A Very Levet Christmas (Guardians of Eternity)

With a twitch of his tail, Levet turned to stomp away from the well-guarded lair. There was no point in trying to slip past the guards. Salvatore was foul-tempered under the best of circumstances. With five new pups to protect, he would be beyond crazed. Levet wasn’t entirely certain that the wolf wouldn’t kill anyone he considered an intruder on sight.

“Uncouth animals,” he muttered. “They should be chained and muzzled.”

His outrage lingered as he left St. Louis behind, following the banks of the Mississippi River as he traveled north.

Once he was far away from prying eyes, however, his steps slowed and his wings began to droop.

The holidays weren’t going precisely as he’d planned.

In truth, they were a total bust.

The vampires were in a frantic search for Cyn, the clan chief of Ireland, who’d recently disappeared from the mysterious land of the fairies, along with Sally’s sister, Fallon. His own family had made it clear that he needn’t bother to travel to Paris to join in their celebrations, despite his having been reinstated into the Gargoyle Guild.

And even Yannah, the exasperating female demon who’d been the recipient of his charming attentions, had refused his invitation to spend a romantic Christmas together. From out of nowhere she’d informed him that he was incapable of a mature relationship. As if it was his fault that they were constantly squabbling. Instead she’d returned to her home in the netherworld to spend time with her excessively handsome Jinn neighbor.

He was . . . alone.

Completely and utterly alone.

His wings drooped another inch, his claws already frostbitten as he trudged through the snow.

Zut.

He was a gargoyle who never allowed the tedious difficulties in life to dampen his spirits.

He possessed an unshakable belief in his own greatness.

And why not?

He was handsome, charming, and possessed massive powers.

And while his love life was currently in drought, he had every confidence he would soon be back in the puddle.

No, wait. Not puddle. Piddle? Paddle? Ah . . . saddle. Back in the saddle.

His steps faltered near a heavily wooded bluff, his snout wrinkling as a rare flare of self-doubt darkened his heart.

Certainly he was handsome, but it was true he was far too short to earn the respect of his fellow gargoyles. And while his charm couldn’t be questioned, it did seem that there were a rare few who were clearly jealous of his ability to earn the admiration of women. And as for his powers—well, he couldn’t deny they could be . . . unpredictable.

Lost in his brooding thoughts, Levet was startled by the sound of a high, feminine voice slicing through the chilled air.

“Help,” the voice pleaded. “Please, help me.”

With no hesitation, Levet scurried over the snow, entering a thick band of trees that ran along the bluff of the river. It was his duty as a card-carrying Knight in Shining Armor to answer the call of a woman in distress.

Okay, he didn’t actually have a card, but still....

He had just rounded a large outcrop of rocks when he caught sight of a small female standing at an awkward angle in a dazzling pool of moonlight.

His wide gaze took in the tiny, heart-shaped face dominated by a pair of jade-green eyes and the black hair that tumbled nearly to her waist. Her skin was pale as ivory, and her ears were oddly pointed. And on her back were a pair of gossamer wings in shades of white and silver.

Ooh la la.

She was beautiful.

A vision so lovely that she stole his breath. Then, his momentary enchantment was shattered as she reached down to grab her leg that was stuck in the air.

“Mon Dieu,” he breathed, realizing that the female’s foot was missing. Wait. It wasn’t missing. It was clearly caught on the other side of a portal. “What has happened?”

The female heaved a sigh. “I fear I had a bit too much dewberry wine at the office party, and the portal was already closing when I tried to dash through.” She gave another tug on her leg. “Now I’m stuck.”

Levet blinked. Office party?

Did fairies have office parties?

“Who are you?” he demanded.

She straightened as best she could with one leg caught in a portal and offered him a smile that melted the frostbite from his claws.

“Sera Belle, the Christmas angel,” she said, her voice light and lilting. “You can call me Sera.”

“Christmas angel,” Levet repeated in shock. He’d never met an actual angel. “I thought you were a myth. Like leprechauns.”

She deliberately glanced down at her slender body that was covered by a shimmering silver gown.

“Do I look like a myth?”

Levet unconsciously moved forward, quite certain he’d never seen a more exquisite female in his life.

“Non. You look . . . magnifique.”

“Do I? Thank you, my dear.” Her smile was one of feminine bewitchment. “I was running late, so I didn’t have time to do my hair.”

His gaze obediently moved to the glorious tumble of dark hair. “It is divine.” He sucked in a deep breath, oddly compelled to take another step forward. “And that smell.”

Levet’s wings fluttered as he was saturated in the scent of freshly baked bread.

Her expression became mysterious. “Yes. I get that a lot.”