Page 134 of Moonlight & Mayhem

“My brother was heir,” he said.

“And you?” Chris asked.

“I was the spare,” he said. She didn't like that, and he could tell. Chrome shrugged. “Didn't bother me.”

“Bullshit,” Chris said.

He smiled. “Look at you learning my favorite word.”

“Just answer the question,” Chris grumbled.

“There's nothing to answer,” he insisted.

“You were a child,” she said.

“So?” he asked.

“So children aren't spares.” Something hit him square in the chest, and Chrome stared at her. Christmas looked irritated, not with him, but for him, and that was worse than sympathy. That was dangerous.

He forced a smile. “Careful, Christmas. People might think you like me.”

Her expression immediately flattened. “Don't ruin the moment.” Mayhem laughed, and Moon elbowed him again. Chrome was beginning to enjoy that far too much.

Tempest brought them back with her question. “When does the Returning happen?”

Chrome nodded. “Every Christmas Eve, bells ring at midnight.” Christmas's face changed, and Chrome noticed. “What?”

She shook her head. “Nothing.”

“Christmas,” he said.

Her eyes snapped to his. “Don't.”

“Don’t what?” he asked.

“Say my name like that,” she said.

“Like what?” he questioned.

“You know exactly what you're doing,” she said. He did, but there was no way that he’d admit that to her.

“Tell me,” he said.

She sighed. “It’s the bells.”

Chrome went cold. “What about them?”

“I've heard them in my dreams every night,” she admitted.

Chrome's wolf growled. “How many?”

She frowned. “What?”

“How many times do they ring?” he asked.

“I don't know,” she breathed.

“Think,” he ordered.