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Three centuries of emptiness, of wondering if I was too dark for this shit, of pretending I didn’t care…

She’s looking at me, and I finally understand what my bonded brothers meant. Why they turned into possessive psychos. Why they fucking rip throats out for their mates.

I’d burn this whole fucking city to ashes for her.

“Well, fuck me.” The Boogeyman claps my shoulder. “Santa finally got his. But, wait. Isn’t she on your list?”

“She is.” I’m already moving, shadows gathering around me. “And she’s about to find out what happens when you walk into Krampus’s house in red on Krampusnacht.”

“Don’t punish her too hard,” he calls after me, chuckling.

I bare my teeth. Punish her? Oh, I’m going to punish her. I’m going to do it slow and thorough, all fucking night long. She should know exactly what she’s gotten herself into. What’s about to happen to her nice, normal life.

My little Red has no idea Krampus caught her scent.

Chapter Four

KISHA

He’s gone. One second, he’s staring at me like I’m the answer to every question he’s ever had, and the next, the balcony is empty, like he was never there at all.

Shit.

My hands shake.

“Girl, you good?” Jessie follows my gaze to the empty balcony. “What are you looking at?”

“I…” How do I explain I just eye-fucked a shadow demon, and now I’m ruined for life? “Nothing. I thought I saw…”

But I can’t finish. My whole body feels like a live wire. My nipples are so hard they hurt. My panties are soaked, and he didn’t even touch me. He just LOOKED at me.

What the hell is wrong with me?

“Earth to Kisha!” Kaylie’s waving a hand in front of my face.

I try to focus on my friends, but everything feels muted, like I’m underwater and they’re up at the surface. All I can think about is amber eyes and shadows that moved like living things.

And now, my mind’s racing, building a whole freaking movie with this perfect stranger. Him pressing me against a wall, fucking me until I can’t walk straight, holding me after, his huge body curled around mine, waking up to his insanely handsome face, making breakfast together…

Girl, STOP. You saw this man for thirty seconds!

But my body doesn’t care about logic. Everything in me is screaming to go find him. To climb up to that balcony and beg him to…

“Mate.” The word rumbles behind me. Deep enough to vibrate through my freaking bones.

I freeze. His deep gravel is all smoke and dark promises. It’s every filthy fantasy I’ve ever had, given voice.

My friends have gone silent. Staring at something over my shoulder with their mouths hanging open.

I turn slowly, my heart hammering so hard I’m surprised it hasn’t burst through my chest.

He’s even bigger up close. He has to duck his head slightly under the lighting. The shadows around him writhe and dance, and I realize with a shock that they’re not part of a costume. They’re part of HIM!

Shit, shit, shit!

“Hey, Red.” His full mouth curves in a smile that’s all sharp teeth.

I should run. Every survival instinct I have is screaming, RUN! But my traitorous body leans toward him instead.