Page 10 of A Phoenix Reborn at Christmas
Then Jasper had disappeared over the edge.
Even now, Leo’s heart thumped against his ribs as he remembered that wretched moment.
It had taken him precious minutes to find a safe way down the steep decline. He’d almost fallen a couple of times himself. And when he’d gotten to the bottom, he found his brother, unconscious by a deep pond of water. His clothes, hair, and skin had been drenched.
A fox had stood with her paws on Jasper’s chest. Her ears had flicked as Leo ran to his brother’s side.
Jasper had no memory of what had happened after he fell. He must have knocked his head during the fall and then landed in the pond. That was what the healer had said.
But if he’d fallen into the water, how did he get out of it unconscious? Had the fox dragged him out? Yet she’d been bone dry. And she’d been a normal fox as far as they could tell. They’d wondered for a while if she might be a shifter or something else. But if she was, she was still hiding it from them.
So how had Jasper not drowned? Had he fallen in and then climbed out before fainting or something? The healer didn’t think so. But then what?
The healer hadn’t seemed to spend much time thinking about the mystery. Nor had he managed to heal Jasper. Leo had told Jasper they should find another healer. Grady, their oldest sibling, thought so too. But Jasper didn’t seem to care.
And since the accident, Leo’s relationship with his twin had fractured. And Leo didn’t know why. Or how to fix it. He just kept trying to be there for Jasper. Hoping that with time, their relationship would be what it had been.
But the rift ripped him in two.
He took the assembled apple pies to the oven.
“I’ve got rolls in there,” Ordelia said. “But I can put your pies in when they’re done if you need to go to the markets.”
“Thanks.” Leo set them on a counter near the oven. Once again, he looked at Jasper.
Now Jasper grimaced, hands on his knees as he sat, no longer working. Of course, this tended to be the worst time of day for Jasper. He usually worked from early morning. By now, he’d been awake and working for several hours. He needed to rest.
But none of them would suggest Jasper finish up for the day and go upstairs to his room. If they did, Jasper would snap at them.
Grady had told Jasper to take as much time off as he needed and only work when he felt up to it. But Jasper liked to work. He hated being constantly in his room, recuperating. So he worked until he was overly exhausted and clearly in pain. Then he went upstairs.
Leo’s throat tightened. Why wasn’t Ordelia’s healing broth and soup working? Why didn’t the daily elothea tea the healer had prescribed for Jasper heal him? Leo didn’t know what to do. He didn’t know how to help.
Ordelia clasped Leo’s shoulder and squeezed. He cast her a grateful smile.
Leo walked over to Jasper. Kali, the fox who’d appeared the day of the accident, sat curled by Jasper’s feet. She’d followed them home from the forest, and soon after, she’d become Jasper’s familiar.
Kneeling, Leo patted Kali’s head. Her tongue lolled. “I’ll head off now.”
Jasper met his gaze. “I’ll see you later, then.”
“Do you need me to get you anything?” Leo asked, even though he knew he shouldn’t. His twin hated the constant sympathy.
“I’m fine,” Jasper said, voice curt and tight.
Nodding, Leo rose. Jasper didn’t like to ask for help. He never had. And he didn’t like Leo helping him in the bakery.But strangely Jasper accepted Trent’s assistance. Maybe because Trent was the youngest.
With a final glance at his twin, Leo left the bakery through the back door. In the alley, he stood, watching snowflakes fall, letting his breath fog the air.
Fuck, I miss my brother.
He closed his eyes. He really should just be grateful his brother was still alive. But this rupture between them stung.
He opened his eyes. And startled. “What?”
A raven stood on the snow in front of him, peering up at him. The raven had not been there a second before. The raven hopped closer.
“You’re a brave one.” The ravens Leo had seen around the city had always been timid. What was up with this one?
