Page 33 of A Phoenix Reborn at Christmas

His breath came faster.

Leo was kind. Leo had promised to help him. But would Leo give up on him eventually if they couldn’t find out anything?

He slid his hand an inch closer to Leo.

What would happen to Percival if Leo abandoned him? He squeezed his eyes shut, as if he could block out the fears encroaching on him.

Then Leo’s soft, warm hand took Percival’s. Percival let out a breath.

Leo squeezed his hand.

Everything will be okay. Leo is with me. He will help me find answers. Everything will be okay.

Sleep took him.

Quite late the next morning, they went down into the bakery.

“Take a seat. I’ll grab us some breakfast,” Leo said and went to the back area.

Percival glanced around and found a table. Several people sat in the bakery, eating baked goods, drinking, and chatting. A Christmas tree, garlands, and ornaments decorated the space.

It all looked very pretty. And this was where Leo worked. He must be happy working in such a cosy place.

Percival glanced towards the back area of the bakery. Leo talked with some of the others. A few moments later, Leo came out, carrying some fresh rolls and a couple of cups of tea.

“I spoke to Briar, one of my brothers. He doesn’t know much about phoenixes after rebirth. But he said he’ll try and read up on them. He likes to read.” Leo cut a roll in half and spread some butter and jam on it. Then he took a bite.

Percival cut a roll. But he didn’t eat it. He just stared down at the bread. “Do you really think we have any chance of finding outwho I am? I mean, we don’t know anything about me.” He could hear the worry creeping into his voice.

Leo reached out and took his hand. “I think we have a good chance of finding out who you are. I mean, you’re a phoenix named Lord Percival Everflame. My understanding is that your family are important. They’re probably searching for you right now. I’m sure we’ll find out something.”

Percival nodded. “I hope you’re right.”

Leo smiled. “I figure to start, we’ll just walk around and see if?—”

A woman’s laughter filled the air. Both Leo and Percival looked up.

“Well, look at this,” a woman said. “Aren’t you two all cute together?”

A pretty young woman walked towards them, grinning from ear to ear. She stared at their joined hands. A troll followed her.

Leo snatched his hand from Percival’s, jumped up, and walked towards her. “Lacy. It’s not what it?—”

She jabbed a finger into Leo’s chest. “I knew it!” she whispered. But she whispered in such a manner that her voice carried loudly throughout the entire bakery. “I knew it! I knew there was something between you two. I knew all that hatred was just covering all this simmering lus?—”

“Stop, Lacy!” Leo interrupted. “Listen.” Then he lowered his voice, and Percival couldn’t hear anymore.

Percival frowned, trying to parse what he’d just heard.

One word echoed in his ears. Hatred.

But what hatred? Had Leo and Percival hated each other? How could anyone hate Leo? And why would Leo hate him?

Percival bit his lip.

He watched the two of them talking. The human female, who seemed to be named Lacy, glanced at Percival. The female troll standing behind Lacy glanced at him too.

Percival looked down at his tea. But he kept replaying Lacy’s whispered words, trying to process them and make sense of them. At first, he’d thought he and Leo must have been lovers. Then he’d thought he must have had a crush on Leo. But now it turned out, they’d hated each other.