Hell for Christmas (The Christmas Curse #2)

Prologue

“None of this is fair!” Yancey yelled. “Why did she leave the house to you?”

Justin wanted nothing to do with this. He was sad and mad at Caitlin, even though she was dead. He wanted to go to his room and cry, but was it even his room anymore? Would Calyx ask them to leave now that the house was his?

“Leave him alone,” Griffith said, stepping in front of Calyx as if to protect him from Yancey. “He had nothing to do with Caitlin’s will. He didn’t force her to leave him the house.”

“He didn’t have to force her,” Shelby muttered from the couch. “He was always her favorite. We should have known.”

Justin kept looking out the window. There was nothing for him to say, and getting angry and yelling wouldn’t change that. It wouldn’t change anything. Caitlin would still be dead, even if Justin started screaming at Calyx the way Yancey was.

“I didn’t know about this,” Calyx murmured.

Justin believed him. Calyx wasn’t the kind of person who lied, not when it came to something like this. He had been lying to Griffith for years, but it wasn’t the same. He was hiding his feelings for Griffith, but that was a different story.

Yancey snorted. “You never know about anything. You act like you’re so innocent, but I don’t believe it anymore. What did you tell Caitlin to convince her to give you the house?”

“I didn’t tell her anything. I didn’t know she was going to leave the house to me. I can give it to you if you want it.”

“No,” Justin said. He might not want to get involved, but what Yancey was saying was ridiculous. Justin understood why Yancey felt like that, though.

They were supposed to be a family. They had been until Caitlin’s death. She’d given all of them a home, even though they belonged to different species of supernatural creatures, and they’d been brothers.

It didn’t sound like they were anymore, but Justin wanted that back.

He’d already lost the woman he’d considered his mother.

He didn’t want to lose his brothers, too, and he especially didn’t want anyone to do something they’d regret.

They were all angry and grieving right now, but eventually, those feelings would smooth away, and they’d be left with the words they’d said in anger.

“If she left it to you, it’s because she wanted to,” he added. “It wouldn’t be good to go against her wishes.” He didn’t turn. He didn’t need to.

He already knew that Calyx would be grateful that he’d stepped in, just like he knew that Yancey was going to be pissed that he had. “You’re on his side, then,” he said.

Justin finally turned, keeping his expression smooth because he didn’t want to show the others how much pain he was in.

He suspected they’d know anyway, but this felt safer considering the situation.

“I’m on Caitlin’s side. I don’t know why she did what she did, but her reason doesn’t matter.

I respected her when she was alive, and that hasn’t changed because she died. ”

Yancey looked like he wanted to hit something—probably Calyx, although Justin wouldn’t be surprised if he wanted to punch him, too.

Thankfully, instead of going full-on Yancey, Yancey took a step back and shook his head. It looked like everyone would keep their limbs intact. “Fine. You want to be on his side, then be on his side, but I’m out of here.”

Justin blinked. That wasn’t what he’d expected from Yancey. No, he’d thought there would be more yelling, maybe a few threats, or even a punched wall or two.

Calyx was already moving toward Yancey, which Justin suspected wasn’t the best idea. Yancey had never actually hurt any of them, but they’d never lost their adoptive mother, either. This was an unprecedented situation.

“What? You can’t leave,” Calyx said. “This is our home.”

Yancey glared at him. “No, it’s your home.”

He was right. It was Calyx’s home now, even though all of them had lived here.

Justin didn’t think that Calyx would kick any of them out—he was the sweetest and friendliest out of all of them, and he’d probably let them live here forever if that was what they wanted—but he was uneasy.

Without Caitlin here, it didn’t feel like home anymore.

Even sitting here made Justin’s skin crawl unpleasantly.

Yancey turned and walked away. The rest of them stayed where they were—for now. It wouldn’t be long before either Justin or Shelby left, too. Justin wanted to, but at the same time, he didn’t want Calyx to feel abandoned.

“Should I go talk to him?” Calyx asked.

Shelby shook his head as he got to his feet. “It would be useless. He doesn’t want to talk to you. He’s angry.”

“Does he really believe I did something to—to force Caitlin to do this? Because I didn’t. I never wanted the house. I never wanted her to die.”

Shelby stopped in front of Calyx. Justin couldn’t see his expression. “I don’t know if he actually believes it, but you know how he is. Now that he said that…”

Yancey would convince himself that he was right. Not only did he have a temper, but he was also the most stubborn of them. Justin couldn’t remember the last time Yancey had admitted he’d been wrong.

Justin doubted that Yancey actually believed that Calyx had forced Caitlin’s hand, but now that the words were out there, he’d cling to it and to his anger.

It would help him not to think about his grief.

He was the kind of person who buried themselves in work rather than deal with their feelings, especially feelings like grief.

It wasn’t good for him, but he wouldn’t listen to anyone.

Shelby left, and Justin decided it was a good time for him to do the same. Griffith would take care of Calyx. He always did.

Justin got to his feet and smiled at Calyx. It wasn’t a nice smile, but he hoped Calyx knew that it meant he wasn’t angry at him. He was too sad to feel much of anything, really.

He headed to his room. He could hear loud noises coming from Yancey’s, but he was too tired to deal with his brother.

He got more worried when he heard a door slam.

It sounded like Yancey was leaving his bedroom, and when Justin peeked into the hallway to quickly check in on him, he saw Yancey going down the stairs, carrying two bags.

He was leaving.

Justin sighed. Honestly, it wasn’t a bad idea.

He wouldn’t be against a bit of time away from the house, just until the sharpness of the pain he felt over Caitlin’s death.

He had no idea where he’d go since this was the only home he had, but he could get a room somewhere and decide later.

He was sure that, if he stayed. Calyx would try to act as if everything was normal, but everything wasn’t.

He wasn’t in the mood for Christmas anymore. He wasn’t sure he ever would be again.

He was quieter than Yancey when he left after packing a bag. He didn’t want Calyx to try to change his mind, and he would if he saw him. No, sneaking out was a better way to do this, even though Calyx wouldn’t like it when he realized that Justin was gone.

So he left through the back door, clutching his bag in his hand, and climbed into his car. He couldn’t resist looking back toward the house as he drove away. He’d be back soon. He just needed a little time.