Page 70 of The Krampus's First Christmas Gift

Those words slid over him. And even though he hated them, he knew them to be true. They had no future together. He’d always known that. There was nowhere they could make a life. There would be no happy ever after for them. Only pain.

Still, he did not want what he had with Jasper to end.

But his sister was right. He and Jasper did not belong together. And if he did not break the bond, Jasper would continue to suffer from this mate sickness.

His throat constricted as an agony like he’d never known spread though his veins.

My time with Jasper has come to an end.

“You’re right.” He’d never hated to speak two words so much in his life. “Help me break the bond.”

Footsteps sounded. Kraghol turned. Jasper stepped out from the shadows of the cave. He was fully dressed. Kali followed him. Jasper stared at Kraghol with wide eyes. Then his gaze darted to the scarf in the snow. He swallowed, Adam’s apple bobbing.

Then he gazed back at Kraghol. “So that’s how we end? Just like that?”

Chapter

Thirty-Seven

Jasper awoke to voices outside the cave. He recognised Kraghol’s voice immediately. Then he heard another voice.

He couldn’t make out the words they spoke. He crawled from the furs, trying to get closer to the cave entrance so he could listen.

“It was a mistake to partially mate the human,” the other krampus said. “But I will help you fix this mistake.”

Jasper tensed.

“I will break the bond, on the condition that you must depart from the forest. Immediately. Go away and forget all about the human. Then you can find aproperkrampus mate. And you can leave this foolish mistake behind,” the other krampus said.

Jasper held completely still, waiting and willing Kraghol to say something. To protest. To disagree. To argue. But Kraghol remained silent.

With fumbling hands, Jasper dressed.

“Take this—” A gust blew, drowning out their conversation. He strained his ears. But although he could hear their voices, he could not make out what they were saying over the wind.

Finally the wind died away.

“You’re right,” Kraghol said. “Help me break the bond.”

Jasper fell back on the bed. Pain like knives slid into his chest.

How could Kraghol just want to break the bond? Just like that? He’d not heard every word, but he’d heard enough.

With trembling legs, he stood and approached the cave entrance. They looked towards him. Kraghol’s eyes widened. Jasper stared at Kraghol and the other krampus. She was as tall and broad as Kraghol.

Then a flash of red on the snow caught his eye. He turned his head. His throat clenched. The red scarf he’d made lay in the snow. He’d spent nights staying up, crocheting it.

It hadn’t been the most well-made scarf, but it had been made with love. He’d been so excited to gift it. And Kraghol had seemed pleased to receive it. After all, it was the krampus’s first Christmas gift.

Now it lay in the snow, discarded and cast aside. Just like how Kraghol wanted to discard and cast Jasper aside.

Heart pounding in his chest, Jasper looked at Kraghol. “So that’s how we end? Just like that?”

Kraghol stared at him, mouth ajar.

Jasper took a step towards him. “Well? Don’t just stand there. Fucking answer me!”

The other krampus stepped away from Kraghol. But she didn’t leave. She just stayed there, watching them.