Faerie Christmas by Katica Locke

Author:Katica Locke
Language: eng
Format: epub

* * *

Lying on his bed, Nathan tapped the end

of his pencil against the page of his workbook

as he read. He couldn’t believe he had to pass

tests before they’d let him outside the facility.

Of course, some of this stuff would be useful to

know, like what not to do if he wanted to stay

alive. Never stare into a gryphlian’s eyes; they

take it as a challenge. Never touch a dracorian;

they take it as an insult. The same went for asking

a centaur for a ride. It was the most ridiculous

bullshit--or that’s how he would have seen it

half a year ago, when he thought humans were

the only intelligent life in the universe. On some

planets, they weren’t even at the top of the food

chain anymore.

Out in the living room, he heard the door

open.

“Is that you?” he called. He’d get in trouble

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for using Zarik’s given name if it wasn’t, and he

could barely pronounce his folkname.

“Yeah, it’s me,” Zarik answered. “You in your

room?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Stay in there a minute; I got you

something.”

Nathan frowned and laid his pencil in his

workbook before getting up off the bed.

“Got me something? Like what?”

“A Christmas present. Just hang on another

second. It’s almost ready.”

“Zarik--”

“I know, Christmas isn’t for a couple of days,

but this won’t wait.”

Nathan closed his eyes.

“Zarik, did you get me a puppy?”

“No, this is much better,” Zarik said. “Okay,

you can come out.” Nathan wasn’t sure he wanted

to. Taking a deep breath, he braced himself

and stepped out into the living room. His jaw

dropped.

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Cinnamon Sticks: Faerie Christmas

Kneeling in the middle of the living room

floor was a skinny, dirty creature with matted

pink hair and a shiny red bow on the top of its

head. It was wearing baggy clothes, hiding any

physical clues to its gender, but its face was so

delicate that he was tempted to call it a girl.

“What the hell is this?” he asked finally, turning

to Zarik, who’s bright smile faded slightly.

“A gift,” he said. “I saw how sad you’ve been,

and so when I saw this sidhe in my friend’s slave

kennels--”

“She?” Nathan repeated. “It’s a girl?”

“No, sidhe--a race of faerie. He is a guy. I

kind of got the impression that you liked guys.”

Nathan felt his face color. He thought he’d been

hiding it well enough.

“He’s a slave?” Nathan asked, looking

back at the kneeling figure to hide his own

embarrassment. “You bought me a slave?”

“Don’t say it like that,” Zarik said. “I’ve read

about slavery on your world and this isn’t like

that. Plus, he’s a seddryn. That’s a very special

kind of faerie. Cheer him up and you’ll see.”

Before Nathan could argue, Zarik headed for

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Cinnamon Sticks: Faerie Christmas

his room. “Merry Christmas, Nathan,” he said

before shutting the door.

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