Chapter 4

The shimmering ripple in the barrier stuck in Holly’s mind, bothering her like an itch she couldn’t scratch. She and Demetrius had returned to the cabin, but the unsettling sensation of something tampering with the Winters family’s magic hung over her. It was as if the pine-scented air in the cabin was suddenly laced with a quiet yet undeniable tension.

Holly paced by the fire, her knitting abandoned on the armchair. She was a problem-solver by nature, but this was no simple tangled yarn situation. The Winters family’s protective barrier was built from powerful magic—centuries old, passed down from witch to witch. It wasn’t supposed to flicker or bend, and it certainly wasn’t supposed to ripple like someone had thrown a rock into a pond.

“Could be a weather-related disturbance,” she muttered, half to herself, half to Hexi, who lounged lazily on the hearth rug, uninterested in magical dilemmas. His only response was to close his eyes tighter. Even as she said it, she knew it wasn’t possible.

“It wasn’t the weather,” Demetrius said, his low voice cutting through her thoughts and reinforcing what she already knew. He was standing by the window, watching the horizon like a hawk, his tall frame casting a shadow across the room. “Something or someone is testing the barrier. That much seems clear.”

Holly frowned, biting her lip. “But who would want to mess with it? Nocturne Falls is peaceful enough. There haven’t been any rogue magical threats in ages.” None she knew about anyway.

Demetrius’s gaze came toward her, his gray eyes intensely focused. “Peaceful or not, magic attracts attention. Especially old, powerful magic like the kind Alice Bishop has. And the kind your family guards.”

Alice Bishop was the witch responsible for the magic that protected the whole town. She was well known to the Winters family, revered, really. Holly couldn’t argue that certain types of magic attracted certain types of people. Often those looking to increase their own powers.

The Winters had always been protectors—they prided themselves on being keepers of the balance between magic and the mortal world. But her grandmother was gone, and her parents were thousands of miles away at her brother’s.

Her decision not to go with them was really just because she didn’t need the constant reminder that he was married and had given them grandkids, whereas Holly had so far only provided them with a grandcat. Something her mother assured her was not the same.

Anyway, with them all away, it felt very much like the responsibility to keep that balance had fallen to Holly. The thing was, she wasn’t exactly a battle-hardened witch. She could knit an invisibility cloak faster than you could say abracadabra , but if someone was trying to break through her family’s magic, that was a whole different ball game.

Holly tugged at the edge of her hand-knitted cardigan, trying to soothe the nervous energy roiling inside her. “If someone’s doing something to the barrier, we need to find out why. And fast.”

Demetrius crossed the room, his movements as smooth and graceful as ever. “Agreed. But rushing into it won’t help. We need to be careful. Whoever or whatever is doing this may not be working alone.”

She hadn’t thought of that. She sighed and sank into the armchair, reaching for her knitting needles as a way to keep her hands busy. “Great. Another problem to solve. Just what I needed this Christmas.”

Demetrius’s mouth twitched in what could almost be called a smile—almost. “Christmas is overrated anyway.”

“Spoken like a true vampire, and no, it’s not.” Holly shot him a frustrated glance, twirling the yarn in her fingers. What a humbug. “Don’t you ever get into the holiday spirit? You know, wreaths, gingerbread, cozy fireside chats?”

“I think the caretaker put up a wreath,” Demetrius said dryly, raising an eyebrow. “It’s probably black.”

Holly let out a snort of laughter. “Of course it is.”

Demetrius leaned against the mantel, arms crossed over his chest as he watched her. The firelight flickered across his face, casting shadows that highlighted his handsome features. For a moment, the air between them felt lighter, as if the ripple in the barrier wasn’t lurking in the back of their minds.

But the moment passed quickly, and Holly could feel the weight of the problem settling back over them as thickly as the snow outside. “What’s our next move?”

Demetrius studied her for a moment, his gaze thoughtful. “Strengthening the barrier would probably be a good idea. If someone’s probing it for weaknesses, the best thing we can do is make sure they don’t find any.”

Holly nodded, her mind racing with ideas. Strengthening the barrier was possible, but it would take time—and power. She had some spells up her sleeve, but it wouldn’t be easy. “I can do it, but I’ll have to get supplies from town. A few herbs, crystals, maybe even some iron dust for additional strength. A little salt couldn’t hurt either.”

Demetrius straightened, his expression unreadable. “I’ll go with you.”

Once again, she was surprised by the offer. She had expected him to say nothing and let her handle the magical stuff. It wasn’t his thing, after all. “Really? You’re offering to help me shop for magical supplies?”

He shrugged, his casual demeanor betraying nothing. “You might need help carrying things. And besides, I’m curious to see what the town looks like this time of year. Not to mention, it’s a bit of a walk since driving’s not an option, and not one you should do alone. Could be slippery.”

Holly smiled, feeling an unexpected warmth spread through her. Did he actually care what happened to her? Sounded like it. “Well, who am I to say no to a shopping buddy?”

An hour later, bundled up in scarves, coats, and gloves, Holly and Demetrius made their way down the mountain toward the heart of Nocturne Falls. It was slow going, the main road still unplowed and so thick with snow that Demetrius took on the role of snowplow, going ahead of her to make a path.

