Chapter Ten

Gage

“We need a Christmas tree!”

Gage paused where he’d been drying himself off in front of the mirror. He’d chosen the blue decorated bathroom again. Gage really liked the space and using magic, he’d added small little touches just for him. Maybe magic wasn’t as bad as he’d thought.

Who was he kidding? Gage loved magic. Magic was giving Gage the life he’d wanted but never imagined possible.

“Did you hear me?” Cary demanded from the open door.

“You’re letting the cold air in.”

Cary huffed as he stepped into the bathroom but at least he closed the door. Gage went back to drying himself before he reached for his boxers.

“Gage!” Cary crossed the room to heft himself to sit on the long vanity.

“You want a Christmas tree,” he said. Gage pulled on the boxers, black lounge pants, and T-shirt. He hung the towel on the hook by the shower before walking back to the counter.

“Where did all this come from?” Cary tapped the comb that Gage was reaching for.

“Magic.” He grinned at his mate. Gage loved knowing that when he thought the word mate that it was real now. They were claimed. He’d admired his two marks that morning in the mirror for at least ten minutes.

Cary rolled his eyes. “What about the Christmas tree?”

“Just magic up whatever you want,” Gage told him. He combed his hair, his gaze catching on the mark visible on the right side where his shirt collar had slid down.

Cary grumbled.

Setting the comb down, Gage gave his full attention to his mate. Something was going on more than Cary just making demands. He placed his palm on Cary’s knee and squeezed. “What’s the matter?”

“That’s what Lucifer said. He told me that I could make as many trees as I wanted.”

Gage wasn’t seeing the problem. “And?”

“I don’t want to use magic. I want to decorate the tree like we always do.”

He was beginning to understand. “You want the decorations from the attic?”

“They were my grandma’s,” Cary replied. “We always use them.”

“We’ll get them,” Gage promised. “I’ll talk to Lucifer. We’ll do a whole tree-trimming party tonight. Just the three of us.”

Cary started to play with Gage’s fingers. A nervous little tic that Gage knew meant Cary was doubting himself.

“Hey.” Gage cupped Cary’s face. “It’s a good idea. We’ll have fun.”

“You don’t think Lucifer will mind?”

“Are you kidding me?” Gage kissed the tip of Cary’s nose. “You’ve seen how much Luc loves this month. He’s freaking Satan Claus. This is something special that we can share with him.”

Cary nodded. “We can get the decorations from the attic?”

“And our chest. I know you can make your own toys here. Or play with the ones Lucifer has. But you want your own.”

“Yeah.”

“No problem,” Gage said. He would do whatever he needed to make his mate smile again. He brushed his hands down Cary’s neck to caress the marks.

Cary shuddered.

“How are you feeling?”

“Wonderful,” Cary replied. “We finally did it. We’re true mates.”

“Yeah, baby.” Gage kissed Cary gently. “We are true mates. Now let’s go find our other mate and plan our night.”

Cary jumped off the counter as he linked his fingers with Gage’s and tugged. Gage allowed himself to be dragged behind.

“Do you even know where Lucifer is?” Gage asked as they entered their bedroom.

“Doesn’t matter,” Cary told him. “When I open the bedroom door, we’ll enter whatever room he is in.”

“Magic,” Gage quipped. “Couldn’t you have done that from the bathroom?”

Cary paused with his hand on the knob. He flushed. “I forgot. I’m still learning how all this magic works.”

“I know, baby. I was just teasing.”

“K!” Cary swung the door open. They entered Lucifer’s workshop where he often was. Their mate was really obsessed with making sure that he didn’t disappoint one child. “I found you!”

Lucifer lifted his head from where he was bent over, reading. “Were you looking long? If you just tell the house—”

“That’s how I found you!” Cary let go of Gage’s hand before racing across the room. “I’m going to be so good at magic!”

Gage laughed as Cary literally pushed Lucifer’s chair back to climb onto his lap. Lucifer didn’t react other than pulling Cary closer.

“You will be great at magic. What are you up to now?”

“Gage wants to talk to you,” Cary told him.

Really? This was going to be all on him? He rolled his eyes as he crossed the room.

“Is something wrong?” Lucifer asked. “Do you not like the house? We can change anything—”

Leaning over the desk, Gage silenced Lucifer with a kiss. He swiped along Lucifer’s bottom lip before plunging his tongue inside his mouth. Gage kissed Lucifer until all the tension was gone. He pulled back but kept his hand on Lucifer’s cheek.

