Chapter 45
“Here! It’s another present for you.” Jasper handed Kraghol the package.
Kraghol blinked. “What? Really? Another gift?”
The Berry family sat on the floor of the library in Avery and Jack’s apartment, exchanging presents around the massive tree.
Although Avery and Jack usually kept the library at obscenely hot temperatures for their dragon egg, today the egg had been placed in the fireplace amongst the coals. That meant the rest of the room could be kept just a little too warm.
Still, Jasper and most of those in attendance sweat. Avery stood in his human form next to Jack by the fireplace, hovering over their egg protectively.
Wide-eyed, Kraghol took the gift from Jasper.
“It’s from Grady,” Jasper said.
Kraghol’s fingers fumbled with the wrapping. The paper dropped to the floor, and he held up a woven band.
“It’s a protection charm. You wear it around your wrist,” Grady explained. “Everyone in the family has one.”
“Thank you so much, Grady.” Kraghol stroked the band.
Jasper could understand Kraghol’s surprise. His family had only been told about Kraghol coming to their family Christmas gathering either the previous night or that morning. So there hadn’t been much time to get Kraghol presents.
But of course, the Berry family had rallied.
They would not allow a guest to go without Christmas presents on Christmas Day!
So far Kraghol had received cookies, cakes, and various other baked goods.
He’d also received a rough sketch of a pair of gloves and ankle warmers from Briar.
It came with a promise that Briar and Wulfric would crochet the items and that they would match his scarf.
“Here, let me put this on for you.” Jasper took the protection charm and wrapped it around Kraghol’s wrist, tying it in place. “It looks good.”
“Everyone is so generous. Before yesterday, I had never received a Christmas present. Now I have received so many.” Kraghol touched the band. “I feel bad that I have nothing to give in return,” he said, so softly only Jasper could hear.
“It’s fine. Next year you can get the others gifts too.”
At the slight furrowing of Kraghol’s brows, Jasper added, “I’ll help you.”
Kraghol exhaled. “Thank you, Jasper.”
Today, Kraghol wore a fur around his shoulders and another wrapped around his waist. He’d had one over his head earlier, but it had been a bit cumbersome and kept falling.
So Jasper had encouraged him to take it off.
Naturally, his family didn’t blink twice.
And of course, Kraghol proudly wore the scarf Jasper had made him.
“Now that the presents are done, let’s sing!” Cas clapped his hands together. “We need Christmas carols.”
Everyone applauded and cheered. They started with a rather boisterous, children’s song.
Bells are ringing, bells are ringing.
Snow is falling, snow is falling.
Michael, Ordelia and Tony’s son, yelled the words and jumped around. His younger sister, Ruthie, jumped and yelled too, following Michael’s lead.
Jasper took Kraghol’s hand. Kraghol watched everyone singing. No doubt he’d never heard the lyrics before.
Kids are sleighing, kids are sleighing.
As they continued singing, Kraghol began to softly sing along. Jasper grinned at him. Then Jasper heard it, the most beautiful singing voice he’d ever heard. He turned his head.
Of course.
It was Trent’s siren, Malachi. He had an arm wrapped around Trent’s shoulders.
He sang, his voice pure and melodious. It stole the air from Jasper’s lungs.
Somehow his voice could transform this simple children’s song into something ethereal.
His tentacles waved in the air, in time with his singing.
In fact, most of his family stared at Malachi as he sang. It seemed his singing had the same effect on all of them.
They sang several different songs. Eventually Kraghol would join in with each song, singing softly once he’d learnt the words. He kept glancing around, a smile on his face, as if he couldn’t believe he was a part of all this.
“I think we need a hot chocolate and cookie break,” Jack cried out after a while.
Jack as well as a few others headed out to the kitchen. Meanwhile, Jasper and the others who remained cleaned up some of the wrapping paper.
Michael, followed by Ruthie, Ordelia, and Tony, approached Kraghol.
“You have horns, a tail, and hooves.” Michael pointed. “You’re just like me, Daddy, and Ruthie.”
Jasper smiled. No doubt Kraghol had not expected those in his family to find physical similarities between themselves and him. But now that Jasper thought about it, fauns did look similar to krampuses.
