Page 21 of Forged

Not that an Imbolc feast and ceremony in Hawthorne House’s forge was a hot date. But it was definitely a chance for him and Nick to connect on a higher level. He knew for a fact that Mrs. Turner had taken Jordan and Macy for the night, which meant he very well could have Nick all to himself for a significant amount of time. Part of him wondered if he should pack lube and condoms in his ceremonial bag along with candles and incense, but that would have been rushing way ahead of himself.

He did think about it, though.

Just as the sun was setting, he donned his coat and made his way down to the forge, filled with a sense that anything could happen. Whether Nick was fully aware of his sexuality or not, Bax was convinced he had a chance. Tonight was the night when he could?—

His hopeful thoughts were cut short by the sound of multiple people laughing and chattering on the other side of the curtains of canvas that protected the old forge from the elements. The voices were happy and they definitely belonged to members of the Hawthorne family, but they made a weight of disappointment descend on Bax’s shoulders. He hadn’t realized anyone else had been invited to the celebration. So much for being alone with Nick for the evening.

“There he is,” Rhys greeted him as soon as Bax slipped under the canvas serving as a door. “We’ve been waiting for you.”

“Yeah, you’re the one who has to show us how to do this,” Blaine said, coming over to give Bax a hug.

Bax forced himself to laugh and smile at the forge filled with people. Blaine was there with Alfie and Rhys had broughtEarly, of course. Rebecca was there with Claudia and Nigel, the two people she was dating. Robbie and Toby were over by one of the tables, helping themselves to punch from a bowl that looked like it belonged at a nineteen-thirties dinner party. Nally was nibbling from a charcuterie board on one of the other tables. And to Bax’s surprise, Rafe, who he’d thought was still in America doing a glassblowing internship, was there talking to Nick by the forge.

They all turned to Bax and called out greetings as Blaine drew him farther into the cozy comfort of the forge.

“Isn’t this fantastic?” Blaine asked as Bax veered to the side to put his ceremonial bag down. “Nick invited us all. He said it was important for you to have a coven around you for holidays like this.”

“I don’t know the first thing about Paganism, but I’m willing to give it a go,” Nally said with a bright grin. “It’s actually really cool.”

“Pagans have orgies and things with their rituals, don’t they?” Nigel asked.

“Shut up, Nigel,” Rebecca giggled, slapping his arm. She looked like she might be up for anything, though.

“I have it on good authority that Pagans don’t always have orgies with every ceremony or ritual,” Nick said, moving away from whatever was cooking in a Dutch oven on the forge’s fire and coming to join Bax at the table.

“That’s no fun,” Robbie said, elbowing Toby as the two of them grinned at each other over their crystal punch cups.

“I hope you don’t mind,” Nick told Bax in a quieter voice as Bax started unpacking his ceremonial elements. “I read up on Paganism, and the internet says that covens are up to thirteen people, and that they’re essential for ceremonies like this. I asked around, and the family was excited to be here to support you.”

Bax could have complained that he just wanted to spend time with Nick. He could have said it didn’t really matter how many people you had for a holiday ritual and that plenty of people practiced solo. But the hope that glittered in Nick’s eyes as he smiled at Bax, brimming with energy, was way too endearing for Bax to complain.

“No, this is great,” he said, meaning it to a certain degree. “The forge looks amazing.”

He and Nick looked around together. Someone, possibly Nick, had decorated the space with evergreen boughs, but also with flowers that looked like they’d been purchased from a corner market. The feast was laid out like the two of them were hosting a small party. Aside from the charcuterie board and punch, there were buns that looked freshly baked, some sort of soup that was staying warm on a hot plate, and whatever was cooking in the Dutch oven smelled amazing.

“I had a little help with the decorations,” Nick said with a wry grin. “Jordan insisted on being in charge of the flowers.”

He nodded to one corner of the forge, where crushed flower petals had been strewn haphazardly over a few of the stools.

Bax laughed, more out of pure tenderness of heart that Nick would go to all the effort than because it was actually funny.

“Where are the kiddos tonight?” Blaine asked, leaning on the opposite side of the table from where Bax had finished taking everything out of his ceremonial bag and laying it out.

“Oh, my mum has them,” Nick said, going suddenly stiff.

“Again?” Rebecca asked, coming to stand with them. She picked up one of the special painted candles and examined it with an impressed face.

Nick sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. “She wants to spend more time with them,” he said.

The rest of the family gathered around the table as Bax set up his altar and positioned the candles the way he wanted them,like the ritual might start any minute and they didn’t want to miss it.

“I just got back from the States and I’ve hardly had any time to see my nephew and niece,” Rafe said. “How often does your mum take the kids?”

“A couple times a week,” Nick said. He paused, far too tense for the tone of the conversation, then blurted out, “She wants to take them permanently.”

The reaction from the other Hawthornes was instant.

“What?”

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