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

Justin went on, voice hushed, “It was a good day, you know. Before—before this. It was—we slept in, we, ah, stayed in bed, um, you get the idea…for a while, and we went out to see the Midwinter decorations and this year’s Endless Burning Yule Log…he even let me buy a chocolate one, you know, one of the miniature edible ones? For fun?”


Kris wanted to knock that he let me phrasing over and set it on fire. Like the Endless Burning Yule Log. Like the scream of his anger: Justin didn’t hear that? Didn’t see it?


He wanted Justin to tell this story, if it’d help. He said nothing. He sat on all the fury. And he lay in bed with his demon, nearly nose to nose, and tried to say with his expression, go on, if you want to talk I want to listen, tell me.


Chapter 27