Silent Night: Vampire Holiday Romance (The Night Songs Collection Book 4) Read Online Free Page A

on to the hope if I did everything just right, I’d find out this was all a nightmare, and I could have my grandmother back. My life back.
    "That's not your fault." Aidan looked like he wasn't exactly sure what to do. I was glad he stayed in the chair. I didn't want him to touch me. I needed too much right now. More than I could handle. "She took care of you because she loved you."
    "I know that. But still, I feel guilty, you know. Her work was done. But my mother, that's another story all together. I guess Memere felt like she had to get it right, since she didn't the first time."
    "You were lucky to have each other." This time Aidan did get up. He came over to me and ran his hand over my hair so lightly I could barely feel it. My whole body tensed at his touch. He pulled away and I was able to exhale. "I write at night and all this talk of Marielle and your Memere has insipired me. If I don't write it right away, I lose it. I hope you'll forgive me."
    "No, that's fine." It was perfect. The night had left me emotionally spent. I had no more to give.
    "I sleep all day, since I stay up so late to write. You are welcome to stay as long as you want. Don't feel like you have to leave if you have no place to go. I mean that."
    I nodded. We wished each other good night and I watched him disappear into the shadows of his hallway. I fell asleep, watching A Christmas Story , in pajamas that were new to me, dreaming about home.

 
     
    Four
     
    I headed to the kitchen in search of my leftover sandwich. A Dunkin' Donuts box sat on the butcher block island with a note on top of it.
     
    I thought you should have something more festive than a tuna melt for breakfast. There's coffee in the fridge. Cream and sugar on the side. I know you like it bitter.
    Hope to see you later.
     
    Now that was sweet. And thoughtful. I smiled and leaned against the counter as I heated up my coffee in the microwave. I dumped all the cream in and added three packets of sugar. Maybe I wasn't such a bitter girl after all.
    I peeked inside the box and found a dozen sinful looking donuts calling my name. Some of them were standards like chocolate honey dip, glazed, and jelly but there were also frosted ones with candy and christmas trees. I kept reaching in and then changing my mind. Screw it, it's Christmas. And I was starving. The only advantage of never knowing where my next meal was coming from was not having to worry about calories. I took the jelly and the one with the Christmas tree on it and headed back to the living room with my coffee to catch up with Ralphie and Randy.
    This was the point in the day I typically entered A Christmas Story overload. I wasn't exactly sure what to do. I felt weird staying, but there wasn't anywhere else for me to go. And honestly, I wanted to stay.
    Something about being here just felt right. But I didn’t know what. I’d brought Aidan’s note to the couch with me. I read it over and over.
    I flipped through channels, settling on a Celtics game. I usually only watched basketball during the playoffs with Matt, so I had a hard time staying interested in the game. I didn't know if it was just my anxiety making me restless. I felt trapped in Aidan's living room, as cozy as it was. Normally I'd kill for a lazy day like this. But now that I had it, I wasn't letting myself enjoy it.
    This sense of peace and safety made me feel guilty. Like I didn’t deserve to feel this way. Bullshit. And just to prove to myself I did, I ate another donut.
    Once I'd had enough of listening to the obnoxious commentators, I snapped off the TV and went over to the bookshelf. Like the donuts, the choices were overwhelming. I picked up one of my favorite Allison Duprois books, A Piece Of My Heart.
     
    I knew Talis wasn't Marielle, but there was something about her I couldn't let go. The fire in her eyes warmed me, her touch made me feel like I was still alive. Every night I went to see her, she'd smile as I laid my money on the table. She knew