Vampires and Mistletoe

Chapter 5

December 25th

It was just after midnight and now Christmas morning. She'd only had enough strength to get them to the boundary between the worlds. Gideon carried Tessa and her single suitcase with ease. She was very small, and her fragile state frightened him. This confused him because although enjoyed drinking from virtual strangers -a vampire's bite often ended with sex, although he was more selective than most- usually he didn't think much of their care after he'd bitten them.

Strangely, he felt an overwhelming need to protect the woman. Her father was known to be a hard man, and he feared what her father might do to her in his effort to force her compliance to his wishes. When he'd seen her true grief over losing her privilege to cross the border between worlds he felt like someone had kicked him in the ribs. He knew his people depended on her return but seeing the result of his deed made him ill. The Grand Master must really be a monster if his own child had such a strong aversion to returning home.

Upon arriving at the castle Gideon was ushered directly to the Grand Master's office. The demon looked like he'd not had a moment of sleep since he'd sent Gideon on his mission. A guard of troll descent tried to take Tessa from his arms. Gideon growled at the man and he backed off. The Grand Master rushed around his desk and looked down at his daughter. He glared at Gideon and spoke.

"What have you done to her? She's so pale! How dare you harm my child?"

Watching the horns grow on the man's head and seeing the red haze cover his normally black eyes, Gideon felt a moment of fear. "She's just exhausted. She was using her magic continually, and it's my guess she doesn't practice it much. She just needs rest."

The Grand Master beckoned for the guard to take Tessa; but Gideon refused to back away. He saw anger in the ruler's eyes.

"I'm not leaving until she's awake. I'll not leave her helpless and at the mercy of your troll." He wanted to say "you" but he knew better. Holding her tightly, he waited for a reply.

Levelly, the Grand Master glowered at him. Gideon stared back without flinching. With a nod, the demon sat back down at his desk; returning to paperwork. He could feel the older man's concern, but he could also see that Victor was trying to hide it. When he spoke, Gideon was surprised.

"Take her to the family room. I will send my physician to look at her. You can stay, but under guard, until she opens her eyes." He motioned to the troll. "Krux, go with them. Make sure the vampire doesn't hurt any of the royal family."

The troll grunted, and Gideon followed him to a small sitting room off the great room. There was a television and a pool table, and it felt very informal. He wondered why they didn't just take her to a bedroom. When he questioned the troll about it the answer surprised him.

Snorting the troll replied, "She doesn't have a bedroom here, she hates it here. She refuses to sleep here; she's never spent a night since she turned eighteen. She always stays at a motel this side of the boundary and just comes back and forth when she visits. Girl is whacked; says the place gives her nightmares." He ended with another derisive snort, as if he couldn't believe the castle could scare anyone.

Gideon felt worse about his part in her imprisonment. Why would a child born and raised in Other World feel so alienated? "Why does she feel like that?"

The troll grunted again, a curiously pitying look in his eyes as he looked at the girl. "Girl's mom was human. She didn't know the old man was a demon until after all the girls had been born. He'd 'magicked' her to see him as human. She was a fox." He watched the vampire's reaction for a moment before continuing. "The Grand Master thought she loved him and showed his 'true self.' The lady took off; just left the kids with her friend and ran. She didn't want anything to do with demons, not even the kids.

Tessa's father really cared about his lady. He kept her unaware for years. The glamour he used made her just kind of ignore how weird everything got. I was one of her bodyguards for a few years. The Grand Master kept her comfortable, but I don't think he really understood how human families work. Demons tend to reproduce and that's the end of it for them. Humans raise their kids. This one was seven or eight when they came to live here and she never knew her mom left.

I heard that those kids never met him until the night he brought them here. Had to be strange, finding out about this place after living in the human world with their mother. The Grand Master told them their mother died; didn't want to break their little hearts I guess. He's a fierce motherfucker; but when it comes to those girls, he's a big old softy. That's why he let this one live like a human. He hates it; but he just can't put his foot down.

I've been a house guard for years I've seen all the drama myself. She really hates her old man. Only reason I'm telling you this stuff is I like Tessa, she's a good kid. I see how you're looking at her, -damn, don't let the Grand Master see that look- and if you care about her you need to understand how fucked up it's all gotten"

Gideon mulled the revelation over. The troll had a big mouth; he was obviously not going to make employee of the month. No wonder Tessa felt like she did about Other World. He wondered if her mother was still alive; if she cared about the little girls she had abandoned.

