Me and My Christmas Familiar (An MM Monster Christmas)

Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

“ T hanks, Lachy,” Cas said as Lachlan came around the back. His wings fluttered rapidly, and his cheeks were flushed. “I just had to take care of something.”

“No problem.” Lachlan glanced over at Kit, who slept soundly. Lachlan smiled as he headed over to pat his cat.

“Jack, Cas, Lacy, and I will head over to the Christmas markets soon.” Grady packed several bags of ingredients into a crate.

They baked the bread fresh at the markets in an oven they had there. The aroma tempted customers. But they baked the cookies, tarts, and other sweet treats here in the bakery beforehand and brought them along.

“Ordelia and Trent will be here soon to help finish up for the day and then pack up. You can go home when they arrive, Lachlan,” Grady said. “Sorry you had to work late today.”

Lachlan nodded. “It’s fine.”

“And where is Lacy? She is meant to be working, and she should be coming with us to the Christmas markets.” Grady glanced around. He sighed. When their parents had died thirteen years ago, Grady, the eldest, took over as the unofficial leader of the family, which included being in charge of the family bakery.

The back door slammed open. Lacy appeared as if summoned by Grady’s question. “Cas! You harlot!”

“What?” Cas’s eyes widened, and pixie dust burst around him, sparking in the air.

“I saw you!” Lacy pointed at him accusingly, but her eyes danced with mirth.

Lachlan glanced at his cat. Kit’s eyes opened at Lacy’s yelling, but otherwise, he didn’t move. Lachlan rubbed his belly. Kit purred.

“I saw you gamahuching Graal in the alley!” Lacy cried out.

Lachlan frowned, unclear what she meant. And who was Graal?

Cas sputtered, cheeks burning an even brighter red as his wings twittered rapidly.

“What?” Jack asked, glancing between them. “What is gamahuching?”

Lacy strode towards Cas. “It means our dear brother was on his knees in the snow, between the big orc’s massive thighs, sucking his very large cock.” Lacy paused. “Not that I saw his cock. But if it matches the rest of him…”

Lachlan’s head snapped up.

Cas bit his lip and leaned towards her. “It is gigantic,” he whispered loudly. “Biggest I’ve ever seen!” He and Lacy burst out laughing.

“Cas. You’re meant to be working!” Grady scolded. “Not sucking someone off out back.”

“Who the fuck calls it gamahuching?” Jack still didn’t seem to be over the word. But then he joined the laughter.

“I read it in a book, all right!” Lacy said between laughs.

Grady shook his head and kept packing, but a smile twitched at his lips.

Lachlan could see now that Cas’s lips were swollen, his lipstick smudged, and his hair less tidy than usual. Lachlan looked down at Kit, who’d fallen asleep again. He kept stroking him, swallowing as heat flooded his body.

His siblings seemed so at ease with sex. Meanwhile, Lachlan had never even been kissed. He couldn’t imagine sucking someone’s cock in the back alley whilst he was meant to be serving customers. And to talk about it so openly…

His siblings clearly didn’t have a problem talking about it. And Lacy was two years younger than him! Of course, it wasn’t the first time he’d heard his siblings talk so openly about sex. Still, his skin always prickled, and his face always flushed.

He glanced at his siblings as they laughed and teased Cas. They all seemed so comfortable in their skin. And they all were so attractive and had such strong personalities. Lachlan didn’t. Lachlan didn’t draw attention. He faded into the wallpaper.

Even now, he felt out of place. He didn’t know what to say or how to act to join in. So he stayed silent, a tight, awkward smile on his face.

Kit’s eyes opened. He reached out and placed his paw on Lachlan’s arm as if he knew Lachlan needed comfort. His throat tightened.

Kit sees me. Kit pays attention to me.

Lachlan leaned forward, touching his head to Kit’s. “I’m so glad you came into my life.” He’d been so lonely before Kit.

“Actually, Lachlan, you can finish for the day now.” Grady wiped a hand over his brow. “Jack and Lacy can go ahead. I need to stick around and speak to Ordelia before I go to the markets.”

“All right.” Lachlan scooped Kit into his arms and stood.

“Is he your familiar now?” Jack came over and smiled at Kit.

Lachlan froze. He looked to Jack and then down to Kit.

“Isn’t it too soon?” It had only been a week since he took Kit in.

Kit stared up at him, completely relaxed in his arms.

Jack glanced up at Carrie, his iguana familiar, who sat on a shelf above them all. She peered down at them with her beady eyes, always keeping watch.

“What do you think, Grady?” Jack asked. “Is it too soon?”

“I think when it is time, you just know,” Grady said.

Jack nodded.

“Do you know, Lachlan?” Grady asked. “Do you feel like Kit is meant to be your familiar?”

Lachlan held his breath as he scratched the top of Kit’s head. Kit held his gaze.

And as he stared at Kit, certainty settled in his gut. It had been less than a month, but he felt like he’d found his true companion. Kit was meant to be Lachlan’s familiar. He yearned for it with all his heart.

“He is. But how does he become my familiar?”

“You just ask him,” Jack said, smiling. “That simple.”

“That simple,” Lachlan repeated. He let out a breath. “Kit,” he said, trying to ignore the knowledge that his siblings watched them. “I know we’ve not known each other a long time, but I feel like you belong with me. I feel like you are meant to be my familiar.” He swallowed. “Would you like to be my familiar?”

Kit tilted his head to the side like he was considering. Then he reached out his paw and bopped Lachlan on the nose.

Lachlan laughed.

“I think that’s a yes!” Cas flew over and beamed at the two. “Congratulations.”

Lacy applauded.

“Now what?” Lachlan asked.

“Your bond will grow with time,” Jack said. “You’ll feel each other’s presence, and each of you will feel what the other is feeling to some extent. Not all the time, but sometimes. And the strength of that will be different for each witch and familiar pairing.”

“And your magic will strengthen.” Grady gave him a small smile. “As your bond grows, your powers will grow.”

“Oh, so now Lachlan will be even stronger than the rest of us.” Lacy threw up her arms and laughed.

Lachlan smiled and looked down again at Kit.

My Kit. My familiar.