Chapter 41
Chapter
Forty-One
Kraghol hunched his shoulders, pulling the furs tight around him.
Jasper walked on one side of him, Kali on the other. As if both wanted to surround him with their support. Kali bumped and rubbed against his legs.
“Even if this doesn’t work, remember you are not alone.” Jasper squeezed Kraghol’s hand. “I’m here with you. I will stand by your side and won’t abandon you. You’re mine, and I will protect you,” he said, voice fierce.
“Thank you.” It was strange to have the small human say he’d protect Kraghol. Still, it warmed Kraghol’s chest and gave him strength as they left the forest and entered Anorra.
Kraghol held his breath as they walked down the darkened alley. His cloven hooves clopped on the cobblestones. Thick, fat snowflakes fell.
He lowered his head, as if that would hide himself. Which was ridiculous! There was no way he could hide his height or horns.
They continued. Kraghol’s gaze darted from side to side as they moved through the empty streets. They turned a corner. Up ahead, Kraghol spotted a pixie, coming towards them. Every muscle in Kraghol’s body tensed. His heart raced. He prepared to flee back towards the forest.
But the pixie didn’t even glance Kraghol’s way as they passed. The pixie just kept walking.
Jasper exhaled, patting his hand. “Well, that went okay.”
Kraghol nodded. He stared after the pixie in shock.
Could Jasper’s plan actually be working?
After they’d finished completing the mate bond, they’d gone back to his cave. They’d draped fur from his bed over Kraghol’s shoulders and his head and tied more around his waist. He also wore the scarf from Jasper around his neck and the lower part of his face. They’d tucked away his tail.
He now resembled a pile of fur with horns and hooves.
They kept walking. They passed more individuals.
No one screamed, no one fled, and no one threw stones or spat at him. An elf even glanced straight at Kraghol’s face. Then looked away. Still nothing.
Kraghol couldn’t believe it.
“It’s like I was saying, I think everyone expects krampuses to be practically naked except for the loin-cloth,” Jasper said. “And you’re dressed completely differently now.”
That was true. When Kraghol had come into Anorra years ago, he’d dressed how he would on Krampus Night. He hadn’t had the switch or bells. But he had just worn a loin-cloth.
Jasper thought if he didn’t look like a krampus on Krampus Night, the city folk wouldn’t react so terribly. It was a strange idea, but it seemed to be working.
“Of course, I never want to hide you.” Jasper’s grip on his hand tightened. “I love you and how you look. But if dressing a certain way means you can move comfortably through Anorra, then we do that.”
“I do not mind wearing clothes,” Kraghol said. “Honestly, I just never considered it. I never chose to wear a loin-cloth. That was just all I had.”
Jasper looked at Kraghol, giving the fur ensemble a once-over. “We’ll get clothes that fit you properly and aren’t tied together with knots and thread. That’ll be more comfortable. And we should find clothes that you like and that suit you.”
“That would be nice. Although, I know nothing about types of clothes.”
“We’ll work that out together.” Jasper pursed his lips as he gazed up at Kraghol. “I think you might look quite fetching in a robe.”
“A robe? Really?” Kraghol had never pictured himself in something so elegant.
Jasper nodded. “Maybe a robe with a fur trim. We can try out different styles to see what you are comfortable with.”
Kraghol gazed at the snow-covered street ahead. He took in the buildings with light glowing in the windows. He swallowed. “I suppose there are many new things I will need to get used to—” He took a deep breath. “—if we are going to live in the city.”
Kraghol had not thought it possible. Even when they’d decided to enter Anorra to go to Jasper’s house, he’d not truly believed he could make a life here.
The plan had been to go to Jasper’s home, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible.
But he’d still assumed they’d face some trouble on the way.
Then he’d planned to stay hidden in Jasper’s apartment until they worked out what to do next.
But considering how tonight had been going, he thought that maybe they could at least try living here.
Jasper kissed his arm. “Whatever we face, we face together. I’ll be right here, helping you get used to everything. After all, we are mates.”
Mates. Kraghol smiled. “Thank you, Jasper. That is a great comfort.” And it was. As he gazed around at this city, which had always seemed so vast and never-ending, knowing Jasper was with him meant a great deal.
A few city folk stared at him. But no one seemed upset or made a fuss. The clothes, it seemed, changed everything! And perhaps it was also because he walked hand in hand with a human. Maybe Jasper’s presence proved that Kraghol did not need to be feared.
“I can’t believe that no one has screamed yet.” Kraghol let out a breath. “I’m so relieved.”
“Me too.” Jasper pulled him to a stop. “Now we could go straight to my home. That was the plan. But I think it is going really well, and if you are open to it, we could do something else.”
“What?”
“We could stop by the Christmas markets. It shouldn’t be too busy tonight, since it’s Christmas Eve. But we can leave at any time. It’s entirely up to you.”
The Christmas markets. Kraghol had dreamed of going there with Jasper. But it had always seemed like an impossible wish. He’d heard Jasper speak of it so often and with so much joy. Could Kraghol really go?
Jasper seemed to think so.
“All right.” Kraghol gave a shaky smile. “Let’s try.”