The Angry Gift: A Seven Sons Novel (The Golden Claw Book 5) by K.A. Faul & Laurie Starkey & Michael Anderle

Author:K.A. Faul & Laurie Starkey & Michael Anderle [Faul, K.A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BrixBaxter Publishing
Published: 2019-07-13T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Mina always preferred forests to any other type of wilderness, but on a strange planet where pixies pretended to be giant cats and fake roots tried to shove people into giant jaws, she could see the appeal of the less threatening bucolic hills extending away from the palace grounds. Monsters would have a harder time hiding amongst the sparse trees, and the areas were better patrolled by faerie guardsmen with swords Mina presumed were magic. There weren’t as many guards as she would have liked, but there were more than she’d seen near the forests.

I wonder if faerie naturalists worry about these animals going extinct, or if they’re all just thinking, “Today’s the best day to wipe out some stupid fire-breathing, venomous omnipus or whatever.”

I mean there’s only so many times something can try and kill you before you want to get rid of it first.

Such thoughts continued to percolate in Mina’s mind as she walked beside Kailen. He’d invited her for a little walking tour of some of the hills farther from the palace, and she’d even felt guilty for being so eager. She didn’t want him to mistake her eagerness as an overly aggressive attempt to curry favor, and she didn’t want to admit she was hoping they would come across some faerie circles.

Time was running out before the next solstice. Wylia had provided some very general directions but kept stressing that Mina wasn’t allowed in those areas. Asking Kailen directly seemed pointless, so she didn’t even bother. She couldn’t risk tipping him off either.

The bulk of the walk had been pleasant enough. Kailen pointed out different plants or trees. It seemed like every tree in the area had some history, with at least some amusing or impressive event having happened near it, but Mina tuned most of them out. She didn’t want to get to know local faerie history—or any faerie history. She wanted to get off Esper and back to her own world. There was no way a single gift wolf leaving could unravel everything. That was probably among the reasons Rasetta chose her.

Mina sighed.

“Is there a problem?” Kailen asked, genuine concern on his face.

“It’s beautiful here.” Mina shrugged. “And that’s kind of a problem, yes.”

“And you would prefer it was hideous?” Kailen raised a questioning eyebrow. “Why would that be so?”

“It’s not that I want it to be hideous.” Mina frowned. “I don’t know. I don’t want to get too used to this place. I…” She shook her head. “I know, I know. I’m a gift. The ancient pacts require that I stay an ill-defined period that none of you seem to know. Madness will sweep the land and turn all faeries into disco fans if I leave, et cetera, et cetera.”

“I don’t believe I mentioned anything about disco,” Kailen said with a confused look.

Mina laughed. “You actually know what disco is?”

“I know many things that might surprise you. Being king of the Seelie fae requires me to also be aware of many things on Earth.

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