Chapter 18

Grady

"If anyone asks—especially Kenzie, but at this point, anyone—tell them you haven't met Santa because he's a very private person." Alick had looked normal as he'd bounded up the stairs to the small porch, but his words didn't make any sense and had me questioning if regular plants could make people high.

He must've realized that because he got closer and looked deep into my eyes like he was sharing the secrets of the universe. "Remember private. That's the key word that people are being trained to respond to. Private stops all questions because Carrick is insane."

Wasn't that how private was always used?

That was the mage, right?

Deciding that the first question was probably stupid and I'd figure out the second on my own, I nodded and kissed my nut's forehead. "Yes, I haven't met Santa because he's very private, and I use private to stop conversations."

I could remember that.

Well, I thought I could until Alick started looking guilty. "And your brother might have to tell Kenzie that of course he doesn't work for Santa, but he has to make it sound like he does. But don't worry, that's just the backup plan and I haven't had to go to those lengths yet."

For fuck's sake.

"Got it. We'll throw Jeff under Santa's sleigh if it comes down to it, but he'll have to pretend not to know anything about it." That would make his year…hell, his entire life. "But it hasn't come down to that just yet."

Alick nodded, looking alarmingly relieved. "Wonderful. Oh, and Kenzie likes you a lot better now."

Because I used to live near Santa.

"Do I want to know what happened between the time you left work and arrived here?" I'd thought he'd just gotten sidetracked running an errand since he wasn't much later than he'd expected to be but that was clearly an incorrect assumption.

Alick crashed into my chest, taking a deep breath. "When he was younger, Kenzie's mother seems to have told him that Santa's sleigh was pulled by dragons because he knew reindeer didn't fly and he was confused."

Oh.

Had no one told him about Santa yet?

Before I could ask, Alick waved his arms and continued the rambling story. "He looked up Whitehorse on the map and then realized where it was. He's convinced the dragons in town work for Santa. Just the self-employed ones, though? Honestly, I'm confused about that part, but I'm not sure it matters."

No, it didn't.

But that wasn't what a good mate would say.

"It might not but it's good to make sure I have as many details as possible so I can stick to the story." Alick seemed to realize I wouldn't have pulled Santa's sleigh, so for the moment, I wasn't going to ask him what he'd thought of that idea. "Was that a conversation you had on the drive home?"

Shaking his head, Alick didn't move away. "No, Kenzie, Lorne, and Stefan met me after work. They were kind of worried."

"About Santa?" I was really going to have to figure out a way to ask about Alick's Santa-related beliefs because it was clear I shouldn't make assumptions about any of it.

"Um, yeah, and the fact that you don't have enough friends, so you might move me back to Canada where you at least have family?" Alick's tone sounded like he thought that was ridiculous, but I waited for the other shoe to drop.

Yep, there was another.

"But I just reminded them that you're part mage and so that makes you naturally grumpy and so you won't like people." Patting my chest before my brain could sort that logic out, Alick actually straightened and kissed my cheek before hiding again. "Don't worry. They know mages love their mates just like dragons."

Well, at least they knew Alick was special to me?

"I'm glad they understand that." I was not as grumpy as they made me out, though. They were just all insane. "But you reminded them that I didn't mind Talon, right? The deputy guy? I'm pretty sure I texted you that."

Alick giggled for some reason. "Kenzie thought it was hot that Talon threatened you. I think they went home and played pretend."

Good grief.

My groan got another giggle from Alick. "And I did point out that you thought Talon was nice or he threatened you really well…something like that."

Insane.

"I'm glad you made it out of the conversation alive, baby boy." My ridiculous response got another silly laugh from him.

"Thank you for defending the castle today, Daddy, and I'm glad you survived too." Snuggling closer instead of hiding, Alick straightened just enough to lay his head on my shoulder. "Were they nice to you? Did you play?"

And we were rapidly descending.

"It depends on your definition, but they didn't threaten to kill me. I can now see all the roads. Oh, and Lorne's Daddy, the dragon with tools, he seems to like me but no one told me his name." I wasn't sure that mattered, though, because I was pretty sure all I had to do was call him Lorne's Daddy and everyone would know who I meant.

And I'd thought Whitehorse was too small.

That was nothing.

"That's wonderful, Daddy." Alick gave me another cheek kiss instead of telling me the name of the Daddy in question. "He's nice and he thinks shenanigans are funny but he doesn't do them. He's a good grown-up."

He liked the chaos but he wouldn't participate?

I could live with that.

"I'll have to work on getting to know him more." Tools meant he worked with his hands too, so that might be something we could connect with. "Was that all they were worried about?"

Alick's shrug didn't give me a lot to work with, but thankfully more words followed. "Kinda. They had worry-thinks about leaving and friends and your art, but I told them that you're my mate and you like me and you like me happy, so we're going to stay since they make me happy, and then we talked about Santa, and oh, we talked about how I don't know about your art but you're a good dragon and you know how to be a mate."

That sounded exhausting…and confusing.

Grabbing the ones I could sort through first, I nodded and kissed his head. "Yes, I'm a good dragon and I know how to treat my mate. We do need to talk about our work stuff but we were discussing other important things, and I really like making you happy."

The giggle that escaped said I was going to be making little Alick happy for a while.

