Page 21

CHAPTER 21

W ith a grunt, Graal hefted the massive stone onto his back. Gripping the ends of the rope that wrapped around the base of the rock, he began to trek the cobblestone streets. The carts from the quarry had trouble navigating the narrow, uneven streets of the city. So the carts stopped on the outskirts. Workers, like Graal, then lugged the large carved stones to the building sites.

Graal squinted as he walked. Big fat snowflakes blurred his vision.

Fuck. Would this snow never end? Still, as pissed as he was, he couldn’t quite hate the snow with the vehemence he once had.

He remembered Cas staring up at the sky at the Christmas markets, watching the snow fall. He could see Cas, bent over, hands pressed against the brick wall of the alley as he took Graal’s cock, snowflakes falling onto his wings and back. He could imagine Cas now in the bakery, watching the snow through the window with a smile on his beautiful face. And as those images circled through his head, the rock didn’t feel quite so heavy .

Finally, he reached the site.

“Put it over there,” a goblin yelled at him.

Graal dropped the rock on top of the others. He rolled his shoulders, trying to work out the tension.

“Come on, back to the carts. No lazing around,” the goblin groused.

Graal trekked back. Two trolls walked ahead of him, their low voices grumbling. Soon he could barely see them through the thick snow. He wondered how much longer he had to work. It was difficult to measure the passing of time in this wretched weather.

For the past two nights, Graal had been staying with Cas. Lacy had not come home the first night. She’d been with her troll girlfriend. And when Cas told her Graal would be staying with them for a little while, she’d happily said she’d stay with Orim as long as Graal needed to stay with them.

Cas said he’d never seen Lacy so enamoured. Apparently, most of her relationships did not last long. And Lacy was enamoured with a troll. Trolls, orcs, ogres, and several other races tended to be lumped together, often called monsters.

Sometimes, there were those who treated “monsters” well enough. And some even liked the idea of fucking a monster with a massive dick. But often, these people did not wish for an actual relationship with them. Graal had come to expect that most would not want to be seen holding hands with a terrifying monster like himself. Why would anyone?

But Lacy didn’t seem to mind. And no one in her family batted an eye at Lacy being in a relationship with a troll. They teased her, as this was her longest relationship. But not because she dated a troll.

Graal wiped at the snow that fell onto his face.

Would Cas have been interested in Graal if he’d not been so recently heartbroken? Would Graal have stood a chance? Before, he’d assumed Cas would never be in a relationship with a half-orc. But maybe he’d been wrong. After all, Cas had never had a problem being seen in public with him or being affectionate where others could see.

The thought played on his mind as he went back and forth, hauling stone.

Graal had yet to meet Orim. But Lacy said she lived in a building owned by trolls on the edge of the city. Most tenants were trolls. But an orc, a minotaur, and a family of goblins also lived there. It was right near a forest. Apparently, the building was decent and the tenants were treated well. They all had above ground rooms.

Unfortunately, they didn’t have any vacancies at present.

Graal’s arms, legs, and back ached with the strain of the work. The snow fell heavier and faster. As time passed, the streets emptied of people. He didn’t blame them. Who’d want to be out in this miserable weather?

Still, they worked. Still, the snow continued to come down harder and faster. The streets became more difficult to navigate. The snow slowed him down as his boots caught in the snow.

The next time Graal arrived at the site and dropped his rock, the goblin turned to him.

“That will have to do for the day. Some of you idiots keep getting lost in this snow.” The goblin sneered and waved a hand at the snow as if trying to make it disappear.

“All right.” Graal didn’t need to hear any more. He trudged away, keeping his head down and hunching his shoulders against the snow.

But with each heavy footstep, his heart lightened. He’d get to see Cas soon.

When he approached the bakery, he noticed no light coming from inside. Graal frowned. It should still be open. Walking around the back, he glanced into the windows but could see no movement. Yet he spotted light in the windows in the apartment above. He walked up the stairs and knocked.

A moment later, the door opened, and there Cas stood. “Graal! The snow is coming down so thick.” He flew into Graal’s arms and hugged him tight. “Are you okay? I kept thinking about poor you, working in all this snow.”

Graal hugged Cas back, smiling at the thought that Cas cared for him enough to worry. “It’s fine. I saw the bakery is closed.”

Cas nodded. “We closed early. Jack is packing up.”

Graal shook his head. “I didn’t see anyone downstairs.”

Cas frowned. Then with a flap of his wings, he flew down to the bakery door and opened it. Graal leaned over the rails. A second later, Cas appeared, carrying a note. He flew up.

Cas grabbed Graal’s hand and led him inside. “Come on.”

Graal closed the door behind them.

“He’s gone to Avery’s to deliver scones Ordelia made for him.” Cas stared down at the note.

Cas had told him Jack had recently started seeing a dragon named Avery. Graal didn’t know a lot of the details, but he was pretty sure it had ended. Jack had looked so dejected and miserable. Cas and the other siblings had rallied, providing Jack with an absurd number of baked goods and tea.

“Jack has gone out in this snow?” Lachlan sat before the fire. Kit, his cat familiar, lay curled up on his lap whilst Lachlan stroked him.

“I hope he’ll be all right.” Briar sat on another chair, book open on his lap. His pigeon familiar perched on the back of the chair, preening Briar’s hair. Briar glanced at the window. And beside Briar sat Wulfric.

Cas had told Graal all about him. Briar had been in the forest, apparently caring for an injured dog. Turned out the dog was a werewolf. And also Briar’s mate. Wulfric wrapped his arm around Briar and squeezed him in a comforting gesture.

Cas bit his lip, staring at the note. “I’m sure he’ll be fine. Hopefully, the snow will let up soon.” He stepped towards the window. A blur of white moved beyond. “Maybe we should ask Grady.” Cas flew to the door of Grady’s room.

He knocked.

“One second,” came Grady’s voice.

Several moments later, the door opened.

“What is it?” Grady asked. Behind him stood Uzoth.

“Jack has gone to Avery’s to give him scones.” Cas held out the note.

Grady took it. His brows furrowed as he read.

“Should we do anything?” Lachlan called out.

After a second, Grady shook his head. “He should be all right. He should be able to get there, at least. He can stay until the snow stops. And even if they’ve ended things, Avery doesn’t seem like the sort of twat who would force Jack out into this snow.” He grimaced. “And it isn’t like we can do anything other than wait and see. We don’t know where Avery lives.”

Cas wrung his hands.

Grady lifted his gaze. He stared at his brothers, who all bore concerned expressions. “Jack isn’t an idiot. He will get cold, but he should be fine.” He handed the note to Cas. “I wouldn’t worry.”

The tension in the room dropped immediately at Grady’s words.

“You’re right.” Cas smiled. “Jack can handle some snow.”

Grady nodded. He gave a tight smile and closed the door.

Cas turned and faced Graal. He smiled, reaching for Graal’s hand. “Well, the bakery is shut, and there are no Christmas markets tonight. ”

Graal glanced at the others, but they weren’t paying Graal and Cas any attention.

Cas tugged Graal’s hand towards his bedroom, placing the note onto a cabinet he passed. “Lacy is staying with Orim.” He closed the door once they’d entered. “Which means we have the whole night to ourselves.” Cas’s eyes sparkled. “Whatever will we do?”

Cas’s slender hand reached for the bulge in Graal’s trousers and squeezed. Graal groaned as Cas massaged him through the fabric.

“I’m sure we can think of something,” Graal said huskily.

Then he reached out and began to strip Cas of his clothes.