Chapter 53

The massive shadow moves and I look up to find a sudden form materializing there. In the middle of the woods. My heart squeezes, a squeal of surprise leaving me.

The mysterious creature moves in a blueish blur as it grabs Shagrat. The wide eyes on Shagrat's face must reflect my own. The creature seizes Shagrat by the head.

And proceeds to slam him on the forest floor.

I watch, bewildered, as the newcomer pummels Shagrat with ease. The creature lands a kick, then another, and then grabs Shagrat and slams him down again. How is this possible? Shagrat is a literal orc. How could someone be stronger than him?

And if this creature is even stronger, I am completely dead.

That's when the form takes shape under the light of the moon. Seven-foot frame, maybe a little taller than Thorn. Horns. Blue skin, and not because of the moonlight.

It's Krampus.

My mouth drops open. My heart races as I take in the scene, searching for answers. Krampus's cold, disinterested expression remains unchanged as he pauses his attack. He stares at Shagrat, waiting for a reaction.

Shagrat doesn't move. He's been beaten up like a rag doll. It's crazy to watch.

Krampus turns to me. His eyes, as dark as I remember, lock onto mine. A shiver runs down my spine.

It's still crazy to think he mated a human girl like me. This guy has the weirdest vibes.

"Are you unharmed?" he asks, his voice as frigid as the weather. He narrows his eyes. "I remember you from the village."

My gaze shifts to the tree behind him. The crack in the middle of the tree has changed again. It now looks like the tunnel has depth. The portal must have opened again, allowing Krampus to come here.

I glance at him and at the crack. There's no way he fits there. But Krampus's magic is a mystery to his mate, so I wouldn't try to guess.

"I'm alright," I say, hugging Eirik close. The baby catches his breath. He looks at Krampus with wide, curious eyes. He's not afraid at all. "We're okay." I take a beat, waiting for my voice to stop shaking. "Thank you."

Krampus tilts his head at me. He watches Eirik as I stroke the baby's wispy black hair. I grab Eirik's hands and feet, making sure he's alright. Relief washes over me.

This is it. It's over.

"How did you know where to find me?" I ask, willing my heart to calm down.

Krampus meets my eye. "Olivia informed me of people vanishing in the forest. I discovered this portal and closed it to prevent further incidents. Unfortunately, you had already stumbled inside. Olivia saw in the news that you went missing, so she asked me to search for her friend."

Olivia. Saving me once again. Gratitude mixes with the lingering tension of my narrow escape. Adrenaline washes off. My legs begin to shake.

I stroke Eirik's back, but I'm trying to calm myself.

"I will escort you back to the orcs," Krampus says. Not a question. He bends to grab Shagrat by the leg. "You must return the child before we leave."

Krampus drags Shagrat all the way out of the woods. He goes in a straight line toward the tree line. I have no idea how he knows.

The Bearclaw Clan village is aglow up ahead. Some spots are on fire. The gates are thrown open.

But there's no one running anymore. No screams, no battle cries. I think the worst is over.

We cross the road to the gates and Krampus drops the unconscious Shagrat like old trash. The old orc still hasn't come to.

The orcs gather around us, gaping at the towering blue figure with a bored look on his face.

A growl breaks the silence. I turn in time to find Thorn.

Barreling toward Krampus, roaring low in his throat.

"Stop!" I scream, rushing ahead to keep Thorn from axing the Lord of the Woods down. Or trying. He would probably get hurt. Krampus is just insane.

Thorn skids to a halt right in front of us. I fling my free arm around his waist. My heart pounds in my chest, and I can feel his muscles tense beneath my touch.

"Thorn, it's okay!" I cry out, trying to steady my voice. "Krampus saved us. He saved me and Eirik."

Thorn's gaze snaps to mine, his black eyes searching my face for any sign of injury. His calloused hands brush against Eirik's cheeks, down my face, as if ensuring we are unharmed. I see the worry etched into his brow—the concern that was buried beneath his fury.

The relief on his face makes me tear up. No one has ever looked at me like this.

Then I remember. "Ursha?" I ask, fearing the worst.

The orc king's shoulders relax. He cups my face. "She is well. Ursha is too tough to be killed. She already informed me about Zog."

My heart squeezes painfully. Zog was Thorn's right-hand man. He must be feeling so betrayed.

