The Loneliest Dragon at Christmas (An MM Monster Christmas #2)

Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

“ A re you sure it’s all right to leave?” Avery glanced at Jack’s siblings.

“It’s fine. Briar wasn’t meant to be working tonight. He and Wulfric offered to take my place to give me the night off. But I thought I’d help whilst I waited for you. Shall we?” Jack offered Avery his arm.

Swallowing, Avery took it, so aware of the close contact, of the fact he was clutching Jack’s arm even if their coats and clothes meant he wasn’t actually touching skin.

“Do you come often to the Christmas markets?” Jack asked as they meandered down the row.

Avery hesitated. “I’ve been a few times. But not recently.”

“You don’t enjoy them?”

“No. I…” Avery didn’t want to ruin the mood by telling Jack he hadn’t come in years because he had no one to go with. He didn’t want to sound pathetic. “I just haven’t had the opportunity. Does your family always have a stall at the markets?”

“Every year. I’m not sure when it started, but I know my grandparents had a stall. And I’m pretty sure my great-grandparents did too. Oh! And before I forget, I have a gift for you.” Jack handed him a small white box. A red ribbon tied the box shut. “It’s not much. I just thought you might like to try an assortment of Christmas cookies whilst we walked around.”

Avery released Jack’s arm. Speechless, he took the box. Avery undid the string and pulled it off. He slid the red ribbon into his pocket and opened the box. A variety of cookies filled it, including a vanilla crescent cookie. He licked his lips as his mouth watered.

“Thank you.” Avery looked at Jack. “Which should I try first?”

“How about this one? It’s a spiced cookie.” Jack pointed at a round brown cookie. “It’s one of my favourites.”

“And you made these?”

“I did.”

Avery picked it up and took a bite. He moaned as a mixture of spices, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg burst on his tongue.

Jack smiled at him. “You like it?”

Avery nodded, his mouth too full of the soft chewy cookie to speak.

“It’s my mother’s recipe.”

Avery swallowed the cookie. “Really?”

Jack nodded.

“And is it magic?” Avery asked softly.

“Yes,” Jack said.

Avery stared at the half-eaten cookie. “What makes your baking magic?” That was one of the questions Avery had written down.

Jack began to walk, and Avery fell into step. “Well, my family are hearth and kitchen witches, and when we bake, we think about who we are baking for and how we want to impact them. I tend to think of providing, nourishing, and caring for our customers. Magic is often about intention and channelling that intention into our baking.”

Jack glanced back at the Magic Bakery stall. The line had grown longer. Jack smiled before turning back to look at Avery.

“Each step in the process, from start to finish, there is always an intentionality and an awareness of why we do it and who we do it for,” Jack explained. “Recipes can be seen as spells, and putting the ingredients together is like creating a potion. And there is power when those spells are passed down from generation to generation.”

“That’s why you use your mother’s recipes?”

Jack nodded.

Avery thought about the vanilla crescent cookie. It had tasted different when Jack had baked it for him. It had tasted strangely intense, almost intimate. He didn’t quite know how to explain it, but it felt like it was a gift just for him. Had that been because of Jack’s intention?

“I think you know a lot about me,” Jack said. “But I don’t know a lot about you.” He smiled with that lopsided grin. “What do you do?” His brown eyes twinkled.

Avery’s throat convulsed. He hadn’t thought about this. He’d made a list of questions to ask Jack. He’d forgotten that Jack might ask him some too. His mind spun as he tried to think of how to answer Jack’s question. “I read a lot.”

“Do you?” Jack gave him a considering look. “Like a secretary or librarian or something like that?” Jack chuckled. “I know those bunch read a lot.”

“No.” Avery shook his head. “I just like to read.”

Jack stared at him as if waiting for more of an answer.

“I have a lot of books.”

Jack’s eyebrow raised slightly. “Oh.”

Was that not the right thing to say? Did Jack not like reading? Did he not like books?

The idea sent a spark of panic through Avery. How could Jack not like books? How would they get along if Jack didn’t like to read? Did he think books dull? Boring?

They had no chance of being together if Jack hated reading!

“Do you like to read?” Avery blurted the question.

“I do.” Jack smiled.

Avery let out a breath.

“But I don’t get the opportunity much. Long hours working and all that.”

That was okay. It was all right if Jack didn’t read as much as him. No one did. As long as Jack enjoyed reading books, then they had a chance.

Up ahead, a long wooden table had been set up. On it were various pine branches, wire, string, and baskets. The baskets contained ribbons, glass baubles, and dried fruit, flowers, moss, and berries.

“What is that?” Avery asked.

“It’s a wreath-making station,” Jack explained. “You can make your own Christmas wreath.”

Avery’s mouth fell open. “I didn’t know you could make your own wreaths! Can we make one?” He could decorate his den with it. He could invite Jack over, and they could hang it together.

Jack smiled widely. “Of course we can make one.”