a multitude of emotions
flitted over his features. Confusion, acceptance, gratitude, and love all
played out until he rewarded her with a big grin, making him look years younger
as he finally came over to sit down.
“This
should be fun,” he exclaimed. “I haven’t done crafts since these two were kids.
Let me tell you, that’s been some time ago.” He laughed, the brothers joining
him.
“How
long ago?” Mandy found herself asking. They were
immortals, yet they didn’t appear to be much older than herself ,
so how old could they possibly be?
“Um,
let me see, they should be turning eight hundred and thirteen this coming year,
I believe.”
Eight
hundred and thirteen, as in years? Would she be capable
of living to see that age?
“I’m
a little younger than these two,” Anna chimed. “I’ll be five-hundred and
sixty-three this year.”
“I
think I’ll skip on the whole age reveal, if you don’t mind,” Garrett mumbled,
drawing a few snickers from the brothers.
“I
guess that makes me the baby of the family, then. I’m only twenty-two,” Mandy
felt a little like an odd-man-out, being the youngest in the crowd, but Nicolas
quickly banished that.
“You’ll
be able to dazzle people with your age eventually. Not that we go around announcing
our age or anything, but you know what I mean.” Nicolas gave her a wink and
began jotting down something on his small slip of paper. “There, my wish is
ready.”
Mandy
quickly explained the project to Garrett, who loved the idea and dove into the
making of his own ornament.
The
day continued with them enjoying all of the things that families did during the
holidays. The women retired to the kitchen for some last minute baking while
the men tried their hand at wrapping. They finished decorating the massive
tree, only pausing for a moment when they realized the top of the tree was
rather bare.
Most
of them were incapable of reaching that high, but the ten foot top was nothing
for Mandy. Using her telekinesis, she managed to perch the star on top and even
hung a few extra ornaments to even out the décor. With the presents littering
the floor all around the tree, their multi-colored wrappings adding to the
holiday cheer, the only thing more dazzling than the array of boxes and bags
was the lights twinkling once Garrett turned them on.
“There.”
Anna clapped. “It’s perfect!”
“This
is quite nice, indeed,” Garrett added. “But now all little girls and boys
should be retiring to their beds for the night.”
Mandy
smiled as Nicolas and Jonathan rolled their eyes. It was clear to see how much
the three men cared for one another. There were no hugs, no words of
endearment, but you could see it in their eyes every time they looked at each
other.
“Mandy,
are you ready to head to bed?” Nicolas’ husky voice drew a blush to her cheeks
and she couldn’t help but smile at him.
“Sure.”
She rose from her seat and accepted his hand, allowing him to lead her from the
room. At the top of the stairs, he turned to the left and Mandy frowned. “Where
are we going?”
“To
our room,” he replied, as if the answer should be obvious.
“But,
my room was the other way.”
“Our
room is down here,” his emphasis on the word finally sank in.
Mandy
supposed that it was rather silly to think that she would remain in a room
separate from his now that they were an official couple. With butterflies in
her tummy, she followed Nicolas down the long hallway to the arched doorway at
the end.
While
most of the doors in the castle had been modernized with regular doorknobs,
this one still boasted an ornate—and clearly antique—iron ring where the knob
should be. The wood was stained a dark brown, yet obviously older than the
other doors along the hall.
“This
is a little different from the room you were in before. My room is two
flitted over his features. Confusion, acceptance, gratitude, and love all
played out until he rewarded her with a big grin, making him look years younger
as he finally came over to sit down.
“This
should be fun,” he exclaimed. “I haven’t done crafts since these two were kids.
Let me tell you, that’s been some time ago.” He laughed, the brothers joining
him.
“How
long ago?” Mandy found herself asking. They were
immortals, yet they didn’t appear to be much older than herself ,
so how old could they possibly be?
“Um,
let me see, they should be turning eight hundred and thirteen this coming year,
I believe.”
Eight
hundred and thirteen, as in years? Would she be capable
of living to see that age?
“I’m
a little younger than these two,” Anna chimed. “I’ll be five-hundred and
sixty-three this year.”
“I
think I’ll skip on the whole age reveal, if you don’t mind,” Garrett mumbled,
drawing a few snickers from the brothers.
“I
guess that makes me the baby of the family, then. I’m only twenty-two,” Mandy
felt a little like an odd-man-out, being the youngest in the crowd, but Nicolas
quickly banished that.
“You’ll
be able to dazzle people with your age eventually. Not that we go around announcing
our age or anything, but you know what I mean.” Nicolas gave her a wink and
began jotting down something on his small slip of paper. “There, my wish is
ready.”
Mandy
quickly explained the project to Garrett, who loved the idea and dove into the
making of his own ornament.
The
day continued with them enjoying all of the things that families did during the
holidays. The women retired to the kitchen for some last minute baking while
the men tried their hand at wrapping. They finished decorating the massive
tree, only pausing for a moment when they realized the top of the tree was
rather bare.
Most
of them were incapable of reaching that high, but the ten foot top was nothing
for Mandy. Using her telekinesis, she managed to perch the star on top and even
hung a few extra ornaments to even out the décor. With the presents littering
the floor all around the tree, their multi-colored wrappings adding to the
holiday cheer, the only thing more dazzling than the array of boxes and bags
was the lights twinkling once Garrett turned them on.
“There.”
Anna clapped. “It’s perfect!”
“This
is quite nice, indeed,” Garrett added. “But now all little girls and boys
should be retiring to their beds for the night.”
Mandy
smiled as Nicolas and Jonathan rolled their eyes. It was clear to see how much
the three men cared for one another. There were no hugs, no words of
endearment, but you could see it in their eyes every time they looked at each
other.
“Mandy,
are you ready to head to bed?” Nicolas’ husky voice drew a blush to her cheeks
and she couldn’t help but smile at him.
“Sure.”
She rose from her seat and accepted his hand, allowing him to lead her from the
room. At the top of the stairs, he turned to the left and Mandy frowned. “Where
are we going?”
“To
our room,” he replied, as if the answer should be obvious.
“But,
my room was the other way.”
“Our
room is down here,” his emphasis on the word finally sank in.
Mandy
supposed that it was rather silly to think that she would remain in a room
separate from his now that they were an official couple. With butterflies in
her tummy, she followed Nicolas down the long hallway to the arched doorway at
the end.
While
most of the doors in the castle had been modernized with regular doorknobs,
this one still boasted an ornate—and clearly antique—iron ring where the knob
should be. The wood was stained a dark brown, yet obviously older than the
other doors along the hall.
“This
is a little different from the room you were in before. My room is two
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