The party drifted into that gentle lull that comes after peak celebration. Laughter still bubbled from corners where clusters of supernatural beings shared stories over the dregs of spiced cider. Empty mugs formed abstract patterns on tables alongside plates that held nothing but crumbs. The lights had dimmed to a warm glow that matched my mood, content, a little dreamy, and humming with a quiet joy that felt too big for my body to contain. I stood by the counter, the deed to my café tucked safely in a drawer beneath the register, my fingers occasionally drifting to the handle as if to reassure myself it hadn't vanished. Gift boxes were piled nearby, each one representing a connection, a relationship, a thread woven into the tapestry of community I'd somehow created without realizing it.
"You keep looking at everything like you're memorizing it," Bramble said, coming to stand at my shoulder. "It'll still be here tomorrow, you know."
I smiled. "I know. I just... I never thought I'd have something that was truly mine."
She snorted. "You've owned this place in every way that matters for months. The magic just finally caught up with reality."
Before I could respond, a familiar warmth pressed against my back. Krampus.
"Dance with me," he said, not quite a question, not quite a command.
I turned to face him, finding his massive hand extended toward me, claws carefully retracted.
"There's no music," I pointed out, even as my hand was already lifting to meet his.
His lips curved. "Listen more carefully."
As he spoke, I became aware of a soft melody drifting through the café, not from speakers or instruments, but from the building itself. Krampus led me to the small open space near the hearth where the fire cast long shadows across the wooden floor. His hand engulfed mine completely, his other settling at my waist. Despite his intimidating size, he moved with surprising grace, guiding me into a slow dance that required no complex steps, just the gentle sway of two bodies finding shared rhythm.
"Are you pleased?" he asked.
I tilted my head back to look up at him, momentarily lost for words that could encompass what I felt. "It's too small a word," I finally said. "Pleased is what you feel when a recipe turns out right or when a difficult customer finally leaves. This is..."
"Overwhelming?" he suggested.
"Perfect," I corrected. "It's perfect."
We continued our slow revolution around the small space, my dress brushing against his legs, his heat enveloping me like the safest blanket. Around us, the remaining guests watched with knowing smiles but gave us space, conversations continuing in quieter tones. Silas made a show of gagging whenever he caught my eye, but I didn't miss the way he sighed when he thought no one was looking. Bramble darted overhead occasionally, trailing small sparkles that dissolved before reaching us.
As we danced, I let my eyes wander over the café, truly mine now in every sense. The mismatched chairs that somehow formed a cohesive whole. The counter worn smooth from years of elbows and coffee mugs. The display case featuring Silas's creations. The window nooks where regulars had carved outtheir territories through sheer habit. The greenhouse alcove visible through a partially open door, where Bramble's plants turned their blooms to follow our movement. Suddenly, with perfect clarity, I knew what I wanted next.
"I want to close for a bit," I said, looking up at Krampus.
His step faltered slightly, eyes widening in surprise. "You? Resting?" The disbelief in his voice would have been offensive if it weren't so justified by my past behavior.
I nodded, more certain with each passing second. "I think we deserve it. A little time. Just us."
Not just time away from work. But time together. An acknowledgment that whatever had grown between us, lust and possession that had somehow transformed into something deeper, deserved space to flourish outside these walls.
His smile spread slowly, revealing just enough fang to remind me of exactly who he was. Both dangerous and dear to me.
"Where do you want to go?" he asked, his thumb tracing circles on my waist that sent heat spiraling through me.
I didn't hesitate. "Somewhere warm and fun."
I'd spent enough time in the cold, metaphorical and literal. I wanted sun on my skin and Krampus's hands following its path. I wanted to laugh without worrying who might need me and be selfish in the most delicious ways.
His eyes gleamed with mischief that matched something newly awakened in me. "I know a place."
"Private?" I asked, pressing slightly closer.
"Very." His voice dropped. "A small island. Technically its own dimension. Accessible only through certain paths."
"Sounds perfect." I smiled up at him, feeling lighter than I had in years. "How soon can we leave?"
"Tomorrow morning," he murmured, his mouth close to my ear. "After you've had time to pack appropriate clothing."His claw traced the neckline of my dress. "And inappropriate clothing."
"Deal," I whispered, just as the building's magic swelled the music around us, as if celebrating our decision.
