CHAPTER 19
U zoth listened to Jasper and Leo sing.
The twins’ voices filled the main room.
“Snow blankets Anorra, our dear old town,
The winter sprites fly the streets,
May all the sweet children be?—”
“No.” Briar groaned. “I hate that song. Choose another.”
Briar gulped his hot chocolate with more than a dash of almond liquor. His cheeks flushed red. He set down his cup and picked up his crochet hook and needle.
“What’s wrong with it?” Leo laughed, smiling at Briar.
“It’s so slow and boring.” Briar sat beside Wulfric on the settee. Both crocheted. “We need an upbeat, cheerful song.”
“You pick one, then!” Jasper said.
Grady chuckled at his siblings’ bickering, which Uzoth could understand. The family was amusing. And even when they disagreed with one another, an undercurrent of affection ran beneath their interactions. They could even call each other names, swear, or insult one another in a playful, jesting manner.
Although the bond between Uzoth and his brethren had looked very different—they’d never laughed or joked like the Berry siblings did—the strength and close connection between the siblings reminded him of the relationship he’d had with his gargoyle kin. A wave of sadness rolled through him at the memory of what was lost.
He looked around the room, his gaze resting on Grady. But at least tonight he was not alone.
Grady glanced up at Uzoth, who stood beside him. “Do you have a favourite Christmas song you’d like us to sing?”
“My knowledge of Christmas songs is too sparse for me to have preferences.” Uzoth smiled. “But I have found tonight very informative.”
Grady laughed. “I can imagine.”
Tonight all the siblings and their partners who’d been staying in the apartment gathered around the fire in the main room. Uzoth stood because of the lack of chairs.
They’d spent the last hour singing Christmas carols together. Uzoth hadn’t sung. But he’d found it lovely to listen. Now it seemed the siblings could not decide on the next song.
“No! No! No!” Cas perched on Graal’s knees. He wobbled, and Graal’s hands steadied him. “We are not singing a song about fucking Christmas elves. No Christmas elves in this home. Ever!”
His wings flapped, and one smacked Graal’s face. The orc narrowed his gaze at the offending wing before pushing it away gently.
“Only Christmas pixies allowed in this apartment!” Apparently, Cas hadn’t noticed his wing attacking Graal. But the pixie had drunk quite a few mugs of hot chocolate with peppermint liquor. Uzoth noticed he’d gone quite heavy when pouring the liquor.
“No Christmas elves.” Cas took another drink from his mug, and everyone laughed.
“How about we do something else, then?” Grady suggested.
“Like what?” asked Leo.
Jasper perked up. “A ghost story! I love ghost stories at Christmas.”
“Yes!” Leo agreed.
Cas clapped.
“Is it weird to read ghost stories at Christmas?” Lachlan asked. “Why do we do that?”
Kit sat on the floor in his human form in front of Lachlan. He leaned against his witch’s legs, gazing up at him with affection.
“Well, it is a way to keep us entertained through the long, cold winter nights.” Briar pushed his glasses up his nose. “And although no one is certain, some believe we tell ghost stories to remind us of how lucky we are to be within the home, sitting by a blazing fire, protected from the elements and the dangers that lurk in the dark outside,” Briar explained. “And that contrast makes us feel all cosy and warm.”
“Did you read all that in a book?” Wulfric smiled at his mate.
“Of course,” Briar laughed and leaned over to kiss Wulfric on the cheek.
Uzoth’s gaze took in the room, the sparkling Christmas tree, glowing candles, coloured paper stars, garlands of dried oranges and lemons, and wooden figures decorating the mantel. Those decorations, combined with the heat of the fire, and the people gathered, made it truly feel like a cosy space. A magical space.
Grady rose and went to the bookshelf. He selected a thin tome. “All right, who wants to read first?”
“You’re holding the book,” Jasper pointed out.
Grady took his seat. “All right, then.” Grady opened it. “ The Wails of the Banshee ,” he began. “There was once a banshee…”
Uzoth listened to Grady’s voice as he read. The tale told of the banshee’s curse and the poor soul Lizabeth who got caught up in it. Despite trying to get away, the curse caused her to go mad and fling herself from a cliff. It was not a pleasant story. And it did not have anything to do with Christmas.
But it did make Uzoth appreciate his warm and cosy surroundings.
After half an hour, Grady closed the book. “Well, that was bloody terrifying.”
“I’m definitely going to avoid cliffs overlooking the ocean for a while.” Lachlan shivered.
“What are you talking about? We don’t live anywhere near the ocean,” Leo said. “I’ve never even been to the seaside. Have you?”
“No! And now I definitely don’t plan to.” Lachlan smiled.
