Chapter 32
Graal carried a table across the room.
“Hey! Stop that, you two,” Cas yelled from the back of the bakery.
Graal paused and turned. He spotted Cas pointing at Jasper and Leo, who were bent over howling with laughter.
Today, Cas dressed in a silver outfit with matching makeup and nails. He wore a white sash draped with baubles. And to top it off, little silver bauble earrings dangled from his ears. Graal’s mate looked stunning. He took Graal’s breath away. As always.
Cas wore the exact same thing he’d been wearing the first day Graal had heard Cas refer to himself as the Christmas pixie. That day, Graal would never have believed he and Cas would end up together. He smiled, watching the pretty pixie he loved more than anything in the world.
“Don’t fuck with me,” Cas snapped at Jasper and Leo. “Not today. It’s Christmas, and I’m the fucking Christmas pixie!”
Graal heard either Jasper or Leo say something, but he couldn’t make out the words .
Then everyone, including Cas, burst out laughing. Pixie dust shimmered in the air. Chuckling, Graal returned to moving the tables the customers usually ate at together. Whilst the bakery had been open for a few hours that morning, they’d closed for the day and now prepared for the family’s Christmas Day festivities.
Once Graal had made one giant table out of small tables, he moved the chairs into place around it. Then he laid out the tablecloths. The Berry family didn’t have one giant tablecloth. So Graal had been instructed to just overlap the ones they normally used.
After that, Graal took out red candles and set them up on the table, lighting each one. Finally, he grabbed the basket of baubles Cas had given him and placed them in small clusters on the mismatched tablecloths of different shades of white and cream.
The scent of food drifted in from the back area, and Graal’s mouth watered. Almost everyone was out back preparing for the feast. Voices and laughter bounced off the walls. He set out plates, bowls, glasses, and cutlery.
Graal had been worried about how to help today, as he didn’t know how to cook or bake. And he worried with his size and clumsy fingers he might just end up getting in the way in the crowded back.
“If you like, you can be in charge of setting up the table,” Cas had said with a smile.
Graal had been surprised at being given such a big responsibility, even though he knew he could move the tables into place. But then Cas had mentioned decorations. Graal wasn’t sure about decorations. He worried he would screw that up. And he didn’t want to screw up Christmas.
But Cas had smiled at him and merely said, “You’re the mate of the Christmas pixie. You’ll do an excellent job.”
Graal surveyed his work. He had to admit it looked nice. Not as nice as if Cas had been the one to set it up. But still nice. And very Christmassy. He took a deep breath, pride filling his chest with the knowledge he’d contributed to the family’s Christmas Day.
Glancing out the window, he watched snowflakes drift down. It looked pretty.
The sounds of wings beating caused Graal to turn. Cas flew into Graal, wrapping his arms around his chest. “You finished already? I was going to come and help. But you didn’t need me at all.” Cas looked around. “It looks beautiful, Graal!”
Graal flushed with the praise. “It does, doesn’t it?”
Cas nodded. “Perfect for Christmas.”
Graal stroked Cas’s hair, admiring the room, including the table, the decked-out Christmas tree, the hanging garlands and baubles, and the stunning pixie in his arms. He had everything he needed for a magical Christmas.
So many Christmases, Graal had sat alone in an empty place with no decorations or anyone who loved him. Today was different.
“Are you all right?”
Graal cleared his throat. “Just thinking. For years, I’ve been an orc who hated Christmas. This time of year has always reminded me of how unloved and alone I am. But today, I don’t hate Christmas. All I can think of is how lucky I am to be celebrating this day with you.”
Cas’s expression softened. He slipped his hand into Graal’s. “I look forward to celebrating many more Christmases together. I love you, Graal.”
“I love you too.”
Then Cas pulled Graal in for a kiss.
After a few seconds, Cas pulled back. “And I have something for you too.” Cas reached into his pocket. He pulled out a tiny box .
Graal frowned. “I thought everyone was doing presents after lunch.” Graal had been nervous and excited when Cas mentioned exchanging gifts with the family.
Cas had a lot of family, and Graal had never bought presents for anyone, and at the time, there had been two days until Christmas. But Cas had laughed and said they could make chocolate truffles and that could be Graal’s gift for the family this year. Next year, though, Graal wanted to buy gifts. He’d probably need Cas’s help. But he looked forward to it.
“We are. But I wanted to give you your first ever official Christmas present now. I thought you should wear them during lunch.” Cas held out the white box to Graal. “Come on. Open it! I want to see what you think.”
Graal took the box containing his first ever Christmas present. Holding his breath, he lifted the lid.
“I know you only wear gold hoops and studs, so these aren’t your style. But I thought?—”
“We’ll be matching,” Graal cut him off.
His heart leapt in his chest. He reached into the box. He lifted out the pair of earrings. They looked so tiny in his hand. Little gold Christmas baubles dangled on thin gold chains attached to hooks that would go into his ears. A perfect match to Cas’s silver ones.
Cas beamed. “Exactly.”
“They’re perfect. Thank you.” Graal kissed Cas on the forehead. “Will you put them on me?”
Cas took out a stud from each of Graal’s ears and replaced them with the bauble earrings.
“There.” Cas surveyed the look. “Now you are the perfect Christmas orc.”
Graal chuckled and lifted Cas into his arms. Then he kissed Cas with all the joy and happiness he had bubbling inside him .
Pixie dust filled the air. Pixie dust, which tasted sweet and citrusy. But only to him. Because regular pixie dust didn’t have a taste. Unless you were the pixie’s mate.
Briar had had to explain to both Cas and Graal what mates actually were. They’d both only had a vague idea. It didn’t help that the concept of a mate differed widely between races.
But generally, it was understood that a mate was someone with whom you were destined to be highly compatible. How many mates an individual had was believed to vary between races.
Werewolves only had one. Both orcs and pixies were believed to have several. Dragons used the term slightly differently because whilst dragons could sense when someone would be a suitable mate, ultimately their mate was chosen.
Briar had then told them there had been a lot of debate amongst different groups about the accuracy of some of these claims. Graal had started to tune out after a while. He understood the important part: Cas was his mate. Maybe he had more potential mates out there. But that didn’t matter. He just wanted Cas.
Graal squeezed his mate tightly against him.
“All right, lovebirds. You going to help us lay out food?” Lacy laughed.
Graal broke the kiss. “Sorry. Let me help you, Lacy.” Graal took the plates she carried and laid them on the table.
“I’m not sorry.” Cas smirked. “But I will still help carry out the food.” And he disappeared into the kitchen.
Back and forth, everyone carried the plates and bowls and placed them on the table. Graal’s mouth watered as he surveyed the various pies, meats, and vegetables. He knew the desserts were still waiting out back. Cas would be looking forward to that far more than these savoury dishes .
As Grady brought out the last two plates, he yelled, “Come on everyone. Food is ready!”
Cas came over next to Graal and clasped his hand. Everyone took a seat.
“Let’s have a toast.” Cas lifted his glass and wrapped his arm around Graal.
Grady raised his glass. “Welcome,” Grady said as he looked around the table. “Here’s to family, both old and new, and to being together today. Merry Christmas.”
Calls of “Merry Christmas!” and the clinking of glasses sounded around the table.
“Hear that. You’re one of us now!” Cas said. “You’re part of the family.”
Graal looked around at the crowded table, taking in Cas’s words. He let out a shaky breath, feeling his eyes prickle.
“Now let’s eat,” Grady announced.
Everyone around began reaching for food.
“Merry Christmas, my love.” Cas leaned against Graal.
Graal kissed Cas on the cheek. “Merry Christmas, my Christmas pixie.”