Page 103 of Christmas Magic

“No—”

His fingers twitched.

Numbing exhaustion rushed through her.

All went dark.

Lucian caught Molly as her eyelids closed. Her body, still tied by the magical bonds, went limp, and he slid one arm under her shoulders, the other under her knees. He lifted her into his arms.

Her head lolled, and the side of her face settled against his shirt and near his collarbone. Her shiny, golden hair tumbled over his arm. How guileless she looked—and yet, he well knew she was not. She’d deceived him, trapped him with her magic, and while he didn’t yet know what else she’d done, he would.

As he carried her to the Victorian chaise longue, he caught the floral scent of her perfume. He fought an unexpected stirring of interest and a glimmer of…what? A memory? He envisioned drawing her into his arms, kissing the side of her neck, and inhaling deeply to savor the fragrance on her warm skin.

Couldn’t be a memory. Had to be some kind of trick.

“Molly?” Rose called.

“We have to help her,” Petunia cried.

As the female cats fussed, Lucian set her down on the chaise longue and lifted her legs so that her whole body lay on the furnishing. He rested her head on the velvet pillow, and with a gentle hand, pushed aside the hair that had fallen over her cheek. The magical bonds would stop her from moving, even if she did wake, but the spell he’d cast should last a while. Long enough, at least.

He had things to accomplish. He didn’t want any interference.

“Molly!” Marigold, Rose, and Petunia meowed one after another.

“She’s fine,” he called. “Just asleep.”

“Lucian Bloody Lord,” Rose yowled. “Let us out of here.”

“Nope.”

Movement snapped his gaze to Galahad, Tim, and Daisy, staring at him from the shadowed space underneath a wardrobe. The censure in the squire’s eyes struck deep.

“You’re going to be in trouble, Lucian,” Galahad meowed.

“You’re going in a biiiggggg time out,” Tim mewled.

Lucian straightened from the chaise longue. “I won’t be here when Julius arrives.”

Galahad growled. “When you remember who you are, you’ll—”

Lucian moved his fingers. The three cats under the wardrobe fell fast asleep, their chins resting on their front paws.

“Galahad? Tim?” Marigold meowed.

Lucian shifted his fingers again. The other cats fell silent, also under a sleeping spell.

Quietude filled the store. He went to the counter and, for good measure, reviewed Molly’s to-do list and then searched through her purse. Nothing seemed out of order. He then retrieved her phone, but she’d changed her password recently and hadn’t told him the code. With his magic, he unlocked the phone and read her unsent text—to Julius, as she’d said.

He frowned. He’d been so sure she’d lied—

A clicking noise.

Glancing up, he saw the handle on the front door shifting. Someone outside tried to get in.

A knock. “Hello? Molly? Are you in there?”

Roberta.

He tossed Molly’s phone on a nearby table. With brisk strides, he retrieved the bag holding the Santa costume, still draped over the chair where he’d left it.

Lucian picked up his sheathed sword.

Now, to do what must be done.