A Vampire's Christmas Carol(9)

Ben found himself moving closer to the battle. Just as he had years before.

“This was the first time I saw shifters,” he told William. “And the first time I saw a demon.” He’d just thought he was jumping into a fight, until he’d seen the first man transform.

William was watching the fight before them. “You changed a lot of lives this night.”

Then Ben saw his old self race from the darkness. He grabbed at the men attacking William. Sent them stumbling back.

One man hit a tombstone, then shot right back up—as claws burst from his fingertips.

“What the hell?” Yes, that had been his shocked reaction on that long ago night.

Because the guy didn’t just stop with claws. The man’s bones broke. Snapped. Reshaped. Fur burst from his skin. And in mere moments, a tiger stood in the man’s place.

The other attackers started to shift, too.

They closed in and Ben…

In that memory, he just laughed.

Because I thought I was about to die. And I was happy. I was going to be with Simone. I had nothing to lose.

“They didn’t expect your strength.” This came from William as he watched the scene unfold. “You’re a rare vampire. Stronger than even an alpha shifter.”

And Ben did take down the shifters. With his teeth. With his hands. With a strength that he’d never imagined.

Until only one shifter remained. Not a tiger. A panther. The panther didn’t attack. He lowered his head, showing submission, then he turned…and he fled.

“Why did you come to my aid?” William asked Ben as the images of the others faded away. The demon studied him a moment, then continued, “You didn’t know me. I was a stranger, but you risked your life for me.”

Ben smiled at him. He knew the demon would see his fangs. “I didn’t fight for you. I fought because I was hoping they’d put me out of my misery.”

William sucked in a sharp breath.

“That didn’t happen. I’m still here.” And she’s still gone. The snow was falling again. How f*cking perfect.

Ben turned and walked away from William. The demon had said this was their last little show. He was more than ready for William to end his magic routine. This night had been a mind-screw from the beginning.

“If death was all you wanted…” Now William’s voice was deeper, seeming to echo with power. “Then maybe I can oblige you.”

Ben tensed. He started to spin back toward William, but the demon tackled him. William shoved Ben’s face into the snow. The blade of a knife slid across Ben’s throat.

“I could take your head, but that would be too easy,” William’s words grated in his ear. “And you don’t get easy. Neither one of us gets that.” The blade cut across Ben’s throat, drawing blood but not severing his head. “Remember what you’ve seen…and be prepared for what comes next.”

Snarling, Ben twisted beneath the demon. He ignored the burn of the knife as he punched out at William—

***

Ben’s fist drove into the wooden wall of his cabin. He knocked a hole right through that wall, and cold air blasted inside.

“William!” Ben bellowed.

But the demon didn’t answer.

Ben yanked his hand back. He spun around. Searched the small cabin. There was no sign of the demon. Ben’s eyes narrowed. Was this another game? Another mind-screw that the demon was using to jerk him around?

But…it looked like Ben was back in his cabin, the little place in Desolate, North Dakota. The fireplace was empty. No more giant flames leapt from its depths. The cabin was ice cold inside and growing more so with each moment that passed, thanks to the new window that his fist had just installed.

“Stay away from me!” Ben yelled as he glared at the fireplace. “Do you hear me, demon? No more visits! No more games! Keep your ass away from me.” Or he’d finish what the shifters had started in that cemetery.

A soft rap sounded at his door.

Ben tensed. Had he not just told the demon to stay away?

The knock came again, more insistent this time.

“Go away!” Ben snarled.

But his visitor knocked once more.

He stalked forward, more than ready to beat a certain demon back to hell. He yanked open the door.

A demon didn’t stand on his threshold. A ghost did.

Her blonde hair slid over her shoulders. Her dark, warm brown eyes met his. She smiled. “Hello, Ben.”

Simone.





Chapter Five


Simone stared into Ben’s stunned eyes. Her gaze swept over his face. A face that had haunted her for so long.

High forehead. Strong cheekbones. A long, hard blade of a nose. And that jaw—the wonderful square jaw that she had loved to kiss.

“You’re dead,” he gritted out the words as he stood, frozen, in the doorway.

Simone let her stare sweep down his body. His shoulders were so broad. His arms and chest were muscled and powerful. He towered over her own five-foot-four frame and—

“You’re dead!”

His shout had her gaze snapping back up to his face.

Ben’s eyes were wild. “Is this another one of the demon’s games? Does he think it’s fun to torment me with images of you?”

In that moment, her heart broke even more.