Wolfsbane and Mistletoe (Charlaine Harris) (Kitty Norville 2.50)

"How?"

"Research and development. Nick has the most incredible R&D department in the world. " She giggled. "Literally, in the world. You'll have to meet Rudolph. "

"There's really a Rudolph!"

"Oh, yes. "

"Does he have a red nose?"

The lowered lashes rose, allowing Pasha to see the deliciously evil glint in her cobalt-blue eyes, and the flirtatiousness in them. "Yes, but Nick is trying to fix that. It was a mistake in the breeding. "

"Mistake? But everybody loves Rudolph's red nose!"

"They wouldn't," she purred, "if they knew it came from heavy drinking. "

It took a moment, but then Pasha burst out laughing, followed a moment later by frozen Serge, who quickly closed his mouth again for fear his tonsils would freeze.

Blood, she meant.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer had a very shiny red nose because he drank blood.

"Are you saying that Rudolph is a vampire reindeer?"

"A prototype," she whispered. "Priceless. Nick's never been able to repeat that one success. Don't mention it to him. It makes him cranky to be reminded of it. " She smiled, showing neat pointed incisors. "And we don't want to make Santa Claus cranky, do we, boys?"

"Noooo," agreed Pasha, fervently.

Serge shivered at the thought.

"Come on," Victoria urged them. "I'll show you our private quarters. "

"I have just the job for you two," were the first words they heard when they entered the plush red chambers. Nicholas stood in the center of the room, dominating all he surveyed. "How would you like to accompany me on my Christmas Eve travels, as bodyguards?"

"Great!" Pasha forced his gaze toward the husband.

Serge felt such a rush of relief that for a moment he almost thought he was warm. He'd been convinced they were going to die, joining all the other adult vampires who were not there.

"You do know what tonight is?" Nick inquired of them.

Both of the visitors looked confused. There was something about the atmosphere that made people who were not accustomed to it lose all track of space and time.

"It's Christmas Eve," Nick told them, gently. "We leave in an hour. "

ZIMBABWE, AFRICA

"Go," Ingrid instructed Damian.

"I can't just leave you out here by yourself!"

He sat behind the wheel of the Land Rover, staring out in disbelief at where she stood alone in the moonlight. There was nothing around th

em. Nothing visible, that is. He knew - as she must - that the deceptively empty landscape teemed with animals, most of which could kill a human who made such an inviting target.

Ingrid raised her cell phone in one hand and her rifle in the other. "I'm not alone. "

"A lot of good those are going to do you against the whole pack of those damned dogs. Not to mention lions, or hyena. "

"Go," she repeated, calmly. "Drive to the park station. See if anybody's left us any tips about the poachers. I'll be fine. "