Page 41 of A Phoenix Reborn at Christmas
Percival startled. He’d been so focused on Leo. “Yes. I think so.”
Leo squeezed his shoulder. Percival’s stomach somersaulted.
“It’s fun working in the bakery.” Kit laughed. “Although, sometimes I don’t work. I just sleep on my cushion as a cat.”
“Kit is a cat shifter,” Leo explained.
That didn’t surprise Percival, since Kit currently possessed cat ears and a tail.
“And we have a stall at the Christmas markets.” Kit’s ears twitched. “You’ll like working there. The markets are pretty and magical!”
“We’ll start in the bakery tomorrow morning,” Leo said. “I was thinking we’d bake pies.”
Percival lifted his head from Leo’s shoulder so he could look into the man’s eyes. “Pies? Like the lentil and potato one I ate?”Percival’s mouth salivated at the thought of those delicious pies. And these ones would be warm, straight from the oven.
“Well, I usually make a different pie each day,” Leo said. “I usually decide what type of pies to make depending on what I feel like making, what we have in the pantry, and what the local butchers and grocers have in stock.”
“Oh.” Percival frowned. But a different pie would probably still be as yummy as the ones he’d had.
Leo hesitated. “But I suppose we could make the spiced lentil and mashed potato pie again. Since you liked them so much.”
Percival smiled. He opened his mouth to speak.
Tap. Tap. Tap.They all turned to the window. Ebony stood on the window ledge, staring in.Tap. Tap. Tap.She rapped her black beak against the glass.
“She’s back!” Percival said.
Leo jumped to his feet, walked to the window, and opened it. She flew in and landed on the back of the settee. Leo closed the window.
She’d tapped on the window that morning. They’d let her out, but Leo had watched her fly away, his brows furrowed as if nervous.
But now Leo grinned as he walked to a jar and poured seed into his hand. He returned to the settee and held out his palm. “Nice to have you back, Ebony. What did you get up to today?”
She cawed, and Leo smiled.
Kit and Lachlan watched the raven with interest. Kit’s tail swayed.
“Is she officially your familiar now?” Lachlan asked.
“She is.” Leo’s gaze darted to Kit. “Which means you can’t try and eat her.”
“No. She is too big.” Kit’s tail twitched. “And her eyes are too clever.”
Lachlan laughed. Then he stood. “Okay. I’m tired.” He tugged Kit to his feet. “I think it’s time for us to go to bed.”
Kit and Lachlan walked to their room, wishing Leo and Percival goodnight.
“Goodnight,” Leo and Percival responded.
“We should head to bed soon too. It’s been a big day.” Leo wiped his hand, now empty of seed, on his trousers. “But I need to give Jasper his tea first.”
“Who’s Jasper?” Percival asked.
Leo startled. “Oh! Right. You haven’t met Jasper yet. He’s my twin brother.”
“You have a twin?” Percival’s brows raised.
“I do.” He looked to one of the closed doors. “But he’s… He’s unwell. He’s probably either asleep or resting.” Leo stood. “It’s probably best if you meet him tomorrow.”
