Chapter 45
Chapter
Forty-Five
Leo watched as Percival cut the pastry into leaf shapes. His tongue stuck out from between his full lips. He frowned in concentration.
Leo chuckled.
“What?” Percival asked him, looking up to meet his gaze. “Is there something on my face?”
“No. You just look ridiculously cute.” Leo pecked him on the cheek.
Percival flushed as he continued cutting the pastry. “It’s nice to be working in the bakery with you again, even if it is just for one day.”
Leo placed a hand on Percival’s back, unable to stop himself from touching the phoenix. “I’ve missed working with you.”
“I’ve missed working with you too.” Percival glanced around. “It is loud though. And crowded.”
“That’s what happens on Christmas Day.”
The bakery had opened early that morning. Leo had worked, and so had Percival. They’d now closed, and the family were preparing for their own Christmas feast. His siblings and their partners moved around the bakery, baking, cooking, and chopping.
“Does this look okay?” Percival placed the pastry leaves he’d made carefully on the middle of the mushroom and ale pie.
“It looks great!”
“Are you sure?” Percival tilted his head. Then he looked at the pastry decorations Leo had made on a second pie. They’d made two large pies for lunch. “Mine is not as pretty as yours.”
Leo had also made pastry leaves. But his were far more intricate and part of a large tree design that covered the entire pie. There was also a raven sitting amongst the leaves.
“That’s because he’s been fiddling with pastry since he could hold a knife.” Jasper laughed. “When we were children, Mum would let us decorate the pies she’d bake. Remember?”
Leo laughed. “I do. I think that was the first thing Mum let us do in the bakery. Remember when we made those horrible face pies where we’d cut a mouth, nostrils, and eyes into the pastry and all the filling would spill out!”
Jasper cackled. “They were horrifying! Mum would still sell them, though, and tell every customer we’d decorated them.”
Leo and Jasper would stand beside her at the counter on a box, both swelling with pride at their gruesome creations.
“That sounds sweet.” Percival glanced between Jasper and Leo. He smiled.
And so did the krampus standing beside Jasper.
The evening before, Leo had gone to give Jasper his tea, as usual. But he’d discovered his twin’s absence. He’d panicked.
Then Jasper had returned. With the krampus named Kraghol.
Jasper had spoken to Leo briefly and told him that everything would be better now. But he’d said he was too exhausted to explain properly. However, he promised to tell Leo everything soon.
Leo was dying to know what the fuck was going on! But they hadn’t had time to talk today.
Still, even though they hadn’t spoken, Leo couldn’t help but grin as he watched Jasper and Kraghol slice dried figs. Like magic, the circles and deep lines had gone from Jasper’s face. The haunted look in his eyes had also disappeared. He laughed and smiled. Just like his old self.
And Percival had told him the strange haze that hung around Jasper was gone. Leo didn’t understand.
But as he looked at his brother, he felt lighter than he had since his brother’s accident. And if Kraghol had something to do with the abrupt changes in Jasper’s appearance and manner, then Leo would be forever grateful to him.
“There! I think that’s finished.” Percival wiped his hands on his apron as he surveyed his pie.
“Well, then it’s time to put them into the oven.” Leo opened the oven door.
Percival placed the pies in. Then Percival walked over to his cousin. Leo hung back, not wanting to overwhelm Cyprian.
“How is the mashed potato coming along?” Percival asked, softening his voice.
Cyprian glanced at Percival before his eyes darted away. “It’s okay. Do you think it’s okay?”
In the past few days, Cyprian had been helping out in the bakery, often working with Leo. He was settling in. There was even talk about Cyprian working in the bakery permanently.
Leo didn’t get the sense Cyprian was plotting anything nefarious.
Honestly, the phoenix acted like a stray dog, startling easy and constantly uncertain.
Percival thought it might be because Cyprian was so used to being controlled.
And now he didn’t quite know what to do without that constant pressure pushing down on him.
Hopefully, he’d adjust in time and come into his own.
