Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 126(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 126(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
“Della, this is my cousin Ren and his consort, Celeste. She is a complete badass.”
Celeste blushed and rolled her eyes. “Aura is exaggerating, but I’m very happy to meet you, Delwyn.”
“Well, I don’t know about that,” she replied with a tinkling laugh. “She’s told me a lot about you, all of which was pretty impressive. And please call me Della.”
The bell announcing that our meal was ready rang through the large hall. “Let’s go to breakfast, love. You girls can talk more in the dining room.”
My mother must have noticed the instant camaraderie between the three girls because she sat Aura and Della directly across from us. Cian was seated on Della’s other side, still brooding silently. She shot him a deep frown, then turned away and ignored him.
“Well, isn’t this an interesting sight,” Abel interrupted as he strolled up to the group and the empty seat beside me. “I feel like this should be the start of a joke.” He tapped his lips as he looked around thoughtfully, then a grin split his face. “A vampire, a witch, and a fae walk into Santa’s winter wonderland—”
He was cut off when Aura tossed a piece of bacon at him. “Shut your gob, you half-wit,” she scolded through her laughter.
Della giggled and reached for one of the platters of food in front of her, just as Cian extended his hand to grab his goblet of blood.
Their hands bumped, and Della immediately apologized while Cian hissed and went as stiff as a board.
“What the fuck?” he snarled as he twisted at the waist to face Della. She reared back, but she wasn’t able to get far because Cian grabbed her arm and forced her to come closer. Then he shoved some of her thick, blond hair over her shoulder, exposing her neck.
He yanked at the high neck of her top, and it ripped slightly, prompting her to shriek, “What are you doing, you lunatic?”
Rather than answer, he tugged the fabric down, and there were several audible gasps when we saw the birthmark just below the base of her throat.
“It can’t be,” he growled.
“Of course not,” I agreed. I was one of the few people who knew that Cian had already met his consort. It was a most unusual circumstance because she’d only been a child. Obviously, his feelings toward her weren’t romantic at that point, but he still felt the pull to be near her. She was barely ten years old when he went for a visit, only to find that the family had been killed by a group of nightwalkers. Two of the bitten vamps had been fae.
Aura and Abel were staring, open-mouthed at the couple, clearly as dumbstruck as I was. But they quickly shook out of their stupor when Cian jumped to his feet and stalked off.
“I’ll go,” Abel muttered to his sister before he popped out of the room.
Della’s face was a mask of confusion, and she pivoted to look at Aura. “What…what just happened?”
“I’m not sure,” she admitted. “But…I think…somehow, you’re my brother’s fated mate.”
“His what?” Della shouted. “Destined to be with that…that…jerk!”
Celeste watched the scene with rapt attention, unable to look away from the drama.
Perplexed, she asked, “Isn’t it a good thing? That you’ve found your soulmate?”
Della just shook her head and shoved her chair back. “I’m sorry,” she whispered before running from the room.
Aura chased her, yelling over her shoulder, “Everything is fine! Carry on! Merry Christmas!”
I shook my head and laid my arm over Celeste’s shoulders. “If you thought our relationship was complicated…”
“Will you explain it to me later?” Celeste sighed.
“Yes. But let’s enjoy the holiday for now.” I winked at her and smirked. “Just wait until you see what’s under the Christmas tree.”
Later, when we passed out what seemed like an endless supply of presents, I left mine for later, choosing to keep all my attention on my woman. She laughed hysterically when she unwrapped an antique cauldron, a broom, and a new cloak—complete with a pointy witch’s hat.
“You’ll look much more the part next Halloween,” I quipped with a wink.
After she tore into the rest of her gifts, I opened mine and thanked her with a passionate kiss. “Thank you, baby.”
We spent the rest of the night celebrating with our family. To Celeste’s utter shock, her parents showed up on Kieran’s doorstep. I’d sent them a text to let them know where we’d be, but I hadn’t expected them to actually make an appearance.
They declined the invitation to join us but handed Celeste a wrapped package. Then they exchanged awkward hugs before the two departed.
“It’s a start,” Celeste said, her lips tipped up in a hopeful smile.
I encircled her with my arms and kissed her nose. “Yes, it is, love. Are you ready to go home?”
She nodded, then laid her head on my chest for a few minutes. “Let’s go say goodbye.”