When the doctor arrived Gideon was nervous. All the physical bite marks would have healed without a trace; but would the doctor be able to ascertain he'd taken a pint of her blood? After a quick inspection, the man left with Gideon still nervous about the man's findings. He didn't care for the last glance the doctor had given him.

A few minutes later the Grand Master entered the room. Both Gideon and the guard jumped, and the guard stood at attention; giving him a salute. When he looked at the guard with his fiery eyes the troll shriveled. Gideon remained seated next to Tessa.

"Go see a room is made ready for her. Have one of the women make it as human as possible," the Grand Master ordered the troll.

Bobbing his head wildly, the guard rushed off to see to the order. Gideon found himself alone in the room with the most dangerous man in all of Other World.

"She's a handful. Thank you for bringing her home. Did you have any trouble?" When he spoke he sounded tired; and the slip of his control surprised Gideon. His head snapped up to look at the feared leader.

"I had to kill a human demon hunter. Tessa buried his body at the bottom of a lake. Your girl is scary-talented with power. If she builds some stamina up, I can't imagine how much she could do."

The Grand Master sighed, and he sounded like a tired old man. "She is talented, but I can't risk her. I won't let her go back there again. Does she know she can't cross? Did she try?"

"She tried; that's why she came home like this. Your daughter threw everything she had left into the attempt."

He sighed again. "I'd rather have her hate me than she die. Your people are safe; and as a 'thank you,' I vow to never threaten them in such a way again. You have my word."

Gideon nodded.

Both men sat in silence until Tessa stirred. When she opened her eyes, Gideon was the first one she saw, and she smiled a little before she closed her eyes again. Glancing at the Grand Master, Gideon saw the man rake him with a look of pure hatred and realized that Tessa not hating him like she did everyone else Other World might not be such a good thing.

Tessa opened her eyes again, and when she saw her father she squeaked in surprise. "What do you want, Victor? I'm alive and I'm here. Let Gideon go; he's done his dirty deed. I hate that you would keep me here against my will again." Her expression was definitely not happy and her voice bitter.

Tessa obviously hated her father; but she appeared to be safe, so he decided to leave. There wasn't much he could do for her at this point.

"You are welcome to Christmas dinner. You saved her life and brought her home. Please be our guest." The Grand Master's words made Gideon frown in bafflement. Why would he invite a vampire to come back?

Gideon looked at Tessa, and she looked back. With a grimace and an exasperated noise in the back of his throat, he nodded briskly and then left.

Tessa had lost her Christmas spirit. Her father had given her the curse of eternal damnation. Old age and death wouldn't even save her from the place; she wouldn't age here in Other World. Her younger sisters tried to get her to sing, tease, and joke with them as she usually did. She just couldn't muster enough spirit even to fake it. Ebenezer Scrooge had nothing on her for the 'bah, humbugs!'

The thought of seeing Gideon again left her nervous and agitated. Gideon had been invited, but coming from her father it really was more of an order. He wouldn't be coming to see her if he showed up. The man had done what vampires do; enjoyed promiscuous sex and nothing more. She meant nothing to him. If it hadn't been for the threat she would never have come back so easily. When she thought about him, her emotions were all muddled and twisted. Keeping his part in her imprisonment at the forefront of her mind would serve her best if he did actually show up for Christmas dinner. He had saved her life, and for that she at least owed him dinner; although her return had spared his species' extinction. Did that make them even?

Tessa questioned her strange connection to the man while she helped her sisters decorate and bake; they hadn't done any of it before her return. Tabitha had insisted they wait, because "without Tessa Christmas lost its meaning." She was touched, but annoyed. If she'd had her way, she'd just have found a nice quiet spot to sulk.

Tessa was helping Tonia string popcorn and cranberries when Victor walked into the room. He stopped and just watched Tessa for a long moment before he continued on his way. His attitude irritated her. She was the one being punished; if he didn't want her there he could easily let her leave. Joy and happiness would fill her heart as she skipped away from Other World for good.

A little green woman with big pink eyes came into the room holding a tray of hot chocolate. Tessa took a cup and thanked her quietly. She just wanted to go home, to what felt normal.

Dear Santa, All I want for Christmas is reality!

Sipping her chocolate, she let the bitter thought fade.

A tall, thin reed of a woman came in. From her pointed ears it was obvious that she was a were-creature of some type; probably a panther judging from her shiny black hair. Tessa knew her father trusted weres and employed them often. When the woman spoke, the rolled r's confirmed her race.