"And I think I can hear a rumbly tummy, so we need to work on feeding you to keep you happy." My silly tone got more laughter but he also nodded, so I knew food had to be top of the list. "How about we pick out dinner and get you cleaned up a bit? You worked hard today."

Alick inched back slowly and scrunched up his face. "Stinky?"

"No." That was easy to answer and I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "You smell like hard work and nice mate smells. But I think you'd be more relaxed if we got you all clean and you could pick out some fun clothes."

And honestly, his scent was giving me ideas I shouldn't be entertaining at the moment.

Perking up again, Alick gave me a beaming smile. "Soup?"

Well, that wasn't related to clothes in any way, but I'd take it.

"That sounds delicious. I saw that you have some dried soup mix packs. How about we pick out one of those?" I'd started cooking up sausage that I thought I'd put in rice, but switching it out to soup wouldn't be a problem.

"And once we have that going, we'll get you in comfy clothes." Of some sort. "Maybe pajamas or your dinosaur T-shirt and the green shorts?"

He'd given me very explicit permission to look through the house but he'd listed off the playroom specifically, so I'd followed his orders. I wasn't going to bring that up at the moment, though. Alick had dealt with enough drama after work and I wasn't going to add to his stress unless he brought it up.

He didn't.

"Oh." Looking pained at the choice, he wiggled from side to side and scrunched up his face. "Um, jammies are for nighttime?"

Judging by his inflection, it seemed to be a question, so I responded that way. "No, jammies are for anytime you want to be comfy. Erin said so."

I shrugged like there was nothing I could do. "It wouldn't be polite for us to argue with her."

"Family." Alick sighed like he understood the problem before straightening dramatically and nodding. "Jammies. Erin said so."

Hmm.

Was it a fun game to say Erin said so, or did having another little say it was fine actually make it fine?

"Perfect. We have a plan." And I had some questions to figure out at some point. "Soup. Scrubbing. Soup."

That got a giggle out of him. "Sssss."

Laughing, I nodded. "Yes, that's what it sounded like."

Taking his hand, I led him back into the house and smiled as he nearly bounced inside, much less stressed than he'd been when he'd run up to the porch. As we got to the kitchen, he plunked himself down at the table and smiled sweetly. "Juice?"

Oh, Daddy was going to be the cooker this time?

"I think that's a very good idea. You worked hard today." It'd been primarily a work at the nursery day and those seemed to be strenuous because of the actual work and because he had to deal with so many locals.

From his explanation, it sounded like he spent half the day lifting and the other half explaining that they really should be following the natural seasons of plants and not fucking with the environment.

It sounded exhausting.

"Sippy or bottle?" Making sure my tone was utterly casual, I pulled my brows together and looked very thoughtful about the decision as I went to the cabinet that held all his cute kitchen stuff.

Alick made a thinking sound but I could see him studying the table and shrugging out of the corner of my eye.

Since I wasn't sure he knew I'd seen him, I continued like there was nothing odd going on at all. "Okay, let's do a sippy cup now so you can do it yourself while I start the soup and then we'll do a bottle and cuddle time later."

When he just stayed silent and the only sound was him shuffling his feet against the floor, I took that as some form of consent and kept rambling as I picked out a green sippy cup that had flowers all over it. "I think I need cuddles tonight because the castle was invaded and the invaders even came around the side of the castle to find me. We might need a moat."

My dramatic sigh got a giggle from Alick. "Hiding?"

"No." Dragging out the word, I shook my head and pretended to look innocent. "I was working. I was just working in the bushes that wrap around because I have an idea for them."

He looked highly suspicious. "Hmm…hiding?"

Chuckling, I looked shocked. "Of course not. I just peeked around the corner when I heard their cars come and went back to my spot. I was working hard and they were technically interrupting."

That got me more laughter as I went over to the fridge and got out the apple juice. "I got my work stuff organized and I brought some of my things inside like we talked about."

Another quick glance showed me his big smile and happy wiggles. "Daddy space. I…I…surprise."

That was not as much of a sentence as he seemed to think it was, but part of that might've been because his giggles were interrupting the actual words. So I did my best to sort through what he might've meant as I brought his cup over and crouched down beside the table. "Hmm, do you have a surprise for me?"

His laughter said I got it right on the nose. "Yes. Kenzie and father and so cute and pictures and yes."

Still not as much information as he thought it was.

"Hmm, did you and Kenzie talk about giving me a surprise? It'll be cute and his father is going to help?" He nodded. I was amazing at the new game he'd designed for us…filling in the blanks like the Daddy version of Mad Libs. "And it has something to do with my work?"

Pretending to be stumped as he snickered and wiggled, I frowned. "I don't know what that could be."

Barely managing to get the words out with all his laughter still bubbling up, he beamed. "Daddy work house. Cute and pretty and worky. Kenzie's big dad will do it. I sooo funny, Daddy."

There was something I was missing.

Yep.

My devious little rubbed his hands together and giggled maniacally. "Sneaky boy."

Well, whatever he'd done he was very proud about, but since it seemed to involve my getting a workspace, I wasn't going to ask too many questions.

"Oh, I think I like having a sneaky boy."

And the laughter was set off again.

It looked like we were going to have an interesting evening.