Chapter 1

Demetrius Voss gripped the steering wheel of his black SUV, the knuckles of his leather driving gloves wrinkling as he did. The tires struggled for traction on the ice-slicked mountain road. Snow fell in a thick, blinding curtain, smothering the windshield and rendering his wipers useless against the storm. Even with his vampire senses, seeing more than a few feet ahead was nearly impossible.

“This is ridiculous,” he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible over the roar of the wind. The tires spun again as the SUV fishtailed, narrowly avoiding sliding into the ditch alongside the road. Demetrius cursed, quickly correcting the wheel. The last thing he needed was to slide off the edge of the road and plummet into the thick forest below.

A loud meow from the carrier on the passenger seat made him frown. His cat, Moonshadow, was obviously unhappy, and that bothered him. “I know, Moonie. I’m not thrilled about this either. Hang on. Won’t be much longer now.”

It couldn’t be. He had been driving for hours, trying to make his way up the winding mountain road to his family’s estate, Voss Manor. Normally, he could handle treacherous roads without a second thought, but tonight’s storm was something else entirely. The roads had already been icy, but then the snow had started unexpectedly earlier that afternoon and now was a full-blown blizzard, howling and furious, as if the mountain itself were trying to force him back.

Maybe it was. Maybe this trip had been a bad idea, but he’d never been one to let that stop him. All he’d wanted was to be alone. To sulk in peace, away from his sisters, who would undoubtedly remind him that his recent breakup was, like the rest of them, a perfect example of the bad choices he made when it came to women.

He couldn’t argue that. Esme was painfully beautiful, socially gregarious, but her hidden mean streak had far too often been directed at him. Worse than that, she seemed happiest when stirring up trouble.

What on earth had made him think she was girlfriend material? Beauty was not enough. Not even close to enough.

The Voss manor was perched high on the mountain, the sprawling structure hidden deep within the woods on a road that served it almost exclusively. It had been a few years since he’d been back, but the breakup had drawn him here, his need to be alone and isolated making the Nocturne Falls estate the perfect retreat.

He planned to spend the rest of the winter alone with Moonshadow, buried in the quiet of the estate’s empty halls, far away from the bustling holiday cheer of Nocturne Falls below. Granted, he’d also have the staff that lived on site and maintained the premises. But now, the storm had other ideas.

Demetrius glanced at his cell phone—no signal. Not surprising, considering how far he was into the mountains. Or maybe it was the storm. Whatever the reason, he was irritated by the inconvenience.

He was close to the estate, maybe a few miles at most, but the snow was piling up faster than the SUV could plow through it. The road ahead was disappearing under a thick, icy blanket, and Demetrius could feel the wheels losing their grip again.

Come on, he thought, pressing the gas pedal a little harder. The engine growled in response, but the SUV lurched, slipping sideways as the tires spun helplessly in the snow. The wheels caught for a brief second, then gave way entirely.

With a frustrated growl, Demetrius smacked the steering wheel. The SUV slid to a stop, wedged deep in a snowdrift. “Perfect.”

Moonie’s meow was plaintive and a little fearful.

“It’s okay, baby.” Except it wasn’t okay. He cut the engine and leaned back in his seat, trying to assess his options.

Walking to the manor would be a nightmare in this storm, especially because he had Moonshadow to look after. Even for him alone, wading through snow that deep would take forever, and the winds were only getting stronger. Demetrius sighed, running a hand through his hair, the storm outside rattling against the windows.

Just then, through the swirling white, he spotted a flicker of light—small but distinct, barely visible through the falling snow. A cabin, he realized. There was someone nearby, and the warm glow of that light meant one thing: shelter.

His eyes narrowed. He knew whose cabin that was. It belonged to the Winters family. They were a family of witches and wizards who’d helped install a magic barrier around both properties as a thank-you to the Vosses for doing some improvements.

Much as he didn’t want to be around anyone else, he had no better option. Moonshadow needed warm shelter even more than he did.

