The Vampire and the Case of the Cozy Christmas: An Urban Fantasy Holiday Story by Heather G. Harris & Jilleen Dolbeare

Author:Heather G. Harris & Jilleen Dolbeare [Harris, Heather G. & Dolbeare, Jilleen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hellhound Press Limited
Published: 2024-12-13T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

At midnight I was officially off shift so I allowed myself a glass of red wine. Everyone had been stuffed with leftovers, pie and enough alcohol to sink a ship; it was definitely time for Stan to stagger home. Since Thomas hadn’t been drinking, he offered to give everyone a lift.

As they pulled on their coats, I hugged Sigrid tightly. ‘Thank you for doing so much to make my first Portlockian Christmas so special. It was perfect,’ I murmured.

She hugged me back. ‘Thank you, dear. It was great fun.’ She turned to Connor. ‘And thank you for the gift of your home. May it be blessed with many years of joy.’ She brushed her hands along the doors as she left and they glowed for a moment.

Connor wrapped his arms around me as we watched everyone leave. When we were alone, he said, ‘She blessed my house.’ He sounded bemused. ‘I don’t think a vampire has ever had a witch bless their house before.’

‘She doesn’t see you as a vampire,’ I said quietly. ‘She sees you as Connor. Thank you, for letting me do this here.’

‘I loved having a full house,’ he confessed. ‘I usually spend my Christmases alone with a glass of expensive Scotch and old Christmas movies on TV, so this was incredibly special. I should be thanking you.’ His eyes warmed. ‘And I will. Come on, I have another gift for you. Two, actually.’

I honestly expected him to strip off his clothes but, to my surprise, he sat me down on the sofa. ‘Wait here,’ he instructed.

He disappeared into his bedroom and came out with a small box. My heart thundered hard for once. Was he going to propose? I wasn’t ready for that and he knew that, right? But he didn’t get down on one knee; instead he opened the lid for me. It was jewellery all right – but instead of the feared engagement ring, it was a flawless emerald.

‘It seems we both had the same idea,’ he said with amusement.

‘It’s a daylight charm?’

‘Yes, but not a generic one like the council gave you. This is from me. That emerald has been in my family for centuries. My mother gave it to me when I came of age and told me to give it to the woman I wanted to spend my life with.’

My eyes filled with tears and my heart ached with happiness as I fumbled with the clasp of my necklace with shaking hands. ‘Help me.’ I turned around so he could unfasten it, then put the emerald on the chain next to Nana’s triskele charm and removed the other daylight charm; I’d return it to the council so they’d have it for the next vamp hire.

I stood up and admired the beautiful gemstone in the mirror as it hung on my chest; it was almost the same shade as my eyes. Connor stood behind me and snaked his arms around me. I turned and kissed him in thanks.

‘One more present,’ he breathed.

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