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

Chapter 15

CHAPTER 15

J ack tucked the parcel into his inside coat pocket as he left the bakery and headed to Avery’s home. No, not Avery’s home—Avery’s den. Because Avery was an actual dragon, and apparently a dragon’s home was called a den.

Excitement bubbled inside him. He nodded to the neighbours he passed.

They’d planned for Jack to go to Avery’s home after Jack finished work for the day. His siblings had shooed him out even before the Magic Bakery had properly closed. Trent had also offered to work his shift tonight at the Christmas market.

Jack hadn’t protested. He’d been too eager to visit Avery’s den and see the dragon.

Lacy even told him it would be fine if he came in late tomorrow. They’d cover for him. He’d not said anything. He didn’t know how today with Avery would go.

After all, they really hadn’t spent much time together. Maybe Avery didn’t want him to stay the night. Maybe today would go less spectacularly than the previous night at the Christmas markets. Jack didn’t want to put too much pressure on today.

But he hoped it went well. The image of the two of them in Avery’s bed came into his mind. Jack wouldn’t mind at all if that occurred. Maybe he’d even get to see Avery in his dragon form.

How big was Avery as a dragon? What would he look like?

Jack pressed his hand against the book that rested within his coat. Before he’d started work that day, he’d gone to the local used bookstore. The store smelled of tobacco smoke, dust, and old books.

Jack had been searching for a specific book, a favourite childhood book. But apparently, there’d been no real system to the bookstore. Thankfully, the werewolf who owned the store had known exactly where it was.

“Think we’ve got it here somewhere,” he’d said, and after a minute, he’d picked it out.

Because the bookshop was so far away from the bakery, Jack had come in a little late. Something Jack never did.

Jack had apologised, and Grady scolded him. Then Grady’s lips had quirked up into a smile, and he’d told Jack he’d let it slide just this once.

Jack had wrapped the book in brown paper and planned to give it as a gift to Avery. He hoped Avery liked it. Jack smiled and quickened his steps.

Avery had given him the directions the night before when they parted. Jack had never been to the part of town where Avery lived. At least it hadn’t been the same district where his uncle and aunt lived. He had no interest in going back there.

It had surprised him how far Avery lived from him. It seemed strange he’d come all that way to their bakery to find vanilla crescent cookies.

As he grew closer to Avery’s part of the city, the streets grew wider. Fewer holes in the cobblestone streets appeared. The snow and sludge on the street had been cleared away. The buildings changed in appearance. Crowded dwellings with sagging roofs and faded paint turned into well-maintained apartments. Not a single broken windowpane nor a missing roof tile could be spotted.

He kept walking. Jack passed people on the street, dressed in far finer and better-quality clothes than himself. Jack hunched his shoulders, suddenly very aware of his own faded and worn coat with frayed sleeves.

His coat did the job. He’d had it for years, and it kept Jack warm. But still, he couldn’t help but notice his shabby appearance in comparison to those he saw.

Where did Avery live?

Jack assumed it would be nicer than his area. Most areas were. But he had not expected it to be this nice. It was far nicer than where his aunt and uncle lived; that was certain.

And as he continued to walk, the apartments grew larger and even more opulent. Door knockers gleamed as if they were polished after every use. Not a speck of dirt or grime marked the windows. The painted facades all shone vibrantly; some even used magicked paint that shimmered.

Where the fuck am I?

Jack’s shoulders hunched more and more as his gaze darted nervously around.

Jack did not belong in this part of town. He kept expecting one of the people he passed to ask him what he was doing here and tell him to go home.

He slowed as he came to the street where Avery lived. Somehow, he’d hoped it would be less fancy than the surrounding area.

It was not. Swallowing, he stopped in front of the number Avery had given him.

He stared at the sleek black door with gold embellishments painted around the edges. Jack walked up the steps, a sense of apprehension and doom growing inside him. A large brass dragon door knocker stood in the middle of the door. Jack stared at it for several seconds. Then he lifted it and knocked.

A moment later, the door swung open. Jack frowned. Because Avery didn’t stand before him. A faun wearing an exquisite black-and-beige suit answered the door.

“Good evening.” The faun bowed. “May I help you?”

