Page 34 of The Krampus's First Christmas Gift

Kraghol bit his tongue. That was nothing like what Jasper sought from him!

There’d been gentle touches and kisses. He’d had his claws retracted the whole time. There’d been no fear between them. Jasper had not wanted that from Kraghol. And Kraghol had not wanted to give it.

Her lip curled. “You are too old to give in to that sort of temptation. I expect more from you.” She paused. “Grandmother is right. You should find a mate. Soon. She told me she spoke to you about this on Bonfire Night.”

She looked at the bed where he and Jasper had been together. She bared her fangs. “Grandmother would be disgusted if she learnt of what you did.”

She did not speak for several moments. “I will not tell her. But you must find a proper krampus mate. That will straighten you out and put an end to any…inappropriate behaviours.”

Kraghol didn’t answer, but he lowered his head respectfully. Even if he could take a krampus mate, he would never want to. He wanted Jasper. Even if he knew they could never be together, Kraghol still wanted him.

“I will do better. I will take my duties seriously,” he said, trying to appease her.

She stared at him. Finally she nodded. “Good.” Then she strode away.

Chapter

Nineteen

Jasper rolled the chocolate rum truffles into spheres. He glanced at the window. Snow rustled against the glass.

He had not returned to the forest the day before, despite his gut telling him to. In the end, he’d decided to listen to Kraghol and take some time to think on all he’d learnt. He’d spent all of yesterday thinking.

And he had come to the conclusion that a full day was more than enough time to consider what he knew and come to a decision about how to proceed.

Jasper had fallen into the pond. He had drowned or almost drowned. He wasn’t sure which. To save his life, Kraghol had created a half-mate bond by pouring his life essence into Jasper. This had created a connection between them. The mate bond could not be completed because Jasper was not a krampus. Therefore the connection would fade with time.

It was because of this bond that Jasper had sought Kraghol in the forest. But Kraghol had avoided him. Jasper didn’t fully understand why.

Was it because he thought Jasper would be upset about the bond? Because he didn’t think they belonged together? Orbecause although he was drawn to Jasper because of the bond, he didn’t actually want anything to do with him?

Jasper hoped it wasn’t the last one. He definitely needed some clarification. And to get clarification, he needed to go back to the forest and speak to Kraghol.

Also, he knew he should ask if the half-mate bond had created his strange illness and if it would go away when the bond faded.

So once Jasper finished at the bakery, he’d return to the forest and Kraghol. He’d give him chocolate truffles and ask his questions. He should also ask how long it would take for the mate bond to fade. That seemed important to know.

“That looks great,” Leo said to Percy. His twin brother stood with the phoenix, assembling pies.

“Really?” Percy beamed.

Percy was the phoenix customer Leo had previously hated. But since then, Percy had died, been reborn, and lost all his memories. Leo had found him newly reborn and taken him in. Now the phoenix worked in the bakery. He also lived with them and was fucking Leo.

That morning, Leo had only glanced with concern at Jasper a handful of times. It was a definite improvement. It seemed his twin’s attention had shifted to caring for Percy. Jasper appreciated Leo not hovering constantly over him.

Kit and Lachlan placed balls of dough onto trays. Meanwhile Trent washed up, a smile on his face. It seemed like things were going well with him and the siren he’d been seeing.

The morning dragged as Jasper made more and more truffles. He hoped Kraghol liked them. He’d seemed to have liked the first ones Jasper had made him.

At some point, Briar and his mate, Wulfric, came into the bakery and got to work.

Trying not to look too obvious, Jasper sidled up beside his brother. “Briar, you read about mates and stuff, right?”

Jasper had never paid much attention to the concept. He hoped his sudden interest wouldn’t raise any eyebrows. Thankfully, Leo, who would be most curious about Jasper’s sudden interest in mates, had taken off with Percy.

Briar looked up from chopping dried apricots. “That’s right.”

“I was wondering, do most races have mates?” he asked, trying to sound nonchalant.