Page 29 of Bewitched Before Christmas
“Will you stop being a coward and go after your little witch? Or at least accept that you’re afraid for yourself not for her. Afraid you’ll lose her. Like you think you lost everyone else. You know she liked you as well. It was totally obvious.”
He had a flashback to the feel of her, warm, and soft, and giving. The taste of her—sweet, and the raw power in her blood. The look in her eyes when she’d told him she needed him.
In that moment he realized he didn’t want her to need him. He wanted her to love him.
And that was seriously scary stuff.
He’d never had a chance to grow up. She was right, he’d been emotionally stunted with no chance to evolve. His whole life had been about surviving, fighting, staying alive. Then he’d been changed, and he’d never thought love was an option.
Vampires didn’t do love.
Except his sire, Darius, had found love. With Lola’s sister.
God, he’d been so stupid. “I have to go find her,” he said.
“You should probably put some clothes on first. I’ve got just the thing. Time to turn back the clocks. Find the man you should have been. Make your ma proud of you.”
He wasn’t sure that was possible. She’d been a devout Christian; she was probably turning in her grave. But he wasn’t evil. Even a vampire could choose what he wanted to be.
He was going to show Lola that he could be the sort of man who wouldn’t walk away. He was going to offer himself for Christmas.
But maybe he should take along something else to sweeten the deal.
“I need a puppy.”
Chapter Fifteen
Christmas Present…
Lola sniveled and swiped her hand across the back of her face.
They were all at the castle. She couldn’t believe it.
Regan and Caleb. Darius and Gina. Their daughter Raven and her husband Kael, the head of the Council. And Catrin.
They’d been planning to come all along. A big surprise.
And there was a tree in the great hall, that twinkled with lights and baubles. And streamers festooned the walls. A huge log burning in the grate.
“Do you really think we’d leave you alone for Christmas?” Regan asked. “We’re your family. We love you.”
She’d always known that. Sometimes they just weren’t very good at showing it. But she’d been an idiot. Wallowing in self-pity because they’d abandoned her in the wilds of Scotland. And terrified because she was fixating on a stupid miserable bloodsucking vampire who hardly knew she existed and saw her as nothing more than a duty—a painful one at that—and a quick fuck. And who was the least likely candidate for a kiss under the mistletoe she had ever come across.
Cold and cruel and unfeeling.
Except he wasn’t. He was just screwed up. Like she was.
Scared of letting anyone close because then you might lose them.
And he’d lost so many.
She sniveled some more, and Regan frowned. “I thought you’d be…happier.”
“I am. These are happy tears. I’m so pleased to see you all.”
“Hmm.” Regan took a step back and studied her. “What are you wearing?” Her eyes narrowed on Lola’s throat. “And what’s that mark on your neck?” She peered closer. “Jesus, no. Not the goddamn vampire. I knew it was a mistake sending you here. If he hurt you, I’ll kill him.”
“He hasn’t hurt me.”Just broken my heart.She’d realized something on the sleigh ride here—she didn’t need him after all. She was quite strong enough on her own.
