26. Jasper

Chapter twenty-six

Jasper

“Jas, you look snazzy,” Natalie says brightly, inspecting the silver tinsel she just zigzagged between my horns. I do a spin for her and pretend the living room is my personal catwalk, strutting my way across it to show off my new festive look.

Now that we’ve been in Kirja for the last couple of months, I’ve stopped wearing bells on my horns—there’s only so much jingling I could handle. Instead, Natalie has taken it upon herself to find an array of accessories to decorate them with. Since tinsel seems to be in abundant supply today, thanks to it being our official Christmas Decorating Day, I’m not surprised that some has found its way onto my horns.

“Why, thank you, my dear,” I say and squeeze her delectable ass. “Later, I want you spread out under this tree, wearing nothing but tinsel.” I can already imagine how much fun it would be unwrapping her like she’s our favorite present.

“That can be arranged.” Natalie winks at me before sauntering over to Cole with his own string of silver tinsel. She arranges it in a sparkly scarf around his neck and my heart shimmers at the sight. They look beautiful together—relaxed and cozy, and… mine .

This year, Christmas approached way faster than expected. Since the moment Nick approved our pitch for our Nutcracker tale, we’ve been running full steam ahead to get the story and illustrations ready, and the right quantities produced. No coal needed this year.

It’s amazing doing this with my mates. Each of us is involved in different parts of the book’s creation, and working together as a team is so rewarding. Sharing ideas with them and planning for future Christmases, is more than I could have ever dreamed of.

We have even planned out more books, and not just for the Naughty List. Some of the stories I wrote in the Alps—stories I thought no one would ever read—have also been chosen by Nick Senior, Nick, and Quill to be published for all children. Natalie has already sketched out ideas for their illustrations so they can be ready for Christmas next year.

Because all three of us enjoy being hands-on, we have remained in Kirja. Quill has handed over the reins to Cole, remaining on long enough to oversee the transition before he can finally enjoy retirement. I think Nick Senior mentioned something about a long-overdue ice-fishing trip the two of them have planned.

I climb back onto the ladder next to our very own Christmas tree, a box of ornaments balanced precariously on the top rung.

“Can you turn on some music, please?” I ask Cole, wanting all the happy Christmas vibes this year, including obnoxious Christmas carols I can belt out at the top of my voice.

“Good idea. Twinkle sent me a link to an album the Pehmolelu choir recorded, and I haven’t had a chance to listen to it yet,” Cole says, flinging his tinsel scarf over his shoulder before reaching for his phone.

When the first notes of “Carol of the Bells” hits, I wiggle my butt like I’m right there in Pehmolelu, performing with them.

The last couple of months have been busy with renovations on the guest cottage to turn it into our permanent home. And now, it’s finally time to decorate for our first Christmas together.

“This is looking gorgeous,” Natalie says, handing me a couple of snowflake ornaments. “I know none of us have had spectacular Christmases so far, but this is shaping up to look like the best one ever.”

“I’m pretty sure nothing can beat this. Ever. Having you…” My words break off as an unwelcome sensation roils through my body. I step down the ladder, bracing one hand against it as my jaws start to ache.

“Fuck,” I say on a guttural groan.

“Jas, are you okay?” Cole asks, hands running all over my body, looking to find what’s wrong.

“What’s today’s date?” I ask, bracing myself against the discomfort burning through my body, as well as the answer.

“December first,” Natalie says carefully, running a comforting hand up and down my back.

I step back abruptly, frantically searching for an exit. “NO! No, no, no, no, no. I forgot. Oh, fuck. I forgot. No.”

“Jas, what’s wrong?” Natalie asks, reaching for my hand. I curl my fingers away, not wanting her to see my claws forming.

Cole connects the dots quickly. “How can we help you?”

“My krampus curse. It starts today. I need to leave.” With each second that passes, I can feel my body transitioning, my legs slowly getting longer, hairier. My teeth sharpen and my voice deepens. I take another step toward the door. “I’ve got to go. I’ve got to go.”

Natalie grabs my face between her hands and directs my gaze down to meet hers. “You’re not going anywhere. We love you. In all your forms.”

I shake my head. “But… but…”

She squeezes my face tighter between her hands, determination burning in her eyes. “No buts. No arguing. Now, what do you need from us?”

