Page 40 of The Orc Who Hated Christmas

Cas paused. “Well, not this exact purpose. I didn’t know we’d be snowed in together.” He laughed. “But it will be fun.” Cas turned to Graal.

Cas froze. Graal watched him with a strange expression. Had Cas said something wrong?

“But only if everyone wants to do that?” Cas’s gaze lingered on Graal before glancing around the room.

“I want to.” Briar glanced at Wulfric.

“I would like to learn how to make Christmas decorations.” Wulfric smiled.

“I’m in too,” Leo said.

Kit didn’t say anything. But he didn’t protest. And Cas thought Kit might benefit from some sort of activity that distracted him from pining after Lachlan.

“Great!” Cas looked to Graal. “What do you think?”

Graal nodded. “Sounds fun.”

Cas frowned at him. Something was wrong.

Jasper rose. “I’m going to have a nap. All the lovers are out of bed. So hopefully I can get a few hours of peaceful sleep without being awoken by groans and creaking beds.” He looked straight at Cas.

Cas laughed. “Sorry.” But he couldn’t even pretend to look guilty. Cas regretted nothing.

Jasper shook his head but smiled and went to his and Leo’s room.

“I’ll go gather the stuff from my room.” Cas moved towards his bedroom.

“And we’ll get the pine cones and stuff from the bakery.” Briar rose. Wulfric followed.

“We should have hot chocolate and cookies,” Cas said. “Leo, that’s your job!”

They spent the next little while making Christmas decorations. Cas made garlands by threading dried lemon and oranges onto a string. Cas showed Graal how to do the same. Still, Graal stayed quiet as he followed Cas’s instructions.

Usually, Graal remained pretty low key around Cas’s family. Which Cas understood. There were lots of them, and together they could be pretty loud. But today, Graal seemed even more introspective than usual. He would pause often and look around, gazing at the decorations they made, and then stare at the Christmas tree.

Cas touched Graal throughout, rubbing his thigh, placing his hand on his shoulder, or squeezing his hand. Each time, Graal would give him a quick smile. But still, something felt off. And Cas couldn’t work out what.

“Now let’s hang them up!” Cas stood and tugged Graal to his feet. They went to a window and hung the garlands of orange and yellow in front of it. Cas smiled and glanced at Graal.

“It’s really pretty.” Graal reached out as if to touch one of the lemons and then paused. After a few seconds, he rubbed his finger against it. His Adam’s apple bobbed.

Cas stared at Graal. “Are you all right, Graal?”

Graal nodded but didn’t say anything else.

“Hey, Christmas pixie! What did you say about paper stars?” Leo asked, pulling Cas’s attention. He held up several ornaments he’d made. “I’m done making decorations from pine cones and ribbons. I want to make something else!”

CHAPTER 25

The next little while, they made origami stars and attached string to them. Graal struggled with his fingers. They were too thick to fold the paper crisply. He frowned.

Thankfully, Cas saw his struggle and simply said, “Why don’t you hang them up as we make them?”

“Are you sure?” Graal glanced around the decorated room. “I don’t know where they should go.”

The adorned Christmas tree in the corner had already been there when Graal arrived, as well as the wooden figures above the fireplace. The ornaments and garlands they’d already made today had been strung up. The beauty of it all took Graal’s breath away. But Graal had not been in charge of any of that.

When he’d contributed, Graal had just listened to Cas and done what he was told. Graal couldn’t decide where things should go. He didn’t want to mess up Cas’s resplendent Christmas. He’d hate to disappoint the Christmas pixie.