by Dannika Dark
Justus felt the urge to bolt when a woman strutted by him wearing a green sweater sporting a reindeer with a red blinking nose.
He stalked forward and pointed at a tree. “That one.”
Simon jumped down to the floor, in leather from neck to heel, and adjusted himself as he stared up at the black tree. “That’s a bit morbid. Shall we look for a grim reaper to put on top? I’ll ask the lady if she has a death shroud to wrap around as garland. Maybe we can find some miniature sickle ornaments.”
Justus was dressed down in a pair of jeans and a skintight black shirt. He’d left the house in a hurry and had forgotten his jacket. Thermals didn’t need to worry about keeping warm, but he usually dressed appropriately for the weather, especially around humans.
Simon stopped and jerked his head toward the right. “How about this one?”
Justus swung his gaze up at the pink tree and then gave Simon a frosty glare.
His outspoken friend arched an eyebrow, and his tousled hair slipped in front of his eyes. “I can see your nipples through your shirt. In another hour, you’re going to look like the Pied Piper with a harem following you. Maybe we should hurry this along.”
After a short walk, they stopped in front of a large green tree with built-in white lights. Without a word, they nodded at each other and it was decided.
Simon clapped his hands together, his fingerless gloves muffling the sound. “Now for the dressing. Let’s have some fun, shall we?” He grabbed a green cart someone had parked at the end of an aisle.
Justus glared at a wall of colorful plastic ornaments. He turned one in his hand. “Why would these humans put a sumo wrestler on their tree?”
Simon held a hook between two fingers. “I found a pickle.” He tossed it into the basket. “Bloody hell, look at this!” Two ornaments crashed onto the floor when he yanked one out by the string. “This one has your name all over it.”
Justus tried to feign indifference as he stared at the Mercedes. “That one’s acceptable.”
Simon placed his foot on the undercarriage of the cart and leaned over the front so he could ride it down the aisle.
Hundreds of years later and Simon hadn’t changed a bit.
Justus found an ornament shaped like the state of Texas, where Silver was from. After checking out a few more aisles, Simon picked out a Rubenesque woman for Justus, a pair of red sneakers for Logan, and a wolf for Finn. Justus added a few more cars, a crocheted star for Page, and a little rose for his Rose.
An hour later, they had filled two shopping carts.
“Think we’ve gone overboard?” Simon asked, arms folded as he examined their wares. “A lady three aisles over said we have to buy a skirt for the tree. Maybe you can borrow one from Page’s wardrobe. She also mentioned stockings. Does Page wear garters?”
“One more word and I’ll throttle you. And remove that hat before I set it on fire.”
Simon pursed his lips, his musical Santa hat moving left to right, bells jingling on the fluffy white ball. “Bah, humbug! There was a whole aisle on Scrooge. Be right back while I pick out your ornaments.” He swaggered off, removing his leather coat and tossing it over his shoulder like some kind of fashion model from a BDSM club.
Justus rubbed his chin, wondering if they’d gotten everything.
“You look a little lost. Is there something you’re looking for?”
He turned to face a beautiful blonde with bright red lips and an eager smile. “Are you employed here?”
Her breasts jiggled when she laughed. “No, I just couldn’t help but notice your defeated expression. I come here every year, so I know these aisles like the back of my hand.”
This human was succumbing to his Charmer gift. Sexual energy melted off him like warm chocolate, and it usually attracted any woman standing within a few feet. He’d been doing his best to distance himself from the crowd, but every so often, he’d turn a corner and women would start undressing him with their eyes.
Justus cleared his throat and stepped back. “I’m here with a friend. We’re shopping for our… wives,” he said, hoping to discourage her.
A loud crash sounded from a nearby aisle. Everyone briefly turned to look before going about their business.
The blonde batted her long lashes. “Too bad. Looks like they’re missing out on all the fun. Are you sure that—”
“I’m positive,” he said, holding up his hand. “We prefer to be alone.”
