Page 30 of Horns for the Holidays

She shrieked and lashed out, a hurricane of holiday decor swirling around her. Ornaments burst like tiny grenades, showering me with broken glass. Tinsel snapped and sliced at my arms, drawing blood.

“Imadeyou!” she screeched. “MythMatch was my idea! My algorithm! My?—”

“MythMatch works because it matches souls, not desperation. Not manipulation.” I stalked closer, crushing ornaments beneath my hooves. “Not blackmail and murder.”

With a final leap, I vaulted onto the platform where she stood. Glass crunched beneath my shoes as I advanced on her, barely flinching as tree needles shot from garlands like poison darts.

She faltered for a moment, uncertainty flickering across her features. Then her eyes hardened. “If I can’t have you...”

The first notes of her siren song filled the air. Sweet and seductive, promising everything I’d ever wanted. For a moment, my vision swam. My steps faltered.

Devlin’s lips curved into a triumphant smile as I swayed toward her. Her voice grew stronger, more alluring.

But beneath the magical compulsion, I felt something else. Something stronger. The mate bond thrummed in my chest, anchoring me to reality. To Laramie.

Images flashed through my mind—Laramie’s hands on her hips, unafraid to tell me to fuck off. Her body curled against mine in the pre-dawn hours. The way she’d look heavy with my child, continuing my bloodline. All the possibilities stretching before us like an endless horizon.

I wouldn’t let the sea witch take any of that from me.

I let Devlin think her song was working. Let her believe she’d won as I stumbled closer. Her eyes gleamed with victory as I reached for her.

“That’s it,” she crooned. “Come to me, my love. Forget that human. Forget?—”

My hand shot out, gripping the back of her neck. Her song cut off in a strangled gasp.

“I’m a mated man now,” I snarled in her ear. “Your tricks won’t work anymore.”

She thrashed in my grip as I yanked the medallion from her neck. With my other hand pressed to the stone, I called to the labyrinth. The ancient magic responded instantly, the stones shaking and groaning.

“You want to play games?” I shoved her toward the shimmering entrance. “Then the labyrinth will decide your fate.”

Her shriek of rage cut off as the portal sealed behind her. The medallion hummed warmly in my palm, recognizing its true master once more.

Silence fell over the amphitheater. The animated decorations crashed lifelessly to the ground. Below, I could see Laramie herding the last of the guests toward safety.

Andreas cautiously poked his head out from behind an overturned table. He stood, straightening his tie as he surveyed the destruction. Broken nutcrackers littered the ground. Shattered ornaments glittered like fallen stars. A mangled wreath tumbled past, carried by the sea breeze.

“Fascinating display!” he said, clapping sporadically. “Though perhaps not such… avant-garde for future events?”

My eyes found Laramie as she climbed the steps toward us. My mate. Whole. Safe. And mine.

“My deepest apologies, Andreas,” I said, bowing my head. If he wanted to think it was a deliberate—if disastrous—show, I’d be happy to play along. “This is what happens when one thinks they know more than the marketing team.”

His booming laughter echoed across the stage. “Now then.” Andreas clapped his hands together. “Shall we discuss the final details of our partnership over a nice bottle of ouzo?”

I wrapped an arm around Laramie’s waist, drawing her close. “I think we’ve all earned a drink.”

Her fingers found mine, squeezing gently. Tomorrow we’d deal with the fallout. Tonight was for celebrating new beginnings.

And perhaps exploring a few more of those carved suggestions from the labyrinth’s inner chamber.

EPILOGUE

LARAMIE

ONE YEAR LATER

My toes curled against the silk sheets, seeking warmth in the empty space beside me. A year ago, waking up alone on Christmas morning would have been a relief. Now it just felt wrong.

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