Page 9 of Christmas Embrace

“How do you really know where the magick came from? I know your ordeal with Simone caused it but maybe it wasn’t her magick. Maybe you had a seed, a spark of magick? Maybe you just didn’t know. I did one of those DNA tests once. Thought my whole life I was Italian, and it turns out I’m mostly Scottish. That’s how we found out my great-grandfather was adopted.”

“This is a little different.”

“It is but it isn’t. Maybe there is magick somewhere in your family tree. You never know, Sam. Maybe after the wedding you could have a heart-to-heart with your parents. Explain what happened. My guess is they’ll understand. Magick family tree or not. Besides your mom loves Kate.” Sydney smiled. “It’s Christmas. Everyone’s a little kinder.”

“Do you really think so?”

“I know so. We all have a little magick in us anyway. Even humans. We all have a soul. We love unconditionally. That’s magick isn’t it?”

A ding sounded, interrupting their conversation. Sydney rooted into her back pocket and dug out her phone. “Oh man, who is it now…ugh, sorry.”

Her smile faded as she read the text. Got a body down in Holy Cross. You’re gonna want to see this. Sydney tapped at the glass. Send the addy Brt

“Work?” Samantha asked with a frown.

“Spoke too soon. Almost everyone’s kinder.” Sydney pressed off her phone and stared at Samantha. “The rest are assholes.”

“No Syd. Not today. It’s the day before the wedding. We’re supposed to drink mimosas all day. Have fun doing girl stuff.”

“I’m sorry, Sam. I’ve got to check this out, and then I should be free. I’m just going to pop in for a consult. I promise to be back by noon.” Guilt threaded through Sydney as disappointment washed over Samantha’s face. She reached for her purse and turned to the bride. “Keep the champagne cold. The limo will be here early. It’s you, me, Kalli, and Laryssa. Wynter will be there for a bit too. Court of the Two Sisters, then mani-pedis. We’re topping it off with massages so you’re cool-as-a-cucumber relaxed for the wedding. It’s going to be amazing!”

“Okay, but don’t be late. You work too much.”

“Madame! Tu es magnifique! Vérifions les détails une fois de plus,” the seamstress exclaimed as she entered the room waving a pink velvet hanger.

“I’ll be back by noon. Love you!” Sydney waved, quickly heading out of the room.

“Love you too! Don’t be late!” Samantha called after her.

Sydney rushed to her car. As she turned the ignition on and put her car into gear, a dark premonition churned in her mind, one she couldn’t quite shake.

It was Christmas. In New Orleans. But evil never took a day off.

Chapter Three

“Jesus.” The pungent scent of blood filled the air. Sydney struggled to control her heightened vampire senses, choking back her hunger as an officer approached. She scanned the crime scene, her focus drawn to the ground. She proceeded carefully, avoiding stepping in the pools of blood.

“What in the hell?” Sydney stopped cold as a severed hand came into view. The lingering demonic energy danced over her skin and she shivered. Demons.

“I think they may have been tourists,” she heard an officer respond. “No IDs but we found a set of car keys. The Escalade was found over on the 6200 block of Dauphine.”

“Whatever did this…it was a monster.” Sydney spied a long brown mane attached to a bloodied head. “How many we got here? Males? Females?”

“Still doin’ a count. This one here’s male. At least we think he was a male. We’re still trying to locate the rest of his dick. There’s body parts everywhere.” The officer scrubbed his fingers through his scruffy hair. “Listen, Syd. The guys are going to clean up the scene and get the bodies to the morgue but we both know this isn’t something a human could do. It looks like a wild animal came through here.”

“When did it get called in?”

“NOPD got an anonymous call around an hour ago. We got here soon after.”

“Something real bad is going on…can you smell it?” Sydney sniffed again. The putrid aroma of sulfur still lingered in the damp air. “Yeah, this is definitely a supe.” Demon. “Don’t assume all the vics are innocent. Be careful going through here. You got someone who can come in to clear the energy while you work?”

“Yeah, I can get someone. Whatya take em’ for?”

“I don’t want to say just yet.” Sydney studied the clothing of a female victim whose abdomen had been eviscerated, her intestines strewn like a ball of string unraveling around her. The scent of the blood wasn’t human. “The vics are definitely not vamps. Could be wolves, but not sure they’re Acadian. Logan would know. If they were his anyway.”

She retrieved her cell phone from her jacket pocket and tapped on the glass. Got a blood bath down in Holy Cross. You missing any wolves?

Nope. What’s goin’ down? Logan texted back immediately.