27. Chapter 27
Chapter twenty-seven
Pink
I t’s been a week and I still dart down the halls like a nervous rabbit, hoping not to run into Monty’s mother. Even though I know damn well that she has taken to her rooms and is not deigning to come out.
I saw her at the funeral. A small, private, no-fuss event, held to the traditions of the Old Blood. But that was the one and only time since that awful breakfast. I should be walking around Monty’s home with confidence. But sadly, I cannot muster any.
I scurry into Monty’s study and breathe a silent sigh of relief. I made it. Safe and sound.
Monty looks up from his computer screen. The dark circles under his eyes make me wince. He is going through hell and he doesn’t at all deserve to.
“Sandwich!” I say brightly as I hold my offering aloft.
A tray of cheese sandwiches and a glass of orange juice. He has not eaten since breakfast and it’s past lunchtime, but a fair few hours until dinner.
Monty smiles at me, and I place the tray on his desk. There is no need to ask if there has been any news, because it is clear from his expression that there has not been any new leads. He has phoned and emailed everyone he knows, called in every favor, but nothing. Laurie has vanished.
Monty drinks the orange juice and takes a bite out of one of the sandwiches. “Thank you,” he says with a warm smile.
My heart gives a little flutter and I smile back at him. How could I have ever doubted this man? I’m ashamed that I panicked. But Monty is adamant that my reaction was entirely reasonable.
“It is Christmas Eve tomorrow,” he says.
And I blink as my thoughts are derailed.
“Lello must be nearly bursting with excitement,” Monty adds.
A dry chuckle bubbles out of me. Poor Carter. He must have moments of deeply regretting that the excitable kelpie ever learned about Christmas. I had been looking forward to it, but now, with everything going on, it might not be the best idea.
“We don’t have to go,” I say, biting my bottom lip.
Heavens know, it is understandable if Monty is not in the mood for a celebration. Or as Lello has been calling it, ‘The Most Perfect Christmas Ever’.
Monty shakes his head. “I want to go. I’ve been looking forward to it.”
I stare at him dubiously until he sighs and puts his sandwich down.
“A distraction, and a break, would both be very welcome,” he says with great feeling.
Oh I am so glad, because that is exactly how I have been feeling. Christmas with my found family will be a bright light amongst all that is dark.
I grin at him. “If you are sure.”
“Very,” he says with a smile that warms my heart.
Despite everything, spending Christmas with Monty is going to be wonderful.
C hristmas has always felt like a storybook holiday to me, something I’ve read about or seen but never truly experienced. Amongst the Old Blood, It is not considered acceptable to celebrate it. And Ritchie never bothered to make anything nice for us in the harem.
Sure, there were fleeting moments in my life when I caught glimpses of the lights, the trees, the cheer. Now, though, standing in this bustling house filled with my friends and their chosen partners, I can feel it. The warmth, the magic, the wonder. And it is only Christmas Eve.
I’m in the kitchen with Ned, juggling oven racks and trying not to lose my mind over the logistics of cooking for this many people. It turns out, roasting enough turkey for a small army might take more than one oven. I’m so glad we decided to work out the practicalities now rather than leaving it until the big day itself.
“How long is it going to take?” I ask, holding the rack and squinting at the enormous uncooked turkey on the counter. “And will it fit?”
“At least five hours,” Ned replies, his tone clipped but not unkind. He’s focused, as always. “And it will fit, but there’ll be no room for anything else. We are going to have to use my oven in the annex as well.”
The oven rack slips from my hands and clatters to the floor with a loud bang. Hastily, I bend down and snatch it back up.
“Everything okay in there?” comes Lello’s voice from the doorway. He’s practically bouncing on his toes, radiating excitement.
“It’s fine,” Monty answers from where he’s seated at the kitchen table, sipping mulled wine and watching us with quiet amusement. “Pink just dropped the rack.”
Lello takes that explanation at face value, because of course he does, and skips back out of the room, humming a Christmas tune.
I glance at Monty, and he’s looking at me in that way he sometimes does. Soft, unguarded, like he’s seeing all of me and doesn’t mind the messy parts. It makes me want to say something clever or profound, but instead, I just clear my throat and turn back to the oven. Only to find Ned staring at me with an amused gleam in his eyes.
“What?” I mutter, trying to sound casual.
“Nothing,” Ned replies, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Just... happy to see you like this.”
“Like what?”
He doesn’t answer, but I know what he means. I’m happy. I’m in love. And Ned can tell.
“Stop staring and get back to work,” I tease, and his chuckle warms the room.
Then Ned swiftly moves on to the next problem, muttering about the timing for the side dishes. I let his words wash over me and I use them to drive all thoughts of my problems away. I’m going to focus on what I can control. Being here, in this moment, with these people.
