Bonfire Bright

By Alexa Piper

Charlotte “Charlie” Bisset, born to witches but without any magical power whatsoever, is slowly settling into her relationship with medical doctor and vampire Hugo and with Laurette, Elven royalty and passionate baker. While Charlie is reluctant to commit to moving in with her Elf, New Elvenswood is plagued by unnatural vermin attacks.

Hugo is not a possessive vampire, or at least he tries not to be when it comes to his lovers. Yet, his human lover in particular regularly brings out Hugo’s wilder vampire side even if all he wants for her is sweet, fairy-tale love. Odd attacks on unsuspecting people in their city only leave Hugo more unsettled.

Will the Elf Laurette finally get to claim both his lovers publicly as the thruple approaches the next step in their relationship? Will the vermin defeat our heroes in this urban fantasy romantic comedy? Approach the bonfire and find out… if you dare.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Changeling Press
• Release date: Jun 4, 2021

Book preview

Chapter One

New Elvenswood General Hospital quieted during the night, but in Hugo’s experience, no hospital was ever really still. This morning, after another night spent in the OR, the handover during shift change felt calm to Hugo, though. While he filled in his ICU patient’s chart for the team of the next shift, he watched the nurses gossip and stuff their faces with chocolate Easter eggs someone had left at the nurses’ desk.

How is it spring already? Hugo thought, double-checking his prescriptions.

It was only just Midwinter. But of course, the Equinox had come and gone and announced the seasonal shift, and now it was almost Easter, which Hugo saw as the modern catch-all of the traditional spring festivals, and after, it would be Beltane soon.

Generally, as a vampire, Hugo took only a passing interest in seasonal festivities. They marked the passing of time, but with time to spare ahead of him, the festivals were more or less like the hands of a clock, not extraordinary, just steady. However, this year, seeing the chocolate treats in their shiny foil wrappers and the wicker basket full of colored straw and colorful diabetes traps on the nurses’ counter, Hugo felt like an alarm was going off inside him. The sense of an old grandfather clock slowly ticking away time had vanished. His recently changed relationship status had everything to do with that.

Satisfied with his chart after one last check, Hugo walked toward the nurses’ station.

Oh, good morning, Dr. Glover, the day nurse said. Hugo had met her a few times, but he still needed to glance at her nametag.

Nurse Lopez, he said, handing her the chart. I’m leaving this one in your capable hands.

Ah, a doctor’s handwriting I can actually read, Lopez swooned, taking the chart and looking it over. Hugo had to agree with her that most younger doctors were not properly trained in cursive.

Don’t tell me her hands are more capable than mine, Walters said. He was one of two ICU head nurses. So far as Hugo could tell this was because he managed to bring not just skill but also cheer to the job.

Never, Hugo said with a wink. And by the way, take me off the roster for the Easter weekend, would you?

Huh? Lopez said. Don’t you always work the holiday shifts?

Technically true when I was single, Hugo thought. Charlie, born to witches but without inheriting the skill, was not likely to mind much whether he worked or not, but their other lover, Laurette, never passed up any opportunity to celebrate anything, and if Hugo wasn’t there, he’d never hear the end of Laurette’s complaints.

Unless I can convince Charlie to help me convince Laurette to let this celebration go. It was unlikely for the Elf to forego any celebration, however. Hugo knew that all too well.

Then again, while witches focused on the Equinox and on Beltane more, they usually adapted to the surrounding culture to some degree, and New Elvenswood, with its larger-than-average witch population, had Easter fires, complete with the burning of effigies as proxy sacrifices, as well as an Easter egg hunt that was fun for the children and meant to bring prosperity to the grownups who participated.

If she insists, I might be the first vampire in the history of the city to go on an egg hunt with a witch descendant, even if she isn’t a witch. Hugo wasn’t sure whether he wanted to roll his eyes at the idea. He wasn’t sure whether he liked it, running through the woods with Charlie in search of painted eggs, but something about it did seem appealing.

Laurette probably wouldn’t want to come. He lacks the outdoorsy spirit.

Yet, Laurette was willing to do many a thing he didn’t enjoy if it meant pleasing their human lover. The Elf had even -- on more than one occasion -- interrupted his baking for Charlie. And, while Laurette could be pushy beyond reason, he had so far not pestered Charlie one tiny bit about her failure to come to a decision about moving in with him. Laurette had asked her to do so this past Valentine’s Day among a rain of trickster arrows and a short trip to hell.

He has a girlfriend now, didn’t you hear? Walters said, pulling Hugo out of his thoughts.

Lopez looked Hugo up and down.

Shame, she said. You know, I’m into women, but if I’d ever make an exception, they’d better look like you -- tall, raven-haired, mysterious, and with those pretty blue, to-die-for eyes.

Hugo cleared his throat.

Well, thank you for that… compliment? he said.

She nodded.

Yes. Definitely a compliment. So what? Are you settling down? Moving in together? She wiggled her eyebrows. Making more adorable --

No, Hugo said. Heavens, if this is what I have to put up with, I feel for every woman who doesn’t want to pump out eggs like the Easter bunny. "But we are spending the weekend together." He hoped so. He needed to let Charlie know and find out what her plans were. And then, he’d have to navigate whatever extravaganza their Elf had planned.

Elven extravaganza… Hugo sighed, long and deep, and the nurses exchanged a look.

Sounds like she’s a right handful, Lopez said. She patted his arm. I’ve been there, and yes, they are usually the hottest ones.

Walters nodded sagely. I concur.

And Hugo just wanted to sigh all over again, but he couldn’t cope with doing any more damage to his girlfriend’s honor -- who was handfuls of hot, he’d not argue that. He just stood there, smiling like a vampire faced with the prospect of his first New Elvenswood Easter egg hunt.

