The Krampus’s First Christmas Gift (An MM Monster Christmas #6)

Chapter 1

Chapter

One

Late August

“Just keep walking, Leo! I promise this path leads back to the city.” Jasper gave his twin brother’s shoulder a shove to keep him moving along the track.

“Oi!” Leo glanced back at him. “You almost made me drop my blackberries!” He gestured at the basket full of juicy dark berries on his arm.

Jasper rolled his eyes. “Your berries are fine. Stop whingeing.” He, too, carried a basket of blackberries.

Leo huffed but kept walking the steep track leading up a hill. He glanced around at the forest surrounding them. “And you are absolutely sure this is the right way back? You sure we aren’t going further from the city?”

Jasper rolled his eyes as he walked behind his brother. “This will take us back. It’s just a longer way. We walked it two weeks ago! Remember?”

Leo looked around, frowning.

Jasper sighed. “You just have a shit memory and a shit sense of direction!”

“Fuck off!” Leo huffed. “Fine. But if we get lost, I’m blaming you!”

“We won’t get lost.” Dirt, stones, and leaves crunched beneath Jasper’s feet. “And when we get back to the city, I expect a full apology and an admission that you’re a bloody fool with no sense of direction.”

Leo chuckled but thankfully kept walking. Jasper glanced up at the canopy of green and swaying branches. Sunlight peeked between the leaves. He took a breath, filling his lungs with fresh air.

They’d picked more than enough blackberries for the cakes they planned to bake. But they’d decided to take their time getting back to the bakery so they could enjoy a bit more time outside in the warmer weather.

“Do you think Grady will mind us taking the long way back?” Jasper asked, referring to their oldest sibling.

They walked higher and higher up the hill. To one side, there was a sharp drop. More forest lay below.

Leo shook his head. “Nah. Grady has been pretty relaxed since he got together with Uzoth last year.”

Jasper chuckled. “I’m still in shock that Grady took time off and went away with him this summer.”

“Me too. But he looks really good since he returned.”

“Maybe he finally got some proper sleep,” Jasper said.

Leo kept glancing around at the forest. He clearly still did not recognise the path they took. “I suppose if we do get lost, we could go to Briar and Wulfric’s cave and stay there the night. They have a pretty decent set-up and supply of food.”

“We are not going to get lost!” Jasper replied.

A fox darted through the trees below. Its bushy tail waved back and forth. It disappeared beneath a bush. A shadow moved amongst the trees. Jasper’s eyes narrowed as he tried to work out what he was looking at.

Leo chuckled. “Although, I’m not a fan of dropping in on their cave unannounced. Not after last time.”

Jasper burst out laughing. “Yeah. I don’t really need to see our brother being railed by his werewolf mate again.” There were some things better left unseen. He wiped his brow. Even beneath the canopy, the air was stifling.

Jasper took a step. But the dirt and rocks shifted beneath his feet. He stumbled. He sucked in a breath. His arms flailed as he fought to stay upright. All of a sudden, he was sliding towards the drop. The basket fell from his hand. Berries scattered.

He tried to take a solid step. But his feet flew out from beneath him. A yell escaped his lips. He landed with a thud on his front, and the air knocked from his lungs. Immediately, he skidded towards the edge.

His heart lurched into his throat. His fingers scrabbled at the ground as he tried to find purchase, tried to stop his rapid approach towards the steep drop. He kept grabbing and grasping. But his fingers found nothing to grip onto. The basket and berries tumbled over.

“Jas!” His twin brother sprinted towards him, eyes wides and hand outstretched.

But it was too late.

Jasper fell.

Green, brown, and sunlight flashed as he bounced and tumbled and rolled down the steep decline. He cried out. He smashed into rocks and tree trunks. But none stopped or even slowed his fall. Pain smashed into him from all sides, over and over.

His head smacked into something. “Ah!” He squeezed his eyes shut.

Then, for a second, nothing. He felt nothing around or beneath him as he fell. Just air.

Splash. Cold water enveloped him.

He opened his eyes. Thick darkness surrounded him. He held his breath as he kicked, trying to reach the surface of the water.

But which way is up?

It was so dark. He swam, not knowing which way he was going. Fear gripped his throat and squeezed. His lungs ached, begging for breath.

He swung his arms and legs, desperate to reach the surface. He needed to breathe! If he didn’t, he’d drown.

He tried to keep holding his breath. But his lungs screamed. He kept pushing, kept fighting, kept swimming, kept trying to find the surface.

But to no avail.

I’m going to drown!

His lungs burned. And as he held his breath, the ache for air grew stronger and stronger until he couldn’t bear it a second longer.

He opened his mouth. He inhaled, sucking water into his lungs.

Then there was darkness.

Then nothingness.