The Bite Before Christmas

I jumped off Ian like he'd burned me, even the lure of more blood unable to keep me from responding to the true sound of my husband's voice. Bones's eyes were glowing emerald-green, the rage in them aimed at Ian, and the currents rippling off him made me nervous that the chains wouldn't hold.

Then Bones looked at me, and that seething rage changed to something else. Pain sliced across my subconscious, so sharp and poignant that I ran those last few steps to him.

"Welcome back," I said, touching his face, one of the few places on him that wasn't weighted down with chains.

He closed his eyes and inhaled near my palm, a spasm crossing his features. "You smell like Ian. Tell me you were only pretending, Kitten, or I'll have to kill him."

I smiled through the sudden pink sheen in my gaze. "Me and Ian? Come on, Bones. You know better."

His mouth twisted. "The pair of you looked very convincing."

"That was the point, wasn't it?" Ian asked, sauntering over. "Though I'll admit to mild enjoyment on my part."

Mild enjoyment? My femininity was affronted but the rest of me could care less. I was too busy staring into Bones's eyes and feeling overwhelming relief that I recognized the person staring back at me.

"So you're not having sex." Balchezek made a noise of disappointment. "Now I am bored."

Bones glanced at the demon and then back at me. "He's right about everything. I woke up the morning after Wraith appeared and suddenly I was a spectator in my own body."

"It's easier to possess strong people like vampires when they're asleep. Then their guard is down," Balchezek offered. "Otherwise, she'd need to shed buckets of your blood to weaken you enough to force her way inside. A lot messier that way."

Buckets of blood. I flashed back to Annette's hotel room and her odd behavior the night of Bones's birthday party. So she'd been the first one possessed. Wraith had been her attacker, but she hadn't accused him, because everything that had come out of Annette's mouth had been directed by the demon piloting her.

The same demon who was piloting Wraith, if Balchezek was right about him being the demon's main "anchor."

"There are a few things I need to say, Kitten," Bones stated, directing my attention back from piecing together the possession chain. "I don't know how long I'll be able to hold the demon down. She's very strong."

"She's still in there?" The realist in me expected that, but I'd hoped his rage had miraculously booted her out.

"Yes," he replied shortly.

"Of course she is." Balchezek shook his head. "You think I was lying to you?"

I didn't point out that he was a demon, so lies went with the territory. He was our best source of information and I didn't want him leaving in a huff.

"You'll need to record me rescinding my disownment of you and your reinstatement as heir to my line," Bones said, fury skipping across his features before he went on. "I'll also expose Mencheres, Kira, Spade, Annette, and Wraith as being possessed. Once I've done that, give me a silver knife. No one will doubt my statements when they see I'm willing to die for them."

"No!" I said at once, horror flooding through me.

Bones closed his eyes briefly. "I'm sorry it's come to this, but I've no illusions about what must be done. Believe me, I would rather be dead a thousand times over than to again watch as my own hands smash into you because some bitch has control of my body instead of me."

I grabbed his hair less roughly than I had Ian's a few minutes before. "But you stopped her when she put that knife in my heart. You stopped her!"

"Outing yourself and Mencheres as possessed will result in civil war within your line," Ian warned. "Not to mention inviting all your enemies to attack when you're weakened. It will cause a bloodbath, Crispin."

"Ian's right, listen to him," I said, too concerned about Bones to be shocked at those words coming out of my mouth.

"I might not be able to stop her next time she attempts to kill you, and I refuse to risk it," he snapped. "Even now she's ripping at my strength to regain control. You swore, Kitten. Years ago when Mencheres challenged you over whether you could kill me if your situations were reversed, you swore that if I murdered those close to you and wouldn't stop, you would do it. The demon in me will kill everyone in her way, and you cannot allow that. The only way to stop her is to kill me."

No. No. The words resounded through me so loudly that it took a second to realize someone else was speaking.

" . . . might be another way, but it'll cost you," Balchezek finished.

My gaze swung to the walnut-haired demon. "What? What other way?" If he said it would cost me my soul, God help me, but I might do it.

Bones closed his eyes, wincing a little. "She's getting very restless. Just as I was aware of everything when she had control, so she is listening now. Best not to discuss this in front of me, Kitten."

"That's what I've been saying," Balchezek muttered. He strode out of the room, tossing a "You coming or what?" over his shoulder.

I looked at Bones and gave an apologetic shrug. "We'll be right back."

He glanced at his chains, the faintest smile curling his mouth. "Go on, luv. I'll wait right here."