“We are happy here. We have everything we need and if something does come up, we’ll come to you or use the magic of the house,” Gage assured him.

“Got it.” Lucifer grinned.

“I need to go back to Cary’s house. Could you transport me? Bel is still there, right?”

“Go back?” Lucifer’s stress was evident.

Gage gave Lucifer another kiss. “We’re having an old-fashioned tree-trimming party tonight. We’re going play Christmas music, sip on eggnog, and decorate a tree.”

Lucifer looked at Cary. “This is what you meant by wanting a tree? I’m sorry, mate. I should have asked more questions.”

“It’s okay. It would make sense to magic up a tree.”

“But that’s not your tradition,” Lucifer said. “I want to do it your way.”

“Great.” Gage was relieved that Lucifer understood how much this meant to Cary. “So, you can transport me? And hopefully all the boxes, because there are a lot of them.”

“I can come help,” Cary offered.

Gage didn’t want Cary anywhere near the house until he was certain that the clowder’s control on the town was really gone. “How about you chose the room for the tree? Get everything ready for tonight.”

“I can do that,” Cary said excitedly.

He met Lucifer’s gaze, who nodded. Lucifer would keep Cary busy.

“Let me do this.” Lucifer held out his palm. He closed his eyes, and a gold coin appeared. Lucifer opened his eyes before passing the coin to Gage. “Just hold this coin and think of where you want to be. Be very specific. Like imagine Cary’s living room or our bedroom.”

Gage flipped the coin in the air before catching it and slipping it into his pocket. “Perfect.”

“For the boxes, just place your hand on them and wish them here. They’ll be transported. It is much easier to move objects than people. Don’t try to transport anyone but yourself. It’s possible but it can get messy.”

“Understood.” Gage kissed Lucifer then Cary. “I’ll be back.”

“Be careful,” Cary told him.

“Bel knows to expect you,” Lucifer said.

“I’ll be back soon.” Gage pulled his coin back out. He rubbed the face of it as he wished himself in Cary’s living room.

His ears popped but he was instantly standing in the living room that was so familiar to him.

“All your bits and pieces together?” Bel asked from the couch.

Gage gave himself a once-over. “I think so.”

“First time transporting can be messy,” Bel told him with a wide grin.

“Luc said transporting someone else could get messy,” Gage commented.

“He probably didn’t want to worry you.” Bel rose. “Congratulations!”

Gage frowned. “On transporting? I didn’t think it was that big of a deal.”

Bel laughed. “It is but I meant on your mating. Or should I say matings.”

“You can tell?” Gage was pretty sure his marks were hidden under his shirt.

“The marks glow,” Bel informed him. “Any paranormal creature will see them even if they are covered.”

Huh. Gage liked that. “Cool.” He peered around the room. Everything looked in place except for the piles of papers on the coffee table. “How are things going here?”

Bel looked down at the pile as well. “I have called in every mage that I know. The amount of cleansing that is needed is testing even the best of them. The ley lines have been depleted and torn.”

“And the humans? Are they being affected?”

“Unfortunately, they have been. With the magic being yanked away, it is easy to see who was relying on it. The other humans seemed to be thriving.”

“Basically, if they were cheating by being mixed up in what they shouldn’t have been, then they’re suffering the consequences.”

“Yes.”

Gage paced across the room. On top of the television sat an old photo that he knew well. He lifted it up and smiled. He and Cary when they’d been around ten and had decided to play baseball for one of the little leagues. Gage had been a natural thanks to his shifter genes but couldn’t have cared less about actually playing. He joined because that was what Cary wanted. Cary had tried his best, but he had never been the most coordinated kid. The coach had ended up cutting Cary from the team and Gage had gone with him. Cary’s grandma had taken the picture from one of the only games that Cary had played in. He’d struck out every time at bat.

That gave Gage the idea that he should also take some of their personal objects back with him as well. He sent the picture to Cary, making the wish that it would end up in Cary’s hands.

His phone rang immediately.

Gage laughed as he pulled his cell from his pocket. “Hello, mate.”

“I want all the pictures!”

Bel laughed as he could clearly hear Cary’s excitement.

“I don’t think that we should take them all,” Gage said. “We’ll want some of them here when we visit.”

“Oh sure. Can you send a few of my grandparents? And maybe one of my mom?”

