A Winter's Wish: A Magical Holiday Fae Romance

By Lisa Kessler

Abriette is a warrior, a winter elf fighting for the survival of her people on the dark side of Summerland. She has one mission, to cross the veil into the world of man and find the last true believer, the wisher who can restore their winter magic. According to legend, only his blood can save them, but he is nothing like she expects. His music threatens to melt her cold heart and the strange feelings he inspires might jeopardize everything.

Darren Slater is down on his luck, way down, but not out, not yet. Unwilling to give up on his songwriting dream, he makes a desperate holiday wish that his music might make a difference. But magic doesn't happen overnight, and he still has to eat, so he accepts a part time gig as a mall Santa in Los Angeles.

He never expected to fall for one of his elves.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lisa Kessler
• Release date: Dec 2, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005237219

Lisa Kessler

Lisa Kessler is a Best Selling author of passionate, page-turning paranormal fiction. She's a two-time San Diego Book Award winner for Best Published Fantasy-Sci-fi-Horror and Best Published Romance. Her books have also won the PRISM award, the Award of Excellence, the National Excellence in Romantic Fiction Award, the Award of Merit from the Holt Medallion, and an International Digital Award for Best Paranormal. Her short stories have been published in print anthologies and magazines, and her vampire story, Immortal Beloved, was a finalist for a Bram Stoker award. She also publishes horror and thriller novels under the pseudonym, L.A. Kessler. When she's not writing, Lisa is a professional vocalist and tarot card reader. You can learn more at http://Lisa-Kessler.com

Book preview

Other Novels by Lisa Kessler

The Muse Chronicles

LURE OF OBSESSION

LEGEND OF LOVE

BREATH OF PASSION

LIGHT OF THE SPIRIT

DEVOTED TO DESTINY

DANCE OF THE HEART

SONG OF THE SOUL

The Night Series

NIGHT WALKER

NIGHT DEMON

NIGHT NOVELLAS

NIGHT CHILD

The Moon Series

MOONLIGHT

HUNTER’S MOON

BLOOD MOON

HARVEST MOON

ICE MOON

BLUE MOON

WOLF MOON

NEW MOON

The Sedona Pack

THE LONE WOLF’S WISH

SEDONA SIN

SEDONA SEDUCTION

SEDONA SCANDAL

SEDONA SURRENDER

SEDONA SERENITY

SEDONA SACRIFICE

SEDONA SUSPECT

SEDONA SANCTUARY

SEDONA SALVATION

The Sentinels of Savannah

MAGNOLIA MYSTIC

PIRATE’S PASSION

PIRATE’S PLEASURE

PIRATE’S PERSUASION

PIRATE’S PROMISE

Summerland Stories

ACROSS THE VEIL

FORBIDDEN HEARTS

Standalone Works

BEG ME TO SLAY

FORGOTTEN TREASURES

The Prophecy

When the days grow long, and magic’s strength dwindles, the winter people will fade from Summerland unless the wisher is found. Across the veil in the world of man, the power of the wisher’s belief will save our magic. His blood will bring our rebirth.

In the hush of the snow, we will live again.

Chapter 1

Darren Slater laid his Gibson in the fur lined case and closed the lid. He’d sung his heart out tonight. For whatever that was worth.

You were great, man. Carlos handed Darren a thin white envelope as he scanned the practically empty bar. Sorry we didn’t get a better crowd.

The place was pretty empty except for the three regulars that sat at the bar and one couple whispering at a table in the back. Thanks, Carlos.

You ready for Christmas?

Darren shook his head with a chuckle. Don’t remind me.

December is right around the corner. Carlos clapped Darren’s shoulder. Better get it together, dude.

Darren glanced at his cracked cell phone screen. It had been the last day of November when he walked into the bar, but it was five minutes until midnight now. December was practically here. Another year was flying by with nothing to show for it.

He closed the guitar case and grabbed the handle. See you next week?

Carlos smirked. I can’t promise you a better crowd. People get busy with shopping, holiday parties, you know.

Darren nodded. I’ll plan on a set either way.

Carlos shook his hand and pulled him in for a tight hug. They’d played soccer together in high school. A lifetime ago. Take care, Slater.

You, too, Carlos.

Darren picked up the guitar case and stepped out onto the quiet street. The bells at the Mission San Buenaventura echoed rang out, tolling the new day. Midnight. He went to his car and stashed his case in the trunk. Staring at the white arches of the mission bell tower, he tugged the envelope out of his pocket. He opened it and cursed under his breath. A twenty and a five. Really? Shit.

He pulled the bills out and stuffed them back in his jeans, then tossed the envelope in the trash.

