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

Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

B rushing snow from his face, Jack pushed on through the snow, carrying the scones wrapped in brown paper under his arm. The snow blurred around him, whipping against his face. Several times, he became so disoriented he needed to stop and make sure he was heading the right way.

The snow hadn’t been this bad when he’d set out. But every moment he continued, the snow came down heavier.

When Ordelia had come into the bakery, she’d been bubbling with excitement at having finally met Avery properly. She’d deflated visibly when Jack told her they were over.

“I promised him scones,” she’d said, glancing between the siblings. “He’s sick.”

“What?” Jack stepped towards her.

Ordelia nodded. “I told him I’d make him lemon-and-ginger scones to help him get better.”

Unsure what else to do, Jack told her to bake them. He’d felt like a complete dickhead. Avery had been sick, and he’d not even noticed. Then again, he’d been too busy hurting Avery and ending things to really pay any attention to anything else.

Cas had offered to deliver the scones. Jack thought that best. But then the snow had started to come down harder. After some uncertainty, it had been decided Cas would bring them tomorrow rather than brave the snow today.

They’d closed the bakery early, and the siblings had gone upstairs to their rooms. They’d taken Carrie up with them. Trent had come in earlier to tell them the Christmas markets had closed because of the snow.

Jack had offered to clean and close up. He’d needed the quiet and peace. But Jack had kept staring at the still-warm scones. He’d thought of Avery, sad and sick.

Surely his servants could cook him something. But his servants were probably not hearth and kitchen witches. And they definitely wouldn’t have Ordelia’s healing affinity.

The guilt ate at him as he cleaned out the oven, washed the simmer pot, swept three times around the kitchen in a clockwise direction, and said a blessing at the altar. As he cleaned the altar, setting a new black beeswax candle in the middle, he looked out the window. Surely he could manage the snow. It would be rough, but he could get to Avery’s home and back in no time.

After everything he’d done to hurt Avery, the least he could do was brave a little snow and bring him some scones to help him feel better. The hearth-witch urge burned inside him. He needed to care for Avery. He needed to nourish and provide.

Scrawling a note and leaving it in the kitchen, he packed up the scones and headed out into the snow. After about fifteen minutes, he realised what a foolish prat he’d been.

Every minute, the snow fell thicker. Flakes melted and soaked into his jacket. His teeth chattered as the cold penetrated his bones. He shivered, trying to speed up. He wrapped his arms around himself as if that would protect him from the snow.

This really was a bloody moronic idea.

At least he was almost at Avery’s house. He didn’t even worry too much about going to this fancy fucking part of town and seeing Avery again. He just wanted a break from the cold.

By the time he reached Avery’s home, he felt frozen through. He knocked.

The door opened. “Master Berry.” Daniel paused, looking Jack over. “Come in.” He opened the door wide.

Jack stumbled in, the snow and wind following him. Daniel shut the door, and Jack rubbed his numb hands together. The gloves had been soaked through.

“Jack! What are you doing here?” Avery stood in the hallway, wearing a burgundy robe.

“I…” Jack’s lips trembled. He struggled to speak. He couldn’t get control of his mouth. “Ordelia baked scones. I brought them.” He held up the scones, realising the paper had become sodden. The scones would be ruined.

Avery’s mouth fell open. He walked forward to the window by the door, yanked back the curtain, and looked out. “In this snow?” His eyes raked over Jack. “You’re freezing!” Avery came forward. He took the package and handed it to Daniel. Then he yanked Jack’s wet gloves off.

Jack didn’t protest as Avery wrapped his hands, so hot, around Jack’s. “We need to warm you up.”

Closing his eyes, Jack basked in the feeling of the heat seeping into his skin. Avery was so warm it stung.

“What were you doing out in this snow?” Avery demanded.

“You were sick.” Jack opened his eyes. His head felt like the space between his ears had been stuffed with jelly. “You needed scones. I had to bring them for you.”

Avery’s eyes widened. “Oh.” Avery glanced at Daniel. “Bring some dry clothes. A robe. And ask Cook to make tea. And to heat the chestnut soup we had for lunch.”

