Page 67 of A Siren Song for Christmas

Chapter

Thirty-Four

Trent tried to push his feelings down and focus on washing up.

Grady, Lacy, and Leo headed off to the Christmas markets to set up. But Trent remained in the bakery. Unfortunately, the bakery was filled with blissfully loved-up couples who just reminded Trent of his own sorry situation.

“Needs more cinnamon,” Briar said.

“You think?” Wulfric held a large mixing bowl in his arm. He glanced at the dough.

Briar licked the remainder of the dough from a spoon. “Definitely. More cinnamon.” He pursed his lips. “And maybe a pinch more salt.”

Wulfric reached for the cinnamon, trusting his mate’s judgement.

Trent’s throat tightened.

Meanwhile, Lachlan and Kit, who was in his human form today, made more of the Christmastime tea blend they served in the bakery. They leaned together, talking in whispers as they mixed different dried herbs, fruit, and spices together in a large jar.

Trent dropped his gaze and focused on trying to get a bit of dough off from the side of one of the counters. It had been missed the night before during cleaning. Now it had dried and was difficult to remove.

Lachlan laughed. Trent glanced up. Kit spoke too softly for Trent to hear. But Kit stared at Lachlan, his green eyes glowing with so much love and affection. Kit pressed a kiss to Lachlan’s cheek.

Malachi will never love me like that.

Trent swallowed. Eyes stinging, he turned his back on them as he picked at the dough with his nail.

Ordelia came in a while later. “Hello, all.” She took off her coat. “How is everyone today?”

“We’re good,” Lachlan answered for himself and Kit.

“We met Malachi.” Kit flashed a grin at Trent.

Trent’s stomach dropped as his relationship with Malachi once again became the focus of attention.

I shouldn’t have brought Malachi here. It has given them all the wrong impression.

“And I missed him! What was he like?” There was a twinkle in Ordelia’s eyes. “Do we approve?”

Trent fixed a smile on his face.

“He’s handsome!” Lachlan said. Kit nodded.

“Briar and I came upon them in the forest earlier today. They were locked in a passionate embrace,” Wulfric added. “The two looked very good together.”

Ordelia’s smile widened as she clasped her hands together. She practically glowed with joy for her baby brother.

Trent wanted to drop to the floor and weep. “We’re really just friends,” Trent said weakly.

Trent had never said they were anything more. Except for when he mentioned that they’d been going on a date that firstnight. But it didn’t seem to matter how many times he said the words; his siblings had decided they were a couple.

Probably because they knew Trent. So even though he kept saying he and Malachi were friends, they could read Trent’s true feelings. They probably radiated from him.

But they didn’t know Malachi well enough to realise he did not reciprocate.

“Well, I’m sorry I missed meeting him,” Ordelia said.

Thankfully, he was saved from any more comments as the back door opened and Jack came in.