Chapter 19
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? Or because 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.
Briar pushed his glasses up his nose. “It varies a great deal.”
“Interesting. That’s really interesting. So I know werewolves, and orcs, and pixies can have a mate, but what about say, krampuses? They have mates too, right?” Being subtle had never been Jasper’s strength.
Briar frowned. “Not much is known about krampuses in general. They tend to only interact with other krampuses. But I have read that they form a mate bond. But like with dragons, it is chosen, like with Avery and Jack,” he said, referring to Jack, their brother, who had mated a dragon the previous year.
“So could a krampus mate a human, like how a dragon could mate a human?”
Briar shook his head. “No. In the book I read, it said they only mate each other.”
“I see.” Jasper held in a sigh, even though he had expected as much. After all, that was what Kraghol had told him.
“In fact, the only time krampuses are known to interact with others is during Krampus Night.” Briar laughed. “I can’t imagine someone finding their mate then.”
“Yeah.” Jasper chuckled.
If Briar did wonder about Jasper’s abrupt fascination with krampuses, he didn’t say anything. He just resumed chopping apricots.
When he finished with the truffles, Jasper took off his apron. “I’ll head off now. I’m going upstairs to rest.” Lying came so easy these days. Kali, who had been sleeping beneath the counter, stood.
Everyone called out their goodbyes as he and Kali left the bakery. He walked straight past the stairs leading up to the apartment and continued in the direction of the forest.
At first, he’d felt guilty about all the lies. But he was used to it by now.
In his hands, he carried a small box of truffles. “I hope Kraghol likes them,” he said to Kali. “And I hope he is happy to see me.”
Kraghol had said that them having sex had been a mistake. He had also stated that they did not belong together. Jasper needed to find out more about that.
Was it simply because of their different backgrounds? Jasper could work with that. Because if Kraghol was willing to give them a chance, maybe Jasper could show him that they could be good together, despite their differences.
Or did Kraghol say that simply because he didn’t want Jasper? Maybe it was his way of getting Jasper to stay away.
Jasper swallowed. “Hopefully he won’t be unhappy to see me.”
Still, Jasper had questions he needed to ask.
But after that, if Kraghol truly does not want me, I’ll keep away. I’ll do what he says. Even if it hurts.