Savoring every single second of it all. Because every moment is precious.
The next day, when Lello bursts into my bedroom at five a.m, shouting, “It’s Christmas!” I can’t help but laugh. His energy is infectious, and even though I’m groggy and would love a few more hours of sleep, I’m grateful for his enthusiasm.
Monty and I share a smile and a quick kiss and then hurry downstairs before Lello decides to come back and drag us out of bed by our ankles.
I sit cross-legged on the floor near the tree just as the kids begin diving into their presents. The room is a chaotic blur of wrapping paper and squeals of delight. Lello is glowing with joy, and even Gray, who’s been quieter than usual lately, seems to soften under the warmth of the moment.
Monty shifts beside me, clearing his throat. The adults turn to him as he speaks.
“I can only hide their presence for one day. The wards to conceal them take a lot of power,” he says.
I feel my face heat up. He doesn’t say it directly, but we all know why his magic is so strong right now. I’m the reason he has a lot of power, and I can’t decide if I should be embarrassed or proud.
And I have no idea what he is up to? What is he pulling off for one day only? What on Earth is he up to?
Before I can dwell on it, Monty lifts his hands, and a portal swirls into existence. Yellow and black energy crackles in the air, and I’m struck, as always, by how effortless he makes it look.
Three figures step through, and my breath catches. Jade, Red and Brodie. They’re here.
Monty has planned this wonderful, amazing thing, and I’m so overwhelmed.
The room freezes, the noise of Christmas morning swallowed up by the sheer weight of the moment. I glance at Ned, who’s staring at Jade like he doesn’t know whether to hug him or walk away. Morgan wraps an arm around his shoulders, grounding him, and I watch as Ned takes a deep breath, nods sharply, and turns back to the children.
Relief floods me, and I feel a smile spread across my face. This is what I wanted. Everyone together, even if just for a day.
Before I know it, Lello is shrieking with joy and throwing himself at Red and Jade. The tension in the room dissolves as laughter and chatter fill the space again.
I look over at Monty, who’s watching the scene unfold with a satisfied expression. He catches my eye and gives me a small nod, like he knows exactly what I’m thinking.
This is Christmas, I realize. Messy, chaotic, imperfect, and absolutely perfect.
T hat night, as I tiptoe into my bedroom at silly o’clock. I find Monty waiting for me. Sitting in bed, reading a book in the soft glow of the lamp.
He looks up at me and smiles. “Good catch up with Jade?”
“The best!” I beam. I’ve made the most of every minute because they need to go back into hiding at dawn.
Monty holds the covers open for me and I slide in with a happy sigh and snuggle up to him.
“Thank you so much for today. It was so very thoughtful of you to arrange it.”
“My pleasure,” Monty rumbles as he kisses the top of my head.
Warmth tingles through me. “You’ve had so much on your mind lately, what with becoming a duke, and Laurie…” I trail off. I really don’t have the vocabulary to explain how amazing Monty is. It is probably useless to try.
“About that,” he says.
I lift my head up to look at him and give him my full attention.
“I have a plan I want to run by you.”
I nod.
Monty takes a breath. “It involves threatening my mother that I will go to the Paranormal Council with everything I know about her cult, if she doesn’t hand Laurie back. And if she doesn’t bite, actually going to the Council and offering my intel in exchange for their help in finding Laurie.”
I let out a low whistle. It is a risky move. A very risky one. But definitely powerful. It might just work.
“For the second part,” I say as my mind mulls it over. “You’ll need some assurance that the Council won’t just arrest you, and that they can keep you safe from the Revivalists.”
Monty nods in thoughtful agreement.
Suddenly, I’m scrambling up to a more upright position as an idea takes hold of me.
“Ask them to pardon Jade as a goodwill gesture!” I blurt out in excitement.
It is not a wild request. The Council seem on the verge of it anyway. I know that Carter has been negotiating with Council members about it. And Gray is working on creating amulets that will stop the fey from being able to talk to Jade, or any of their descendents. The groundwork has definitely been laid.
Monty’s blue eyes sparkle. “Two birds, one stone. What a marvelous idea!”
My heart skips and my stomach flutters. “You’d really do that?”
“Of course!” says Monty, with pure guilelessness in his eyes.
Oh my poor heart. It is going to give out in a minute. Monty truly is so utterly wonderful, I could burst. He makes me so happy. I need to give him something in return.
With that thought in mind, I start to burrow under the covers and crawl down the bed.
“Where are you going?” Monty asks in confusion.
“To give you a thank you blow job,” I say happily.
Monty inhales sharply. “Oh gosh. Is that a thing?”
“It is now,” I smirk.
And then I get to work.