Kris Starr used to be famous. Rock and roll. Sold-out shows. Literal magic. Empathic talents and screaming fans. But he has a problem or two. He's having a hard time writing new music. It’s Midwinter, which means he’s surrounded by depressing holiday cheer. And he's in love with Justin, his manager, who has a talent for rescuing almost- or once-famous bands ... and who’s hiding secrets of his own. Justin Moore, on the other hand, is very good at keeping those secrets -- he's had to be for years. One secret involves a demonic inheritance that would make him a target of suspicion. Another involves his past. And the third involves Justin’s feelings for Kris Starr, rock and roll icon and now his client ... and a powerful empath of his own.

A Demon for Midwinter

“Oh sweet Mithras,” Kris said, to it and to Justin. “How are you—how can you do this?”


Pizza arrived. The front buzzer went off, with the annoyed press of a delivery person who had other Midwinter stops to get to. Kris got up without thinking and opened the door and accepted pies, hot and cheesy and decadent; when he turned around Justin had become a lump of blanket.


“Sorry,” said the blanket. “Hair. Demon. I wasn’t sure whether he could see me from the door.”


“Fuck.” Sheer horror: not only at the narrow escape but at the fact that Justin had to think that way every day. “I’m sorry. I didn’t even—dammit.”


“No, it’s fine.” Untidy hair and big holiday-spice eyes reemerged and came to help with pizza-boxes.“Are those artichokes? I love artichoke on pizza.”


Kris felt an unreasonably large bubble of pride expand in his chest. “You can have all of it.”


Chapter 18