Page 34 of The Last Gargoyle's Christmas Wish
CHAPTER 19
Uzoth listened to Jasper and Leo sing.
The twins’ voices filled the main room.
“Snow blankets Anorra, our dear old town,
The winter sprites fly the streets,
May all the sweet children be?—”
“No.” Briar groaned. “I hate that song. Choose another.”
Briar gulped his hot chocolate with more than a dash of almond liquor. His cheeks flushed red. He set down his cup and picked up his crochet hook and needle.
“What’s wrong with it?” Leo laughed, smiling at Briar.
“It’s so slow and boring.” Briar sat beside Wulfric on the settee. Both crocheted. “We need an upbeat, cheerful song.”
“You pick one, then!” Jasper said.
Grady chuckled at his siblings’ bickering, which Uzoth could understand. The family was amusing. And even when they disagreed with one another, an undercurrent of affection ran beneath their interactions. They could even call each other names, swear, or insult one another in a playful, jesting manner.
Although the bond between Uzoth and his brethren had looked very different—they’d never laughed or joked like the Berry siblings did—the strength and close connection betweenthe siblings reminded him of the relationship he’d had with his gargoyle kin. A wave of sadness rolled through him at the memory of what was lost.
He looked around the room, his gaze resting on Grady. But at least tonight he was not alone.
Grady glanced up at Uzoth, who stood beside him. “Do you have a favourite Christmas song you’d like us to sing?”
“My knowledge of Christmas songs is too sparse for me to have preferences.” Uzoth smiled. “But I have found tonight very informative.”
Grady laughed. “I can imagine.”
Tonight all the siblings and their partners who’d been staying in the apartment gathered around the fire in the main room. Uzoth stood because of the lack of chairs.
They’d spent the last hour singing Christmas carols together. Uzoth hadn’t sung. But he’d found it lovely to listen. Now it seemed the siblings could not decide on the next song.
“No! No! No!” Cas perched on Graal’s knees. He wobbled, and Graal’s hands steadied him. “We are not singing a song about fucking Christmas elves. No Christmas elves in this home. Ever!”
His wings flapped, and one smacked Graal’s face. The orc narrowed his gaze at the offending wing before pushing it away gently.
“Only Christmas pixies allowed in this apartment!” Apparently, Cas hadn’t noticed his wing attacking Graal. But the pixie had drunk quite a few mugs of hot chocolate with peppermint liquor. Uzoth noticed he’d gone quite heavy when pouring the liquor.
“No Christmas elves.” Cas took another drink from his mug, and everyone laughed.
“How about we do something else, then?” Grady suggested.
“Like what?” asked Leo.
Jasper perked up. “A ghost story! I love ghost stories at Christmas.”
“Yes!” Leo agreed.
Cas clapped.
“Is it weird to read ghost stories at Christmas?” Lachlan asked. “Why do we do that?”
Kit sat on the floor in his human form in front of Lachlan. He leaned against his witch’s legs, gazing up at him with affection.