Laughter filled the room.
Grady reached out and picked up a spiced cookie. He took a bite. “This is really good, Kit and Lachlan. You guys really work magic in the kitchen together.”
The two smiled at the compliment. “Thank you,” Kit said softly. “I enjoy working in the bakery with Lachlan.” He touched his witch’s leg.
Grady picked up the plate and passed it around.
“Let’s have another story!” Jasper snagged two cookies. “The one about the wili and the arsehole who betrayed her!”
“Yes! I like that story,” Cas said. “Do you?” Cas turned to face Graal.
“I don’t think I know it,” Graal said. “I don’t know many ghost stories.”
Grady flicked through the book. Then he turned to Uzoth. “Would you like to read?”
Uzoth stared at the book Grady held open towards him.
“You don’t have to.” Grady rushed out.
Uzoth took the book. “I do not mind reading.” At the top of the page was a picture of a woman’s wispy figure dancing with a man beneath the moon.
“ The Wili’s Revenge ,” Uzoth read the title. “There was once a young woman, beautiful and innocent, who lived in a small village at the edge of the forest.”
The tale was that of a man who travelled to the village and seduced the young woman, promising her marriage and love. She became hopelessly enamoured before he left her, breaking her heart. She died and became one of the wilis, creatures betrayed by their lovers and fuelled by the need to seek revenge.
“One night, beneath the moon in the field where they’d met, the man came upon the wili, the woman he’d abandoned,” Uzoth read. “He began to speak to her. But she did not listen. She lifted her hands above her head and began to dance, hips swaying from side to side. She tempted him to dance, like he had tempted her.”
No one in the room spoke, just listening to Uzoth read.
“The man grew tired after hours of dancing. But he could not stop, no matter how he tried. His limbs ached. Sweat drenched his body. His feet bled within his shoes. He shook with exhaustion.
“‘Just one more dance,’ she pleaded.
“Then she smiled at him with the smile that had captivated him when they’d first met. And he continued to dance.”
The fire crackled.
“Finally, just before the dawn, his body could take no more. He fell to the dew-drenched grass, the exhaustion too much. He died on the field where they’d met. Then the wili turned her back on him, just as he had turned his back on her. The wili’s revenge had been satisfied.” Uzoth closed the book.
“Shit,” Leo said. “I’m definitely not going to betray any young women.”
“A young woman has to want you first.” Jasper laughed.
Leo shoved his twin, grinning.
“Excellent reading.” Cas leaned forward, almost falling off Graal’s lap, but Graal gripped his waist. “Uzoth, your deep, gravelly voice is perfect for ghost stories.”
The others added their agreement.
Uzoth bowed his head, unused to such compliments. “Thank you.”
“I’m going to put on some more hot chocolate. Who wants more?” Lachlan rose, and so did Kit.
“Oh! And I’m going to put some chestnuts on the fire.” Cas smiled back at Graal.
Grady turned to Uzoth and took the book. He slid his hand into Uzoth’s. “Thank you. You did very well. Sorry for putting you on the spot like that.”
“It is fine,” Uzoth said. “I enjoyed reading the story and being a part of the festive traditions.”
Grady smiled. “So are you enjoying yourself, then? I know my family can be a lot.”
“I am.” Uzoth swallowed. “I have watched many celebrate Christmas over the years. I have never been a part of them. Thank you for including me.”
Grady squeezed his hand. “You are very welcome. I am glad you are here.”
Uzoth smiled. “And are you enjoying yourself? You are smiling a lot.”
Grady laughed. “Yes. I spend so much time running around, being responsible and taking care of everything, I don’t usually have time to just enjoy Christmas and be with my family. It’s nice to take a moment and have fun with them.”
Lachlan and Kit came around, taking their mugs. They filled them with hot chocolate and shots of liquor for those who wanted them.
Uzoth did not eat. But he found drinking pleasant. Uzoth sipped his warm hot chocolate, letting the sweet taste coat his tongue and mouth. “I think I have decided I very much enjoy hot chocolate. Perhaps it is my favourite hot drink.”
Grady grinned. “That is a good choice.”
Uzoth smiled.
For a long time, he’d not smiled. Truthfully, he’d never smiled a lot in the past. But at some point, he’d stopped entirely. Until now. At first, the expression had felt so foreign on his face. Like the muscles around his lips had atrophied completely. But now with Grady, he found he had something to smile about.
Uzoth took another sip of the hot chocolate, letting the warmth of the drink, the room, the company, and Grady’s steady presence wash over him.
But even as he savoured this moment, Uzoth wondered how long until he was out in the cold on his own once again.