Read A Wizard for Christmas for Free Online

to block it out,” Stone warned. “Or else it will sense you. Hunt you.”
    “I can’t.” Cradling his head, Hadrian sank into a chair. “I can’t.”
    He vaguely heard Stone biting off a string of instructions to the others. Soon, a frosty dishcloth was pressed to his head. Another was laid across the back of his neck.
    “Concentrate,” Stone said. He placed three smooth stones in the palm of Hadrian’s hand and closed his fist around them. “Squeeze.” The stones were fiery hot. Hadrian tried to drop them. They were searing into his skin. But Stone kept Hadrian’s fist trapped between his hands.
    “Concentrate,” Stone demanded.
    Steadily, the stabbing ache in his head was pushed away, replaced by the throbbing heat in his palm. And that’s when it happened. That’s when he understood. His psychic connection with Holly had worked after all.
    “It’s got her.”
     
    * * * *
     
    Everything was fading from gray to black. Holly felt light. Like she was floating. Floating away. She could barely see the man holding her captive anymore. And the city sounds all around her were muffled. Blurred. She didn’t mind. It was kind of peaceful that way.
    Everything would be okay as long as she didn’t fight the—
    “Stop.” The command cut through the warm, fuzzy haze.
    “No.” She didn’t want to go back to the cold.
    Hadrian stepped toward Holly through the fog, while the world all around him remained gray and unfocused, he seemed to glow with his hard edges. He pulled the homeless man’s hands away from her cheeks.
    “Be gone,” Hadrian’s voice boomed through the air.
    The ragged man hissed and slashed out at Holly as if his hands were a pair of claws, but Hadrian blocked him.
    “Be gone,” he boomed again. The raw power in his voice sent a shiver down Holly’s spine. The ragged man must have felt it too. Though he hissed again, he raised his arm over his face and backed away, disappearing into the night.
    “Can you hear me?” Hadrian wrapped his arms around her waist to support her wobbly legs.
    “Cold,” she whispered.
    “Can you hear me?” he asked again as calmly and as patiently as the first time.
    She nodded. Slowly. Carefully.
    “Good.”
    He shrugged out of his heavy overcoat and wrapped it around her shoulders. Its heat...his heat...enveloped her. The enticing scent and heat of his coat made her want to snuggle up against Hadrian. Before she knew it, she was doing just that.
    “We really need to get you off the street,” he said. “Do you think you can walk or do you need me to carry you?”
    She wasn’t sure. In fact, she wasn’t even sure if she was up to answering him with more than a nod, and since he hadn’t asked a yes or no question this time a nod wouldn’t do.
    She wiggled her toes. They seemed to be working.
    “Walk,” she whispered. Oh good, her voice was working. “You stopped him. Thank you.”
    He snarled and his eyes grew dark and dangerous. “I didn’t stop anything. I merely switched victims.”
    She didn’t understand what he meant and didn’t have the strength to ask.
    “Let’s get you inside,” he said.
    He helped her up the steps to her apartment building. The front door, which should have been locked, opened for him with a light touch. She was still gaping at how easily he’d opened the heavy door when he hurried her inside. With his hand steadying her, they made it up the three flights of stairs to her floor where they met Karen, Holly’s neighbor, on the landing.
    There must have been a dozen shopping bags hanging from Karen’s arms. She looked as if she’d bought out half the city.
    “Holly!” She dropped the bags and rushed over. “What happened? My goodness, you were supposed to leave today. Are you okay? Should I call an ambulance?”
    Hadrian rudely pushed by her. “She’s okay,” he said. “I’m taking care of her.”
    “And who are you?” Karen demanded, her gaze narrowing. “I’ve never seen you around before. Who is he,