Hopes dashed, she turned away slowly. Justus gave her a cold, impassive stare, hoping it would be enough to drive her away. The last thing he wanted was to hurt a woman’s feelings, but leading her on was cruel when he had all the woman he could ever want waiting for him at home.
His head was pounding to the beat of the loudspeaker music, so he took a seat next to an inflatable snowman. Two kids shrieked and sprinted by, one chasing the other with a giant candy cane.
Seconds later, Simon flashed to his side.
Justus lurched to his feet, his lips peeled back. “You can’t do that in here! They have security cameras.”
Simon scratched the back of his neck. “I think we need to go. I broke something expensive.”
Chapter 4
Page and Rose
Page finished slicing the last of the carrots and put them in plastic bags to keep them from drying out. She polished the trays in preparation for the morning. Tomorrow was Christmas Day, and they were going to spend it together from dawn until dusk. No television, computers, or other electronics. Only good food, board games, conversation, music, and family.
Page felt guilty about Silver doing most of the work, but she also knew that it would be something Silver could look back on proudly. The Cross men were Chitahs, and by nature they didn’t believe a woman’s place was in the kitchen or serving men. It was a miracle Silver had convinced them to let her do this alone, but she was a headstrong woman who loved proving herself.
Page and Sunny knew from experience that cooking for these men was an undertaking, and since it was going to be an all-day event, they’d secretly decided to bring chips, dips, and snacks for between meals. Meanwhile, Leo and Levi were shoveling snow to clear the walkways outside the building in case anyone wanted to go for a walk.
Page strode into the living room and caught her reflection in the floor mirror. She approached the glass and touched the ends of her brown hair, which she kept above her shoulders in a tapered cut. Short or not, it looked a mess after all the work she’d been doing. Her hand traveled down to her stomach, which wasn’t flat. Despite all the training after pregnancy, she’d never regained her old figure.
How could Justus, a man who could have any woman he wanted and who’d always had such high standards about everything in his life, find her so beautiful? Maybe his reverent words and unwavering love were why she’d never had the desire to change. She worked out to stay fit and healthy, but that was the extent of it. Page didn’t bother with heels to appear taller, nor had she grown out lustrous locks of hair. She was a Relic, and her body aged and changed like a human’s. Yet that made no difference to the immortal she shared her bed with.
“Mommy! It won’t go on.”
Rose stood before her with tears glittering in her eyes. A red barrette was hanging askew in her blond hair.
Page knelt down and removed the bow, which had strands of her hair tangled around it. She smoothed out Rose’s hair and then placed the clip above her ear. “There you go, sweetie.”
Rose touched her barrette and glanced in the mirror. “Acceptable,” she said, a miniature version of her father.
Page chuckled and straightened Rose’s red velvet dress. The top half was black with short sleeves, and a bow around her waist accented the red skirt. It was supposed to be her special outfit for tomorrow, but Rose wanted to wear it both days, and Page had agreed. Why not? Rose was going to be four soon and would never be three again. It seemed like just yesterday that she was a baby. Page remembered fondly how she’d sometimes wake up to find Justus sleepi
ng in the nursery by the crib.
Rose mirrored her father in some ways and Page in others. She had Page’s big brown eyes, Justus’s natural blond hair, and a dash of her own uniqueness. Despite Justus spoiling her to no end, Rose had a tender heart and caring soul. She was intelligent, well-spoken for her age, and fascinated by elderly people. Sometimes in public she’d approach them and ask questions. Immortals didn’t grow old, and those Breeds who lived an extended lifespan aged slowly. Rose seemed to grasp these details and had become interested in the aging process.
“Mommy, can I have just one peppermint?”
Page shook her head. “Let’s save the treats for tomorrow. It’ll give you something to look forward to. Tonight your daddy’s going to read you some new stories.”
Rose smiled brightly and dashed into the hallway. “I’m going to watch it snow in the playroom!”