“Already on it. Just make sure that you have everything ready for tonight.”

“I will! Love you!”

“Love you too!” Gage hung up the phone.

Bel was nodding at him. “That was brilliant. I’m sure the pictures will make your mate feel more at home.”

“That’s the plan.” Gage rolled his shoulder as he met Bel’s gaze. “Have you seen my parents?”

Bel’s smile fell away.

Gage’s gut clenched.

Bel sighed. “They rejected the feline alpha that came down and offered them a place with his clowder. They’ve chosen to remain here. And are still defending Stan Fisher and the actions of the clowder.”

“Of course they are.” It was too much to ask that they’d stayed for him.

“I’m sorry, Gage.” Bel grasped his shoulder. “I too understand what it feels like to be thrown away by your parental figures.”

Gage realized that he really didn’t know anything about Bel other than him being one of Lucifer’s oldest and dearest friends. “Not something that I would wish upon anyone. Thanks for telling me.”

“No problem.”

“I need to head up to the attic,” Gage said with a shudder.

“I can do it for you,” Bel offered.

For a demon, Bel was a really nice person. “I need to pick the right boxes, or Cary will throw a fit. I wouldn’t mind company though.”

“Why don’t you try transporting up there? Practice is good.”

“Sure.” Gage removed the coin from his pocket. He rubbed the face of it as he thought about the attic.

He popped right into the attic. Bel was already there, kneeling by the salt circle he and Cary had left behind. Bel rubbed, breaking the circle.

“I didn’t know this was here. I would have cleaned it up. You should never leave summoning circles around.”

“I forgot about that,” Gage admitted. He laughed as Bel frowned up at him. “We tried summoning a demon to keep me from being married off to a woman. We ended up with Lucifer instead.”

“Probably a good thing. Demons do not appreciate being summoned.”

“We were desperate, but it was wrong. I’m glad it didn’t work.” He wondered if Bel had ever been summoned. As a high-ranking demon, he would be sought after. It was probably rude to ask.

Bel waved his hand and all evidence of their summoning disappeared.

“Thanks.”

“We are looking for Christmas decorations?” Bel questioned.

“At least for the tree,” Gage told him. “I don’t think that we need all the boxes. Cary’s grandma always went all out for the holiday. She would decorate the house from top to bottom. Cary and I mostly concentrated on the tree and front room. All the decorations should be in a couple of boxes. I’m just not sure which ones. Cary likes to move things around.”

“I’ll help you look through them. I don’t see any labeled.”

“That would have been smart,” Gage admitted. He wandered over to the corner where he thought he might have put the boxes after they’d cleaned up the last year. As he passed Cary’s blue chest, he touched it, sending the chest to land at the foot of their bed in Lucifer’s realm.

Cary’s little belongings would be something that they added to. Now that they had their very own Daddy, there were items that Cary had always wanted to try. Lucifer seemed the type to overly spoil his boys and Cary deserved the world. Gage would send a few hints Lucifer’s way. Christmas was coming soon.

Bel unfolded the top of a box, so Gage went back in search of the decorations he needed. Gage would not disappoint his mate. He also couldn’t wait to share and begin a new tradition with Lucifer.

He cheered as he found the first box he’d been searching for.

* * * * *

Lucifer

Cary had decided to make Lucifer’s office into the room that they decorated. Lucifer spent most of his time there and the magic had turned the corner of the room into the perfect play spot for a little. There were even carpeted shelves high on the walls that Cary informed him would be perfect when Gage turned furry.

Lucifer was impressed with the ease that Cary was making the room perfect to become one of their favorite spaces to be together.

Sitting at his desk, Lucifer couldn’t keep his attention on the blood book in front of him, as Cary’s happiness was quite contagious.

“Oh no!” Cary stopped in the middle of the room.

Lucifer leapt from his chair. He was by his mate’s side in a moment. “What’s wrong?”

Cary peered up at him. “I’m so dumb!”

“You are not,” Lucifer replied fiercely. He lifted Cary into his arms. “I won't have you talking about yourself that way.”

“I forgot the most important thing,” Cary told him.

Lucifer peered around the room. Cary had placed mistletoe above the door that led to his workshop. All three of them had a stocking hanging above the fireplace. Cary had been very happy about designing those. Candles lined the mantle as well. “What are we missing?”

“The freaking tree!” Cary exclaimed.

