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

“It was loud. Not so much words, but I got the idea.” With a tiny smile, directed more at breakfast. “Just…don’t do anything too forceful, maybe. But I like it when you—it feels nice. Like I can reach out and find you.” That smile went sideways for a second, self-aware. “So that’s consent, I guess.”


“Is that…” He couldn’t begin to navigate that question. Too huge, too catastrophic. “Were you…he didn’t…did he…I won’t ever touch you if you don’t want that. I swear.”


Justin, wearing Kris’s shirt and pajama pants, nibbling French toast, looked down at his plate, and then up at Kris, and nodded. Kitchen light gleamed above them: a witness painted in breakfast food and stalwart granite countertops.


“Okay,” Kris said, “so that’s—that’s fine, you just tell me when or if it’s okay, if you want me to.”


Chapter 36