Birched by the Krampus

by Siggy Shade

My jaw drops, and I huff out a shocked breath as she sprints toward the door. No one on the naughty list should look so… mature. No one ever makes wishes to Klaus but children, and the magic that judges them never fails. I raise a hand, summoning her with the magic of Christmas. She rises off her feet and floats back toward me, confirming that she is indeed Natalia. "You're the first name on the naughty list." I grab her by the back of the neck and lift her to eye level. Natalia's features tighten. "You can't punish me. The Krampus only comes to children. I'm twenty-one." I stare into her pupils, the window to her soul, and see that she's telling the truth. "Twenty-one years, three months, and six days." "Told you." She grips my hand with her slender little fingers. "Now, let me go." "However, you attacked a god and the penalty for that infraction is death." Her eyes widen, and she raises a hand. "Wait! There must be something I can do to appease you.” She lowers her lashes and sweeps her gaze up and down my form, taking in the chains I wear across my chest. "After all, I didn’t know I was dealing with the Krampus. My magic acted in was self-defense."