Page 48 of The Orc Who Hated Christmas
“It’s not wise to insult an orc,” Graal growled low in his throat. He took a step towards Jordan.
Jordan faltered and fell, mouth dropping open.
Graal took another slow, deliberate step towards him. “You’re a bully and a brute, Jordan. Did you enjoy picking on someone so much smaller than you for years?” Graal leaned over Jordan. Graal smiled. “But I’m not smaller than you anymore. Am I?”
Jordan trembled, shrinking in on himself.
“Now apologise for how you treated me,” Graal said.
“What?”
“Apologise to me for how you treated me.” Graal kept his voice level and cold as the snow around them.
“I’m sorry!” Jordan stuttered. “I’m sorry!” Jordan raised his hands in front of his face.
“Good.” Graal took a step back. “In the future, best watch who you insult. You never know, they might grow up to be able to snap you in half like a twig.” Graal pointed in the direction his mother and half-brother had gone. “Now run, you fucking pathetic worm.”
Floundering to his feet and kicking up snow, Jordan sprinted down the street, falling a couple of times.
Graal watched. He should feel satisfied. He’d just stood up to the man who’d been a big part of making his childhood a nightmare. But Graal just felt strangely numb. Because if Graal had ever had a family, that was them.
Graal turned and walked away. He needed the comfort of Cas’s arms. But as he walked, Graal smiled.
Cas would be proud of him for standing up to Jordan. Cas would laugh and tell him the arsehole deserved it. Graal would never have actually hurt Jordan. But perhaps it had been good to remind Jordan to not go around being a dick. There could be consequences for being a colossal arsehole.
His footsteps sped up as he approached the bakery, eager to see Cas. He strode past the front window. He paused and stepped back, looking in.
Cas didn’t stand behind the counter. He stood in front of it, talking to someone with horns, a tail, and dark wings. Xavier. Cas’s ex-lover, who Cas still loved.
Graal’s stomach convulsed. His hands clenched. Why was Xavier here? Why was he talking to Cas?
Then the incubus stepped in close, wrapped his arm around Cas’s waist, and kissed him. Graal flinched away from the window as if burned. He glanced back and saw them still entwined. Graal looked away, and this time, he didn’t look back. He couldn’t see the pixie he loved kissing someone else.
Because Graal knew with startling clarity that he loved Cas with all his heart.
Graal closed his eyes. He wanted to beat his chest and howl with agony. Instead, body shaking, Graal stumbled around to the back of the bakery. He raced up the stairs and knocked on the door.
Jack opened it. “Graal.” He frowned. “Everything all right?”
“Yes. Fine.” Graal brushed past Jack. “I’ve decided to take a job out of the city, in the mining village Orim mentioned.” Graal strode to Cas’s room and threw the door open. It banged, but Graal didn’t pay it any attention. He shoved his things together as quick as he could.
“Does Cas know?”
“I’ll send him a letter explaining.” Graal stood and strode past Jack, not meeting his eyes. “But I have to go now.”
He couldn’t face Cas. Not now. It might be cowardly. It might be rude after everything that had happened between them and after everything Cas had done for him. But he couldn’t look at Cas, not now that Cas was with someone else.
“Well, Cas is just downstairs in the bakery. You can talk to him now,” Jack pressed.
Graal opened the door. “All right,” he called out as he stamped down the stairs.
But he didn’t even glance towards the bakery as he fled. His heart would crumble entirely if he saw Cas gazing into Xavier’s eyes with the love he didn’t feel for Graal.
CHAPTER 30
“Merry Christmas! And next time you come in, let me know what you think of the snowflake sugar cookies.” Cas waved at the family of dwarves.
The kids waved back, smiling and giggling. The bell tinkled as they left. Cas ducked beneath the counter to tidy up the cookies so they’d be perfectly displayed behind the glass when the next customer entered.