I am strongly in love with her, he said, which -- naturally -- got the nurses to exchange another significant stare.

She’s totally hot, Walters said.

I concurrrrr, Lopez said, her second opinion ending in a purr and her hand drawing cat claws through the air.

I appreciate your opinion. I should go, Hugo said and fled. The nurses were evil this morning.

* * *

Mornings, with the city waking up and with sunlight reflecting off windows and glazed roof tiles, made the prettier sides of New Elvenswood shine, even in the Valley where Hugo and Charlie lived. Laurette lived Hillside, although recently, the Elf had been descending, as he put it, to give his lovers the pleasure of his company.

Hugo walked from the hospital to Charlie’s place. He could have hopped on the tram, but stretching his legs after performing spinal surgery felt nice. He stopped by an artisanal Wiccan bakery and picked out some bread rolls he knew Charlie liked, as well as a cornflower sugar bun, which was their new seasonal carb creation.

If you’re coming to the Spring Market on the holiday weekend, drop by our stall, the girl behind the counter said, her hennaed dreadlocks moving as she packed up Hugo’s order. The baker will be making his famous Wiccan Loaves. The sourdough is blessed each full moon.

Hugo nodded. Uhm, sure. I almost forgot about the Easter Market, he said.

"Spring Market, she informed him. The town council changed it to Spring Market years ago, and we petitioned them to change the Christmas Market to Holiday Market. She handed him his order. Would you like to sign?"

For the bread rolls? Hugo asked, holding out a bill to her.

She rolled her eyes. "The petition. For the Holiday Market."

While the New Elvenswood witch population preferred to ignore and adapt, the New Elvenswood Wicca population had always been a good deal more active in the community, which was fine by Hugo. He’d been human when the Norse gods were worshipped, and the Wiccans quaintly echoed some of that. It made Hugo tingle with a warm wash of nostalgia on occasion.

Sure, I’ll sign.

His civic duty fulfilled, Hugo picked up his steps outside the bakery. The streets were bustling now, and he wanted to have a chance to slip into Charlie’s bed while she still slept, hold her, kiss her awake.

The apartment building Charlie lived in was just down and across the street from the bakery. Tulips were poking up from large, square flowerpots outside the front entrance.

Hugo used his key to get into the building and let himself into her apartment. He inhaled Charlie’s scent, which hit him in the dark hallway. The green and blue scarf Laurette had given her hung from a hook by the door. It smelled of her perfume although traces of Laurette still clung to it, probably bound to the fabric with some Elven magic.

Because even if he doesn’t always show it, our Elf likes to mark his territory.

The thought made Hugo smile. He knew some vampires were possessive -- the unhealthy kind of possessive -- and he worked hard on not being that type of vampire. Yet, he liked knowing Laurette had no trouble claiming what was theirs.

Hugo dropped the baked goods in Charlie’s kitchen and walked into her bedroom. Her chestnut hair peeked out from under the covers she lay huddled in, completely adorable. Hugo smiled in the darkness, and every tension his shift at the hospital had drilled into his body now flowed out of him. He peeled off his clothes and folded them to lie on top of Charlie’s heap of discarded clothing so her scent would transfer to them. Then, he ran his hand over her shoulder gently.

Charlie stirred, but didn’t open her eyes.

It’s just me, Hugo said in a low voice, but loud enough a human could hear.

Charlie groaned in acknowledgment and stirred a little more, which gave Hugo enough of an opening to lift the covers and slide in with her. Her body was warm and smelled of sleep, and Hugo put his arms around her and pulled her close to his chest.

Charlie snuggled against him, her warm, measured breath like summer wind against his naked skin. It was moments like these when Hugo wanted time to be suspended altogether, and the only thing that would be better was having Laurette in bed with them.

Hugo didn’t sleep as much as humans did, which was why he managed to work a few shifts at the hospital while also having his own practice, but holding his lover, he soon dozed off. He didn’t immediately notice that the alarm on Charlie’s phone never disturbed them, but he did notice her coming awake in his arms.

Sexy vampire snuck into my bed, she mumbled against his chest. This was unusual. Charlie never woke without her alarm.

Did you oversleep? Hugo said, savoring her hands on his body, her arms now purposefully reaching out to hold him.

No, she said, tilting her head so he could kiss her. I took today off so we can spend the day together, she said. Surprise! She rubbed her body against his, lowered her head, and kissed his chest.

Well, Miss Bisset, I am quite stunned, Hugo said. He pulled her close, ran his hands down her back and under her thin shirt, then lower to her butt. But not unprepared. I just told the hospital I’m not working on the Easter weekend.

Oh, the holiday weekend? she asked, tilting her head back again so she could look into his eyes. Sadly, her lips were no longer exploring Hugo’s chest.

Yes. That. So, we can go to the Spring Market and have Wiccan bread, apparently. Or you and Laurette can. Have bread. We can all go to the Market.

Huh? she said. Her fingers were still warm and drawing secret patterns on his back that seemed like some kind of magic, the kind that made him hard. Hugo’s erection was already pressing against Charlie’s belly.

Hugo kissed her forehead.

Your favorite baker will be there with his famous Wiccan bread.

Charlie chuckled. Let’s tell Laurette. I’m sure he’ll want to give that a taste test and his unsolicited opinion. She moved her body against Hugo’s, tantalizingly rubbing against his hardening cock only to pull slightly away again.

You may not be a witch, woman, but you are just the kind of wicked I want to adore, Hugo thought.

Are you trying to seduce me? he whispered, her hair tickling his lips.

You snuck into my bed, so I think you technically started the seduction process. This time when she kissed his chest, she also traced a line toward his nipple with her tongue before pressing her lips on that sensitive skin.

"You are saying you will not be convicted of seduction because