With a sigh, Demetrius buttoned up his coat, tugging the collar around his neck. He grabbed his bag from the back, then secured the cover over Moonie’s carrier and stepped out into the freezing wind. The cold wind gnawed at his skin, though it barely registered, his vampire blood keeping him from feeling the chill that a human might feel. Still, the snow whipped around him with a viciousness that made it hard to move.

Holding Moonie’s carrier tight against his chest, the strap of his bag slung over one shoulder, he trudged through the knee-deep snow, making his way toward the distant light. Each step was a battle against the storm, but the glow grew brighter as he got closer. After what felt like hours but was probably only minutes, Demetrius found himself standing outside a small, cozy cabin nestled in the trees, half-buried in snow. It looked as if it had been plucked from a holiday postcard—warm light spilling out from the windows, smoke curling from the chimney. Even a small, decorated Christmas tree was visible through the windows, the lights twinkling at him.

Without hesitation, Demetrius knocked on the door, shaking snow from his coat as he waited. The sound of footsteps echoed from inside, and after a brief pause, the door creaked open just a crack.

A young, vaguely familiar woman stood there, her brow furrowed in confusion as she peered out at him. She looked about his age—at least, in human years—her wide green eyes blinking in surprise. Dark hair framed her face in loose waves, and she wore a thick sweater that made her look as if she’d been enjoying a quiet evening by the fire before he interrupted.

“Yes?” she asked with a mix of curiosity and concern. “Can I help you?”

Demetrius cleared his throat, realizing how he must look—a stranger, drenched in snow, standing on her doorstep in the middle of a blizzard, clutching a cat carrier to his chest. “My car’s stuck in the snow just down the road,” he explained. “I was heading up to my family’s estate, but the storm caught me. I was wondering if I could take shelter here until it passes.”

The woman’s concern softened slightly, though she still looked hesitant. “The storm’s getting worse,” she said, glancing out into the swirling snow. “You won’t make it to the estate tonight.”

“No, I won’t.” Demetrius nodded, acknowledging the truth of her words. “I’ll be out of your way as soon as the snow clears.”

“Is that a cat?”

“Yes. Moonshadow. She’s had all her shots. She won’t be any trouble.”

“Moonshadow. Of course. You’re Demetrius.”

“Yes.” Realization struck him as she backed away to let him in. “And you’re Holly. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

She opened the door wider. “Quite a while. Come in. You’ll freeze to death out there. The cat’s not a problem as long as she can get along with my Hexi.”

Demetrius stepped over the threshold, the warmth of the cabin wrapping around him like a blanket. It was small but inviting, with a fire crackling in the hearth. He glanced around, taking in the simple but cozy decorations—garlands of pine draped over the mantel, a small Christmas tree twinkling in the corner. A brown and black tabby lay on the hearth, taking in the heat with obvious pleasure.

“Thank you, Holly,” he said, turning to face her. “I’m indebted to you.”

“It’s Christmas. And we’re neighbors,” she replied, offering a polite smile as she closed the door behind him with a wave and twist of her hand, locking the cold outside. “I couldn’t let you stay out there. You want coffee or something?”

“I’m fine. Although I’m sure Moonie wouldn’t mind getting out of this carrier.” Demetrius glanced at the tree and the festive lights, feeling a flicker of something—nostalgia, maybe—at the sight. Christmas had long since lost its magic for him, but here, in this warm, inviting cabin, it felt almost … comforting.

“Go right ahead and let her out. We’ll see how she and Hexi get on.” Holly looked him up and down with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. “So, Demetrius, what brings you out here in the middle of a snowstorm?”

“Like I said, I was headed to my family’s estate,” he said, setting the carrier on the floor and pulling off the cover to set Moonshadow free. He put his bag down as well. “My plan was to spend the rest of the winter there. I didn’t expect the storm to get this bad. I really just wanted some peace and quiet.”

