Chapter 46
Malachi stood singing in the middle of the Aquatic Horticultural Emporium.
The plants swayed as if a current stirred the water in the plants’ tanks. They moved in time with his tentacles, which danced in the air as Malachi sang.
He’d always known the plants would respond to his voice. Still, he’d been unable to sing for them. He’d been unable to sing until Trent came into his life and awoke the love inside him and the song in his heart. Now all his siren songs had returned.
He touched the seashell Forathia had given him and smiled, knowing Forathia would be proud of him. Malachi didn’t doubt for a single second that Forathia would have adored Trent. He’d be happy for the two of them.
Dropping his hand, Malachi continued singing as he walked around, looking over his plants.
The stairs creaked as Trent came down the stairs. Malachi stopped singing.
“Your voice is magical,” Trent called out. “I could listen to you sing forever.”
“I have you to thank for that. You gave me back my siren songs for Christmas.” Then Malachi saw what Trent was wearing. He sucked in a breath. “You look stunning. I knew you would.”
Trent wore a long black robe. But thick blue tentacles had been embroidered onto it.
“I love it.” Trent stroked one of the embroidered tentacles. “It makes me feel like I’m always in your tentacled embrace.”
Malachi had gotten it custom-made, a Christmas present for his mate. It had been a rush order, since he’d needed it ready for Christmas. He’d employed an arachnadia, and it hadn’t been cheap. “Ready to go, my love?”
“Almost.” Trent came down the rest of the stairs. He held up Kelby in front of his face.
“Is Kelby coming to the Christmas lunch with us? I’ll go get her bag.” Last night, they had constructed a padded transport bag with a small terrarium inside. It allowed her to be carried safely to the bakery during the colder months.
“Not yet.” Trent smiled, eyes glistening. “I’ve decided that today is the day!”
“Really?” Malachi grinned and walked towards him.
Trent nodded. “It is Christmas, after all.”
“You’re right. It’s the perfect day.” Malachi placed his hands on Trent’s arms.
Trent looked down at Kelby on his palm.
Her white throat inflated as she stared back at him. “Ribbit.”
“Kelby, I’m so glad I met you. You’ve been a good friend.” Trent stroked her head. “You’ve been there for me through thick and thin. I’d be honoured if you’d be my familiar.”
“Ribbit.” Kelby sat still for a moment. Then she flung upwards, straight into Trent’s face.
Trent let out a startled cry. She clung to his nose and began to crawl up, over his forehead, and onto the top of Trent’s head.
Malachi laughed. “I think we can take that as a yes.”
“I think so too.” Trent smiled. “Kelby is my familiar!” He looked up but couldn’t actually see the frog settling in amongst his brown hair.
“I’m happy for both of you.” He kissed Trent on the cheek.
A short while later, they arrived at the Magic Bakery. The bakery had opened early that morning so customers could buy fresh baked goods for their Christmas meals. But now they had closed for the day.
“It looks so beautiful.” Cas clapped.
“You think?” Graal placed several baubles along the table.
The two were setting up the front room where customers normally ate. They’d moved tables together and now decorated.
“Merry Christmas!” Trent shouted as they entered.
“Merry Christmas,” Malachi said.
Cas and Graal greeted them in return.
Uzoth squatted on the floor beside Michael. He held Ruthie in his arms. Kit, in cat form, darted around them, entertaining them with his zooming antics. The children shrieked and giggled.
“I’ll put the presents under the tree.” Trent walked over and added their gifts to the pile.
“And where should I put these?” Malachi held up a couple of dishes.
Cas flew towards him. “What is it?”
“Traditional siren food. Fish stew and a seaweed salad.” Malachi cleared his throat. “I know it’s not really Christmas food. But they were favourites of mine.” He’d not eaten the dishes in years. Not since he’d left the ocean. They took effort to make, and he could never be bothered.
But Trent had encouraged him to make them. Although, maybe they should have made something more appropriate for Christmas. After all, he really wanted Trent’s family to like and accept him.
Cas peeked inside. “It looks wonderful!” He took the dishes and placed them on the table.
“I can’t wait to try them,” Graal said.
Some of the tension in Malachi’s shoulders uncoiled. “And can I help with anything?”
Trent had now taken the terrarium from the travel bag and placed it on a shelf out of the way. He was whispering to Kelby.
“If you go out back, I’m sure someone can put you to work,” Cas said.
A cacophony of Merry Christmases rang out from the Berry clan as Malachi and Trent entered the back area. Malachi was introduced to the few individuals he didn’t know, including a krampus named Kraghol, who Trent didn’t seem to know either.
“Can we help with anything?” Malachi asked.
“You can take the bread from the oven,” Leo said. “It should be ready.” He stood beside a man with red hair, who must be the phoenix Percy.
