Kraved by Krampus (Yule Be Mine Monster)

17. Krampus

Chapter seventeen

Krampus

A sudden emptiness hits me like a physical blow. The protective web of magic I maintain around Magnus flickers, creating a disorienting sensation of disconnect. Something is wrong. Very wrong.

I drop the ancient tome I’d been consulting, not caring as it thuds against my desk. The wards... they’re still active, but distorted. As if someone with considerable power pushed through them.

Impossible. The only other person here is...

“Clara.” Her name falls from my lips as ice crystallizes along the walls. Magnus’s energy signature warps, the usually steady pulse of protection magic stuttering like a faltering heartbeat.

I press my palm against the nearest wall, seeking closer connection with the house’s consciousness. What happened?

Magnus’s response comes as a frantic swirl of images—Clara at the door, her hands glowing faintly on the doorknob as she pushed against the magical barriers, the door giving way despite Magnus’s attempts to keep her inside.

Why didn’t you alert me immediately?

Another cascade of impressions floods my mind: Clara’s awakening magic temporarily interfering with our connection, creating a delay in Magnus’s warning system.

“Fuck.” The temperature plummets as I shift into my true form, shadows writhing around me. Her magic is growing stronger, faster than I anticipated. Strong enough to disrupt ancient wards, even if only briefly.

I throw open my study door, moving with inhuman speed through the halls. The front door hangs open, winter wind whipping snow across the threshold. Clara’s magical signature trails into the darkness like golden breadcrumbs, but it’s tainted by something else. Something ancient and malevolent.

She walked right into its trap. My claws extend as rage builds in my chest. I should have told her everything. Should have prepared her.

A scream pierces my brain—Clara’s voice, filled with terror and confusion. The sound rips through me, awakening something fierce and protective. My horns lengthen as I launch myself into the night, following her magical trail towards the woods.

Hold on, little mate. I’m coming.