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Vampire’s Ball

Angela Knight

ONE

Christmas had cos of icicle lights that shone through the dancing swirl of snow Firs, cedars, and pines stood fra ornahbor’s yard, his recorded “Ho ho ho!” boo

God, she hated Christmas

Kat Danilo pulled into her dark driveway, aching in every ht three classes at the club today—two Healthy Groovin’ and one Kickbox to Fitness—and she was in desperate need of a long, hot soak and a cup of chamomile tea

After she made sure her mother was okay Mary Danilo never did well this close to Christmas

One h one more week, and they’d be okay There’d be dark days, yes, but at least there wouldn’t be Santas and Christ memories better left buried

Kat’s stoot out of her little red Ford Focus Snow crunched loudly underfoot as she approached the front door Her hand shook in the act of unlocking the dead bolt, le “Mom?” She sed and licked dry lips, tried for a sunny tone “Mom, I’m home”

“In here, baby” Her ht, excited

Kat sluht She blew out a breath and entered the foyer

The stranger rose as Kat walked into the living roo blond hair curled around the wo with a deep cobalt cable-knit sweater that accented the sapphire blue of her eyes Dark jeans s An athletic woed, fit and comfortable in her own skin

Mary stood too, a head shorter than the blonde, a certain jittery excitement in her tired eyes “Kat, this is Grace du Lac She’s your stepmother”

Kat froze “Idon’t understand”

Mary gave her a sht, a bit too wide “She’s your father’s wife”