The snow crunched beneath their boots, and the air was cold and crisp with the lingering scents of pine and wood smoke. After days of clouds, the sky was a gorgeous clear blue, the kind that seemed to stretch forever, and the town below sparkled like something out of a holiday postcard.

As they approached Main Street, Holly felt the familiar buzz of magic that always thrummed through Nocturne Falls. It was a town unlike any other—a place where supernatural creatures lived openly and every day was Halloween. Except right now, it was also Christmas. The streets were lined with festive lights and garlands, and shops decorated their windows with twinkling lights and magical displays.

“Doesn’t look like many people have dared venture out yet,” Demetrius commented, scanning the quiet streets. “Except maybe a few who live in town. Can’t say that I blame them.”

“I think you’re right. Still, it’s nice to see that the festive spirit remains alive,” Holly said, smiling at the sight of a werewolf dressed as Santa passing by with a sack of candy canes that he was handing out to anyone he saw. She took the one he offered her and returned his “Merry Christmas” with one of her own.

She and Demetrius made their way to The Enchanted Apothecary, one of the newest shops in town where witches could find high-quality spell ingredients. The bell above the door jingled as they entered, and the scents of sage, lavender, and something distinctly earthy filled the air. Shelves were lined with jars of herbs and powders, rows of crystals, an array of candles, scrying bowls, ceremonial daggers, and all sorts of magical supplies.

“Hi, Holly. I’m surprised to see you out today.” Flavia Heath, the shop’s owner and a sister witch, was petite, with bright hazel eyes, a warm smile, and a gorgeous head of beautiful braids. “But you’re in luck. I’ve just stocked up on my herbs and reorganized the crystals.”

“You read my mind,” Holly said as she approached the counter. “I’m definitely here to shop. Herbs and crystals are on my list, too.”

Holly rattled off her list of needs, and Flavia began gathering the supplies. As she did, Demetrius wandered through the shop, his gaze taking in the shelves of magical goods with a look of mild curiosity.

Holly watched him for a moment, wondering what went on behind those cool, calculating eyes. He was hard to read, but there was something about him that intrigued her—something more than just his centuries-old vampire mystique.

“So, what’s got you out and about today?” Flavia asked, adding a small pouch of iron dust to Holly’s growing stash of items. “I figured you’d be holed up knitting until New Year’s. Especially with this weather.”

Holly hesitated, not wanting to worry anyone, but Flavia was one of her newest friends and one of the few people she trusted. They’d already had a couple of girls’ nights out and shared a lot over coffee several mornings at the Hallowed Bean. “There’s been a disturbance in the family barrier,” she said quietly. “Nothing major, but it’s enough that I’m taking some precautions.”

Flavia’s eyes widened, and she glanced over at Demetrius before lowering her voice. “The Winters-Voss barrier? Holly, that’s serious. What do you think it is?”

“I don’t know yet,” Holly said, wishing she had an answer. That would make all of this so much easier. “We’re trying to figure that out.”

Flavia nodded, her expression turning thoughtful. “Well, hopefully you’ll have an answer soon. And you stay safe in the meantime.” She tipped her head toward Demetrius. “And if he’s helping you, I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

Holly followed Flavia’s gaze to Demetrius, who was currently examining a jar of rough moonstone ore as if it held the secrets to the universe. She smiled faintly, feeling a peculiar mix of gratitude and uncertainty. “Yeah. I hope so.”

By the time she and Demetrius left the apothecary, the sun had dipped lower in the sky, casting blue shadows across the snow-covered streets and dropping the temperature even further. Demetrius carried the shopping bag of supplies, so Holly wrapped her arms around herself, her mind already working through the spell she’d need to strengthen the barrier.

“So,” Demetrius said as they made their way back toward the road that would lead them up the mountain, “what’s the plan?”

Holly exhaled, watching her breath curl out into the cold air. “We’ll head back to the cabin, and I’ll get ready to reinforce the barrier. It’s a tricky spell, but with these ingredients, it should hold. At least for now.”

Demetrius nodded, his expression thoughtful. “And if it doesn’t?”

Holly met his gaze for a second, her heart skipping a beat. She didn’t want to think about that. Reinforcing the barrier was their best option, but if something—or someone, like another witch—was determined to break through, there might not be much they could do to stop it.

Worse still, she didn’t think she was qualified to rebuild it. Not alone. She dreaded the idea of having to tell her mother what had happened. Her mom would insist on coming to Nocturne Falls as soon as possible and might even cut short the visit to Holly’s brother’s place for the holidays.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” she said quietly.

“Right.” Demetrius’s gaze softened as if he understood what she was feeling, and for a moment, the weight of the situation seemed to lift, just a little. “We’ll handle it. Whatever happens.”

A spark of warmth came to life inside Holly, despite the cold. “Thanks for saying that. It means a lot.”

As they made their way back up the mountain, the snow crunching beneath their boots and the quiet stillness of twilight settling around them, Holly couldn’t help but feel a little more hopeful.

Because no matter what was coming their way, she wasn’t facing it alone.

Not anymore.