Malachi set to work. He removed the bread from the oven. He sliced cakes and tarts. He mixed salads. He plated dishes. He moved around the room, doing whatever was asked of him.
Trent tidied up after everyone, wiping down spaces, washing utensils, pots, bowls, cauldrons, and whatnot. But he kept glancing at the krampus who seemed to be with Jasper. In fact, most of the family seemed to be watching Jasper and Kraghol.
At one point, Trent came over to Malachi. “So Jasper just turned up in the apartment with Kraghol last night,” he whispered. “The krampus stayed over in Jasper’s room. But Jasper hasn’t told anyone what’s going on between the two of them. He hasn’t even told Leo!”
Grady clapped his hands. “All right, I think everything is ready.”
Trent glanced around the room. “Is Jack here?”
Grady shook his head as he took a basket of fresh bread rolls. “Sadly not. One of them had to stay with their egg. So they decided to both stay home so they could spend Christmas together.”
“But after lunch we’ll all be going over. We’ll bring more food, and we can sing carols together,” Ordelia said. “They aren’t missing out on Christmas with the family!”
She turned to Malachi. “And I think with a siren amongst us, we’ll be the best carollers ever. You have the most beautiful voice I’ve ever heard, Malachi! I can’t wait to hear you sing again!”
Malachi smiled. “I will gladly sing with you. But you’ll have to teach me the songs. I am not particularly familiar with Christmas carols.”
“And we will bring Jack and Avery their presents!” Lacy waggled her eyebrows as she carried a tray of bread rolls. “Apparently Avery has been ordering lots and lots of presents for us. Jack said he went overboard.”
Lacy’s troll partner, Orim, laughed. “You and your obsession with Christmas presents.”
“And then we’re going to make Christmas candles together at Jack and Avery’s,” Cas announced as he flew into the room and grabbed a large bowl of soup.
“All the supplies are already there. Malachi suggested it might be a nice idea to do some crafts together as a whole family today.” Then he carried the bowl into the front area.
Trent turned and looked at Malachi, eyes wide. “What?”
“When I came by the bakery yesterday, I talked to Cas about how you and I have been doing Christmas crafts. He said that next year we should invite him and Graal over so they can join us.” Malachi smiled. “And I suggested it might be nice for us all to craft something on Christmas day together.”
Malachi lowered his voice so only Trent could hear. “I know you missed making decorations with your family.”
Trent gripped his arm. His eyes shone. “Thank you, Malachi.”
“Come on, everyone. Let’s keep moving,” Grady called out. “We don’t want the food going cold!”
Trent released his grip and picked up a platter of roasted root vegetables.
Using his tentacles and hands, Malachi lifted eight dishes and carried them into the front area.
“Well, that’s useful!” Lachlan laughed. “Here I am proud of carrying three.”
Malachi chuckled as he set them down.
“Malachi, you and Trent should sit by us.” Ordelia gestured to two seats beside her.
Smiling, Malachi sat. Whilst Trent’s siblings had clearly been concerned about Malachi and Trent’s relationship, it hadn’t stopped them from welcoming him into the fold.
Trent dropped down next to him. Malachi wrapped a tentacle around him and kissed his forehead. Around them, the room filled with happy chatter and laughter.
“Now let’s have a toast!” Grady stood and lifted a glass. Silence fell, and everyone grabbed a glass. “To family, old and new, and to celebrating Christmas together. Merry Christmas, all!”
“Merry Christmas!” Everyone raised their glass and toasted.
But Grady didn’t sit. He smiled wryly and looked to Briar. “And to Briar’s magic spell. Which he just told me he has cast once again this year.” He looked to Malachi, Percy, and Kraghol. “It clearly worked.”
Murmurs erupted around the table. Everyone looked at Briar.
“I just wanted Jasper, Leo, and Trent to find love too!” Briar had to practically yell to be heard above all the voices. “Like the rest of us.”
Wulfric wrapped an arm around Briar’s shoulder, smiling proudly at his mate.
Trent gasped. “He cast it again! Of course he did.”
“What spell?” Malachi asked Trent.
“A siren love spell.” Trent smiled. “He cast it last year, and it made everyone fall in love. But last year, he didn’t include me, Jasper, or Leo.” He clapped. “But this year he did, and now here we are!”
“Oh,” Malachi said, although he didn’t fully follow. He would ask Trent to fill him in later on all the details.
“Well, you have our thanks, Briar.” Leo raised his glass, sharing glances with Percy, who sat beside him.
“Ours too.” Jasper smiled at Kraghol, who smiled shyly back.
Trent entwined his fingers with Malachi’s. “And ours as well!”
Then he kissed Malachi as everyone clapped.
“Merry Christmas, my mate,” Trent said when the kiss broke.
“Merry Christmas, my love.”