Kiss of Christmas Magic: 20 Paranormal Holiday Tales of Werewolves, Shifters, Vampires, Elves, Witches, Dragons, Fey, Ghosts, and More by Eve Langlais & Aubrey Rose & Molly Prince & Deanna Chase & Mandy M. Roth & Michelle M. Pillow & Angie Fox & Mimi Strong & Viola Rivard & Michele Bardsley & V. M. Black & Lola St. Vil & Terah Edun & Jessa Slade & Chloe Cole & Cristina Rayne & Shawntelle Madison & J. S. Hope & Carina Wilder & Dawn Michelle & Jessica Ryan

Author:Eve Langlais & Aubrey Rose & Molly Prince & Deanna Chase & Mandy M. Roth & Michelle M. Pillow & Angie Fox & Mimi Strong & Viola Rivard & Michele Bardsley & V. M. Black & Lola St. Vil & Terah Edun & Jessa Slade & Chloe Cole & Cristina Rayne & Shawntelle Madison & J. S. Hope & Carina Wilder & Dawn Michelle & Jessica Ryan [Langlais, Eve & Rose, Aubrey & Prince, Molly & Chase, Deanna & Roth, Mandy M. & Pillow, Michelle M. & Fox, Angie & Strong, Mimi & Rivard, Viola & Bardsley, Michele & Black, V. M. & Vil, Lola St. & Edun, Terah & Slade, Jessa & Cole, Chloe & Rayne, Cristina & Madison, Shawntelle & Hope, J. S. & Wilder, Carina & Michelle, Dawn & Ryan, Jessica]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Literature & Fiction, Romance, Holidays, Military, Paranormal, Romantic Comedy, Vampires, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Fantasy, Paranormal & Urban, Angels, Demons & Devils, Ghosts, Werewolves & Shifters, Witches & Wizards
Amazon: B00OVG6HFG
Publisher: Swift River Media Group
Published: 2014-11-11T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Klaus stood in the foyer pacing. The chill that had been dogging him since he’d gotten to town was nowhere to be found. In fact, it felt like he was burning up.

“You’re going to wear a hole in that rug,” Niles said, eyeing him from his seat on a leather ottoman beside the fireplace.

“I’ll buy you a new one,” he snapped back.

His father’s dark, bushy brows caved into a frown but before he could respond, the doorbell rang. Klaus crossed the room and opened the front door, his pulse jacking up a notch as he did. Most of the pack was already assembled in the great room, and a flash of disappointment zipped through him as he realized it wasn’t Petra. Hot on its heels was joy, though, as he took in the faces of Rachael and Sean, each holding what looked to be a bundle of blue blankets.

“Holy shit, is it good to see you, man,” Sean said, his blue eyes going suspiciously bright as he leaned forward, yanking Klaus in for a one–armed man–hug.

The blanket between them wriggled and let out a soft sneeze and Klaus pulled back, his heart knocking against his ribs.

“Nicklaus, meet Ivan. Our baby boy. Younger by two minutes.” The proud papa beamed as he tugged down the covers and showed off his son’s round, pink–cheeked face.

Ivan. Just looking at him gave him an urge he’d never felt before. To see his own son, swaddled and plump. To teach him to play ball. Or a girl might be even better. Maybe she’d want to play ball too. He could teach them to fish, like his father had done…

Klaus cleared his suddenly dry throat and reached out a finger to stroke the baby’s forehead. “I…don’t know what to say. I’m sorry I missed it all, man. So sorry.”

Sean shook his head and clapped a big hand to Klaus’s shoulder. “You did what you needed to do. Don’t think on it again. You’re here now and that’s what counts.”

Strange how it went with pack family. With just those words, the air was cleared and it was like no time at all had passed.

“He’s a big fella, huh?” he said, grinning as little Ivan cooed and blew bubbles with his rosebud lips.

Rachael laughed and gave him a tired but electric smile as she presented baby number two, a clone of the first. “And here is your namesake. I suppose I don’t have to tell you, he’s the troublemaker.”

“Doesn’t surprise me at all.” He leaned in to kiss Rachael’s cheek, and then stood aside, urging them into the house. “What are we doing standing out here, come on. We’re waiting on Petra and then we can start.”

“Well, you don’t have long to wait,” a low voice said from behind Rachael, making the hair’s on the back of his neck stand up. “I’m here. I apologize for being late, I had to make sure the restaurant was taken care of.”

Rachael and Sean each gave Petra a hug in turn, and she ooh–ed and ah–ed over the babies, notably ignoring him entirely.