Chapter 18
Chapter
Eighteen
Percival sat on a chair before a roaring fire.
His hands were wrapped around a cup of lemon balm tea with honey, which Leo had given him.
Leo had also fed him Christmas cookies, bread, cheese, smoked sausages, and dried fruit.
He had then laid a blanket over Percival’s lap and wrapped another around his shoulders.
“I’ll go over to Avery’s and see if he has any books on phoenixes amongst his hoard,” Briar, Leo’s brother, said.
Beside Briar stood a tall man with broad shoulders and wild hair. This was Wulfric, Briar’s werewolf mate.
“Hopefully Avery will have something.” Briar smiled. “Of course, he’ll probably start buying books on phoenixes if he knows we need them.”
“We’ll head there now.” Wulfric looked at Percival. “If we’re lucky, we can find information to help you.”
“Thanks.” Leo sat beside Percival on the settee.
“Yes, thank you, Briar and Wulfric. I appreciate your assistance.” Percival wasn’t sure who Avery was or why he had a hoard of books. But he thought the man was probably family based on the way they spoke of him.
Briar and Wulfric departed. That left Percival and Leo with another brother, Lachlan, and his partner, Kit. Percival had seen the two last night when Leo had brought him home. But he’d met them properly today.
Leo really did have a massive family. It was a little overwhelming. But Leo had been right. His family hadn’t minded taking Percival in. And they’d been far kinder to Percival than his own uncle had been. But he didn’t have the strength to think about his uncle anymore today.
Percival took a sip of his tea. The warm liquid slid down his throat. All four of them held cups of tea as they sat on chairs around the fireplace. The Berry family seemed very keen on tea.
Had Percival liked tea in his previous lives? He stared into the cup as if he’d find the answer in the clear liquid.
Kit leaned against Lachlan. Lachlan’s arm wrapped around Kit’s shoulders.
Percival glanced at Leo, who stared into the fire. He exhaled. No doubt the day had been taxing on Leo too. After all, he’d taken in a phoenix with no family, no memories, and no ability to care for himself.
Percival shifted closer to him on the settee. He wanted to thank Leo again. He wanted to thank the man a million times more. Percival really didn’t know what he’d do without Leo. He shifted closer, until their shoulders touched.
Leo glanced at him. He smiled.
Holding his breath, Percival leaned against him. He rested his head on Leo’s shoulder. For a heartbeat, Leo didn’t move. Percival wondered if he should pull away and apologise. Then Leo wrapped his arm around Percival’s shoulders.
A smile blossomed across Percival’s lips. He closed his eyes and let out a breath. Leo’s presence settled the chaos and confusion inside him.
But it was more than that too. He liked Leo more than he could put into words.
Percival opened his eyes and looked at Lachlan and Kit, who paid them no mind as they cuddled. Percival wanted what they had. And he wanted Leo to be his partner.
He was being rash. After all, he’d only been reborn yesterday. But Percival knew his feelings. He knew he wanted Leo. He didn’t know much else. But he knew that.
And maybe they had hated each other in his last life.
But this was a new one! It was a clean slate.
A fresh start to a new life, and he wanted Leo in this one.
He placed his hand on Leo’s leg, just above the knee.
And after a second, Leo placed his hand on top of Percival’s, threading their fingers together.
Percival smiled. He wanted to touch Leo everywhere. He wanted to kiss him. He wanted to hold him. Would Leo want that too?
“So you’ll be working in the bakery with us, Percy?” Lachlan asked.
Percival startled. He’d been so focused on Leo. “Yes. I think so.”
Leo squeezed his shoulder. Percival’s stomach somersaulted.
“It’s fun working in the bakery.” Kit laughed. “Although, sometimes I don’t work. I just sleep on my cushion as a cat.”
“Kit is a cat shifter,” Leo explained.
That didn’t surprise Percival, since Kit currently possessed cat ears and a tail.
