© 2010 Ashlynn Monroe

December 21st

Cold and still, a soft dusting of sparkling snow mocked her in the lamplight. Her New York state apartment was a world away from the life she'd known as a child. Snow always made her think of a happier time before her mother died. Tessa tried not to be depressed; Christmas was a week away after all.

Once again she would be going to her father's domain without a boyfriend. Granted, she had a family that would make most regular guys flee in terror; but she still hated to go home alone, again. Once she'd brought a human man home, a man she thought she would marry. He'd told her that he could handle it. She'd been very clear and frank about her families… differences. However, her heritage freaked him out, and as soon as they were in the human realm again he broke up with her. In fact, he'd been so afraid of her he'd moved out of the city, without leaving a forwarding address. She'd received his break up email telling her that he just couldn't deal with what she was. Tessa knew she deserved more from him after living with the jerk for two years. The coward even changed his phone number. She wouldn't be surprised if he'd left the country. He was the last man she'd allowed into her life, or her heart.

Her heritage would scare away the most determined of men. Blaming her father for her lonely existence was easy. Every paranormal creature great or small called her father Master; he was a dark dangerous force of nature.