Page 26 of New Beginning

“It’s not just a pine tree! It’s a spruce. At least ten feet of Norwegian spruce,” Teddy argued. “It brings light into the house.”

“I hate needles. They get everywhere. In the rug, in my boots—I am a demon, Teddy, I’m not sweeping up needles until February.”

“I’ll sweep them up!”

“You don’t even have a physical broom!”

“Then conjure me one!” Teddy stood up, crossing his arms and glaring down at Mikkel. “If I’m risking eternal damnation to stay here with you, the absolute least you can do is let me buy a tree. With lights. The house wants one.”

The lights flickered.

“See?” Teddy said.

“That could mean—no way!”

Teddy said nothing, just raised his eyebrows. The lights flickered more fiercely.

Mikkel stared at him, then sighed. “A small one,” he growled quietly, though the corners of his mouth twitched. “Five feet.”

“Fifteen.” Teddy stepped closer.

“It was ten a moment ago.”

“I might be dead but I’m still ambitious.”

Mikkel reached up, catching Teddy’s wrist and pulling him back down into his lap. “Anything you want.”

Teddy finally let out a shaky laugh, resting his forehead against Mikkel’s. “Twenty feet it is then.”

Mikkel growled.

~~~

That night, Mikkel took Teddy to Sparlow Garden Centre to get a Christmas tree. He could have conjured one up, but he was going to have to learn to do a few things differently now Teddy was around. Doing everything himself would build a wall between them. Much better to share what he could with Teddy. Doing things together would be fun. Though in time, Teddy would become a force to be reckoned with. Mikkel’s only worry was that he might not be able to keep him.

His other reason for going to the garden centre was to talk to Osian and Drum, except he needed Teddy out of the way for that. He was coping with enough at the moment without understanding quite how different Sparlow was. Teddy was quite happy to be sent to look for decorations for the tree, so Mikkel was able to explain what he hoped to achieve to Osian and Drum. They’d agreed to help him and while Mikkel hoped he never needed that help, he felt a sense of ease he’d not had for a long time. It wouldn’t hurt to be ready for what the future might bring.

“Did you pay for the decorations?” Teddy asked as they headed out of the garden centre.

“I’ll settle up with Drum later. Oh my…”

Mikkel slammed to a halt when he saw the size of the Christmas tree in the back of his truck.

Teddy laughed. “There’s no way you can get that in the house. Even if I help.”

“I’ll manage.” Mikkel put the bags of decorations on the back seat.

“I didn’t get anywhere near enough for a tree that size.”

“Don’t worry. The house will sort that out.”

“I love your house. It’s like the best-ever mother and father. And I love you too.”

Mikkel glanced across at him as he set off. Teddy’s cheeks were flushed, his eyes bright. He was so beautiful he would have taken Mikkel’s breath away if his words hadn’t already done that.

It was snowing lightly as he pulled up at the front of the house. Hmm. He hadn’t made it snow.

“I was just hoping it would snow,” Teddy said.