I bumped into him outside the hotel,” Pru said. “I didn’t know he was a vampire until it was too late.”

“He took you against your will?” Zoe looked horrified.

“No. He made me want him so badly that I couldn’t think straight.”

Now Zoe looked confused. “But he couldn’t compel you. Witches can’t be compelled by vampires. Unless Simon is somehow different?”

“Oh, he’s different, all right. But he didn’t use any vampire powers on me. He was just charming and sexy and irresistible.”

“Was he your first vampire?”

“The first I had sex with, yes. I should have stayed home and never gone to London,” Pru said. “Yeah, I learned a lot at the conference. Information that proved helpful in my work at the Spirit Wellness Center.” The natural herbs, mixtures, and remedies Pru used had been passed down through her family. She always made it clear to her clients that her work didn’t replace medical treatment but instead was meant to supplement it. “But hooking up with Simon was a big mistake.”

“Was the fact that he’s a vampire the reason you two broke up?” Zoe asked.

“No, it was the fact that he was only using me for his own purposes. He told me so himself. Practically bragged about it in fact.” Which was when Pru had cursed him with a spell she was not ready to tell Zoe about yet.

“Time to eat,” Gram called from the dining room.

“Before we go to dinner, do you have any advice on dealing with a vampire Demon Hunter?” Pru asked Zoe.

Bella raised her paw. “I do. Get the hell out while you still can!”

Simon stared out the loft window. Streetlights prevented him from seeing stars. The light snow earlier had cleared. He hated standing around doing nothing, but Damon had been correct in saying that no witch would help him if he interrupted their Yule Solstice celebration. So he’d have to wait.

He hated waiting. When he’d deliberately bumped into Pru in London, she hadn’t made him wait. She’d responded right away. When things hadn’t turned out the way he’d expected, he hadn’t waited around. Instead of appreciating his honesty with her, she’d turned around and cursed him.

This mess had gone on long enough. Time for some action. If not with Pru, then with demons. He glanced at his watch. It was almost midnight. “We have over seven hours until daylight,” he said.

“Daylight doesn’t bother me now,” Damon said.

“I’m at my most powerful at night.” Simon, too, could tolerate sunlight, but he was drawn to the darkness, for that’s where demons gathered. “Let’s do a little demon hunting. Are you game?”

“Always,” Damon said.

Simon knew he’d trained Damon well. He also knew Damon was a fierce fighter. But he didn’t have the many centuries of experience that Simon did. Nor the scars.

Vampire wounds healed unless you were beheaded or burned to a cinder. Then it was lights-out. But Simon’s scars weren’t all visible. He was cursed in more ways than one. He’d been cursed before Pru had cut off his sex life. At least she hadn’t cut off his privates.

His scars went back to his time in Camelot. When King Arthur had asked for Simon’s help, he’d been honor bound to oblige. How could he not? As one of the Knights of the Round Table, Simon was committed to serving his liege. He’d vowed to do whatever it took to protect King Arthur.

Merlin had stepped in, showing off his fangs. Simon had heard the rumors of Merlin’s magic, but he’d had no idea of what was to come. His transition had been rough. Merlin hadn’t used this particular curse, the curse of vampirism, on many before. In practicing it on Simon, he’d left wounds that couldn’t be healed. Some were physical, like the slashes across his chest. Others went deeper, like the memory of being locked in a dungeon and craving more blood so intensely, so fiercely, that he’d ripped the iron chains from the stone walls, breaking his wrists in the process. He’d become a feral beast and gone on a killing rampage in a nearby village.

Innocent humans had been slaughtered. That’s when Merlin had almost ended Simon’s life as a vampire. But instead, he’d taught Simon how to hunt and destroy demons. Demons like Mordred, who wanted Arthur’s throne for himself.