Chapter 16

The soft glow of the twinkling lights on the little tree filled the cabin as Christmas morning dawned over Nocturne Falls. Snow blanketed the world outside, turning the forest into a glittering wonderland.

Inside, the warmth of the fire crackled in the hearth, casting a cozy glow across the room, and the scent of cinnamon and pine filled the air. Holly sat at the kitchen table.

Demetrius, settling into domestic life in a way he’d never thought possible, was making coffee. His dormant heart felt surprisingly light for the first time in what might have been forever. Was this love? He wasn’t sure, but it certainly seemed like it.

He’d even stopped thinking about Esme, except for the occasional reminder of how very different Holly was.

Hexi was curled up on her lap, purring contentedly, while Moonie lounged on the couch in the living room. The peace in the cabin felt like a long-lost gift, a contrast to the tension and danger they had faced just days before.

He knew he’d have to go back to his place eventually. The road was plowed. He was out of excuses. He just didn’t want to leave Holly. Not that they were so far away from each other, but at the moment, they were living in this perfect little bubble of time and space. He didn’t want to break it, even though he knew it was inevitable.

He pressed the button to start the coffee brewing. He turned to look at Holly. “This is nice, isn’t it?”

“It’s very nice,” she said. She’d been quieter than usual that morning, but he knew her well enough by now to know that she was simply enjoying the calm—letting herself relax after everything they had been through. “I like having someone make coffee for me.”

He laughed softly. He’d gladly do it for her every morning. When the coffee was done, he poured them each a cup. Maybe Christmas morning coffee could be a new tradition for them. The idea gave him a curious and unexpected sense of joy.

Who was he? Who was this person smiling and bantering with the beautiful, quirky woman that had inexplicably stolen his heart? He didn’t know, but he liked this version of himself. That in itself was something new and amazing.

She sipped her coffee, watching Demetrius from under her lashes, but he knew he was being scrutinized. Well, she could look all she wanted to.

“Enjoying the view?” he finally asked playfully.

Holly gave a quick nod. “Yeah, I am. Merry Christmas, by the way.”

Her quick change of subject did nothing to stop the color rising in her cheeks. It was sweet and innocent in a way that made it impossible for him not to smile. She was something else, this knitting, cat-loving, gorgeous, kind, sweeter than sweet witch.

After everything they had been through, it felt strange—wonderful, even—to be here, in the quiet of Christmas morning, with Holly by his side. He hadn’t expected to find happiness again, not after the life he’d lived. But here he was, and it was all because of her.

“You want to go watch a cheesy Christmas movie and eat the rest of that cinnamon bun?”

He nodded. “That sounds perfect.”

Holly warmed up the remaining half of the cinnamon bun, then cut it and put it on two plates, which she carried out and set on the coffee table. He followed her to the living room, their coffee cups in hand.

“Come sit,” Holly said, patting the cushion beside her on the couch. “It’s Christmas, after all. You’re supposed to do nothing.”

Demetrius raised an eyebrow, even though he was grinning as he sat. “I’m not exactly the do-nothing type.”

Holly laughed softly, shaking her head. “You’ve earned some downtime, Demetrius. We both have.”

“That’s for sure.” With a low chuckle, Demetrius put his arm around her and kissed the side of her head.

While Holly flipped through the movie options, they sat in comfortable silence, the warmth of the fire and the contented purring of the cats filling the room.

Demetrius felt an upswell with something deeper than gratitude—something he couldn’t remember feeling in a very long time.

This was home now. Nocturne Falls, this cabin, and Holly. His sprawling family estate would never feel like this, unless she was in it. Maybe she’d spend some time with him there. She could certainly bring Hexi. There was more than enough room.

All this time, he’d been expecting to spend Christmas alone, but instead, he had found something far more precious than he had ever imagined. Something he hadn’t been looking for because he hadn’t thought it was out there. Not for him, anyway.

“What are you thinking about?” Holly asked quietly, her voice cutting through his thoughts.

