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 would have been, wouldn’t it?” Justin said, unperturbed. His shirt had a fashionable too-large neckline. It drew attention to his collarbone, exposed skin, the grace of his throat.


“Don’t worry,” Eddie said to Kris. “We also have copies of a few different things he wrote about you. Like, there’s the one where he’s supposed to be writing about the band, mostly, for a big top one hundred rock whatever feature, but he gave you your own three paragraphs.”


“He says you have poignant world-weary eyes and a voice that sounds like ragged velvet,” Andy contributed. “It’s like he’s writing poetry for you.”


“I don’t know what you think you’re doing,” Justin said, “but the thing you are doing is not a thing that is helping.”


“I don’t mind,” Kris said. Velvet, he was thinking. And poignant. So much for muscular drummers.


Chapter 62