The Christmas Charm (New Adult Holiday Love Story) Read Free

her house once more. She walked to Emilio’s and knocked on his door.
    As if he knew she would come to his doorstep, he opened the door – no surprise showed on his face. Instead, he ushered her in and poured her a glass of sangria and took her coat. She sat on his sofa, trying to quell her trembling and sipping at the fruity wine.
    “I went for a walk, Emilio. While I was out, four people tried to attack me. That’s not what scared me. My chain got very hot and forced them back. I was looking at the spot where they were standing and they just . . . vanished! The heat from my chain seemed to be pushing them back and protecting me, but it didn’t burn me. What’s going on?”
    Emilio, hearing about the attack on Allie, knew he needed to get her away from Las Cruces right away. He took a large sip of his own wine and explained that representatives of the other magical races had learned where she was. Now that they knew, she was in even more danger than she had been before.
    “Because of this, Allie, it’s imperative that I take you away right away. I’ll take you to the  Faery Winter Palace, where your father is. But we have to leave right now,” he stressed. As he looked at her, his desire for her flared once again. He pushed that to the side, knowing it was more important to remove her from the danger that now surrounded her.
    Allie, looking at Emilio, felt her own passion for him consuming her, much like the heat from her chain had nearly burned her attackers. That, along with her recent attack, frightened her. She had never experienced anything like what she’d been through today. Yet, looking at Emilio’s deep brown eyes reflecting concern and, yes, desire, she knew he was right. She took a large, fortifying sip of her wine and nodded, looking at him.
    “Okay. I’ll go with you. Where does my father live? Where is this Faery Palace?” Allie asked Emilio.
    “Somewhere in Ireland. That’s all I can tell you,” Emilio said, standing up. He drained his wine glass in two fast gulps, motioning for Allie to do the same. She complied and, after finishing the last of the wine that had been in the large wine glass, she stumbled slightly as it hit her brain.
    Emilio, seeing her stumble, grabbed her elbow. “Steady, there! Let’s go to your house so you can get a few essentials. Nothing more – we need to travel light.” He strode to the back of his house, stuffing a duffle bag with two changes of clothing and some toiletries.. He escorted Allie out of his house, looking up and down the street. Seeing it unpopulated, he escorted her rapidly back to her house, where she let them in.
    She grabbed a large backpack into which she tossed her toiletries and two changes of clothing. Returning to the living room, she saw that Emilio had securely strapped his duffle to his upper body. He turned her around and strapped her backpack to her shoulders, tightening the straps. Taking her hand in one of his, he closed his eyes and focused – the two of them vanished in a puff of silvery smoke.

Chapter 5
    As the pair traveled via Emilio’s magical connection, they landed in several cities, traveling farther east each time. As they landed in Austin, they walked to a hotel to check into a room – just as in Las Cruces, they were attacked by groups of people, and Allie’s chain heated up, forcing their attackers back. Emilio’s own magical faerie powers, combined with Allie’s, kept them safe.
    After their attack in Austin, Allie learned that Emilio could move through solid objects. He grabbed her arm and, holding her tightly to him, he propelled the two of them through the hotel wall, where they quickly checked in and retreated upstairs. She looked at him, stunned.
    “My God, Emilio, you weren’t lying! That’s twice today that I – that we’ve been attacked.” She modulated her voice, speaking more quietly after he looked around quickly and motioned for her to lower her voice. She also stepped closer to him. “So,