H.U.M.A.N.S (The Veiled World Book 1) (29 page)

Read H.U.M.A.N.S (The Veiled World Book 1) Online

Authors: Susan Reid

“No, rude would be calling it a shithole. But lucky for you, decorating is one of my strongest talents and I could definitely help to liven things up here. I also happen to be looking for a job too, so it all works out.” She smiled sweetly.

I glanced over at Gage, who was eyeing her with peculiar interest as if he were trying to figure something out.

“A job? Doing what? Shining shoes outside?” Jax grunted.

“I’m not a damned Leprechaun!” She turned and shrieked at him.

“You talk like one. Your parents may not discipline you for your filthy mouth but I will.” Isis corrected her with a threatening finger. “Where are your parents anyway?” she then demanded to know.

The little girl scrunched her face up and looked at Isis as if she were an idiot.

“Parents? Why the hell would I need my parents with me?” She spat.

“Kids aren’t allowed in here in the evenings and watch your mouth. Where are your parents?” I insisted this time.

Gage scooted closer to the scene and observed quietly, more amused than anything.

She gave me the same affronted look that she had given Jax and Isis.

“Do I look like a kid to you?” She held her small hands splayed across her torso and squeaked in offense.

It was hard to take her or her tone seriously.

We all answered in absolute unison and nodded. “Yes.”

Everything about her size, the sound of her voice, and her face screamed little girl.

“There you are! I am so sorry. How could you run off on me like that?” A high-pitched female voice carried in, heading towards us.

We all turned to see an elderly, short woman making her way towards the girl.

“I get lost and you decide to jump through a ring and scare me to death not knowing where you went? You know how dangerous that can be. You left behind ten rings and it took me forever to find the one you used. What is this place anyway? A bar?” She asked, finally looking around in wonder as if her surroundings had just dawned on her.

“Yes, and an ugly one at that.” The girl commented.

Isis bit her lip. I could tell she wanted to smack the disrespectful little girl and would have no qualms in doing it if I weren’t standing here.

“How did they get in without the appropriate rune stamps?” Isis wondered aloud.

“Teleportation of any kind bypasses your wards. I mentioned that to Erian. Also, they’re Brownie Fayries and they’re immune to Earth magic because it’s one of their specialties. The runes wouldn’t have helped or stopped them from seeing your bar let alone entering it easily.” Gage explained coolly.

Brownie Fayries? That was news to me because no one has ever seen one in person in a really long time. I myself began to think they were nothing more than a myth, ironic, I know.

I was fascinated now.

“What rings are you talking about?” I asked the woman curiously.

“Oh, Miss Blythe likes to make them in order to travel and explore new worlds. I told her about that because she never knows where she’ll end up. It’s a dangerous world we live in on both planes.” The woman gracefully explained with a smile and then turned to scold the girl.

“I’m Jewel, her caretaker.” She then introduced with her hand out to shake.

Her hand was so tiny and soft enclosed in mine, making me feel like mine were boxing gloves.

“Oh lovely, from a gateway to damn Fayri rings. What next?”

Isis groaned.

“Just you wait and see, air nymph.” The girl taunted Isis.

Isis jerked and tensed, ready to strike her so I had to quickly intervene. So much for my happy and peaceful mood.

“Stop.” I flashed Isis a warning look to stop the possibility of a magical duel.

The woman was petite and short, though a little taller than the girl but not by much. Her hair was pure white but her face didn’t appear to match the age that I assumed she was. It was smooth and tan. Her eyes were so pale that her irises looked nearly all white save for her black pupils.

“Is this your child or granddaughter?” I asked the woman.

The older woman smiled and laughed cheerfully. “Child? Miss Blythe isn’t a child.” She replied.

We all shot each other confused glances.

“I’ve seen stranger beings but I’d be hard pressed to believe that you aren’t a child? Do you have any identification?” Jax demanded.

“Identification? Are you calling Jewel and I liars?” Blythe squeaked as she spun on the barstool with tiny hands fisted on her small waist. She was fuming at Jax now.

Instantly, something began to erupt from the top of his head.

Both my and Isis’ eyes slowly roved to the top of this blond hair, where a huge purple and orange mushroom began to slowly sprout.