"Come with me; your father commands it."

Tessa resisted the urge to stick out her tongue at the woman and mimic her words. She knew she was scowling at the woman, and she tried to rein in her anger. It wasn't this woman's fault that her father was forcing her to remain. However, the wording used couldn't have been worse. Dragging her feet, Tessa got up and trudged behind the woman. Whatever he wanted, she was sure she wouldn't like it.

When they got to the top of the stairs, the woman opened a door for Tessa. "This is your room. The Grand Master arranged it especially to your liking. It's very… human. Your suitcase is here already." The woman then left; closing the door behind her.

Tessa stood in the large bedroom, fuming. She might be a prisoner in Other World; but that didn't mean she would be living in the castle. There were plenty of apartments for rent and jobs she was qualified to do. Stomping toward the door she stopped when something caught her eye.

Slowly, she walked to the dresser where there was a photo she'd never seen. It was a picture of her mother, but it looked… wrong. Squinting, she picked up the photo and studied it closely. Her mother looked far too old; much older than she had been when she died. Tessa touched the face in the picture through the glass tenderly before setting the photo back down on the dresser. The gilded frame had been sitting on a piece of paper. She picked up the age-yellowed paper. What she read on it made her ill and she had to sit down on the lavish king-sized bed.

Victor:

I cannot live with what you are. I know you hoped I would join you, but you were wrong. You have betrayed me in the worst possible way. You messed with my mind and I've been in love with an illusion. I gave birth to abominations. You are no better than a rapist. I want nothing to do with you or the children. My friend Lilith has agreed to take the girls and tell them that I am dead. Looking at them, knowing what they are, makes me sick. God forgive me, but I am leaving all of you. Don't look for me.

H

It was her mother's handwriting. Even after so many years she was positive it was the same she had seen on her notes to school. Was her mother alive? Why had her father left such devastating news on her dresser? How did he have a picture that obviously didn't exist when she wrote the Dear John letter? The questions swirled in her brain, making her dizzy. Tears fell from her eyes and Tessa crumpled onto the carpet.

How could a mother leave six small daughters with a friend and abandon them, never to look back? Had Hannah even known Victor planned to take them the night he brought them to Other World? Did she know that they were in Other World? Did she care?

Slowly, the realization of the time shook her out of her misery. She rose from the floor and went to the ensuite bathroom to wash her face. Choosing her clothing, she became disgusted with herself when she realized she was dressing for Gideon. Putting the letter in her pocket, she left the room to find Victor.

As usual, he was in his study lost in concentration. Tessa stood for a moment, watching him. If she let her imagination run wild he looked almost like a normal father. She'd gotten her black hair from him. He wore a tailored suite. His human form was always pale, but when he was a demon his skin was a deep burgundy. He was tall and gaunt in his human form, but when he morphed into the demon he was much bigger. Her step on a squeaky floorboard caused him to glance up in surprise. When a red flicker appeared in his eyes the illusion of normalcy faded. Tessa took the letter out of her pocket, and with a few angry strides she was before his desk, slamming the paper in front of him.

"What the hell is this all about? You told us our mother was dead! She left us, and you just let her? Why tell me now? She has to be at least forty-five in that picture! How did you get it?"

He was silent for a moment. "Sit!"

She complied.

"You have been holding on to some idealized version of the woman. I never had the heart to tell you the truth, but if I don't you'll get yourself killed. You, more than your sisters, love her. You remember a life without Other World. I want you to be happy, but that requires you to be alive."

Tessa didn't know what to say. Her father had never opened up to her like this before.

"I know I failed you. You needed a human softness that I don't possess; but I love you as my kind loves, Tessa. You have always challenged me more, and maybe that is why you are so special to me.

"I will never be human, but I am your father. I could have left the lot of you with that human who thought your father was just a talented psychic. Believe me, the first few weeks I considered returning you all; but I couldn't do it. Even when you looked at me with those big scared blue eyes, I wanted you here. I loved your mother so much that I fooled myself into believing her feelings were deeper than the glamour I used on her.

You have suffered because I was wrong. It was wrong to trick her and also to lie to you. The human had already told you that she died; I honestly believe she loved you; after all, she didn't want you to know she was leaving by choice. I just let the lie stand because none of you ever asked me if she was alive. Now, the truth must come out. The human who tried to kill you was not the first, and the reason they know what you are is because your mother told them. There has always been an organization of humans that know about Other World and want to destroy it, destroy us; and your mother joined those people. She wants to see you dead. I think she has actually gone mad."

