Page 77 of Daman

“No.” He trailed kisses to my nape. “We don’t really celebrate Christmas, yet we take today to spend time with family and friends. Training will resume tomorrow at first light.”

“First light?” I groaned. “Can’t wait.”

A raspy laugh gently shook his body. “I’ll be sure to have coffee waiting for you.”

By the time we showered and made our way downstairs, Armen had the table set for breakfast. The buckwheat porridge sat centered, and bowls of cut fruit surrounded it, along with buttered toast and fried eggs. I poured Warrin another mug of fresh coffee and added brown sugar, which made him smile.

“Eat with us,” I told Armen.

“Oh, I don’t want to impose. I already feel bad for scaring you earlier.”

“You scared him?” Warrin asked.

“He startled me. A little.” I dropped into my chair and drank down some black coffee. The brew was strong. “It was nothing.”

Warrin’s lips twitched before he lifted his mug and took a drink.

Although it was daytime, we lit the yule tree after breakfast and sat on the couch in front of it, me cuddling against Warrin’s side. Armen had helped us wash the dishes and returned to the castle to spend time with Dimitri, so it was just us.

Questions buzzed in my head. Why was it so easy being with Warrin now? Why wasn’t Envy being an evil bitch as usual? More importantly, how much time did I have before I fucked everything up again?

My phone buzzed with a text, and I swiped it up from the coffee table where I’d left it last night after talking to Bellamy.

Gray:Merry Christmas Eve!!!!

He’d added a line of Santa Claus emojis and presents.

Me:It’s Christmas Day here. I’m in the future.

Instead of responding to the text, he called me.

“Hey,” I answered.

“I forgot about the time difference!” Gray’s voice came through the phone so loud, I had to hold it away from my ear. “So weird, huh? It’s still night here. We’re about to watch another movie.Krampus. Simon’s already scared. It’s gonna be so funny.”

Warrin started to scoot away from me, probably to give me privacy, but I pressed more of my weight against him. He smiled when our eyes met and settled back in place.

“Have you watchedThe Polar Expressyet?” I asked. That movie was one of Gray’s favorites. He loved the part when the bratty kid with glasses opened up his present early and got underwear.

“We’re saving that one for last,” he said. “Oh, guess what? Raiden made sugar cookies, which taste amaaaazing by the way, but Castor baked some too. He burnt them! Can you believe it? He needs to stay out of the kitchen. Oh, Alastair wants to talk to you.”

Seconds later, my eldest brother’s voice came through the phone. “Merry Christmas. Are things going well?”

“Yeah.” Better than well, actually, but I didn’t want to jinx anything by admitting it out loud. Because I was terrified that it would be taken from me, that this light feeling in my chest would get heavier and heavier until I was consumed by bitterness again. “How’s Clara? Have the demons tried anything else?”

“Not since we’ve been home. She’s actually with us tonight. Who would’ve thought we’d become such good friends with a witch?” Alastair softly sighed. “I want you to know that none of us have abandoned you. You may be thousands of miles away right now, but it won’t be for forever.”

“You read my thoughts the morning you left, didn’t you?” I had been thinking all of that when I’d said goodbye to them—that they were abandoning me.

“Yes. I didn’t say anything at the time because…” Another sigh, this one shaky. “Because if I did, I wouldn’t have been able to leave you alone. And the mission must come first. We can’t let emotions get in the way.”

“You sound just like Lazarus when you say shit like that.”

“He trained us well.”

“Too well, I think.” My fist clenched at my side. Warrin grabbed my hand and relaxed my fingers as he slid his through mine, washing away my building irritation. I laid my head on his shoulder and stared at the decorated tree. “Have you heard from him lately?”

“Yes. He and Uriel have been working with the celestial army. Several joy bringers have joined the ranks.”