“No, no. Miss Blythe is a true-blood Fayri Brownie. One of the last remaining adults, I’m sad to say.” The woman informed us with regret and a frown.

“Told you.” Gage said with humor lighting his eyes. Even he seemed drawn in with interest and wonder at the sight of the both of them.

“What else do you know about them?” I asked.

“Not much. I thought they had the misfortune of having gone extinct to be honest.” He replied softly, not wanting to seem rude in talking about them while they were right here.

“So did I.” I whispered.

Jax, anxiously ran a hand up the length of the mushroom from base to tip, pausing at the tip where his fingers began to assess the familiar bulbously domed shape.

“What the fuck? Hey, why the hell didn’t anyone tell me that I’ve got a damned cock growing out of my head!? Did you do this!?” Jax jabbed a finger at the little Brownie with an accusing glare.

Then, he began to freak out with macho rage, all while scrambling to tear the magical fungus from the top of his head.

“Oh jeez, Jax it’s just a mushroom, harmless earth magic.” Isis said as she began to hover, reaching for and pulling at the mushroom.

The force of her jerk pulled Jax’s head with it.

“Ouch!” he exclaimed.

Isis’ face turned serious. “That hurts?”

“Hell yeah it hurts!” Jax grunted with a grimace of discomfort and anger.

Her eyes snapped to the Brownie. “So help me, I will rip…”

“Isis.” I warned.

“Aw, don’t be such a dickhead. Consider it a gift. No woman can resist a man with two.” the misbehaving Brownie teased with a gleeful grin and giggle.

Jewel tsked and frowned at her.

“You’re going to quickly wear out your welcome, Miss Blythe.” She said to her in warning.

“She already has! Remove it now, you little perverted cupcake troll!” Isis demanded through clenched teeth.

Blythe ceased her tinny chuckling and looked at Isis as if she were sizing her up and contemplating something.

“Don’t even think about it!” Isis threatened with a pointed finger down at the lewd Fayri.

If I were her, I’d take the threat seriously. Sylphs have pretty powerful magic and they don’t play, especially Isis. This little—woman was treading thin ice with her, including me right now.

Sighing and giving Isis a severe eye roll, she gave a nonchalant side glance up at Jax and the phallic mushroom began to shrink.

“Who’s the cute little girl?” Marq asked upon joining the slightly comical scene.

Marq? I hadn’t even noticed him come in but I was so happy to see his handsome face.

“I am not a little girl! I am Blythe Flora, true born Princess Fayri Brownie! I’m probably older than all of you!” She gritted her teeth in clipped words and mounting frustration.

“Princess my ass! You’re not in Brownieville anymore, you perverted shoe shiner.” Isis quipped.

Blythe simply glared at her and probably would have done or said something in return but her attention had been completely diverted by Marq’s arrival.

Hopping nimbly from the barstool down to the floor, and landing fluidly on her feet with hands on hips, she approached Marq, sizing him up with a much different premise.

“But you are obviously in no need of any extra appendages. Don’t let my looks and size fool you. I’m all yours, tall, dark, wet, and gorgeous.” She said dreamily, batting her lashes up at Marq.

Her doll-like face morphed into a borderline creepy, lecherous grin as her starry-eyed gaze glossed over Marq’s entire physique… starting with his crotch since she was already ay eye-level.

Gage continued to look on with passive amusement; Isis was still scowling and annoyed; and Jax was cursing her out mentally with teeth clenched. I could only raise my brows in surprise, struck speechless yet honored that this rare being decided to pay the bar a visit by chance. I couldn’t help but stifle a giggle at the completely confused and uncomfortable look on Marq’s face while he glanced down at her.

Oh boy, things just went from dangerously dramatic to adorably fascinatin
g
— at least, I hoped that it turned out that way.

I certainly hope that you have enjoyed the first book and the start of the H.U.M.A.N.S series! If you have, leaving a review would be the most generous and helpful compliment, as well as spreading the word that you can pay an author as a reader and reviewer.

More chronicles to come! Stay on top of all the updates, information, releases dates, and giveaways on the series at both:

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ENJOY
another great series by Author Susan Reid:

THE DIVINITY SAGA

Divinity: The Gathering: Book One

Divinity: Transcendence: Book Two

Divinity: Immolation: Book Three

**And the final book in the divinity** saga