Lucifer blinked. The tree. Gage had been sending the boxes of ornaments for the tree that they didn’t even have. “Do we have to go cut one down?” Lucifer could do that. They’d have to travel to the human realm since his plane didn’t have anything that would fit a traditional Christmas tree.

Cary laughed. “I don’t think so. We normally bought one from a tree lot. I don't suppose we have those here.”

“No, baby. Maybe we could use magic for the actual tree? We’ll still decorate it by hand.”

“That means that I can’t pick it out. Gage always let me pick the one I wanted. Or the one that we could afford. That was my job!”

Yep, they were headed to the human realm.

“Wait!” Cary kissed his cheek before he jumped out of his arms. He raced over to Lucifer’s desk. “Can I use your laptop?”

“You may,” Lucifer said, very interested in what Cary had in mind.

“I can find a picture of my very perfect tree on the internet. We can make it once I know what it looks like exactly. This is even better than settling for a tree within our price range. I can have whatever I want!” He sat at the desk before he started typing on the keyboard.

Lucifer had the very bad feeling that he might have messed up.

He strolled over to his desk. Lifting his mate. Cary didn’t stop searching for the tree as Lucifer settled, placing Cary on his lap.

Two more boxes appeared in front of the fire.

That was at least a dozen. Luckily, they weren’t large boxes. Maybe Lucifer needed to make the whole room bigger to give Cary more space to decorate.

Gage appeared in the middle of the room, appearing quite mussed. Spending a couple of hours going through boxes would do that to someone.

“Hello, mates,” Gage said.

Lucifer smiled at his mate. “Hey, glad you made it back okay.”

Gage snorted. “Bel seemed surprised that you let me transport by myself. He said beginners could be messy.”

“I had protections built into the coin. You don’t actually need the coin. You could have transported on your own. It was my way of keeping you safe.”

“I appreciate that. I think I’ll keep my coin,” Gage quipped. He strolled across the room. “Hello, Cary. Earth to Cary!”

As soon as Gage was close enough, Lucifer snagged him around the waist and pulled him in for a kiss. Gage didn’t disappoint. He slipped his tongue along Lucifer’s before sucking on Lucifer’s bottom lip. He eased back and winked. “Hello again.”

“We missed you,” Lucifer told him.

Gage winked. “Did you both?” He poked at Cary’s back.

Cary waved his hand. “Busy.”

“Looking at trees?” Gage asked after peering over Cary’s shoulder.

“We realized that we were missing the tree to decorate,” Lucifer explained. “Cary thought it would be easier if he found the perfect tree on the internet to picture. I considered taking him to one of those tree lots he mentioned but he seemed happy with this.”

Gage groaned. “Did you give him any limits? Parameters?”

“No, the house can accommodate any tree he picks.”

“Too many options,” Gage said before pulling the chair, jerking both Lucifer and Cary from the desk.

“Hey!” Cary flung his hands in the air.

Lucifer held on tight so Cary didn’t fall.

Gage knelt in front of the chair and took Cary’s hands. “Hey, baby.”

Cary blinked as if clearing his vision. “Hi! When did you get back?”

“Just now,” Gage replied gently.

Watching his two mates was eye-opening. Little pieces of a puzzle that Lucifer hadn’t mastered yet.

“We need a tree.” Cary attempted to turn back to the laptop.

“What kind of tree?” Gage asked.

“A big one!”

“How big? How many feet?”

“At least ten feet,” Cary answered.

“Great. Ten feet. How bushy?”

Cary hummed. “Like the one we had two years ago.”

“Perfect. Can you filter your search and narrow down the options?”

“Yes! Good idea!” Cary bounced around. “That will make it much easier.”

“Okay. You have thirty minutes. I’m going to jump in the shower. I need the tree to be here when I get out.”

Cary glanced at his watch. “Thirty minutes starting now!”

“Thanks, baby.” Gage kissed him before he moved the chair back in place. He gripped the back of Lucifer’s neck.

Lucifer lifted a brow, quite impressed.

“Christmas decorating brings out his little side,” Gage said. “When he’s little, it’s really easy for him to fixate on things. It’s better to give him limits.”

“Thanks.” Lucifer had a lot to learn about his mates but that was the fun of relationships. At least he had an amazing partner to help him along the way.

“No problem.” Gage gave him a quick kiss. “I’m going to hop in the shower.”

“Thirty minutes,” Lucifer reminded him.