How much longer was he going to keep chasing this empty dream?

Without realizing it, he walked away from his car in the direction of the two-hundred-fifty-year-old Catholic mission. The lights were on. He peered at the sign. Midnight mass. What was he doing? He wasn’t sure, but that didn’t stop him from opening the door. He slipped inside and did his best to blend into the back wall. He hadn’t been raised Catholic. In fact, he couldn’t remember his parents ever being regular church goers, but what he lacked in religious training, he more than made up for in faith. Maybe not in the Bible or even one specific religion, but in some kind of divine order. A plan. Maybe a supreme being, and maybe even a drop of magic.

He’d need more than a drop to make his rent this month. After the gig tonight he’d still be a hundred dollars short and the first was here. Shit.

At the front of the church, the priest ministered to the handful of parishioners in the pews. More people than he’d had in the audience at the bar tonight.

Candles flickered to the right, casting a warm glow of remembrance and hope for the future. A faded, stained paper card was pinned to a small wooden box on the shelf in front of the candles.

Donations for prayer candles

Before he could second guess himself, he took out his five-dollar bill and folded it, sliding it into the box. He selected a white votive candle and placed it into the center row. He took the lighter and held it away from the wick for a moment, collecting his thoughts. A single chord filled the sanctuary as the organist started O Come O Come Emmanuel. He closed his eyes, singing the refrain under his breath. Rejoice. Rejoice.

He opened his eyes and set the lighter down. He left the candle unlit and walked out. The wind gusted, blowing his hair back. Southern California didn’t get a snowy winter, but there was a bite in the air at night. Darren continued down the street until the streetlights dimmed and the stars twinkled overhead.

Anyone listening out there? He stared up at the blanket of stars and sighed. I need some help. Maybe a sign? He tugged on his jacket a little, glancing over his shoulder to be sure he was alone, then focused on the heavens again. I just want my music to mean something, you know? I want to know my songs might help someone or send a ripple of light out into the world. He rolled his eyes, suddenly feeling self-conscious. Forget it. What I need is to pay my rent.

He started to turn to go back to the car, but a spark of hope made him stop. Maybe he was just a glutton for punishment. He chose a single star and whispered, I wish my music could change the world. I wish it mattered.

Wind came up from the canyon, stinging his cheeks. His wet cheeks. He wiped his face and jogged back to his car. Enough. He’d find a way to make some money, and in the meantime, he’d write a few more songs. His mother would call him a stubborn mule, but he couldn’t give up. He was down, but not out. Not yet.

* *

Abriette blinked her ice blue eyes and rolled her shoulders back, setting her jaw before she nodded to the guards. They opened the double doors to the throne room, and she strode inside, crossing the silver floor to her parents seated on their intricately carved thrones made of ice.

The winter realm used to sparkle, but the gleam had dulled in recent years. Her older sister, Amarath, offered a tentative curve to her lips as Brie flicked her gaze in her sister’s direction. They were opposites. Amarath was the first born, princess and heir to the winter throne. She’d been raised to be regal and detached. Elegant and icy.

Unlike her sister, Brie was a warrior, and she embraced her role in the kingdom. While Amarath learned proper dances and grew her long silver hair down her back, Brie kept her light blue locks shorter and out of her face. Instead of diplomacy and dances, Brie had been taught to fight and defend their kingdom.

The only thing the two sisters shared in common was their silver eyes. Their father’s eyes.

Brie stopped in front of her parents and bowed. When she straightened her father dismissed the guards. Once the chamber was empty, save for family, he cleared his throat and glanced at the queen quickly before he focused on Brie. Do you recall the prophecy of the wisher?

Her brows pinched together at his odd question. Yes, father.

Of course she remembered the prophecy. Her mother had told them the story of the wisher as a bedtime tale for years. It was Brie’s favorite because it included a human. She’d never met one in person. The veil between Summerland and the human world had been erected centuries before her birth, but her mother was half human, a rarity in Summerland. She’d been a changeling who caught the eye of the prince.

Their love became legendary in its own right. It also gave her royal family a tenuous connection to the world of man.

Her father’s deep voice echoed through the throne room. I believe the time of the prophecy has come. You are our only hope to save our kind from fading into time.

Their winter magic had been dwindling. At first, it was just certain incantations no longer worked, but gradually even simple magics like glamour fizzled without the power needed to maintain the illusion. Their palace lost its sparkle in the snow, and their people couldn’t conceive children.

They were dying away.

Have you found the wisher? she asked.

His wish came through the veil, but we haven’t seen his face. Her mother slid an ancient ring free from her finger beckoned Brie closer. "Human belief in our magic