“And we have a stall at the Christmas markets.” Kit’s ears twitched. “You’ll like working there. The markets are pretty and magical!”
“We’ll start in the bakery tomorrow morning,” Leo said. “I was thinking we’d bake pies.”
Percival lifted his head from Leo’s shoulder so he could look into the man’s eyes. “Pies? Like the lentil and potato one I ate?” Percival’s mouth salivated at the thought of those delicious pies. And these ones would be warm, straight from the oven.
“Well, I usually make a different pie each day,” Leo said. “I usually decide what type of pies to make depending on what I feel like making, what we have in the pantry, and what the local butchers and grocers have in stock.”
“Oh.” Percival frowned. But a different pie would probably still be as yummy as the ones he’d had.
Leo hesitated. “But I suppose we could make the spiced lentil and mashed potato pie again. Since you liked them so much.”
Percival smiled. He opened his mouth to speak.
Tap. Tap. Tap. They all turned to the window. Ebony stood on the window ledge, staring in. Tap. Tap. Tap. She rapped her black beak against the glass.
“She’s back!” Percival said.
Leo jumped to his feet, walked to the window, and opened it. She flew in and landed on the back of the settee. Leo closed the window.
She’d tapped on the window that morning. They’d let her out, but Leo had watched her fly away, his brows furrowed as if nervous.
But now Leo grinned as he walked to a jar and poured seed into his hand. He returned to the settee and held out his palm. “Nice to have you back, Ebony. What did you get up to today?”
She cawed, and Leo smiled.
Kit and Lachlan watched the raven with interest. Kit’s tail swayed.
“Is she officially your familiar now?” Lachlan asked.
“She is.” Leo’s gaze darted to Kit. “Which means you can’t try and eat her.”
“No. She is too big.” Kit’s tail twitched. “And her eyes are too clever.”
Lachlan laughed. Then he stood. “Okay. I’m tired.” He tugged Kit to his feet. “I think it’s time for us to go to bed.”
Kit and Lachlan walked to their room, wishing Leo and Percival goodnight.
“Goodnight,” Leo and Percival responded.
“We should head to bed soon too. It’s been a big day.” Leo wiped his hand, now empty of seed, on his trousers. “But I need to give Jasper his tea first.”
“Who’s Jasper?” Percival asked.
Leo startled. “Oh! Right. You haven’t met Jasper yet. He’s my twin brother.”
“You have a twin?” Percival’s brows raised.
“I do.” He looked to one of the closed doors. “But he’s… He’s unwell. He’s probably either asleep or resting.” Leo stood. “It’s probably best if you meet him tomorrow.”
“Okay.” Percival glanced at the door, his curiosity piqued. What was Leo’s twin like? Were they close? And how was he unwell?
Leo made the tea and put together a plate of food. Strangely, he was silent as he did so. Perhaps because he was worried about his twin. Leo then lit a candle and put it all on one tray. “I’ll be back in a second.”
Then he walked to the door, knocked, and entered. He closed the door behind him. Percival stared at the door, hearing the low murmur of voices.
Percival turned to Ebony. “Do you want more food?”
Ebony shook her tail feathers. Percival got up and grabbed more seed. He held out his hand, and she pecked whilst the voices continued to murmur behind the closed door. Ebony finished all the seed and began to preen.
The voices continued. A few minutes later, Leo returned.
“How is your brother?”
“Fine.” Leo smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Thanks for waiting. Ready to go to bed?”
Percival rose. “Yes.”
They’d be in the same bed again. Would they hold hands like they had last night? Percival wanted that. And more! But would Leo want more?
Leo walked to his door. He paused, hand on the handle. “Are you happy to sleep in the same room again? I can sleep in Jasper’s room if you’d prefer to—”
“I want to sleep with you.” Percival took a step closer. He reached out and touched Leo’s wrist. “In the same bed.”
Leo stared at him. Something hung heavily in the air. Did Leo feel it too?
“All right.” Then Leo turned the handle and opened the door.