Page 5

CHAPTER 5

“ W ill there be anything else?” Cas asked the bird shifter.

A line of customers stood at the counter. Cas, Lacy, and Jack served. No seats remained free at the tables crowded around the bakery. The bell tinkled every few moments as the door opened and more customers came in.

“That’s everything,” the bird shifter replied. “Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas.” Cas turned to the next customer, a gnome carrying his small child in his arms.

They worked through the afternoon, serving a steady stream of patrons, many of whom were on their way home from work.

“You look so beautiful,” an older witch said as she took the fruit and nut loaf from Cas. “A perfect Christmas pixie.”

“Thank you!” Cas beamed. “I try my best.” Today he dressed in a green outfit with red-and-gold accessories. The colours didn’t really match his blue wings. Not like the silver. But he liked to embrace all the Christmas colours .

“I’m going to go start packing stuff for the Christmas markets,” Jack said once the number of customers dwindled.

“Sounds good,” Cas said before turning to greet a centaur at the counter. “Merry Christmas!”

He took the centaur’s order. The bell tinkled. Cas glanced up.

The orc entered the bakery and joined Cas’s line. Snow rested on his large brown coat, but he didn’t brush it away. He shoved his hands in his pockets. His dark-black hair had been pulled back from his face. Small gold hoops and studs lined his pointed ears. An air of sadness clung to him.

Cas’s chest tightened with the need to bring a smile to the orc’s face.

It’s not your job to make people happy or like Christmas. You can’t reach everyone.

“Anything else?” Cas asked the centaur. “How about some sugar cookies I made earlier today?” He gestured to them sitting behind the glass.

The centaur smiled. “They look delicious,” she said. “I’ll take six. My foals will love them!”

Cas smiled and boxed the cookies. As he served the next couple of customers, Cas continued to glance at the orc, who kept his gaze down on the floor.

“Do you think I make a good Christmas pixie?” Cas asked a faun.

The faun of course agreed.

Finally, after Cas had served two more patrons, the orc stood in front of him.

“Brick bread, please,” the orc said in his deep, gruff voice. “Four.” He glanced quickly at Cas before dropping his gaze.

Did he ever smile? Or did he always look this downtrodden?

Cas thought of what Grady had said. Perhaps the orc did have a sad past? Maybe he’d been an orphan like Cas. But maybe, unlike Cas, he’d never found a family. Maybe he’d spent years living on the street in the cold, never knowing love or care or the joy of a family who accepted you.

Cas swallowed as pain tried to choke him. His hands clenched.

He wanted to make the orc smile. He wanted to show him that good and kindness existed in the world, like his own family had shown him. Cas wanted to offer him cookies and scones and suggest he try the Christmas jam Cas made the day before.

Cas was a pixie, but he’d been raised as a hearth and kitchen witch. And hearth and kitchen witches provided nourishment and care through their food to those who entered their home, or for them, their bakery. Cas had taken the lessons he’d learnt from his adoptive parents to heart. And he wanted to spread joy and cheer and happiness with his food.

But still, it would be rude to push. Even if he wanted to. So he gave the orc a smile and packaged the bread. “Of course. Here you are. Will there be anything else?”

The orc took the package. He frowned. “I’ll…” He hesitated. He looked side to side, still not meeting Cas’s gaze. “I’ll have some of the sugar cookies you mentioned yesterday.” He paused. “If that’s not a hassle.”

Cas’s wings fluttered. Pixie dust sparkled around them. The orc looked up, eyes widening.

“Of course, you can have some sugar cookies. It’s not a hassle at all!” Cas smiled brightly.

And then the orc smiled! It was only a small smile. A slight lifting of the corners of his lips. But it was still a smile. Cas had made the grumpy orc smile. More pixie dust burst around him.

Lacy glanced at him, but Cas ignored her.

“You won’t regret it. Sugar cookies are my favourite! And I am excellent at baking them. I use vanilla and ground almonds in them, and they are sweet. I have such a sweet tooth!” He laughed. “I only make sweet treats. Cakes, cookies, tarts, and truffles. Those are my speciality. I even made a Christmas jam yesterday.”

The orc stared as Cas rambled.

“How many sugar cookies did you want?” Cas asked, trying to focus.

“Ahhh…” The orc looked down at the cookies. His brows furrowed. “Just the one, please.” So softly spoken in his rumbly voice.

“Only one?” At least it was more than none. Still… “You don’t want two? Then you could try the pink and blue ones. I think they look lovely together. Don’t you?”

