Chapter 28
Chapter
Twenty-Eight
Jasper trudged through the streets of Anorra. Kali padded along beside him, keeping closer than usual. Jasper realised he’d forgotten his picnic basket in the cave yesterday, so he carried several packages of food beneath his arm.
After yesterday, he couldn’t help but wonder if Kraghol would even be waiting for him.
Jasper’s head throbbed, and his body ached. At least it was far better than last night. Still he’d struggled to get through work that morning.
Thankfully, as he approached the forest, he found his aches and pains receded almost entirely. The illness had to be related to Kraghol and the partial mate bond. He couldn’t think of any other explanation.
He left the city, and his boots sank into the powdery snow.
Immediately, a hulky, horned figure emerged from amongst the trees, striding towards him.
Kraghol. His heart stuttered in his chest.
“You returned,” Kraghol said as he approached.
“I said I would.” Jasper stopped walking.
“I know, but…” He studied Jasper’s face. “I am very glad to see you, Jasper.” He hesitated, then he held out his hand, staring at Jasper as if not knowing whether he’d take it.
Jasper took it. He smiled. Kraghol let out a breath and smiled in return. He held out his other hand to take Jasper’s packages.
They walked in the direction of Kraghol’s cave. Any remaining doubts Jasper had melted away. Kraghol clearly wanted him here.
When they got to the cave, they ate the food Jasper had brought. Then they made love in the nest of furs. Afterwards, Jasper lay tucked in close to Kraghol’s side. He stroked Kraghol’s furry, muscly chest. The fire crackled in the pit.
Kraghol caressed Jasper’s back. “I am sorry for yesterday.” He paused. “I just do not feel that I can ever be accepted in the city.”
Jasper didn’t want to disagree. He didn’t want to upset the delicate balance between them. So he nuzzled Kraghol’s throat and said, “I’m sorry you feel that way.”
They held each other. Jasper closed his eyes, snuggling in close.
When he opened them a while later, the cave had darkened. He sat up, blinking. The fire in the pit had died away to just a few golden embers. A chill had settled in the air. Kraghol lay asleep beside him.
Jasper yawned. It was not atypical for Jasper to fall asleep. But Kraghol normally either only took a short nap or stayed awake the whole time. He then woke Jasper so they could head back. “It’s dark.”
Kraghol bolted upright. He looked towards the cave entrance. A pained noise escaped him. “I am so sorry, Jasper. I did not mean to sleep so long.”
Jasper slid his hand over Kraghol’s shoulder. “It’s fine. I’m with you, and you’ll keep me safe. You can escort me to the city. There is nothing to worry about.”
Kraghol didn’t speak for a moment. Then he nodded. “You’re right, of course. Still, we should get going.”
They dressed and headed out. Jasper didn’t really understand Kraghol’s nervousness about Jasper being in the forest after dark. He’d been in the forest after dark plenty of times before.
Although, if he planned to stay out, he always brought something to light his way home. Luckily, Kraghol didn’t seem to have any issues seeing at night. He held Jasper’s hand and guided him through the darkness. Wind tore, whistling through the trees. The skeletal branches swayed.
When they reached the forest’s edge, they paused.
Kraghol squeezed his hand. “When you get home, make sure you warm yourself up.”
“I will,” Jasper said. “You don’t have to worry about me.”
They didn’t linger today; Kraghol clearly wanted him to get home. Jasper continued on through the city to the apartment, steps far lighter than they’d been when he’d set out that morning.
They’d made up. Still, it bothered Jasper that Kraghol did not think he could ever belong in the city. He looked at those he passed. Was Kraghol right? Would those in Anorra truly make it impossible for a krampus to live here?
As he walked up the stairs to the apartment, he heard Leo and Percy singing Christmas carols. But as he opened the door, Leo and Percy stopped singing.
When Leo spotted Jasper, he cried out, “Jas! What the fuck were you doing outside?”
Jasper’s hackles rose. Leo must have assumed Jasper was in his bedroom. But seriously, what was with this over-the-top reaction? What did Leo expect him to do all day? Just lie in bed, suffering and feeling sorry for himself?
“I’m allowed to go outside, Leo,” Jasper said, trying to control his temper. His twin had never used to treat him like he was a broken thing, unable to do anything or go anywhere.
“Well…yes. Of course you are.” Leo looked to the window. “It’s just dark, and the weather is terrible.”
Jasper shrugged. “It’s fucking winter. It’s always dark. The weather is always terrible.”
“Where were you?” Leo asked. “Are you okay?”
And what gave Leo the right to interrogate him like this? Why did Jasper getting sick mean that Leo could suddenly start treating him like he was a fucking child?
“I was walking.” Jasper removed his coat and boots. “And I’m fine.”
Thankfully his twin let it drop.
For some reason, it didn’t bother Jasper when Kraghol was overprotective. Maybe because Leo was always so over the top. Or perhaps it was the fact that Leo treated Jasper so differently from how he’d used to.
Percy offered him cookies, and he took a cinnamon star. Apparently the two of them had been getting into the Christmas spirit, which included decorating the apartment.
Jasper thought of Kraghol in his cave. He should bring more decorations. But what? Jasper wasn’t the most into Christmas crafts of his siblings. Maybe he could buy some stuff at the Christmas markets.
“We should teach Percival the krampus song together! Remember the Krampus Night song, Jas?” Leo said, pulling Jasper from his thoughts. “It was mine and Jas’s favourite Christmas carol as boys. But I don’t think we’ve sung that in years!”
“Krampus Night? What’s that about?” Percy asked.
“It’s about how you better be nice because on Krampus Night, the krampuses will come into town and punish the naughty. So you better be nice, Percy!” Leo wagged a finger at him.
And as Leo continued to explain, Jasper’s whole body tensed.
Leo laughed. “Remember how we used to dress up as krampuses and then hide in the house, bakery, or alley? We’d jump out and terrorise our siblings and start yelling the Krampus Night song. We even had switches. Then Mother and Father took those away.”
The cookie soured in Jasper’s mouth. He’d remembered their interest in krampuses as children. But he’d forgotten that they’d dressed up like them. How had he forgotten that?
They’d put together costumes using dark and dirty bits of fabric they’d found. Then they’d attacked their siblings, hitting them with the switches they’d made from branches they’d tied together. They’d growled and yelled and been horrible little shits. They’d thought it so funny.
What would Kraghol say if he knew we did that, if he knew I dressed up as a krampus and hit my siblings in order to terrorise them? Fuck.
“Jas?” Leo asked, voice concerned.
“I’m tired. I’m going to bed.” Jasper suddenly felt like he might vomit. And this time, it had nothing to do with his illness. He and Kali walked to his room.
“I’ll bring in your tea in a bit,” Leo said.
“Thanks.” Jasper closed the door to his room.
No light lit his way, but he didn’t need any to remove his clothes and get into bed. He let out a breath as he lay down, replaying memories of how he’d dressed up as a krampus all those years ago. Even though he’d been just a child, guilt gnawed at him.
No wonder why Kraghol wouldn’t come into the city. No wonder why he thought he’d never be accepted in Anorra. To those here, krampuses were just horrid, scary monsters.
And Jasper was part of that. He was part of the reason Kraghol did not feel he could ever belong in the city.