Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 69711 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69711 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
None of this makes sense. Krav’s too proud and arrogant to admit he doesn’t know something. Besides, he’d never ask anyone for help or advice, let alone another Alpha. And even if he did, why the heck would he want to know more about Christmas? He didn’t seem that interested when I tried to describe it. “What did you tell him?”
“I tried to explain that there were lots of different human holidays, and different ways to celebrate Christmas. But he insisted on more details, so I told him how we always did it in our family.” Kim ticks items off on her fingers as she lists them. “Gift giving, Santa Claus, Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer. All that stuff.”
“Look.” Emma points. “That tyrlee has a red nose!”
Alkarvi has abandoned his post beside Krav to clip a leash on a weird-looking creature—like a cross between a cow and a horse—and lead it out of its pen. There’s a dab of glossy crimson paint on the animal’s nose.
“Accept this gift from Santa,” Krav announces, placing the end of the leash in the kid’s hand. “And let it be known that demons make benevolent and generous kings!”
The crowd cheers, and the child leads his new pet away. His parents wave their hands in the air, looking ecstatic.
“The next petitioner to the King Santa may approach!” Alkarvi calls out.
Another kid dashes forward, beads rattling in her hair. “Can I ride the monster?” she squeaks, pointing to the sky where Plutus is dipping and wheeling in the distance. The adult behind the little girl gasps and clutches her chest.
“Alas, you cannot,” Krav tells her. “He bites. But look…” He flips his hand in a shower of sparks and a little figurine of the styxian appears between his talons. It looks similar to the one he gave me. The kid lets out a gasp of delight.
“What do you say?” her mother prompts behind her.
“Thank you, Your Evilness! May you rule in darkness and torment forever.”
“You are most welcome.” Krav snaps his fingers to get Alkarvi’s attention. “Give this one a tyrlee as well. And, little one, don't forget your white juice and koo-keys.” The child toddles along behind Alkarvi, juggling the cup of what I assume contains white juice, and a plate of tarts.
I glance over my shoulder at Kim. “White juice?”
She shrugs. “Maybe the closest thing on Ulfaria to our milk back home? I told Aurus about the milk and cookie tradition. He must have gotten it mixed up, because the kids are getting them, not leaving them out.”
“And Krav’s playing Santa,” Emma says. “Look, he’s in red and… um, black. With… tinsel on his horns. I mean, he looks kind of like a Santa.”
“From hell,” Kim adds.
A Santa from hell. Beyond Krav’s throne, a few of the villagers are hoisting up a giant, twisted tree with a blackened trunk and branches. Once they’ve secured it, the children rush to decorate the lower boughs with silver and gold strands—their idea of tinsel—and tiny carvings of Plutus spinning on thread.
“This is because of me.” My hand slides to my neck. “Because of the snow.”
Emma and Kim give me puzzled looks.
“It was snowing, and I got so excited. I told him all about Christmas, and other holiday traditions. He must have been paying attention after all.” At least enough to get the gist, and then ask Aurus to pump Kim for more details.
“And now he’s recreating it,” Emma says. “But why?”
“That’s the million-dollar question. I don’t have a freaking clue.” I wish I did.
My mind whirling, I sink back into the couch. Just seeing Krav made me ache with longing—hearing his voice was excruciating. The way he spoke to those kids… the fact that he was there in the first place, giving his people gifts instead of terrorizing them…
Why recreate Christmas? It couldn’t be for my benefit—he didn’t know I was watching.
“You can turn it off,” I tell Kim, gesturing to the orb. “Thanks so much for making that happen.”
“Anytime. Remind me to show you how to do it before I leave. You know, just in case you want to… check in again.”
“I appreciate that,” I say. “So much.”
“It makes a nice change to see you smiling,” Emma says.
“Now we know: all it takes to make her happy is a shitload of margaritas and a spy cam,” Kim adds with a grin.
“Shuddurp, you two,” I pretend to scold them. But for the first time since I stepped through the portal, the bond is humming a faint but sweet melody.
And there’s a flicker of something in my chest that I didn’t expect to feel again anytime soon.
Hope.
Eighteen
Krav
I used to think all settlements in Pyreda looked the same. From above, they all consist of huts around a village square. But in my quest to bring Renee’s Hoo-man holiday joy to my kingdom, I have become familiar with the unique features of each one.