Page 52 of Courting the Krampus
A breath shudders out of me and my blood goes straight to my cock with the emotions Jasper pumps down the bond, and I almost get images, but that can’t be right.
Natalie shifts in her seat like she got the exact same thing I did. “Are you sending us visuals too?” Her voice sounds just as breathy as mine feels, would I be able to talk now.
“Fuck! This is exciting! Oh, the games we can play sending suggestions to each other at inappropriate times,” Jasper babbles, dancing in his seat and making the sleigh swerve with the movement.
“You mean like this?” I can feel Natalie’s concentration as she pushes an image through our bond, and I have to blink hard to keep my focus on the road. It does the job of shutting Jasper up, though. I glance at him staring at her open-mouthed, his eyes calculating, most probably trying to think if it’s possible.
“Jasper.” There’s no real censure in my tone, but I need to put an end to their line of thinking before he convinces Natalie to actually try to straddle his face right here in the sleigh. That just sounds like an accident waiting to happen.
Thankfully, the first buildings of Kirja come into view at that time and we all fall quiet as we approach the village.
The snow here is the palest pink and covers less than what we’ve seen in other villages. It dusts the sloped roofs in a thin layer, and powders the low stone walls lining the narrow road. It’s almost like I have the desire to stop the sleigh and dig my hands into the snow, to breathe some kind of life into it to make it fluffy and bright like it’s meant to be.
Round windows filled with warm light, smoking chimneys made of stone, and doors with plain wreaths of pine make the houses feel like they’re more suited for a fairy tale than here.
Lanterns dotted along the stone wall light up in turn as we near them, leading us into the center of town. There are no elaborate garlands or choirs waiting to greet us, but the village’s quaint charm speaks louder than the brightest decorations.
Cole and Natalie must feel it too, because Natalie silently places a hand on my thigh and reaches for Jasper’s hand with her other as our sleigh whooshes down the street.
Piercing the peaceful quiet, the reindeer's grunts signal our arrival as we pull up to the guest cottage. The front door creaks open and an ancient elf steps out. A bushy mustache perches on his top lip, the corners twirled in a perfect handlebar. His pointed ears droop with age and delicate half-moon glasses balance on the tip of his nose.
As one, we get out of the sleigh and stand a few steps down from the four-foot-tall elf.
“Welcome to Kirja,” he says, his voice low and rich. “I’m Quill Evergreen. You three are a sight for my sore old eyes.”
There’s something instantly likable about him. Like I want to sit with him for hours and hear his stories from back in the day.
I hold a hand out, ready to shake his gently. “I’m Cole. These are my mates, Natalie and Jasper.”
“Hi, Quill,” Natalie says, giving him a small wave as he places a warm hand in mine.
“Now that’s a story I would love to hear.” The smile that follows transforms Quill’s face. It’s like the thought of a good story melts the years off him, his hooded eyes twinkling with a new light.
“I volunteer as storyteller,” Jasper says, raising his hand. “And Natalie has drawings to match. Though, she might have to be selective of which ones to show you,” he adds with a wink.
A full belly laugh rumbles out of Quill, his shoulders shaking with mirth. “I can only imagine. Let’s get you inside. It hasn’t snowed in ages, but you never know, tonight might be the night.”
“You guys go in. I’ll join you once I get the reindeer settled in the stables.” I head back to Merry and Jolly, giving them lots of pets and praise for their good work. I unhook their harnesses from the sleigh and grab their bridles, leading them toward the back of the cottage where the reindeer stables usually are.
Thanks to us accepting our fated bond, we no longer have the distance restriction in place. If one of us wants to go somewhere alone, we are now free to do so. However, stepping away from my mates to settle the reindeer is as far as I want to go.
After I get them tucked in, I take a moment to look up at the clear sky, finding the North Star directly above me. Breathing in deeply, I search for my mate bonds and find Jasper’s and Natalie’s without much effort. Their humor and joy courses through me as traces of their laughter float from the house.
The focus on them must be why I don’t hear someone approaching.
“Um, hi, Cole.”
I turn around abruptly, gasping as my heart pounds wildly at the sight before me. “Father?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
My father looks years older than the last time I saw him. His hair is all white, and the full beard he used to be proud of is shorter than I’ve ever seen it, only a little longer than stubble. Melancholy seeps from him, and something uncomfortable twists in my chest.
“Are you okay?” I ask him, really concerned for his well-being now that my heart rate is stabilizing.
Ignoring the question, he says, “You look well. Happy.” For the first time, a hint of a smile pulls at his mouth, and the light twinkle that all Santas have threatens to make an appearance in his eyes.
“I’m mated. I’m very happy,” I state honestly, my satisfied grin impossible to keep off my face.
