Page 30 of The Krampus's First Christmas Gift

Jasper’s brows furrowed as if he was trying to process. “Kraghol.” He paused. “Are we…” He swallowed. “Are you and I mates?”

“No,” Kraghol rushed out. “Well, not quite.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“You see, for a mate bond to be completed, each individual would need to pour their life essence into the other. That would complete the mating ritual and the bond,” Kraghol explained. “But onlyIpoured it into you. So we are not mated. We are more like half-mates or almost mates. And with time, since the bond will not be completed, it will dissolve entirely. It will turn to nothing.”

Jasper didn’t respond. He just stared at Kraghol, face unreadable.

“I am truly sorry, Jasper.”

Jasper frowned. “What are you sorry for exactly? For saving my life and creating the bond? For hiding from me? Or for what just happened here?”

“For all of it,” Kraghol said.

Jasper’s brows rose. “So you wished you’d left me to die rather than be half-mates with me?”

“No. Of course not!” Kraghol said. “But don’t you see? I have caused you problems. It would be reasonable for you to be upset. You are connected to me. That is why you keep coming to the forest. That is why you want and desire me. If it weren’t for the bond, you wouldn’t want someone as hideous as me.”

“Don’t speak about yourself like that!” Jasper snapped. Then he shook his head. “This is a lot to take in.”

He stared at the furs between them for several long seconds. “Look. I don’t know why you’d think I’d be upset about you saving my life. It sounds like the only option was to partially mate me or leave me to die. And I’m happy I’m alive.”

Kraghol let out a breath, his shoulders relaxing slightly. “I’m glad you see it that way.” It was the truth of the situation, but Kraghol still had expected Jasper to be displeased.

A long silence followed. Kraghol stared at Jasper, who seemed lost in thought.

“This is all pretty confusing.” Jasper’s gaze met his. Then, after several moments, he reached out and touched Kraghol’s arm almost tentatively. “But, Kraghol, I like you. I do. And I want to explore this. I want to get to know you properly.” He gave a lopsided smile. “Maybe if we get along, we can complete the ritual and become proper mates.”

For several long heartbeats, Kraghol didn’t breathe. He couldn’t. He’d never expected this response. He’d expected rage and yelling, even if Kraghol had done what he had to save Jasper’s life.

For half a second, hope sparked in his chest. But then it snuffed out just as quickly as he remembered the truth of the situation. “We can never be mates. I can only complete the mate bond with another krampus.”

“Oh.” Jasper’s gaze dropped. He licked his lips. “Well, even if we can’t make the mate bond work, we could still spend time together. Maybe we will discover that we really like each other and want to make a go of something.”

“No.” Kraghol rose and moved away from the furs and the temptation that was Jasper. “It would be impossible for us. We are from two completely different worlds. I am a krampus. A monster. A creature of darkness and terror and fear. Meanwhile, you are light and beauty and sunshine. We do not belong together.”

He could never be a part of Jasper’s world. And Kraghol would never bring Jasper into his vile life. He despised his own existence. He would not condemn Jasper to it.

He grabbed his scrap of clothing and tied the cloth around his waist. “You should leave.” He forced himself to keep speaking. “You only feel as you do because of the bondIforced on you. We do not belong together.”

Jasper sucked in a breath, the hurt in his brown eyes so clear.

Kraghol looked away. “I am truly sorry, Jasper.”

This was for the best. He should never have given in to Jasper’s touch. But he could not resist his half-mate. At least he could forever remember Jasper in the cold, dark years that stretched ahead of him.

Jasper and Kraghol had no future. A rock might gaze up at the sky and fall in love with a star, but that did not mean they could make a life together.

“But do not worry,” Kraghol said. “The half-mate bond will weaken and fade with time. The connection you feel to me willdisappear entirely. Everything will return to as it was. To as it should be.”

Chapter

Seventeen

“But what if I don’t want the connection to disappear?” Jasper had never felt this way about anyone before. He couldn’t just give up on it!

And okay. Maybe he felt that way because of the half-mate bond or whatever. But he didn’t want to relinquish these feelings. Not without a fight!