“How you feeling today, Jas?”
Jasper turned to look at Leo as he approached. “I’m feeling good today. Really fucking good.”
Leo studied him. “You look it too.”
He could see the questions in his twin’s eyes. Jasper glanced at Kraghol, who was now engaged in conversation with Ordelia and Tony. It seemed he had a moment.
Jasper had spent much of the day rehearsing what he would tell Leo. Now he had a chance. He took a seat on one of the armchairs. Leo took another.
Jasper inhaled a deep breath. “So you know how I fell into that pond.”
Leo scoffed. “No. I completely forgot about that moment when I thought my twin brother might die,” Leo said dryly. “Of course I remember!”
Jasper chuckled. “Well, Kraghol was there that day. He jumped into the water and pulled me out. He saved my life.”
Leo’s mouth fell open. From there, Jasper filled Leo in on everything that had occurred.
Jack and the others brought around hot chocolate and cookies as Jasper talked about how he kept wandering the forest. Then he told Leo about meeting Kraghol properly and getting to know him.
He explained the mate sickness and the partial mate bond. He told Leo everything.
“But now I’m fully recovered because we completed the bond and Kraghol is now my proper mate.” Jasper glanced at Kraghol, who was talking to Percy now. But Michael and Ruthie were standing next to Kraghol, gazing up at him.
“Wow.” Leo shook his head. “That’s a lot.”
“It is. And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. Honestly, I didn’t know how to tell you. It was all so confusing, and I didn’t understand it myself,” Jasper said. “Still, I’m sorry. I know it’s been hard for you not knowing what has been going on with me.”
Leo rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah. It’s been pretty shit. But honestly, I probably would have struggled to understand what was going on with you. I might have just thought the accident was making you lose your mind. I don’t know how much help I’d have been.”
Then he smiled. “I’m just happy you’re recovered and you’re healthy. And in love!”
“Me too! And I’m really happy for you and Percy.”
Leo beamed as he looked at the phoenix he loved. “He is pretty wonderful.”
Then Jasper turned his gaze to Briar, who was standing with Wulfric. “And we all have Briar to thank for us finding love. I can’t believe the little shit cast the siren love spell again this year.”
Last year, when Briar had cast the spell, it had caused the majority of his siblings to fall in love.
Of course, Briar had not realised what the spell would actually do when he originally cast it.
But he’d known this year. He’d cast it, hoping Jasper, Leo, and Trent would all find love. And they had.
“I should probably go thank him again,” Jasper said.
“Me too.” Leo laughed.
They sat for a few more minutes, finishing up their hot chocolate. Leo had a few more questions for him. No doubt he’d have many more in the coming days. But as their conversation wound up, Jasper knew without a doubt that they’d be okay.
“All right, time for more carols!” Lacy called out.
They once again gathered. They started to sing a slow Christmas carol.
Snow blankets Anorra, our dear old town.
Jasper leaned against Kraghol. “How are you doing?”
“Good.” Kraghol smiled. “You’re family are all so wonderful. I did not think they would be so welcoming. And no one is afraid of me!”
“Why would anyone be scared of you?” Jasper slid an arm around his waist. “You are the sweetest and nicest krampus in the world.”
“I still cannot comprehend that even the little ones are unafraid.” Kraghol looked at Michael and Ruthie. “Children are always so scared of me on Krampus Night.”
Kraghol huffed a laugh. “Did you know that Michael is convinced that I am a faun because of my hooves, horns, and tail? He wants to know how he can grow up to be as tall as me, since I’m taller than his father, or any of his faun relatives.”
Jasper laughed. “You fit in well with my family.”
Kraghol leaned against him. “I can’t disagree.”
Jasper squeezed his waist. No doubt Kraghol would face many challenges living in the city. There would be those who gave Kraghol a hard time, but at least Kraghol had Jasper and his family. They would stand with him.
They joined in with the singing. And as they kept singing, Kraghol’s voice grew firmer and louder. Jasper smiled. He could picture so many more Christmases ahead with his family and his krampus mate.