Page 23 of The Krampus's First Christmas Gift

Jasper exhaled, wrapping his arms around her. “You’re right, Kali. No need to stress. We just got here. We have time.”

Determined to relax, Jasper lay down on the pile of furs with his fox familiar. Kali closed her eyes and slept. Jasper kept his eyes on the cave entrance, waiting for Kraghol to appear. But eventually his eyelids grew heavy.

Chapter

Thirteen

The krampus waited amongst the trees. Jasper and Kali stood in the entrance to his cave. The little human turned his head and scanned the forest. But Kraghol remained too well hidden to be seen.

After several moments, the two turned and entered Kraghol’s cave.

Kraghol huffed.

Why is Jasper back? I told him to stay away from the forest. So why hasn’t he?

Kraghol had spent the night wandering the forest, mourning the loss of Jasper. And Kali. He’d thought he’d never see his almost mate ever again.

Then Jasper had returned the very next day. Clearly, he’d not heeded Kraghol’s words at all!

Kraghol has sensed Jasper approaching the forest. He’d felt the prickle of awareness on the back of his neck as he always did. He’d immediately trekked to the spot where Jasper and Kali always entered the forest.

Keeping his distance, he’d followed Jasper and Kali as they walked through the wintry woods. Although, it had been pretty clear exactly where the two had been heading.

But why has Jasper gone straight to my cave?

The answer settled inside his chest, confusing and stirring the blood in his veins.

Jasper wants to see me.

But why? He’d always assumed Jasper would be terrified if he saw Kraghol. He’d thought the human might flee or scream. That was how city folk reacted to krampuses.

But that was not how Jasper reacted to him. And today he came back to Kraghol’s cave.

He wants to see me.

The thought warmed his very soul. Kraghol had to hold back from running to his half-mate and basking in his presence and closeness.

Maybe he likes me? Maybe he wants me?

Kraghol turned his head away.We could never work.A krampus and a human did not belong together. Kraghol could not forget that even for a single instant.

Jasper should not be here. He should be safe in his home in the city, far away from the snow and cold and monsters that live in the forest. Monsters like me.

A golden light flickered into life and illuminated the interior of his cave. Soon smoke curled from the entrance, rising into the sky.

Kraghol crossed his arms over his chest, trying to ignore the pleasure that unfurled inside him at the thought of Jasper and Kali making themselves comfortable in his home. He continued staring at his cave, wondering what the human and fox were doing inside.

Minutes passed. He could see no movement within.

Finally, unable to resist the urge to find out what they were doing, he crept forward. When he reached the cave entrance, he paused. Jasper and Kali lay curled up on his pile of furs. They both slept.

Kraghol’s lungs constricted as he stared at the welcoming sight of the two of them in his bed, the place where he slept each night. He could barely breathe at the intimacy of such an act.

Did Jasper know Kraghol slept there?

What would it be like to return home to such a sight every day? What would it be like to no longer be alone? He could sleep cosied up with Jasper and Kali. Like a little family.

Kraghol inhaled. No. He could never have that. So he needed to stop wishing. Stop dreaming.