from his lap, scooped up her presents and lobbed his gift into his palm. “Good catch,” she praised with a wink. Oh, this definitely had to be her best Christmas ever. *** With Neiri vanishing into the bathroom came silence. No, he realised. He didn’t enjoy it any more. He was a beast who hadn’t welcomed change in any shape or form. His present situation didn’t feel like change. It felt as if it had always been. As if he’d been awakened to his true life. A rumble of laughter rose in his chest as he opened his gift. How very sweet and very silly. But she’d said her first purchase should mean something. It made him turn over the face of the watch. On the back was inscribed the date of the ritual and one single word: Free . And she was. To be all his. With a snap, he closed the watch box and put it to one side. Now. To ensure his reprobate relatives had all vacated what was to be his love floor. Then the word free could be explored for all its glory. He wanted to be alone with his glorious goddess.