“Yes, sir.” Daniel gave a quick nod and dashed from the room, hoofed feet clopping down the hallway.

“You need to get out of your wet clothes.” Avery tugged the wet coat and scarf off and dumped them on the floor. Jack tried to assist, but his hands wouldn’t stop shaking. And Avery moved so fast.

Avery yanked the shirt, partly sodden, over Jack’s head. Jack wrapped his arms around himself, still shivering.

The memory of the last time Avery had undressed Jack popped into his mind. This time felt so different from that night at the Christmas markets. Had it really been only two nights earlier?

Every time Avery touched Jack, he wanted to lean in. He wanted to tell Avery not to fuss so much, just keep touching him with those warm hands.

But he couldn’t. He’d lost that right when he’d turned Avery away earlier today.

Avery knelt to take off Jack’s sodden boots and socks. “And your trousers too.”

“Are you sure?” Were all Jack’s clothes really so wet?

Avery didn’t answer. He just undid the buttons and tugged Jack’s trousers down. Jack lifted his feet in a poor attempt to help. Jack’s underclothes remained mostly dry, so Avery left them on.

Then Avery rose, concern brimming in his expressive eyes. Another wave of guilt rolled through Jack, almost knocking him over.

Avery shouldn’t care so much for him. Not now.

He’d thought bringing Avery the scones would alleviate the remorse Jack felt for hurting Avery. But now Avery had to care for him after Jack had caused him pain. Jack had just made the whole situation worse.

He should have stayed far away from the dragon.

Daniel returned with the robe, which he handed to Avery. “Cook is making the tea now.”

Avery nodded as Daniel disappeared again. Avery helped Jack into the robe, which was similar to Avery’s. Jack groaned as the dry, soft material wrapped around him.

Avery led Jack to the drawing room and right next to the fire. “Here, sit.”

Jack did so, leaning towards the flames.

“I’m so sorry, Jack.” Avery turned and stared into the fireplace. “This is all my fault.”

“It definitely isn’t!” Jack groused.

Jack didn’t know what Avery was taking the blame for, but it definitely wasn’t his fault. Jack was the prick. Jack was the arsehole. He’d been the one to put a stop to them. Then he’d been the one who’d foolishly headed out in the snow to deliver scones.

Avery had done nothing wrong.

“I’m not sick,” Avery whispered. He ran a hand through his locks. “Ordelia asked what was wrong when I ran into her. I lied because I didn’t want to tell her the truth, that I was…just sad.” He gave a small laugh.

The light from the fire played on Avery’s high cheekbones and freckles.

“I’ve never even been sick in my life. Dragons don’t get sick. Not really. I just panicked and said the first absurd idea that popped into my mind.” Avery wrapped his arms around his stomach.

“It’s fine, Avery. Don’t worry about it.”

Avery shook his head. “You came out in the snow to give me scones because you thought I was sick. You could have been hurt.” Avery knelt beside his chair. “Humans are so fragile.” He placed a hand on Jack’s knee. The heat penetrated the robe. He wished Avery touched his bare skin.

“It’s fine, Avery,” Jack said again. “Really.” He didn’t know what else to say. “I’ll just get dried up a bit, get warm, and be out of your hair.”

Avery reared back, eyes glowing bright. His skin shimmered, iridescent. His fingers clutched Jack’s knee, growing into claws.

“No.” The word growled out of Avery, the sound vibrating in Jack’s bones. He exhaled, and smoke rose into the air.

Jack shivered. “I?—”

“No. You will not go anywhere. You will stay here until the snow passes. Until it is safe.” Avery’s eyes blazed, burning into him. For a second, Jack could almost swear Avery’s eyes shifted shape. A rumble escaped his throat. “I will keep you safe.”

The words resonated in Jack’s body, like a command Jack couldn’t disobey. Jack nodded, unable to do anything else.

Avery relaxed a fraction.

If Jack had ever doubted Avery was a dragon, he didn’t now.