"I'm sorry about Zog," I murmur.

Thorn shakes his head. "I should have believed you earlier. We would have spared lives."

"I didn't know it was him. I never expected."

He bends and touches his forehead to mine. "All that matters is that you two are safe."

More orcs gather around us, staring in awe at Krampus and the still form of Shagrat. There's a mix of fear and curiosity in their eyes.

Krampus puts his hands on his hips, looking about ready to go home. "Are you the leader?"

Thorn straightens his spine and pushes me behind him. "Yes. I am the king of the Bearclaw Clan."

"This one was attempting to kill the human and the orcling," he says, his voice like ice. "I took the liberty of punishing him. This wood needs balance, and a coward who kills children is not it. I leave him to your discretion."

Thorn's eyes widen, and he nods slowly. I can almost feel Thorn vibrating, anxious to take his turn punishing Shagrat for everything he's done.

"She faced the orc alone," Krampus continues, his gaze now resting on me. "You were very brave, Olivia's friend. You truly did not fit with that village of yours."

My eyes sting with tears. Oh no. I can't cry because of Krampus. I nod, swallowing the knot in my throat.

Thorn's expression softens. "Ursha told me about your willingness to sacrifice yourself for Eirik," he says, his voice barely above a whisper. "You are one of the bravest creatures I have ever met."

The other orcs chime in agreement. Some smile at me, even with their faces covered in blood and soot.

"Shall we leave?" says Krampus. "Olivia will be happy to see that you're safe."

The mood shifts. Thorn's eyes go sad, his lips tilting downward. He pulls Eirik into his arms. I let him. A great emptiness yawns inside me.

The weight of everything that just happened settles on my chest like a stone. I can go home now. I can finally go home.

The thought should fill me with joy, but instead, there's only grief. Either way, I'm alone. Thorn broke up with me after all. Does it matter if I stay or go?

It does. One thing I learned is that I don't have to find a home. I can create one with people I like.

"I never felt more at home than with you all," I say, my voice thick with emotion. "You've accepted me for who I am, not what I can do." I smile. "You keep calling me brave. I never thought I would be called that."

One of the soldiers closest to us laughs. "Everyone's always known you're brave. You're the only one who stands up to Ursha."

The others chuckle, and I can't help but grin. When I look up, Thorn's dark eyes are on me, and they shimmer with expectation.

"What if I stay?" I ask Thorn, unsure of what I want. I wonder what it would mean for our relationship—for me and for Eirik. "We don't have to… you know—" I cut myself in. Ops, I almost said that we were together. I forgot the others didn't know. "We—we…"

Another orc cackles. "Everyone knows the king's been marking you for days!"

"Was it supposed to be a secret?" someone else says.

Thorn's jaw clenches. "If you stay, I'll be selfish," he says, his voice low and husky. "I'll mate you, and I'll make you my queen. There's no way I would live in the same place as you and not have you."

Tears sting my eyes. I grin.

"What do you say, brothers?" Thorn calls out without taking his eyes off me.

The orcs put a hand on their chests and bow to me, their faces full of respect. More orcs join, surrounding me in a sea of green skin, covered in soot and blood. They smile. They accept me as one of their own, and the feeling is overwhelming.

I let myself show how much this means to me. I allow the tears to run down my face while I smile. While I throw my arms around Thorn.

"I want to stay," I say, my voice barely above a whisper. "I want to stay with you."

Thorn pulls back and crushes his lips against mine. The orcs whoop and mock, but I don't care. I've finally found my place in the world—my family.

I'm still in Thorn's arms when I hear Krampus grunt. When I glance over my shoulder, I find a couple of children trying to climb him, their faces full of wonder.

Krampus curls his upper lip. "What is this?" he asks, shaking off a leg.

I can't help but laugh. "Sorry, Krampus. I might have told them some stories about you."

He shakes his head in disbelief, but I can see the hint of a smile on his lips. "Then I better leave. I'll let Olivia know you're not coming. She'll possibly want to check on you in a few months or something."

I tighten my hold around Thorn, still looking at Krampus. "We could have a massive Christmas party next year."

Krampus plucks one kid off his leg, then turns to the other. "I don't know what it is you humans have with Christmas."

I smile up at Thorn. "We celebrate family," I say.

"And new beginnings," Thorn adds, an arm curling possessively around me.

And just like that, I'm home.