Another warm body pressed against me, and the scent of magnolia blossoms mingled with the crispness of winter. “You are everything to us, Evan. Our hearts. Our bodies. All we have belongs to you. Whether you accept Rowan’s advances or not, that will never change.”
“The physician is right.” Maddox kissed my earlobe. “But if something… unfortunate… happens to the thief during your travels, I won’t lose any sleep over it.”
Lake made a rough sound that I’d come to associate with a laugh.
Snow continued to fall around us, lightly dusting the grass and accumulating in the trees. Lake tipped his face up and closed his eyes, a soft smile on his lips. Maddox petted my hair, and Briar feathered kisses along my temple and brow, their arms secured around me. I could’ve stayed out there forever. But when I sneezed, Briar insisted we go back inside. The worry bug.
Jack Frost’s wrath, as theorized by Maddox, would pale in comparison to Briar’s if we didn’t do as he said. So back into the cottage we went.
I made a pot of apple cider to warm us up, added a small stick of cinnamon to each mug, and then the four of us settled into the reading parlor, snuggling together on the couch with the lap blankets Lake had crocheted.
I sat between Briar and Maddox while Lake lounged on a floor cushion and rested his back against my legs. I sank myfingers into his silver hair like I frequently did when he was close.
“Tell us another story from your world,” Briar said as he tucked the blanket in around me.
“Hmm.” I took a sip and pondered. “Well, keeping to the season, there’s Santa Claus. He’s a jolly old fella who goes around every Christmas Eve giving gifts to children who’ve been good that year. He gives coal to the bad ones. Elves make the toys in their workshop in the North Pole. Oh, and there’s flying reindeer who carry Santa’s sleigh through the night sky as he goes ‘Ho, ho, ho, Merrrrrrry Christmas.’”
Maddox stared at me like I had three heads.
“You’d get coal from Santa,” I said. “Because you’re bad.”
His lips twitched.
“Christmas?” Lake asked. “What’s that?”
“Christmas is…” I moved my head from side to side as I debated on how to explain it. “A day where people come together, give gifts, eat lots of food, spend time with loved ones, and spread holiday cheer. Or they’re supposed to anyway. I’ve never really had anyone to share it with, so my favorite part is the food. Gingerbread men, frosted sugar cookies, chocolate Yule logs, and a ton of other desserts. Savory meals too, like turkey with stuffing, brown sugar glazed ham, cranberry sauce, and green bean casserole.”
Lake tipped his head back against my knee. “When’s lunch?”
Briar breathed out a laugh. “Not for another few hours. Though, I’m sure our Evan will allow you to have a snack.”
Yeah, there was no way this Evan could say no. I hopped up and scurried to the kitchen to grab the leftover biscuits and jam from breakfast and returned to the parlor, where the three of them wasted no time before diving in.
“I think I remember Sir Noah mentioning Yule once,” I said as we ate. I had brought the last of the cinnamon and raisinmuffins, too, and grinned like a goofball as Maddox devoured one. “Is that a holiday here?”
“Yes.” Briar dabbed at his mouth. “It’s celebrated on the winter solstice. Festivals are held in many cities with food, games, and dance. At home, making dishes using carrot, white radish, and ginkgo nuts is common. Plum for desserts. Soaking in a hot bath with yuzu is meant to protect against illness and ward off bad spirits for the coming year. People often soak in the hot spring too.”
“You and Maddox should celebrate together.” An achy pressure built in my chest. “Since I don’t think Lake and I will be back by then.”
Maddox enfolded me in his arms. “We’ll all celebrate once the two of you return home.”
Briar kissed my temple. “Don’t be sad, love. This is an exciting opportunity, and I want you to fully embrace it. Enjoy it to the fullest. Think of all the people you’ll be able to reach with your café. Bringing joy to their lives.”
“But you bring the most joy to mine,” Maddox said.
“Always a competition with you, captain,” Briar responded in their usual way.
The day passed too quickly, as days always did when you wanted more than anything for them to last forever. After dinner, we sipped wine by the fire and then went upstairs where we kissed, caressed, and reveled in the taste and feel of each other.
However, the night, too, passed too quickly. The hours felt like minutes, and the minutes zoomed by like seconds.
I lay awake long after the three of them fell asleep and listened to their soft exhales. Branches creaked outside the window with the force of the winter wind. The snow had stopped earlier, leaving only a dusting on the ground, but the cold remained.
“Evan,” Briar murmured sleepily before rolling over and pulling me closer.
He was dreaming about me.
In my life before Bremloc, I’d never cared enough about someone to miss them. But as I lay between Briar and Maddox, dreading the passing of time that brought morning closer, my heart weighed heavily.
Maddox often said that when he went on missions, he left his heart with me. And I knew when I left tomorrow, two pieces of mine would stay right there in that cottage with them.