The orc’s mouth moved for a few seconds before any sound emerged. “Ah. Yes…they look lovely.”

“So you’ll take them both?”

“Ah… Okay.”

Cas took out the cookies and paused. “And you should try a cinnamon star cookie too.” He grabbed one. “And try a vanilla crescent cookie. They’re divine. And this jam sandwich cookie!”

The orc stared at him.

“Don’t worry! They’re on me.” Cas packed the cookies into a small box. Then he grabbed a bit of ribbon, tied it around the box, and handed it to the orc.

“You don’t have to do that.”

“No, please,” Cas insisted, still holding the box out. “I think you’ll like them. And it makes me happy that you want to try them.”

The orc blinked. He hesitated. Finally, he took the box. He stared down at them like he didn’t quite know what to make of them. “Thank you.” The orc reached into his pouch, pulled out several coins to cover the cost of the brick bread, and handed them over to Cas.

Cas gave him his change. “I’m Cas, by the way. I’m a Christmas pixie. I spread Christmas cheer to everyone.” His wings fluttered.

“I know. I mean, I know your name is Cas.” The orc’s lips pressed together. “Graal. That is my name.”

“Well, it’s lovely to finally know your name, Graal,” Cas said.

Graal nodded. “Thanks.” He gestured to the box of cookies. “And a… Have a good evening.”

“You too,” Cas said as Graal walked away. “And Merry Christmas!”

Graal looked back. “Merry Christmas.” The bell tinkled as he left.

Cas sighed. He glanced around. Lacy served the remaining customer at the counter.

“Are you giving away cookies again?” Grady asked.

Cas jumped. Grady leaned on the table separating the back and front areas.

“He needed it! And I will pay for it!” Cas flew towards him. “He smiled, Grady! Graal actually smiled!”

Grady chuckled. “It’s fine, Cas. It’s not like before when the bakery was struggling and you kept giving away food to everyone.” He gave a lopsided smile. “And it’s nice to see you bringing a little joy to his life. He always did seem pretty sad.” Grady tilted his head, gaze studying Cas.

“What?” Cas asked. He touched a hand to his cheek. “Is there something on my face?”

Grady shook his head. “Nah. You just remind me of Mother.”

Cas clasped his hands together. “Really?” There was no greater compliment in the world to Cas .

Grady nodded. “You spread joy and cheer just like she did.”

Cas bit his lip as he watched Grady turn and return to helping Jack pack for the Christmas markets.

Lacy, now finished serving, sidled up next to Cas. “Do you have a little crush on the big grumpy orc?” she asked in a sing-song voice.

“What? No!” Cas hadn’t even considered it.

“If I were into men and if I weren’t seeing someone, I’d be into him. He’s so big!” Lacy lifted her hands wide.

Cas chuckled. “You definitely have a type.” Every past girlfriend of Lacy’s tended to be almost twice her size.

“I just like to feel tiny and protected.” She grinned. “My girlfriend, Orim, she is a troll. You should see her swing her club. And she can lift me like I weigh nothing!” She made an appreciative hum. She glanced at Cas’s wings. “Although, I suppose with wings you don’t really need to be carried.”

“I don’t think anyone needs to be carried.” Cas laughed. “I think it’s a preference.”

Lacy smiled. “I suppose that’s true.”

But Cas could see the appeal. He could imagine Graal with his massive hands on Cas’s waist, lifting him into the air.

“Huh.” Cas frowned. “You know, I don’t think I’ve really looked at anyone in a while. After all, I was with Xavi for three years.”

“You never looked in all that time?” she asked in disbelief.

“I appreciated, of course. I noticed.” Cas pursed his lips. “But I didn’t really look. Not really.”

“Well, you’re single now, and I think the orc is very attractive! Those big hands. Big forearms.” Her eyes sparkled. “Do you think he is big all over? You like that sort of thing, right?” She nudged him.

“Lacy!” Cas protested but then burst out laughing .

She giggled. “I’m just saying! Don’t you want to see his club?” She waggled her eyebrows. “Maybe you could have some fun with him. It could help you move on from Xavier.”

Still laughing, Cas shook his head. But he couldn’t get her words out of his head. Now that he thought about it, he did find Graal rather attractive, in a big, tough, gruff kind of way.

He looked strong. No doubt he could lift Cas very easily. Just the thought sent a wave of heat to his groin. And that smile! That one brief shy smile had made his wings flutter.

Cas glanced at the front door to the bakery. Maybe he should consider seeking out distractions other than the joy of Christmas.