Page 13 of Me and My Christmas Familiar
With Kit tucked inside Lachlan’s robes, they walked past wooden stalls filled with greenery, bright candles, and floating globes. The stalls sold all sorts of things: glass and wooden ornaments, wreaths, nuts, chocolate, dancing lanterns. One stall even drew festive portraits.
They passed several trees decorated with bright shiny balls that Kit felt the urge to jump at and hit. But Kit stayed put, content and cosy, nestled against Lachlan’s chest. He could feel his witch’s heartbeat against him.
The air grew heavier with the scent of meat. Kit’s head swivelled. A large circular tray hung over a pile of glowing charcoals. Smoke rose into the air.
Kit’s mouth salivated.
Lachlan laughed and headed towards the stall. “I can feel your hunger, Kit.”
A large ogre with a shiny bald head approached them.
“I’ll take some chicken and venison please,” Lachlan said.
“Sure thing.” The ogre turned and picked up some tongs. She grabbed at the meat. Juices glistened and dripped as she placed the slabs into a napkin. “Here you are.”
“Thank you.” Lachlan handed her some coins and took the meat.
Kit’s claws dug into Lachlan’s chest as he stretched his neck towards it.
“I know. I know. It’s coming.” Lachlan laughed as he grabbed a bit and held it out to Kit.
Kit snapped it up, chewing the delicious smoky, succulent meat. He licked his lips as Lachlan fed him another piece. And then another. And still more came. Until finally, his stomach stretched, and he could not eat another bite of the divine morsels.
Lachlan ate the last few strips, smiling down at Kit. “It’s amazing. You’re full.”
He threw the napkin, soaked with meat juices into a small fire they passed. He licked at his fingers.
His smile turned to a pensive frown. “I still don’t know what happened with you and Tony.” Lachlan rested a hand on Kit.
Kit could feel his witch’s confusion and uncertainty. Kit wished he could explain and tell Lachlan that he just hadn’t liked how close Tony was to Lachlan. How it had made him feel angry.
Only Kit should touch Lachlan. After all, Lachlan was Kit’s witch. But he couldn’t speak the words, so he meowed instead.
Lachlan’s lip quirked. “Tony is a nice man. I hope you can get along with him. He treats Ordelia very well.” Lachlan stared ahead as he walked.
Guilt clawed at Kit’s chest. He wanted to make Lachlan happy. Not sad.
Maybe he would try not to hiss or attack Tony the next time he saw him. Although, that would be hard if Tony touched Lachlan. But he could try.
Snowflakes floated down. Normally, Kit hated the snow. To him, snow meant cold and wet fur. But tonight, tucked inside Lachlan’s robes, pressed against Lachlan’s warm body, hidingaway beneath Lachlan’s pointy wide-brimmed hat, the snow couldn’t reach Kit. He snuggled closer.
“Thirteen years ago, when I was pretty young, my mother and father died.” Lachlan’s throat bobbed. “It was tough.”
His parents died. Just like mine.
With a jolt, Kit knew it to be true. His parents had died. That was how he’d lost them. But he couldn’t remember how they’d died. Or when.
“I’m the third youngest. Lacy is the second. Trent is the youngest.” Sadness pulsed through their bond.
Kit rubbed his face against Lachlan’s chest, trying to comfort his witch.
“Me, Lacy, and Trent cried constantly. We didn’t really understand what had happened. Grady and Jack, the two eldest, were rarely in the apartment. They worked constantly in the bakery and also took other jobs to earn more money.” Lachlan paused.
“That next eldest was Ordelia and Cas. They took over looking after the youngest of us, whilst still working long hours in the bakery. Looking back, I realise just how young they were at the time.” Lachlan shook his head.
“They’d work in the bakery, then take turns coming up to check on us, feed us, clean us, and comfort us. I remember Ordelia spending many nights holding me whilst I cried. Trent and I often slept in her bed. Lacy often slept in Cas’s.”
Lachlan stared ahead. “I think back on how hard that was for them, having to care for us whilst also grieving. And then a few years ago, Tony came along.” Lachlan licked his lips. “And Ordelia smiled.
