Page 9 of Tipped in Frost and Blood
Anna’s laughter filled the greenhouse. “It’s not parsley.”
She bit her lip in concentration as she pulled the plant up, and my eyes widened at the sight of the purple carrot.
I blinked. “Why is it purple?”
“There’s all sorts of colors in this mix. They’re heirloom carrots. This variety is called a Cosmic Purple. Try pulling one up.”
I reached out to one, and she continued feeding me instructions. “Just get a good grip on the base of the stem so it doesn’t break off. If it’s too deeply rooted, we can use the fork to loosen the soil.”
Excitement swelled in my chest as I wrapped my fingers around the ferns and pulled. I squeaked, nearly falling back as it slid out of the soil easier than I expected and my eyes popped at the sight of the rich red carrot.
“Ah! An Atomic Red,” Anna exclaimed, smiling as she set her carrot into a basket.
“How many did you plant?” I asked as I handed it to her.
“I planted a hundred and eighty seeds,” she said as she and Vincent got to work, pulling carrots of all different colors from the soil. “We’ll store a good amount of them in the root cellar, some will be used for the Solstice celebration, and we’ll gift the excess to The Order to help feed displaced families.”
“Solstice celebration?” I asked, and Vincent’s eyes lit up.
“We don’t celebrate Christmas, but we have a winter celebration of our own, celebrating the end of the harvest season and the rest of winter,” Anna explained.
The idea intrigued me, and I loved that they grew food not only for themselves, but for others as well. “Well, I’m here to help as long as I can.”
“Perfect,” Anna said, reaching for another carrot. “Because I’ve also got broccoli, greens, and some winter squash ready for harvest.”
I reached for another carrot top, excited to see just what color I would find this time.
“What are you doing for Christmas?” Kat asked on the other end of the line as I paced back and forth at the foot of the bed. Damien had been on patrol for the last few hours, and I’d tried to lose myself in conversation for the last half hour. Was this what my life was like now? Nearly every night trapped in a state of fear and worry for Damien’s safety?
“I honestly have no idea,” I said, caught between Christmas and the immortals’ Winter Solstice celebration. How did they celebrate it? Was it the same day as Christmas or different? I wanted to get Damien something for Christmas, but did they exchange gifts like we did? Would that be strange? Would it be weird for a human to join in on an immortal holiday?
My stomach twisted, and I began to fear that my presence might somehow be improper or get in the way. “What areyouplanning?”
“I don’t think my parents are passing back through until after the first of the year, but honestly, I haven’t talked to them for months. So, as of right now, I might be spending it alone.”
“Still not getting along with them?” I asked before taking a sip of my tea, the warmth filling my stomach in the most delicious way.
“Yep. Last time we talked, it just ended in another fight,” Kat said with a sigh. “It’s honestly been nice not having them around.”
I winced at the thought that their relationship was so bad, she felt relief in their absence.
An uncomfortable energy had built between my parents and me after I’d moved in with Damien so suddenly. Was it naïve and foolish? Probably, but there was nowhere I felt safer, and just the thought of setting foot in my apartment was enough to bring on a panic attack.
They could burn it to the ground for all I cared.
Mom had always been the understanding one, attempting to give me the room to make my own decisions as an adult. She always remained calm and sweet when we spoke. Dad, on the other hand, was frustrated with me, to say the least. He’d tried to be amicable after I’d moved in with Damien, but it hadn’t lasted. I’d already gotten into it with him just a few days ago, when he’d tried to talk me into moving back in with them—panicked over the three days I’d avoided them after I’d killed Marcus.
How was I going to smooth things out? How could I assure them I was better off here, with Damien? Not only was I safer, but they were as well. They wouldn’t understand. There was no way to tell them, not when they couldn’t know the truth.
Melantha, the darkling queen, wanted me. For what, we didn’t know, and if I lived with my parents, they might get caught in the middle of this war. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing them, of them suffering the fate so many had.
“I’m so sorry they’re like that.”
“Eh. I don’t let it ruin my sleep, and you shouldn’t either.”
Maybe we could invite her to spend Christmas with us, so she wasn’t alone. I frowned then—Damien and the others didn’t celebrate Christmas. Maybe I’d go spend it with her? Or maybe she would plan something with Cody?
“How’re things with Cody?” I asked.