Her mother loved her. She was dead. He had to be wrong. Tessa refused to let the moisture in her eyes become tears. Staring at his blurry form, she continued to listen.

"I only saw her one more time. Hannah wanted to know if I had you. I told her I did and she muttered something about it being harder to kill you now. She never asked if you were happy or how you had been, and my love for her died that day. She told me she would spend her life seeing my kind dead; even my abominations, as she called the six of you.

I had the picture taken so that your bodyguards would know to protect you from her. I never wanted you to know any of this, but you are hell bent on living as a human. You need to know the full truth in order to make good decisions. I want you to stay in Other World; at least until I can get this threat under control. Too many years I ignored it because they can't cross into Other World; but as they grow in power, their threat grows too.

I know holding onto being human has been like holding onto your mother, but it is time you let her go."

His plea made Tessa hiccup on her caged tears. Could any of it be true? "You lie! I don't know why it's so important that you keep me here, keep me miserable!"

"Tessa, child; I'm not lying to you. I hate the pain your mother has caused you; but I can't change the past. I've hoped you would come to want this life on your own. Embrace the world that you have rejected, use your compassion and gentleness to help make it a better place. You are my heir and you are the future of Other World and I am sorry my secrets have caused you this anguish."

For a moment she just sat looking at her demon father. All of the new information was too much. "Do you want me to tell your sisters about your mother?"

Without thinking she answered, "Not on Christmas."

He nodded. "Now you understand the dilemma I have lived with for the past twenty-two years, there's always an excuse." Victor's quiet words made her see him in a new light.

Nodding, she pulled herself up by her pride and stood, then turned to leave. Glancing back at her father from the door, he appeared to have returned to his work; but she caught sight of his hand tenderly rubbing against the letter. Obviously, he still felt something for its author; even after the horrible rejection. Quietly, she closed the door and went to find her sisters.

Christmas dinner was in less than an hour. Everything was beautiful; and guilt over her lack of assistance didn't dim the wonder of gazing at her sisters' hard work. They enveloped her in a warm loving hug. Something inside of her cracked and she wept as she shed some of the hatred in her heart. They all held each other and no one spoke until Talia began to laugh. "Hurry, get Tessa to my room. We have to make her pretty for her boyfriend."

Huffing, she protested Talia's statement. They rushed her up the stairs to Talia's room. Her sisters attacked her with cosmetics. Helpless against the onslaught she let them work. Giggling, Tara handed her a mirror. They'd done excellent work. Trista laughed as she teased her sister.

"You are going look so cute kissing that vampire under the mistletoe."

"Stop it! I should hate him. Because of him, I'm stuck here." So why don't I? she thought to herself. Why does he draw me so?

Tabitha pouted when she replied, "If it wasn't for him we wouldn't have you for Christmas. He's our hero! Is it so bad being here with us?"

Hugging the younger woman, Tessa spoke comfortingly. "It is wonderful being with you, just not being here. You'll be seeing so much of me you're going to get sick of it. Now, let's go eat; I'm starving." It was a lie. She doubted she'd ever get her appetite back; but she decided to make her loving sisters happy. Just because her Christmas was ruined didn't mean theirs had to be.

The joviality and life immediately return to them. Smiling through her pain she gave them her best happy act so as not to spoil their Christmas. With her concentration focused on making her sisters happy she forgot about Gideon until she reached the bottom of the stairs and looked across the room. Standing casually near the fireplace, he looked so delicious it took her breath away.

Suddenly, she was very hungry… for him. His grin let her know that he knew exactly what she was thinking. Blushing, she grinned back. Her sisters rounded on him, and Tessa didn't need to be a mind reader to read his terror. No man -demon, human, or vampire- wanted a pack of curious sisters surrounding him and issuing probing questions.

When Victor entered the room, they all took their seats. Gideon sat between Tessa and Victor. Smiling, Tessa remembered the saying about a rock and a hard place. Victor gave him numerous dark looks throughout the meal, and she had to wonder why her father had invited the vampire if he didn't want him there.

