Monsters Under Mistletoe

5. Algonite

Chapter 5

Algonite

T hankfully my cock subsides to semi erect as I take Kat’s hand and lead her down Rentall St. When we arrive at Mama’s Trattoria, the owner, Antonia greets us with a twinkle in her eye. “Oh, Algi, a friend tonight, huh?”

She insists on making up the table for us in the window and lights the candle for us.

Antonia takes our order and it’s not lost on me the way Kat sits rigidly still, as if afraid her snakes might attack at any moment. They don’t, though. They just watch the world around them, taking it all in.

Kat is quiet. She keeps her hands neatly folded in her lap and doesn’t make eye contact. I can feel her creeping back into her shell. It doesn’t help that she has those dark glasses on again. It can’t be helped in public, I guess, but I wish it was just us so I could take them off and see her pretty eyes.

“So what are your plans for the holiday season? Do you have family in town?”

She shakes her head. “No. I’ll do my usual thing, I suppose.”

“What’s your usual thing?”

Kat glances up, but her eyes flick away quickly. She smooths her hand along a crease in the tablecloth, straightening it. “Oh, just keep to myself really. I’ve never really been a Christmas person.”

“Really?” This strikes me as sad. I mean I didn’t grow up celebrating Christmas. For a start trolls have no family beyond the earth mother. We make our own way in the world from the time we spring out of our egg. “There’s so much to like! I only moved to Heartstone ten years ago, but the Christmas markets converted me. We should go.”

At this, her gaze snaps to mine. “In Central Plaza? With all those people?”

“Sure. Why not? I’ll protect everyone from the snakes, I promise.”

She chews her lip, but at least the corner of her mouth curves up into a half smile.

When Antonia brings out the main, Kat leans over to look into my bowl. “That looks like unusual pasta.”

I spin my fork in the bowl and lift up a fork full. The green and white strands of the courgette mix with the bright basil and nut pesto Antonia makes especially for me. “Troll friendly. Courgetti spaghetti.”

Kat giggles and the smile lingers on her face afterward until she lifts her own fork to her mouth and takes a bite. The moan she lets out makes me cock hard all over again under the table. “Oh my god!” She looks at me like I made the damn thing instead of just being lucky enough to know about this hidden gem. “This food is amazing!”

I nod enthusiastically. “I love this place. It’s my Wednesday night haunt. I should probably invite Antonia to have Christmas at my place. She might as well be my mama the way she takes care of me here.”

Antonia bursts from the kitchen with a grin on her face and comes over to the table. “Ah, Algi, I thought you’d never ask.” She brings more bread, even though we never finished the first lot and I grin. She knows how much of her bread I can put away.

“See, you do take care of me.”

“Mmm. Now what are you lovely people having for dessert, huh? You want to try my new batch of vegan tiramisu?”

“Aw, Antonia. How can I resist?” I laugh. “You know I’m weak for your sweets.”

Antonia pinches my cheek—a brave move with troll skin being almost impervious.

“And for you, my dear,” she asks Kat.

Kat’s hand flies to her belly. “Oh, I shouldn’t.”

I frown. “Nonsense. You should! Believe me, you will have severe FOMO if you don’t.”

She smiles and I know I’ve won. I turn back to Antonia. “Two serves of tiramisu, please.”

It’s a beautiful evening. I tease a few more precious details from Kat about her life. She lives alone in a tiny studio flat above a restaurant. She likes video gaming and has always wanted a dog, but worries how her snakes would cope.

It would be perfect, except for the ogre in the room: the news I have to break to her that will most certainly result in her running a mile before she agrees to see me again for another date.

When Kat has scraped the last of the tiramisu from her bowl and Antonia has cleared the plates with a wink to me, I clear my throat. “So… there’s something I wanted to talk to you about.”

Kat smiles shyly. “Of course.”

If troll palms could sweat, I’d be in trouble, but as it is, I reach for her hand and take her tiny one in mine. How do I tell her about the lava? About the mating for life?

It’s a lot to take in for any female, but one so inexperienced?

“Why don’t we go see the Christmas lights?” It comes out in a rush. I don’t want this night to end. I’m not ready to let her go and when I tell her, she’ll never agree to see me again.

Her eyes widen. “OK. Was that all? You made it sound so serious!”

I laugh, but it sounds uncomfortable even to my ears. “Ah, yeah. I’m hoping this will make it easier to break to you.”

I pay the bill and help Kat with her jacket. One of her snakes darts out its head to flick a tiny tongue over my skin as I do. Then I hold the door open and we walk out onto the street. The temperature has dropped since we entered. An icy stillness settles around us as we walk in silence toward Central Plaza. Kat’s hand feels cold in mine and I hope against hope that I’m not about to blow all my chances.