Page 19 of The Krampus' Queen
“That’s the point of the pomegranate. Eating food in the land of the dead traps you there.”
He snorts and grabs the other half of the pomegranate. “Or an excuse so she could stay where she shouldn’t be.” His huge fist crumples behind the hard flesh, shooting almost all of the pips into his mouth. As he swallows them, rivulets of scarlet trace down his chin and land on his chest like little droplets of…
I shiver and stare at my barely touched fruit. Only three more seeds to trap me for six months. And if I ate the whole thing…? Would he chain me by my wrists, tease me with his tongue, and fuck me until my spine breaks in half? Or would I become another deer on the table?
The children…
“You’re in my robe.”
“Huh?” I shake from my thoughts to find him staring at me.
A snicker lifts his lips. “Barely in my robe.”
“Oh.” Damn it. In my panic, I didn’t realize it’d fallen to the point nearly all of my tits were out. I grab the middle and pin it closed just as the sleeve unfolds and hits the ground with a thunk.
He turns his back to me to resume dinner work. “I’d say it looks good on you, but…I prefer it on the floor.”
Candlelight flickers on the knife. It flashes with movement, and I lunge back. Then I hear the plop of vegetables hitting water. He keeps scooping them down into his stew, but eyes me up at the same time. “You’re hiding something.”
Fuck. Why don’t I have a poker face? I start to shake my head to assure him that I would never…break into his throne room, step on the sigil, and discover he has children hidden under his floor.
“I don’t abide liars.” The knife scrapes down the cutting board and I flinch. It doesn’t take much for me to picture it chipping off bone as he slices the red meat away. “What…!” He brandishes the knife, the point zigzagging just in front of my nose.
I try to run away, but my knees lock. I can’t feel my fingers and my chest aches. A single whimper slips out at the hulking monster waving a blade in front of me. He doesn’t even need it. Those claws could disembowel me with one thrust.
His arms droop and the knife falls away. Shaking his head, he slips it back into the block with the others. That doesn’t do much to calm me, especially as he digs his palms into the counter. I’d seen those muscles at work. He’d torn apart stone bricks without trying before. What will he do if he learns I know his secret?
“Tell me.”
Nope. I inch for the exit, but my heel catches on the robe. It wrenches my shoulder back and thrusts my chest out at him.
He closes his eyes. “You are betrothed and feel shame for breaking your vows?”
What?
“Neither he nor you will know what transpired in my hot spring…”
I shake my head hard, a laugh rolling off my tongue. “Me? Engaged? Ha! That’ll be the…oh. Um. No. I’m not engaged. Betrothed.”
“Then what? You’d intended to leave, but my return halted you.”
Fuck, he saw that. He’ll never let me get near the door. I’ll be chained up to his bed, my bare ass hanging out, as he strokes then slaps…
Damn it, this coat is breaking my brain. I try to toss it off to escape the lustful haze of the musk, before remembering I’m naked under here. He’s staring, expecting an answer.What the hell do I tell him? I was leaving because your floorboards are infested with children. Stupid. Think, damn it.
The Krampus reaches for me.
This is it. I’m gonna be tossed into the mines with the kids, naked and screaming until my dying—
He plucks the pomegranate out of my hand and puts it next to the deer. “If you wish to leave, then go.” He steps back, giving me breathing room. With that, he drifts toward the cauldron and stirs. His back is to me. There’s no way he can see me.
I just have to run and never look back. Outpace the eight foot tall monster, reach the door, leap through, and I’ll be home. Safe. Without any of this on my conscience.
Why does he seem sad? There are no tears in his eyes, his voice level, nothing hinting at any pain. He told me to leave like he was dismissing a meeting. But I can’t stop staring at the hunch of his shoulders and how languidly he stirs his stew. Almost as if he assumed I’d leave, as everyone had before, and he’s telling himself it’s for the best.
I glance to the doorway, then back to him.
He doesn’t move.