Demetrius smiled softly, glancing down at Moonie, who had nestled against his leg. “Just how different this Christmas is compared to last year. I never thought I could feel like this.”

“And how is that?”

“Happy,” he said, the word as sweet on his tongue as the cinnamon bun.

Holly’s expression softened, her eyes studying him intently. “You deserve happiness, Demetrius.”

The tenderness in her voice touched him. “So do you.”

For a moment, they simply looked at each other, the weight of their shared experiences and unspoken emotions hanging in the air. Holly’s breath hitched as Demetrius’s hand brushed against hers, craving the feel of her warm, velvety skin.

Holly leaned forward, and without another thought, Demetrius closed the distance between them, his lips brushing against hers with the tenderness he felt toward her. Once upon a time, his greatest desire had been to be left alone.

Now all he wanted was to be with her. To protect her, to make her laugh, to make her as happy as she made him.

The kiss was soft, almost hesitant at first, but then it deepened, and he felt her melt into him. Demetrius’s hand cupped her cheek to pull her closer. The warmth of the fire, the soft purring of the cats, and the muted sounds of the television all faded away, leaving only the two of them.

When they finally pulled apart, Holly’s breath was ragged, and he could hear her pleasure in her pulse. She looked into his eyes, and he saw his own emotions reflected back at him.

“I didn’t expect any of this,” Demetrius murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, his forehead resting gently against hers. “But now that I have it … now that I have you, I don’t want to let it go.”

Holly’s fingers traced the line of his jaw. “You won’t lose me, Demetrius. I’m not going anywhere.”

For a long moment, they stayed like that, holding each other in the soft glow of the firelight, the warmth of the Christmas morning wrapping around them like a protective blanket. Demetrius felt a peace he hadn’t known in years, and for the first time in a long time, he allowed himself to fully embrace it, because this time, he trusted that it was real.

This was what he had been searching for, what he hadn’t even known he needed. Not just safety or protection—but a place to belong. And now he had found it. In Nocturne Falls. With Holly.

Hexi climbed into her lap and stretched so that his paws were on Demetrius’s leg, his purring growing louder as if he approved of the new closeness between his humans. She chuckled. “I guess you’ve been accepted.”

Moonie curled up tighter against him, like she was trying to get closer.

Demetrius glanced at the cats and nodded. “I think they’re happy we’ve finally sorted ourselves out.”

Holly laughed softly, resting her head on Demetrius’s shoulder. “I’d have to agree with them.”

She found them a movie, then he went into the kitchen to refill their coffees. They ate the leftover cinnamon bun, watching the movie and just enjoying the morning.

The world felt quiet, calm, and filled with possibility. He understood now that Christmas in Nocturne Falls wasn’t just about holiday cheer—it was about magic, connection, and finding light in the darkest places.

They spent the rest of the day together, watching movies, playing board games, curled up by the fire, even going for a walk in the snow, which ended in a snowball fight that had them both laughing so hard they could barely speak.

As they warmed up by the fire, they enjoyed the peace they had fought so hard to protect. The cats moved between them, content and warm, the quiet sounds of their purring filling the room.

This, Demetrius thought, was happiness. At last. And if that wasn’t a Christmas miracle, he wasn’t sure what qualified.

As the sky darkened and evening fell, Holly realized something that made her heart flutter with joy.

This was the Christmas she had been waiting for. A Christmas filled with warmth, love, and hope. And with Demetrius by her side, she knew there would be many more to come.

“Demetrius,” she said softly, glancing up at him as the fire crackled. He’d gotten up to add more wood to it.

“Hmm?” He looked back at her, his expression soft, the firelight giving him a warm glow.

“Merry Christmas,” she whispered, her heart full.

Demetrius’s eyes warmed, and he came back to press a gentle kiss to her forehead. “Merry Christmas, sweetheart.”

In that moment, Holly knew that everything was exactly as it should be. The darkness was gone, and the light of Christmas filled her heart.

This was her new beginning. Her happily ever after. Her brooding vampire.

She smiled. Despite the near catastrophe, everything had worked out just right.