Every time Gideon tried to put a bite into his mouth, one of the sisters would interrupt him. Contrary to human mythology, vampires ate; but they required fresh blood daily in addition to normal food. Other World doctors called the condition dietary anemia. He had fed the night before on Tessa, but he knew he needed blood again soon. Gideon had known he should feed before coming, but he only wanted Tessa. He also knew he couldn't feed on her again. Even if she wasn't a well guarded daughter of the Grand Master, she was still part human. Feeding on her again so soon wouldn't be good for her. She couldn't die, but he didn't want to weaken her. He'd taken more than he should have already; but she'd been so responsive that he'd been unable to resist a second bite. Judging from the looks the Grand Master was giving him, he felt reasonably sure the doctor had reported the suspected blood loss.

Tessa looked beautiful; but her glowing smiles were all an act. Thanks to the blood link he felt her emotions. When he gazed into her thoughts -something he usually didn't do, but with Tessa, he found he couldn't help his curiosity- he saw that Victor had dropped a bomb on her.

Merry Fucking Christmas. How in the hell does the man sleep at night? His irritation with the Grand Master grew.

Opening his senses up a bit more to the emotional residue that vampires couldn't help but feel, it surprised him that he couldn't even accidentally glean emotion from the man. Unusual. Even the most powerful usually let things slip now and then. He obviously worked very hard to keep his every thought and feeling private. Considering his position it made sense. Whatever secrets the Grand Master hid, Gideon was sure they were important. He didn't try to invade the man's mind; he knew that with barriers that rigid the man would feel any attempted invasion.

His daughters all exuded their feelings like waterfalls gushing them out at him. They held nothing back. Tessa was the most guarded of the bunch, and her mental barriers were all a natural result of her aloof personality.

All of Tessa's sisters hoped for something to spark between him and their sister so that she would be around more often. It made him smile. He hoped for something more than one fabulous sexual encounter too.

Of all the women he'd enjoyed, Tessa had been the most delightful and surprising. He felt her freedom when they were together, and he knew she relished his body and welcomed anything he wanted to do with her. It made him hard just imagining the possibilities. If she allowed him to be with her again he had very definite ideas of what he would like to do with her. She seemed to be a bit vanilla in her tastes, and the idea of opening her sexually to a bit of kink made aroused him so much he had to bite his lip to keep a groan from escaping.

He could just see her now; bound with black silk scarves and waiting for him, the black silk against her milky pale flesh. Her wide eyes taking in his body as he readied himself to take a bite of her; Tessa would scream his name as he gave her orgasm after orgasm. Quickly, he brought his thoughts away from her body and what he wanted to do with it. This was certainly not the time and place to get hard.

The meal was delicious; he had expected no less dining with the ruling family. After they ate and the dishes had been cleared, the tall plump girl – he'd forgotten her name- began to beg her sister to sing.

"Please sing for us, Tessa. I look forward to hearing your carols all year. Please; Tonia can play the piano while you sing."

Tessa blushed and glanced at him. Finally, after the rest began to beg too, she stood and went over to the piano. She whispered to Tonia, the tall plump girl, and music began to flow from the piano. Gideon glanced at the stoic Grand Master, and he noticed a subtle softening in his face when Tessa began to sing.

Softly, she began on a classic, "Winter Wonderland." As she sang, Gideon felt her magic. Even her voice held the magic and he knew she didn't even realize it. Somehow, that fact charmed him even as she entranced him. She sang a few more songs before she and her accompanist sat back down at the table.

Someone suggested games, and he followed the family from the table. It surprised him when the Grand Master sat down across from one of his daughters and started to deal a deck of cards. This was a side of the man he doubted very many had ever seen; it made the fearfully powerful man seem almost approachable, until he remembered what he'd been told about the Grand Master being different only with his family.

While the family was distracted choosing activities, Tessa approached him slyly. She took his hand and all but ran with him from the room; yanking him out the door. When she finally stopped dragging him he noticed that she had taken him into a beautiful atrium. It held so many plants it looked like a forest. The room was almost entirely composed of glass, and with the subtle lighting it felt as if they were walking in a summer garden.

Looking out a window at the snow made a striking contrast. The snow in Other World wasn't like the snow in the human world; it was less soft and fluffy, yet as she glanced out the glass with a wistful expression, he could tell it made her homesick. When Tessa turned to him and spoke, he had to clench his hands into fists to keep from grabbing her and taking her right in the middle of the room.

Tessa brought Gideon to the atrium because she wanted to talk to him without her entire family present.

"I just wanted to let you know that I've not told my sisters or my father what happened between us. It was just one of those things that happen in the heat of the moment."

He didn't speak, and worse; he looked like he was upset. He clenched his fists tightly.

