Chapter 13
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.
Jasper shuffled on the furs. He blinked awake and spotted Kraghol. He sat bolt upright. “Kraghol!” He smiled. “You’re back. I was worried you wouldn’t return.”
Kraghol fought against the desperate urge to smile in response. For a moment, he imagined crossing to Jasper and touching his cheek. But that was a ridiculous thought.
He turned to the dancing flames, trying to collect himself and suppress the wants surging inside him. The fire crackled. Kali, now awake too, yelped and bounded towards Kraghol. After a moment’s hesitation, he knelt and patted her.
“She is so comfortable with you.” Jasper paused. “It’s like she knows you.”
Pulling his hand away from Kali, Kraghol cleared his throat and stood. “I told you that you should not return to the forest. It is dangerous here.”
Jasper laughed. “It isn’t that dangerous. I’ve been coming here since I was a child.” Then he winked. “And I’ve never been one to behave and follow advice. I’ve always been a little naughty.”
Kraghol sucked in a breath. Didn’t Jasper know that krampuses punished the naughty? For a moment, he imagined Jasper as one of those people who taunted the krampuses on Krampus Night, wanting to be chased down and fucked in an alley.
Kraghol’s gut tightened. No, Jasper could not be alluding to that. Could he? No. That was not possible.
Jasper got to his feet and picked up a small box on the floor. “Anyway, I had to come back. I needed to give you this.”
Kraghol’s gaze flicked between Jasper’s face and the box that had been tied with a dainty red ribbon. “What is it?”
“You’ll have to open it to find out.” Jasper held out the box.
Kraghol stared at the petite little thing. He frowned.
Jasper laughed, that beautiful, incandescent laugh. “Take it. It won’t bite. I promise.”
Pressing his lips together, Kraghol took the small box. It looked minuscule in his massive, furred hands. He turned it over. He glanced at Jasper.
“Well! Open it!”
He tugged the ribbon, and it came undone. Slowly, he opened the box slightly and peeked inside. “What is this?”
Jasper, seeming to take pity on Kraghol’s confusion, took the box from his hands. He pulled the box properly open. The red ribbon fell to the floor. Without a second’s thought, Kraghol dropped to the ground, picking up the shiny material. It shouldn’t get dirty on the floor of his cave.
Jasper held the box open. “Chocolate truffles. I made them for you this morning.”
“For me?” Kraghol’s hand clenched around the red ribbon.
“Well, I made enough to sell in the bakery too.” Jasper smiled. Then he leaned forward and lowered his voice. “But I was thinking of you when I made them. It’s just a little thank you for not letting me freeze to death in the snow.”
He shook his head. “You do not have to give me something as a thank you for that. I would not have let you die. Never.”
Jasper’s smile widened. “That’s good to know. But I still wanted to make them for you all the same.” Then he tilted his head. “Do you not like chocolate truffles?”
“I… I do not know,” the krampus confessed. “I have never had one before.”
Jasper’s brows raised. “Really?”
Kraghol shrugged. “I hunt and collect my own food from the forest. That suffices.” His fare must seem so basic to Jasper. He stared at the spherical brown balls. White and brown swirls decorated some. Little chopped nuts decorated others. They looked so small and dainty.
“Well, it’s probably time you tried a chocolate truffle, then.” Jasper shook the box slightly. The truffles slid from side to side.
Kraghol hesitated. He picked up a small truffle with brown swirls on the top. Jasper made this for me. His heart thumped against his ribs.
He opened his mouth and placed the truffle on his tongue. He bit into the ball. A noise of surprise escaped him. He chewed the dense fudgy texture. The truffle melted in his mouth.
He tried to process the sweet, rich taste with a slightly citrusy tang. He swallowed. He blinked. How could such a small thing hold so much flavour? So much complexity?
“You don’t like it?” Jasper’s brows lowered. “Huh. Do you not like sweet food? That one is orange flavoured. Maybe you don’t like orange?”
“No… I…” Kraghol frowned. “It is delicious. Beyond delicious. I just have never eaten anything like it. Is it magic?”
“What?” Jasper grinned. “Well, I mean yes. But you don’t have to be a witch to make chocolate truffles. But since I very much wanted you to enjoy them, I definitely poured that intention into them when I made them. Which makes it a form of witchcraft.”
Kraghol didn’t really understand any of that.
“Have another.” Jasper held out the box.
Kraghol picked one up. This one had white swirls on the top. “You should have one too.”
Jasper shook his head. “I made these especially for you. That’s a nougat-centred chocolate truffle.”
He bit into it. Once again, he marvelled at the complexity of flavours and sweetness. Rich chocolate surrounded a soft, chewy centre with a hint of nuttiness. “This has to be witchcraft. Only magic could make something taste this incredible.”
Jasper laughed. He continued to watch Kraghol as he chewed, studying his face.
Kraghol did not know what Jasper saw or why he looked at Kraghol so intensely.
After all, he knew his face was hideous.
He knew the types of responses his face usually evoked.
Yet Jasper stood close, watching him, not at all seeming to mind the sight of him.
Jasper closed the box. “I’ll put them over here, and you can eat the rest later.” He placed them by the pile of furs.
“Thank you.” Kraghol swallowed the last of the truffle.
“We’re sorry for intruding and for making ourselves at home in your cave,” Jasper said. “I suppose I could have waited for you outside. But I thought you might not mind me taking shelter.”
“It is fine.” If Jasper was going to ignore his warnings and come to the forest, Kraghol at least wanted him out of the elements. “I want you safe.”
The smile that lit up Jasper’s face caused Kraghol’s lungs to constrict.
“Do you?” Jasper stepped in dangerously close.
Kraghol inhaled. The scent of sugar and chocolate filled his nostrils. Jasper smelled like the chocolate truffles he’d been making. Would he taste like them too?
“Do you care about me, Kraghol?” Jasper asked.
“I—” He shouldn’t finish that sentence. Because of course he cared for Jasper.
But Jasper should not be standing this close. He shouldn’t be looking at Kraghol with so much intensity.
Kraghol couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t think. All he could do was stare into Jasper’s lovely, warm brown eyes. And maybe his brain had stopped working, because he said, “I do.”