Holly smiled, though there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. “Well, you came to the right place for quiet. Not much happens up here except snowstorms and the occasional nosy neighbor.”

Demetrius chuckled softly, feeling an odd sense of ease in her presence. Despite the unexpected situation, there was something about Holly—something calm and wonderfully normal. He hadn’t realized how much he had needed that until now.

Moonshadow sauntered out of the carrier, sniffed the air a few times, took in her surroundings, then made her way to the couch.

“I hope we’re not intruding too much,” he said, glancing at Holly. “I don’t want to disrupt your Christmas.”

Holly’s smile softened, her eyes flicking to the tree in the corner. “You’re not intruding. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much of a Christmas this year anyway.”

Demetrius raised an eyebrow. “Spending it alone?”

She nodded, a wistful look in her eyes. “Yeah. But I guess that’s just the way things worked out. My parents went to my brother’s place in Oregon.”

“You didn’t want to go too?”

She opened her mouth, closed it again, then gave him a tight smile. “You sure you don’t want coffee?”

“No, thanks.” He shouldn’t have asked such a personal question. He wasn’t sure why he had, really. It wasn’t his way.

An uncomfortable silence settled between them, broken only by the crackling fire and the distant howl of the wind. Demetrius shifted, uncertain of what to say. He wasn’t used to small talk, especially about holidays and loneliness. Those subjects had long since stopped being part of his world.

“Well,” Holly said, clearing her throat and forcing a brighter smile. “Since you’re stuck here, you might as well warm up by the fire and make yourself at home. I was going to make some beef vegetable stew. There’s plenty if you’re hungry.”

Demetrius blinked, surprised by the offer. He wasn’t used to such casual kindness, especially from someone who was almost a stranger. It had been at least three years since they’d seen each other. She’d been younger then. He didn’t remember her being so pretty. “That sounds … nice.”

Holly nodded, heading toward the kitchen. “I’m sure the storm will clear by morning. I hope.”

“Same here.” Demetrius settled himself on the couch next to Moonshadow. A Christmas movie was playing on the television. His gaze drifted around the room. There was knitting on the chair by the fire, which was giving off a nice warmth. A cup of cocoa sat on the small table nearby.

Obviously, he hadn’t expected to end up here the week of Christmas, but maybe this wasn’t such a bad place to be after all.

And as the storm raged outside, Demetrius couldn’t help but feel that, somehow, this was exactly where he was supposed to be.

Holly was about to go into the kitchen when a thought about her new guest popped into her head. She looked at Demetrius. “Are you going to be all right without blood for the night? Because I will not tolerate you snacking on me or my cat.”

Demetrius’s eyes gleamed with mischief as he glanced at Hexi. “Tempting, but no, you’re both safe,” he replied, his voice a cool, deep rumble that somehow managed to be disarmingly attractive while also sounding annoyed.

She glared at him. “Touch my cat and I’ll knit silver into your scarf.”

Demetrius chuckled—a low and rich sound that caught Holly off guard. “I promise, I wouldn’t dream of it. I don’t need to feed for a few days anyway.”

“Good to know.”

He frowned suddenly. “Say, isn’t that barrier your family cast around the property supposed to protect against things like this storm?”

“No, sorry. That barrier is there to protect against bad magic, not weather.”

He sighed like it was completely useless then.

Good to know he was as handsome and cranky as ever.

His sleek silver cat had taken up residence on Holly’s favorite knitted blanket on the couch.

Hexi finally caught sight of her and went under the coffee table. He peeked out at the new addition with uncertainty in his eyes.

To show Hexi that the new cat wasn’t his enemy, Holly went to the couch and bent to give the creature a little scratch behind the ears. “Hi, Moonshadow,” Holly greeted the cat, who started purring and closed her eyes, pushing her head into Holly’s hand. “At least you’re not as dramatic as your owner.”

Demetrius raised a brow. “I’m not dramatic. And she’s a cat. She’s inherently dramatic.” He looked as though he was fighting the urge to roll his eyes. “Believe me, I would leave if I could.”