Blushing, Tessa tried to correct her blunder. "I didn't want to make you feel awkward." She turned to leave, but he grabbed her arm. Looking up into his face, she found his expression was unreadable. Biting her lip, she didn't know what to say or do, so she just stood there mutely, feeling foolish.

Gideon pulled her to the side and took her cheek tenderly in his palm. "Look up, Tessa." His voice was hoarse when he spoke.

She did; and found mistletoe hanging over their heads. Mistletoe was one of her favorite parts of Christmas and standing there, with Gideon, felt simply perfect. She saw his eyes change, filling with lust, but also something else; something they might be able to build into a real relationship. He seemed to feel the moment as strongly as she did. When he made a move toward her his actions spoke to her, and she liked what she was hearing.

Gideon leaned down and claimed her lips with a rough passion that stole her breath. Her pussy was wet just from his kiss. His breathing was ragged when he pulled back. "Tessa, you mean something to me, and I know I mean something to you. Please, Tessa, tell me the truth. I don't want to steal it from your head; I want you to tell me."

"I want you more than I have ever wanted another man. I don't even care that you're from this place, that you're a vampire. I don't know what it is I feel, but it's certainly not hate."

Growling, he pulled her to him; and Tessa let him kiss her until she couldn't breathe. The sound of footsteps startled her, and they both turned. To her horror, Victor stood in the doorway. He didn't look happy. She stepped in front of Gideon, trying to shield him from her father's ire.

"Vampire, if you plan on spending any time with my daughter casually, you'd better request my permission!" Tessa wasn't sure which of them felt more surprised by his words, her or Gideon.

"Grand Master, I would like to request your permission to spend time with your daughter."

"Tessa, do you want this vampire to court you?"

She didn't know how to answer that. Her heart told her that Gideon was perfect, but her head told her he was a vampire. If Victor won and she was forced to stay in his world, she couldn't imagine being without Gideon. Finally, she found her voice again, because ultimately the answer was easy. "Yes, Father."

"I want you to stay with the family in this house, and if this… man… makes you happy, then I will allow him to remain also."

Tessa was shocked. She hated anyone trying to dictate her life, but as she lived trapped in Other World until further notice, she knew she was stuck with her father too. Gritting her teeth, she replied, "I do want to see Gideon. But I plan on getting my own apartment and a job, and I don't want your goons stalking me. No humans can hurt me here, and I doubt any Other Worlder would be stupid enough to mess with me. So if you will give me a little bit of rope, I promise not to hang myself with it."

Victor's eyes glowed red and she could see how close to losing control he was, but something stopped him. She wondered if he was as sick of fighting as she was. He seemed to calm, the red left his eyes and as he left the atrium Tessa was sure she heard him muttering something about vampires and mistletoe.

Gideon looked at her and grinned. "What kind of a job do you plan to get? I hear you've got a good chance at future Grand Mistress."

"I'm stuck here for now. You're right; I'm going to need to do something if I don't want to be under Victor's thumb. But I don't ever plan to be the Grand Mistress. I could open my own store; specializing in very human products. Talia suggested it once, and I think the novelty of it would be a big hit here."

Gideon laughed. "As you're under lockdown and can't get to those human products, how do you plan to stock your shelves?"

"I know this vampire who has no problem going back and forth. I thought I might ask him."

"Lovely, are you trying to get me killed? Your father already hates me. Supplying you with contraband might be hazardous to my health."

"Oh, I hear vampires are a very healthy lot. I think you'll be alright."

"Sweet Tessa, if you pay me in kisses, I'll work night and day to bring you everything you need."

Laughing, Tessa leaned toward him and kissed him. Soon, they were both mindless and lost in the kiss. When she finally pulled back, Tessa looked into his face, searching for the truth of his feelings.

"You're the best Christmas present I've ever gotten."

Suddenly, her new residency didn't look so bad after all. The look in his beautiful eyes made Tessa hot. If Other World had Gideon, maybe it wasn't all bad. Feeling lighter than she had in days, she knew she had more questions about her mother that she wanted answered, but for the rest of the day it was still Christmas, and she wanted to unwrap her present and play with him.

Gideon followed her, and she knew he was reading her mind. He looked both worried and delighted by her train of thought. Smiling, Tessa put her arm around his waist and looked up at him. He was beautiful, and she felt very confident that he was hers. This was definitely her best Christmas ever, after all.

Watching from a nearby alcove, the Grand Master allowed a slight smile to twitch at his lips, content in the knowledge he'd finally found a Christmas present that would make her happy.