“That’s right, Daddy. You better keep an eye on the baby. He’s a tricky one.”

“I think both my boys are.” Lucifer smacked Gage’s ass as he turned away.

“You wouldn’t have it any other way,” Gage taunted.

No, his mates were perfect just the way they were. Lucifer did keep an eye on Cary even though he didn’t know what he was looking for. Cary didn’t need his help. Lucifer couldn’t even get Cary to answer him as he searched for the perfect tree.

* * * * *

Cary

He had picked the bestest most wonderful tree ever! Cary should always be in charge on the tree from now on. It was now his responsibility. He’d tell his mates later. When they weren’t staring at the gigantic tree in shock.

“I told you to watch him!” Gage accused.

Lucifer threw his hands up in the air. “I was!”

“That means keeping him to the limits that we establish.” Gage pushed at Lucifer’s shoulder. “You are the Daddy!”

Cary didn’t really care what they were arguing about. They had a whole new problem. He turned to his mates. “We’re going to need more decorations.”

“This was why the tree was supposed to be ten feet. Not fourteen,” Gage told him.

Oh! He’d gone bigger than he had planned. “But this is the bestest tree ever.”

“Where is the eggnog? I need me some nogg. This going to take forever to decorate.”

Cary bounced. It totally was. They could spend all night putting every ornament in the perfect spot.

Lucifer waved his hand, and they were all holding a glass of eggnog. Christmas music began to play. The curtains opened, revealing the front of the house with lights sparkling in the snow. The entire street was decorated.

Cary squealed. “Perfect.”

Gage downed his eggnog before he stole Cary’s and finished that off as well. Cary didn’t really care. He wanted to get started right away.

“Lights, Gage.”

Gage set the two empty cups down on a table before he took Lucifer’s as well. “More rum,” he said. Then he downed Lucifer’s drink before handing Lucifer the empty cup back. “Did I mention I have to do all the parts that Cary doesn’t like? And also finish when he gets bored and decides he wants to play instead of decorating?”

“No, you didn’t mention that,” Lucifer replied. He peered down at the empty cup. “More nogg?”

“Heavy on the alcohol,” Gage quipped.

“Music up!” Cary shouted as he danced over to the boxes that came from his attic.

“That’s pretty loud,” Gage yelled.

Cary ignored him. He carefully began to remove the treasured ornaments that had been passed down from his grandma.

He looked up as Lucifer and Gage started to stretch out the lights. That was the boring part of the job. Hanging the ornaments was much more fun!

A lot of the ornaments were ones that he or Gage had made when they’d been in elementary school. Some even before they knew how to spell very well. Cary giggled. Gage had really hated school.

He set the decorations in a row as he looked over to his mates where they were supposed to be putting the lights on the tree. Did they need more lights?

Gage was chugging another glass of eggnog.

Lucifer stood in front of the tree with his hands on his hips as he smiled.

Wait! “Did you cheat?”

“Magic.” Gage said with a burp.

“You are supposed to decorate the tree yourselves.” He stomped his foot. “No cheating!”

Gage rolled his eyes.

“Daddy!”

Lucifer looked between the two of them. “I understand, baby boy. We just thought the quicker that we finished the lights, the sooner you could place the first decoration. Are you ready?”

Okay, that was smart thinking. “Thanks, Daddy!”

Gage huffed. “Thanks, Daddy?”

Cary ignored his mate as he skipped over to Lucifer and showed him the trees that they’d painted in the fifth grade. “Look at how good I was at painting. That’s Gage’s. I had to finish it for him because he snuck out of class to climb a tree.”

“Tattletale!” Gage accused.

Cary stuck his tongue out.

Lucifer laughed. He held both ornaments in his hand as he closed his eyes. He smiled.

“What’s he doing?” Gage asked then slurped more eggnog.

“Your gonna make yourself sick,” Cary warned.

“I was able to see the scene play out.” Lucifer handed him back the decorations. “You were both adorable kids.”

“We were!” Cary raised to the tree. Spotting the perfect space, he bounced on his toes. “Lift me up, Daddy!”

“Sure, my boy.” Lucifer picked Cary up around the waist.

“There!” He directed his Daddy where he wanted to put the ornaments. Christmas was the best holiday! Cary wished it came more than once a year. Maybe, possibly, he could talk Lucifer into a Christmas in July? Gage would tell him no, but Lucifer loved Christmas as much as Cary did!