Chapter 39
Chapter
Thirty-Nine
Trent sat on the chair before the fire. Kelby rested on his shoulder, ribbiting softly. Her beady eyes watched Trent. The sound soothed his wounded soul.
“Here you are, Trent.” Cas handed Trent a large cup. “It’s tea made with moon water, lavender, and honey.”
“Thank you.” Trent took a sip of the floral and very sweet tea.
Cas watched him, wings fluttering. The concern shone in his eyes. “And did you want more sugar cookies?”
“I’m all right for now, thanks.” Honestly, Trent didn’t have much of an appetite. And he’d been fed constantly by his siblings all day.
“All right.” But Cas leaned forward to tuck the blankets more securely around him.
“I will add more wood to the fire.” Graal moved towards the fireplace.
“That’s a good idea.” Cas looked to Trent. “We want you to be warm and cosy.” He placed a hand on Trent’s arm and stroked.
Cas and Graal had stopped by after Cas had finished work for the day.
And they were not the first of his family who’d come by. Early in the day, Lachlan had provided him with fresh bread and made him lemon balm and chamomile tea. An hour later, Jack had brought cheese and bacon muffins and made him ginger and orange peel tea.
After that, a steady stream of family members came by. Clearly, they had all heard about what had happened between him and Malachi. They brought food. They checked the fire and ensured he was properly bundled up.
Each and every one made him a fresh cup of tea. But of course, that was how a family of hearth and kitchen witches showed love.
Jasper had even sat with him for a few hours. He’d made Trent green tea and given him gingerbread cake. They’d both sat silently, staring into the flames whilst Trent kept replaying the events of the previous day in his mind.
He’d arrived home the night before, wiping tears from his face. Grady, Uzoth, Leo, and his phoenix partner, Percy, had been in the main room. They’d stopped talking when he came in.
“What’s wrong?” Grady asked.
“Nothing. I’m fine.” Trent tried to smile. He didn’t want to be a bother. He didn’t want to burden them with his pain.
“You are not fine.” Grady took a step towards him. “What’s wrong?”
Trent shrugged. “It’s just—” The words caught in his throat. “—it’s over with Malachi.”
“What happened?” Leo asked.
Trent shook his head. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
Leo opened his mouth, but Grady stepped in and put his hand on Trent’s shoulder, squeezing. “All right. You don’t have to talk about it right now if you don’t want to.”
“I’ll put on some tea.” Leo gave Trent a once-over. “Rosebuds, hibiscus, and goji berries.” He walked towards the fireplace. Percy followed as if wanting to help.
Grady helped Trent take off his coat and led him to a chair. Then Grady wrapped a blanket around his shoulders and placed another on his lap.
“Shall I hurt Malachi?” Uzoth’s deep voice growled.
Trent’s head shot up. “No! It’s not his fault. He didn’t mean—”
Grady placed a hand on his shoulder. “It’s all right. Uzoth won’t hurt Malachi.” Grady glanced at Uzoth.
After a moment, Uzoth nodded. Trent’s shoulders relaxed.
He stared, unseeing, into the flames as his brothers fussed around him. Then he felt it, a slight movement on his chest. He reached into his breast pocket. He touched something soft, warm, and slippery.
“Kelby!” He pulled her out. “What are you doing here?”
“Ribbit.” Then she hopped onto his shoulder and moved in close to his neck.
“What is that?” Leo asked.
“It’s Malachi’s frog, Kelby.” Trent touched a finger to her damp skin. He almost felt like he could sense sympathy coming off her. Had she come with him because she worried about him?
His throat tightened. But surely not. Frogs couldn’t be that intuitive. Could they?
And what if Malachi worried about her when he realised she was missing? Perhaps Trent should take her back. But it was late, and he was tired. And he didn’t think Malachi would want Trent coming back. He’d have to work something out tomorrow.
After drinking his first cup of tea, he managed to tell the others what had happened.
Grady had informed Trent that he wouldn’t be working the next day. Trent had tried to protest and was told firmly he’d be resting.
So the next day, he’d spent the whole day before the fire, resting as his siblings came by and checked on him. After Cas and Graal left, Trent stared at the window. Snow rustled against it.
In the evening, Leo came home. He’d gone to the Aquatic Horticultural Emporium instead of Trent to get the elothea seeds for Jas.
Trent sat up. “How did Malachi look?” he asked before Leo had even taken off his coat.
Leo hesitated. “Not well. But don’t you worry about that. You worry about yourself.”
But Trent did worry. And he missed Malachi. He’d barely slept the night before. He’d missed the feel of tentacles and arms encircling him as his body pressed against Malachi’s.
“What do you mean, not well?”
Leo came towards him. “He looked sad.”
Trent’s stomach squeezed. He patted Kelby, trying to comfort himself.
Not for the first time that day, Trent wished he had just kept his fucking mouth shut.
He regretted saying a word. Because he wanted to go back.
He wanted to be friends with Malachi. He wanted to sit in his room, making more Christmas decorations.
He wanted to talk to him and tell him about his day.
He wanted to kiss Malachi and have sex. And he wanted to sleep next to him.
He’d never have any of that ever again. Pain burrowed deeper into his belly until he thought he might vomit.
I want Malachi.
Why had he ever professed his love? Why had he gotten greedy and asked for more? Sure, he hadn’t been completely happy. But he was so fucking miserable now!
Trent hesitated, gaze on Kelby’s shiny green skin.
“Leo.”
“Yes?” His brother turned to look at him.
“Do you think, maybe I could ask Malachi to forget what I said? Then we can just go back to being friends?”