“I had a taste of the mashed potato just then, and it’s really good,” Trent said. “Cyprian’s doing an excellent job.”
Cyprian ducked his head. “Thanks.”
Wiping down the counter, Trent stood beside Malachi, the siren horticulturist he’d been seeing.
Malachi tossed a salad. The tentacles growing from his head writhed. Trent wore a black robe with thick blue tentacles, the same colour as Malachi’s tentacles, embroidered on top.
Leo felt a whisper at the back of his mind. He turned towards the window. Ebony landed on the windowsill. Leo went to grab his coat and some seed. He walked to the door, passing Lachlan, who knelt and patted Kit on the floor.
Leo stepped outside and was about to shut the door when Percival appeared.
“Can I join you?” Percival asked.
“Always.” Leo took his hand.
They stood in the snow, watching Ebony peck at the seeds.
Percival touched the cord around Leo’s neck. He tugged the necklace from beneath Leo’s coat. “I like this on you.”
Leo had fashioned a necklace out of Percival’s and Ebony’s feathers. He’d made it, uncertain if it would look okay. But he liked the idea of wearing the feathers of the phoenix he loved and his raven familiar.
Percival ran his fingers along the feathers.
“I’m glad you think so.” Leo reached into his pocket and pulled out a parcel wrapped in brown paper and ribbon. “Because I made you one as well. Merry Christmas.”
When he decided the necklace looked good, he thought Percival should have one too. Leo had planned to give it when the family exchanged gifts later that day. But right now, when it was just him, Percival, and Ebony, felt too perfect.
“Really?” Smiling widely, Percival took the package. He unwrapped it and held it up. “We’re going to be matching!” Percival handed Leo the necklace and then turned his back. “Can you put it on?” He lifted his hair to the side.
Leo’s fingers brushed the nape of Percival’s neck as he tied the cord. “There.”
Percival turned to him. “What do you think?”
“It looks perfect on you.” Leo grinned.
“Thank you, Leo. And Merry Christmas.” Percival pressed a kiss to his lips.
“Merry Christmas, Percy.”
They turned to watch Ebony eat.
Leo took Percival’s hand, enjoying the warmth he gave off. “You know it’s been less than a month since we met. So much has happened since then.”
“It has,” Percival said.
They’d met. They’d hated each other. Percival had died and been reborn. Then they’d fallen in love. There had been a brief period where Percival forgot they’d fallen in love and he returned to hating Leo. But here they were, in love once again.
“I thought you were such a prick when you walked into the bakery!” Leo said.
Percival laughed. “I thought you were an insolent little shit.”
“But did you think I was handsome as well?” Leo waggled his eyebrows.
Percival pressed his lips together, as if suppressing a smile. “Not really. I thought you were pretty plain looking. Easily forgettable.”
“Liar!” He tugged Percival into his arms. “You found it hard to resist my blinding attractiveness and my overwhelming charm. Admit it!”
Percival laughed and wrapped his arms around Leo’s shoulders. “I’m finding them hard to resist now.”
Leo gazed into Percival’s orange eyes. He stroked his fingers through Percival’s hair. “I thought you were the most beautiful person I’d ever seen when you walked into the bakery.”
Percival smiled. “I know.”
The bakery window slid open. “Oi!” Jasper called out. “Stop lazing around, you two, whilst the rest of us are all hard at work.”
“I’m busy, Jas!” Leo yelled back. “And our pies are already in the oven.”
Jasper rolled his eyes as he closed the window. But he smiled and winked.
Leo swallowed. It appeared he had his twin back.
“Should we head in?” Percival looked at the bakery window.
“In a minute. Ebony still hasn’t finished eating.” As much as Leo loved Christmas Day with his family, he wanted a couple more minutes alone with Percival.
They turned and watched Ebony eating.
“I’m really grateful for everything that has occurred since meeting you.” Leo wrapped his arm around Percival.
“Me too.” Percival leaned into the touch. “I’m glad to be a phoenix reborn at Christmas.”