Page 58 of The Mating Fire
“Not sexy enough, though some women prefer hairy chests. I daresay mine wins the prize for that.”
Harper smiled, but looked troubled. “Tell me what turned you into a Krampus.”
“You saw what I am. You know I am an incubus.” He buttered a slice of toast and set it aside. “I seduce women at night. It’s mynature. One night, several decades ago, I made the mistake of trying to seduce a woman with significant power. A witch.”
Toying with his knife, he gazed out at the magnificent snow-topped distant peaks. Never had he told this story before, and every word felt like acid in his throat.
“Excuse me if it takes me a while to tell this. I haven’t wanted to think about that moment in many, many years.”
Harper moved the chair closer to him. She touched his hand. “It’s okay. Take all the time you need.”
Studying her hand he took a deep breath. “It’s best I say it quickly. Her name was Serena.”
Harper’s gaze went wide.
“She was beautiful, but in a superficial way. I will not go into details, but I tried to seduce her with the usual words of adoration and love. When it didn’t work out, and she rejected me but wanted to get to know me better, I promised we would get together soon.”
“You mean, you told her ‘I’ll call you,’” she said dryly.
“Something like that. I told her I would spend the holidays with her in Vienna, her favorite city. After two weeks, she tracked me down. Saw me with another woman. It was Christmas time. I had forgotten all about her.”
“You lied.” No condemnation in her voice.
“Yes.” Somehow it felt good to admit it. “It was in my nature, and I felt no guilt about it. I simply looked at her and laughed. Told her to get lost, I was busy.”
Harper winced. “Ouch.”
“Later that night, I was walking through the streets of Vienna when she appeared and told me I was a curse to women. A beast who was the opposite of good and kind. The kind of monster who no one could ever love. She cursed me to become Krampus every night after midnight and keep that form until sunrise.”
Moisture formed in her eyes as she squeezed his hand. “That’s terrible. I understand how hurt she was. But still, a little over the top.”
Jared shrugged again. He couldn’t tell her the way to break the curse, for it was forbidden.
Not that he wanted to tell her anyway, because this wasn’t about him. It was about her, and training her.
They were not soulmates. Never could be soulmates. He ceased believing in such myths.
“I’m sorry, Jared. That is a huge burden to carry, and the way I acted last night as if you were some horrid beast, I’m sure that didn’t help.”
“I am a beast, Harper.” Jared withdrew his hand. “Don’t waste your time thinking I am not. It’s been so many years I’ve forgotten what it feels like to be a man after midnight.”
“Is there a way to break the curse? There has to be.”
Dread mingled with an even worse emotion surfaced. Hope. Hope was a horrible feeling, because it could get crushed time and time again.
He preferred to feel nothing.
Jared pushed away from the table. “Eat your breakfast and if you do not wish to leave, we’ll resume your training.”
The stamp of her on her expression was hard to ignore as he walked away.
They spentthe better part of the day training in the courtyard. Jared taught her to dodge bolts of energy, and repel them with her own powers. When Harper had successfully averted a surprise attack, he seemed satisfied.
Still, Harper wondered if training here was enough. Here in the safety of the castle, behind the thick stone walls, nothingcould touch her. But in the wider world, she had a target painted on her back.
And there was the matter of him turning into the beast she feared the most… after midnight. While she appreciated his trusting her with the origins of his Krampus form, she wished he would consider ways to help her break it.
He’d done much for her in the time since he saved her from the demon at the volcano and she wanted to help him in return.