“If you want to go outside later, you’ll have to change out of that dress.”
Page gazed toward the expansive living room windows. Time flew by so quickly. Eventually Rose would stop aging and take on the immortal traits of a Mage. No one else like Rose existed. Page couldn’t explain how she knew the things she did about her daughter; that insight was acquired during pregnancy. Rose would not only inherit the knowledge on her Relic side, but she would also one day have the full power of a Mage. With each passing year her core light grew stronger, and because she was also a Creator, it meant that even though she wouldn’t be able to have children, she could have progeny to pass down her legacy.
A knock sounded at the door, stealing Page away from her thoughts.
On her way to answer, she grabbed a brown sweater jacket from a hook and put it on.
When she opened the door, Levi greeted her with a sheepish grin. “Hey, mind if I hang out here for a while? Logan booted me out so he can ice cakes.”
Page cast a critical eye at Levi, known for his hearty appetite. “Do you like raw vegetables?”
He wrinkled his nose.
“Come on in.”
Hours later, Levi had fallen asleep on her sofa after talking her ears off about something he saw on the Discovery channel. She covered him with a thin blanket and took the bag of sourdough pretzels out of his hand. When his snoring grew louder, Rose giggled from a nearby room.
Their living room had floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the west side of Cognito. The couch faced the right wall where the television was, something they didn’t turn on very often except for when Rose wanted to watch cartoons.
Page hugged her arms, watching the snow blanketing the city. They lived in a private Breed district that had once been a location for factories and warehouses, so they didn’t have the nuisance of traffic on their street. Being on the third floor didn’t give them the best view, but they also didn’t have any tall buildings in the way.
Justus hadn’t responded to her last text message. He often ignored the phone while driving so he wouldn’t cause an accident. Page couldn’t help but worry. He could still die if the car caught fire, and after having been in a car accident herself recently, the thought of him trapped beneath two tons of crushing steel terrified her. Life didn’t come with guarantees. His being immortal didn’t stop her from worrying about his safety. Justus was her world, and life would stop without him.
She turned her back to the window and looked around. Their living room was an open space with grey couches and basic furniture. Straight ahead was the front door, and to the left was the kitchen in a separate room. Since the elevators were in the center of the building, the house wrapped around like a square donut. To the right was the study, and down the hall was Rose’s room, a bathroom, Justus’s office, Page’s office, a family library, and then their bedroom in the back corner. Left along the back of the house was Rose’s playroom, another bathroom, two spare rooms, and then a sunroom on the northeast corner that ran along the left side of the house. Justus had built a door that connected it to the kitchen so they wouldn’t have to walk around the entire house to get to the front door. For safety reasons, he didn’t want multiple entryways into the apartment.
That was Justus. Always thinking about ways to protect them. They even had fire sprinklers installed and a trap door for emergencies.
A beep sounded at the door from the thumbprint scanner and Page turned around, her heart quickening.
When Justus sauntered in, he still had snow on his hat.
Page blew out a breath and hurried toward him, her arms wide. “I was worried about you.”
The moment his lips met with hers, he turned on his internal heater, melting away her worries. Justus tasted divine, and she kissed him harder. He encircled her waist with his strong arms and growled approvingly when her tongue met his. If Justus was anything, he was a masterful kisser. He had a way of making every kiss feel like the first time.
They broke the kiss when a bright giggle erupted from below.
Rose smiled up at Justus. “Like my dress, Daddy?”
He stepped back, his brows drawn together as he gazed down at his little girl. “She looks too grown-up. She’s just a baby.”
“I’m not a baby,” Rose said, her smile waning.
Page warned him with a glare that he better compliment Rose’s dress or else he was going to have to deal with waterworks.
Justus knelt down and kissed Rose on the forehead. “Très jolis. My little girl is growing up too fast.”
Rose wrapped her arms around his neck. “Nuh-uh. I’m still little. You can pick me up.”
