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

He said, to Justin’s tired beautiful eyes, “I think that makes you human.”


Justin didn’t say anything: stillness born out of surprise, a baby fawn in a striped hoodie and jeans, startled by sound.


Kris wrapped hands around the fire, cradling it. “People’re messy. And mostly they don’t want thingsto get complicated, either. And you want to be human, fuck knows why, which means you’re at least halfway there, and you’re better at it than a good two-thirds of the rock stars I’ve met. Including me. You know everything I’ve done to people, on purpose and not, so you might be from the Realm of Perilous Sex Demon Whatever, but you’re a better person than I am, we both know that, so if anyone’s human here it’s you.”


“Perilous Sex Demon Whatever,” Justin said. “But…thanks.” When he put out a hand to rekindle the fire, he set it over Kris’s. His fingers felt pleasantly warm. “You’re good at that. Emotion.”


“I cheat,” Kris said. “Empathic talent.”


Chapter 52