The Snowmaiden, A Bride for Krampus - Jeanette Lynn Page 0,62

fell to it right before my eyes. Wow… that wasn’t terrifying or freaky at all. Nope.

“Loo-me,” Baumb called when my gaze fixed on the spot of red pooling beneath the bag to disappear mere moments later, calling to me as if it wasn’t just my name on his lips that drew my gaze upward to meet his.

“I didn’t do anything,” I blurted in a rush, then laughed nervously.

Nodding, looking a mite sheepish if I was reading him right—or was I feeling that… somehow?—he held out the bundled fur to me. He had no idea the gift he’d just given me. Taking the pelts carefully, realizing there was something folded within them, I set it on the bed and began peeling back the wrapped sides. The clank of metal, rattling as bits hit and clanged, had me searching out the sound and its source first. The keys to the cell! And more followed, pieces of the remains of my cave cell home with Shnikel.

A folded stack of material I’d never seen before lay in the middle. “What’s this?” I asked, picking it up to shake out the contents.

The material was iced over, frosted, stiff, but I got it worked out enough to tell it was some kind of fur lined coat and pants. Curious, I lifted the material up, a pretty royal blue with light blue fur lining the collar and cuffs, silver embroidering lining it, and brought it to my nose for a quick sniff. It smelled like materials and the caves, nothing exciting. I knew what I’d been hoping for. Chagrin filled me. He wasn’t coming back.

“You found these for me?” I asked.

A grunt left Baumb and he gestured at something on the bed. Following his gaze, my attention snagged on a bit of folded paper. Picking it up gingerly, trying not to get my hopes up, I frowned at the slip nestled inside it that fell out, a funny picture, like a diagram, a map like outline in black ink with little red Xs scattered throughout and one giant green X. Glancing to the paper it was within, I saw a spot of curving script in an elegant hand and my heart nearly lept. “You found this in the cave cell,” I croaked out. My hands trembled as I carefully unfolded the missive and read over it.

Haven’t much time. Too much afoot. He has eyes everywhere. He is ever watchful over Hinter.

Lumi-

My heart begs your forgiveness for what my mind knows was right.

It begins soon. Hide when the fruit appears. Don’t eat it. Don’t let them find you. Use the map I’ve provided. Stay safe.

Once we are safe, I will endeavor to-

The next part was blurred, ruined with water. There was a whole section more but moisture had gotten the better of it. And lower down the rest read:

Think of me when you wear my gentafelkens. I think only of you.

I am truly sorry for what I’ve done. I wish with all my might you can forgive me.

Ever faithfully yours,

-S

Staring blindly at the missive, my hands curled in the fabric of his gentafelkens, tempted to cuddle into their warmth. The material was unusually warm, yet I couldn't quite absorb the warmth. He’d left me to the mercy of a pack of Krampus like it was no big whoop, like he’d come back and all would be well. What did he honestly think was going to happen to me, leaving me like that? Did he mean it, what he wrote? Was he really coming back for me, or was his jacket and pants to help his butt arsed naked, abandoned female and this note so I didn’t just give up hope? A part of me, no matter what, kept asking, But what if this is all to ease your parting? What if this is really it?

The idea of the big day coming and him leaving me holding the bag, waiting for him like an idiot, had my stomach twisting.

“Loo-me?” Baumb murmured tentatively.

Swiping the moisture gathering in my eyes as discreetly as possible, I glanced up to find not just the Baumbel of my choosing but the Krampus still stuck in the wall staring at me with odd looks.

“They’re really nice, huh?” Holding up the clothes for Baumb to see, I made no move to slip into the disgustingly soft jacket or pants. There wasn’t even a faint trace of Shnikel’s scent to the material. My suspicious side won out, wondering if they were truly even his, if it was