I try to shake my head again, but her hold is firm. “Nothing,” I say, my voice low and gravelly as my beast takes over. “I need to go outside. I need to run.”

Natalie quirks an eyebrow at me. “Do you want to chase me?”

My eyes widen and my cock grows hard at the thought of tracking Natalie through the forest out back, of sneaking up on her and tackling her down in the snow, and taking her roughly in this form. But I step back and quickly shake my head, trying to clear the image.

Cole places a gentle hand on my chest. “Jasper, don’t try to fight your nature. We love all of you. Besides, we can feel how much you like that idea. If Natalie’s offering, don’t try to dissuade her. Our woman knows what she wants.”

“It wouldn’t be fair,” I try to argue, even as my basest instincts scream at me to say yes. “I’m fast in this form. Stronger. Scary.”

Natalie cups my cock straining in my suddenly very tight pants. “This is definitely not scary. It’s enticing. And don’t you remember I said I want to be chased?”

Before another protest can leave my mouth, Cole silences me with a look and takes my hand. “Come here,” he says gently and takes Natalie’s hand too, leading us to the back door. “I want to show you two something. I’ve been practicing a lot and was waiting until the perfect moment, but this might be the right time to reveal what I’ve been working on.”

Natalie and Cole grab their coats and put on their boots. I proceed as is, since I have no need for shoes in this form, nor do they fit my much larger shape. We take the few steps down into the snow-covered backyard, and I breathe in deeply, savoring how heightened my senses are in this form. The scent of Natalie’s arousal permeates the air as she looks her fill of my fully transformed body. Cole’s lust blooms when he comes to a stand a few steps away from us, but his scent is tinged with a hint of excited nerves about what he wants to show us.

Behind Cole, the cloudless sky is a bruised blue and purple, signaling the approaching sunset and the first night of my weeklong curse.

Raising his hand in front of him, a soft smile tips Cole’s lips up as tiny snowflakes appear out of nowhere and land in his palm. Delicate, pink, fluffy snowflakes.

My mouth falls open at the sight and Cole’s grin stretches into pure bliss.

“How?” Natalie’s question is a reverent whisper as her eyes take in the sight of our mate’s snow magic.

“Watch this,” Cole says, his excitement growing with our stunned awe of his new skills. He swirls his hands, forming three substantial spherical balls, and stacking them on top of each other to create the most charming snowman.

“Okay, Elsa, that deserves a hug,” Natalie says after a moment of just taking it all in, and runs into Cole’s arms.

I walk around the snowman, running a claw-tipped finger over the pink perfect spheres. “This is amazing, Cole. It’s beautiful.”

He tucks Natalie into his side and waves his fingers so a little flurry drifts down to cover their footprints. “My Santa magic activated when our mate bond snapped into place. I didn’t know what it was at first, I just had this deep-seated desire to play with the snow. To connect with it, for lack of a better word. I’ve been experimenting for some time now and have a firm grasp on my ability. Nick was really excited when I told him.”

“I’m so happy you’ve connected with both sides of your heritage,” I say. “Nick and you can probably have a snow-off. Get it? Show-off, snow-off?”

Natalie snorts and Cole chuckles. “Thanks, Jas. In much the same way, Natalie and I want to connect with all parts of you , too. Including this full krampus mode.”

There has been a whirlwind of changes since Natalie came into our lives. She’s the spark that Cole and I needed to really start living. It’s like we’re finally recognizing all that we can be.

And it’s time for me to take Natalie at her word too, to seize this opportunity to be my most basest self.

“Do you need a safe word?” I growl, giving over the beast rippling underneath my humanity.

Natalie smirks, delight flaming through our bond. “Nope. You can monitor my emotions.”

Cole gives Natalie a firm kiss and swats her on the ass, lightly pushing her in the direction of the snow-covered forest behind the house. “Let’s give Natalie a head start. I’ll cover her tracks and stay behind to make sure no one approaches anywhere close to our house. You two have fun. I’ll have blankets and hot drinks waiting for you when you get back. Tomorrow night I’ll have my turn.”

I grunt my agreement to his plan, but my feral gaze stays fixed on Natalie trembling with excitement.

“Run.”