Justus scooped her up with one arm and stood. Then he placed quick kisses on her neck until his whiskers made her giggle and squirm. He hadn’t always been an affectionate man, and he still struggled with it in public, but when it came to Page and Rose, they were the exceptions to the rule. Justus never withheld his affection from either of them, especially Rose.
He said something to her in French.
Rose nodded. “Oui.”
“Très bien, mon petit ange.” He winked at Page, and while she had no idea what he had said, mon ange was a term of endearment that he’d given Page a long time ago. Sometimes he called Rose his little angel.
He set her down, and she took off toward the front door while Justus gave Page another long and thoughtful kiss. She felt protected in his arms, as if he could shield her from all the dangers in the world. Justus was six feet tall with broad shoulders, tattoos on his right arm and back, a warrior’s gaze, and closely shaven hair. He wasn’t the kind of man she had ever imagined herself falling for, but he was noble, loving, and a gifted artist.
Unfortunately, he had given up painting centuries ago, so Page had recently converted one of their spare rooms into a studio. It didn’t seem right to let his talent go to waste, and he spent so much time working on cases that it seemed like a good way to help him relax. She bought canvases, paint, and brushes in hopes that it would awaken the passion he’d long given up. He hadn’t brought the subject up, but it warmed her heart each time she spied him sneaking into the room.
“Wow!” Rose shrieked from the hall.
Curious, Page moved around Justus and peered outside. There were bags upon bags of Christmas ornaments and tinsel spilling onto the floor.
“Why didn’t you leave everything downstairs?”
His neck turned red. “I didn’t want anyone to see. It took me three trips to get it all up here.”
She laughed. “Well, you’re just going to have to face the hecklers and take it all back down. You’re the one on tree duty, and that means you decorate. Hiding the evidence isn’t going to make it go away.”
His shoulders sagged.
Page furrowed her brow as Rose opened a bag and revealed how many items were inside. “How much did all this cost?”
Justus walked by her and hefted a bag. “I have an Aston Martin, a Mercedes, a Ferrari, and a collection of luxury watches, and you want to know how much a few plastic ornaments cost?”
She knelt down and picked up a sumo wrestler. “Maybe I’m just
curious how much you thought this hideous thing was worth.”
Chapter 5
Adam
Adam maneuvered around the corner, the back tire of his motorcycle skidding over a patch of ice. The streets on this side of Cognito were recently sanded, but most areas were impassable. He needed to get to Silver’s before dark, especially since his visor kept fogging up. He’d driven across a few snowy streets and had a few scary moments trying to stabilize the bike.
When he reached the flower shop, he pulled onto the sidewalk and parked beneath the awning. The best part about the city shutting down was the VIP parking. He tucked his black helmet under his arm and went inside, grateful when a rush of air warmed his face.
Man, going to the Christmas party was going to be awkward as hell. He’d almost declined the invitation since everyone there was either mated or related. Once again, he’d be sitting in a corner somewhere, watching.
The woman at the register gave him a rushed greeting. “I was just about to close up.”
When he neared the counter and she noticed the scars on his face, her demeanor became guarded. Adam was used to it. A lot of humans associated scars with villains, and while Adam had done some bad shit in his life, he wasn’t that guy anymore. He was just a Mage who earned an honest living as a Healer. He worked alongside Page, and their clients kept them busy, even though there were a few assholes who didn’t think he could do a sufficient job because of his own injuries. Still, he wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Adam put a friendly vibe in his voice and lowered his eyes so the older woman wouldn’t hit a panic alarm. “I just came in to buy some flowers for a party. Do you think they’ll fit in my backpack?” He turned a little to show her the long, empty backpack he was wearing.
She tilted her head to the side and steered her gaze toward the front window where his motorcycle was parked. “I can wrap them up in paper, but I can’t guarantee they’ll survive if you have a long way to go.”