“I’m sure,” Holly muttered under her breath. The Voss lodge, estate, mansion, whatever you wanted to call it, was easily four times the size of this cabin. It resided much farther up the mountain via a private road. Obviously inaccessible by now. The fact that he’d even attempted it seemed to prove his own arrogance. “But for now, you’re stuck here with me, Hexi, and Moonshadow. And if you’re lucky, I might even knit you a scarf.”

Demetrius’s lip twitched, almost like he was trying not to smile. Almost. “I think I’ll pass. But thanks.”

Hexi slinked out from his hiding spot under the coffee table, glaring at Demetrius like the vampire was invading his personal domain. Which he kind of was. Moonshadow, meanwhile, had already nestled deeper into the blanket, her eyes half-lidded in contentment. It was as if the blizzard was a mere inconvenience to her luxurious lifestyle.

Cats. Holly nearly snorted at the attitude.

“I better go finish the stew,” Holly announced, mostly to fill the awkward silence. “You still want some?”

“Stew sounds good,” Demetrius said, his tone surprising her with its sudden warmth. “Even vampires get cold.”

Holly arched an eyebrow, her curiosity aroused. “Really? I thought you were immune to that kind of thing.”

Demetrius smirked, running a hand through his damp hair. “Not entirely. Cold blood and all that.”

“Well, lucky for you, I know my way around the stove,” she said with a grin, heading to the kitchen. She got to work, browning the meat and chopping veggies. As she stirred the pot on the stove, the aroma of garlic, meat, and vegetables filled the small cabin, mixing with the scent of pine and burning wood. It was the kind of comforting smell that made her almost forget the blizzard raging outside. The stew simmered gently, releasing bursts of savory aromas and making her mouth water.

Demetrius looked oddly out of place on the couch, like an ancient portrait that had been awkwardly placed in a cozy Christmas card scene. His tall frame, dressed in a black cable sweater and dark jeans, was a stark contrast to the colorful, knitted throw pillows and cheerful holiday decor. But there was something almost peaceful about the way he looked. As if he belonged.

Which he clearly did not.

Even so, Holly found herself glancing at him more than once as she worked, trying to reconcile the stoic vampire with the man currently looking more relaxed than she’d ever seen him.

She distracted herself by making a pan of cornbread. Nothing fancy, it was from a box mix, but she hadn’t counted on company, so this would help round out the meal.

When the cornbread and the soup were done, she sliced the cornbread into wedges and set the cast iron pan on a trivet on the table. Then she took heavy crockery bowls from the cabinet. “Stew’s ready if you want to come in.”

He did, making the kitchen seem a lot smaller suddenly as he took a seat at the table.

“So,” Holly said, ladling soup into the bowls. “Why would a broody vampire like you come to a festive town like Nocturne Falls for peace and quiet?”

Demetrius raised an eyebrow, accepting the bowl she handed him. “I live here. And there are no attitude requirements. Thankfully.”

“You don’t live here year-round, though,” Holly said, settling into the seat across from him.

“I don’t live anywhere year-round. But I might be here for a while.”

That was news. From what she understood, the Vosses had estates in several states and a few countries. “But you’ve got to admit, you seem more … Halloween than Christmas.”

His expression said her appraisal had slightly amused him. “And you’re more Christmas than Halloween. Yet here we are. Maybe we balance each other out.”

“Maybe.” As Holly brought the cornbread to the table, she rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the smile tugging at her lips.

She sat, and they dug into the meal. She took a spoonful of stew, pleased at how good it tasted. The warmth of it spread through her body, and she glanced at him over the rim of her bowl.

“This is good. Thank you for sharing with me.” He seemed to be genuinely enjoying the food, so maybe he wasn’t just saying it to be nice. In fact, maybe being snowed in with a brooding vampire wasn’t the worst way to spend Christmas after all.

As long as he didn’t eat her cat.