Twelve Dates For Christmas

Chapter 4- Lazeer

A double pane of glass was not enough to tamp down the desire to bust through and steal the woman inside all for myself. Of course, that was more than a little problematic given the fact that my two best friends were also mated to the witchlette.

Talk about fate dealing a strange fucking hand. It wasn't unheard of; supernaturals could have more than one mate, but it was rare—especially for a witch. They were as close to humans as a supernatural could get.

Regardless of what she was, I couldn't ignore the way my blood simmered with the urge to feel her slender body against mine. Holding off my demonic transformation had been next to impossible, but somehow both myself and Roth managed it. Even Alex had resisted the siren song of her blood, though from the way he paced and occasionally grunted in pain, I guessed it wasn't easy.

The moment the lights switched off and she stepped outside, I was assaulted by her sweet scent, causing my mouth to water. Jerking my shoulders back, I watched her take a few tentative steps in our direction. The snow had stopped falling, and everything sparkled with the freshly fallen blanket of white. The witch's—Millie's—steps crunched in the silence. The color of her eyes in the dim street lighting was almost violet—but there was no fear in them. If anything, she looked ready to attack.

"You have five minutes."

"Perfect," I said before Alex or Roth could think to speak. "I know you can feel the bond between us...all three of us." My eyes swept to my left and right at each of my friends. She didn't respond, so I continued. "We want to spend the next twelve days getting to know you individually. On Christmas Eve you can decide whether or not you want to seal the mating bond."

Her cheeks flushed a deep shade of pink that had nothing to do with the cold. I fought the urge to smile, my lips twitching.

"And if I refuse? I didn't ask for a mate, let alone three of them. Surely there is a way to break the bond."

Roth made a choked sound that turned swiftly into a cough.

The idea of severing the bond had my fists clenching, though I forced them to relax. "There is," I confirmed. "However, it's only fair that you try to get to know us before you throw us out in the cold. That is the Christmas spirit after all, isn't it?"

Millie scowled at me. It was actually adorable for one so small to look so thoroughly annoyed with the likes of us. Trained soldiers. Assassins.

Alex slipped up beside me, growling low.

"Oh great, a growling vampire. Just what every girl wants for Christmas." She snorted before folding her arms over her chest. Her ample breasts were covered beneath her thick winter jacket, along with a knitted red scarf wrapped around her throat and dangled nearly to her knees.

"I do believe there is an entire franchise of vampire books and movies with a fandom that would agree that is exactly what many girls would like for Christmas," I stated plainly, though my tone was tinged with amusement.

After a moment, her ruby-red lips split into a wide grin. "I can't believe you know about Twilight."

Roth scoffed. "You'd have to live under a rock not to know about it."

"Real vampires don't sparkle," Alex grumbled. "It's more like a shimmer anyway."

Millie's melodic laughter swirled through the brisk, still air and pulled a smile to my own lips.

"Getting back to the matter at hand," I said, directing her attention back to me. "We will each get four dates with you before you decide. It will be a rotation and we will get to choose the date activity and setting, though you will of course have veto power."

"How democratic of you," she answered flatly.

I laughed. "What do you say, witchlette? Will you give us twelve dates for Christmas?"

Her chest swelled as she drew in a deep breath. When she released it, she leveled us each in turn with a penetrating stare. My blood heated while she bored into my eyes, searching for sincerity, or perhaps something else entirely. At last she nodded.

"Alright. It's not like I have anything better to do."

A laugh shook my chest. My mate was a mouthy little witch.