Magic Graves

name, but it's likely an alias. He kidnapped you, you say?"
    He and three of his buddies snatched me right off my trampoline this morning , I answered, scowling at the memory.
    "Do you know where they're holding you?"
    I knew exactly where I was. Even if I couldn't tell by touching items in the room, the phone had the hotel's full address printed on it. Still, I wasn't about to tell Mr. Inferno where that was until we agreed on some terms.
    He grunted in amusement. "Terms? You want a reward for turning them in to me?"
    I want to live , I thought at him grimly. I saw what you did to Neddy and Raziel, so I want your word that if I tell you where Jackal and the others are, you'll kill them , not me.
    "Depends," he said, voice crisp as though this were a business transaction. "If you truly were forced into this as you claim, then I vow you'll come to no harm since you were truthful with me about their intentions. But if you're lying in an attempt to lead me into a trap..."
    He flashed me one of those charming smiles that had been the last thing Neddy and Raziel had seen. I shuddered.
    I'm not lying , I sent to him. The only people I'm trying to trap are Jackal, Pervert, Psycho, and Twitchy .
    "Then you have nothing to fear from me," he said, not commenting on the other names. He clasped those deadly hands in front of him. "And it's time we were properly introduced. I'm Vlad, and you are?"
    I hesitated, but replied with my real name because I didn't want to risk even a white lie with this creature.
    Leila. My name is Leila .
    "Leila." He said my name as though he could taste the syllables. That charming smile widened. "Now, tell me where you are."
    *** *** ***

    ONCE BURNED releases spring 2012. Please see Jeaniene's website at www.jeanienefrost.com for more details.

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Jeaniene Frost

    Here is an excerpt from Jeaniene's story, Home for the Holidays , which will appear in THE BITE BEFORE CHRISTMAS anthology with author Lynsay Sands. From the back of the book:
    Two of the hottest names in paranormal romance team up for the first time to offer this holiday treat-an anthology of brand new stories featuring familiar faces from the Argeneau and Night Huntress series. In Lynsay Sands' "The Gift," Katricia Argeneau knows grey-eyed cop Teddy Brunswick is her life mate. She just needs to convince him they belong together, and being snowbound in a secluded cabin will make this a Christmas neither will forget.

It's "Home for the Holidays" in Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series. Cat and Bones may long to wrap presents and set up a tree, but this Christmas, an evil vampire and long-buried family secrets will threaten to take a bite out of their holiday cheer.
    Available everywhere, October 25 th , 2011.

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Chapter 1

    I glanced at my watch. Ten minutes to midnight. The vampire would be back soon, and despite hours of careful preparation, I wasn't ready for him.
    A ghost's head popped through the wall, the rest of his body concealed by the wood barrier. He took one look around the room and a frown appeared on his filmy visage.
    "You're not going to make it."
    I yanked the wire through the hole I'd drilled into the ceiling's rafter, careful not to shift my weight too far or I'd fall off the ladder I was balanced on. Fabian was right, but I wasn't ready to concede defeat.
    "When he pulls up, stall him."
    "How am I supposed to do that?" he asked.
    Good question. Unlike humans, vampires could see ghosts, but tended to ignore them as a general rule. While this vampire showed more respect to the corporeal-impaired, he still wouldn't stop to have a lengthy chat with one before entering his home.
    "Can't you improvise? You know, make some loud pounding noises or cause the outer walls to bleed?"
    The ghost shot me a look that said my witticism wasn't appreciated. "You watch too many movies, Cat."
    Then Fabian vanished from sight, but not before I heard him muttering about unfair stereotypes.
    I finished twisting together the wires along the ceiling. If all went well, as soon as the vampire came through that door, I'd use my remote transmitter to unload a surprise onto his head. Now, to set up the last of the contraptions I'd planned -
    The unmistakable sound of a car approaching almost startled me into falling off the ladder. Damn it, the vampire was back! No time to rig any other devices. I barely had enough time to conceal myself.
    I leapt off the ladder and carried it as noiselessly as I could