Jack stared. “Ah.” He looked left and right. “I think I have the wrong house.” He let out a nervous laugh.

Avery had told Jack he lived alone. So Avery couldn’t live here.

“Are you Master Jack Berry?” the faun asked.

Jack paused. “I am.”

“Master Blaize is awaiting you.” The faun took a step back, opening the door wider.

Jack hesitated. “Do you mean Avery?”

The faun nodded. “Yes. Master Avery Blaize.”

Jack stood still for a minute. With each passing moment, it was becoming more apparent to Jack how little he knew about Avery. It seemed he didn’t even know his last name. Jack stepped into the entryway.

His gaze flicked around, taking in the ornate high ceilings, the large mirror that hung to one side, the stairs that led to the upper floor, and the hallway stretched far back.

How fucking big is Avery’s house?

Panic spiked inside his chest.

I should not be here. I do not belong in a fancy house like this.

“And ah… What’s your name?” Jack asked the faun as his mind scrambled.

The faun paused. “I’m Daniel, Master Berry.” He held out his hand, palm up.

Jack stared at the outstretched hand, confused. Was he meant to give Daniel something?

“May I take your coat?” Daniel asked.

With clumsy fingers, Jack removed his coat and handed it to Daniel, who opened a cupboard and put the coat away.

Then it hit Jack. Daniel was a servant. It had taken Jack far too long to put that together. Avery had a servant whom he paid to open doors and take coats.

He knew people had servants to do this sort of thing. He’d assumed it was what his uncle did in that fancy house he worked in. It was what he’d assumed Avery did when they first met.

But Jack didn’t actually know people who had servants. It happened to kings, queens, princesses, and lords. Jack might see those people in a fancy procession. But he didn’t interact with them. Ever.

And Jack definitely did not date them.

A chill slid down his spine. Avery was one of these fancy people. He’d not considered it when they met. Why would he?

Those sorts of people didn’t go into bakeries. They had servants who went to bakeries for them. Going into bakeries was beneath people with this much wealth. Especially a bakery in his district, in Hovel Quarter.

Jack’s skin tingled.

People like Jack were beneath those like Avery. That was why they had servants. So they did not have to deal with lowly people like Jack. Even the servants who worked in places like this thought themselves above a hearth-and-kitchen-witch baker.

Jack glanced at Daniel, his posture and clothes so much better than his own.

Jack almost laughed. He knew so little about this echelon of people that he’d assumed Avery’s accent and nice clothes made him a servant in one of these homes.

How had Jack not realised last night at the Christmas markets how badly he’d misread Avery? He’d seen Avery spend an obscene amount of money on Christmas decorations without a second thought. Jack should have worked it all out sooner. But he’d been too distracted by Avery’s excited smile and pretty golden eyes.

Jack looked around, his heart sinking more with every moment. He took a breath. He could taste the magic in the air. A lot of magic. His hands twitched. Magic spells for protection, security, and health. And it wasn’t done by a witch. Probably someone from the mage or sorcerer guild.

His hands sweat. He’d never been in a house like this. He’d never been invited. He couldn’t even get a job in a place like this.

Jack did not belong in Avery’s house. And he definitely did not belong with someone like Avery.

“This way, sir.” Daniel walked towards a closed door, posture impeccable. “Master Blaize is in the drawing room, waiting for you.”

What the fuck even was a drawing room? A place where people drew? Did Avery draw? What else did Jack not know?

Jack glanced down, so aware of his stained and scruffy work clothes, so out of place in this immaculate home. He spotted jam on his cuff. He rubbed at it. But of course, the stain remained.

Jack closed his eyes, trying to get control of his breathing.

But images of his uncle, aunt, and cousin reared their heads. His body flushed as he remembered the shame he’d felt standing on the doorstep with his brother, begging them for help.

As Jack followed Daniel, he felt exactly like he had that day at his aunt and uncle’s home. He could see his cousin staring blankly at him. He could see his aunt scoffing and hurling insults at him: “You’re acting like beggars in rags.” Then his uncle had slammed the door in his face.

Jack’s mouth dried.

Daniel opened the polished wooden door.

Jack felt so small, so insignificant, and entirely inadequate.

I don’t fucking belong here.