Free Kilenya Series Books One, Two, and Three by Andrea Pearson

longer sobbing, but glaring up at him.
    “Okay . . . uh . . . well, hopefully we’ll figure things out soon,” Jacob said, giving the hat back to Akeno.
    Akeno jammed the hat on his head. “There’s absolutely nothing going on that wasn’t supposed to happen, Jacob.” The amount of venom in his voice was shocking. “Are you so stupid you can’t see that?”
    Jacob tried not to look at him, but couldn’t help it. “Well, uh, I’m sure this wasn’t planned by anyone . . . except maybe the Lorkon.”
    Akeno’s fist hit the ground. “You’re wrong. My father and Brojan knew this would happen. They sent us here to fail.”
    Jacob shook his head slowly. He couldn’t figure out why Akeno was acting this way. “I really don’t think they did.”
    Thankfully, September and Early returned, putting a stop to the conversation. Early flew to Akeno and stuck her tongue out at him. Akeno snarled, his face contorted, and he jumped up, lunging at her. His hands swiped the air, but she was already several feet away from him, grinning. He ran after her, yelling at her to come back.
    Jacob turned to September, who, like Early, thought this was hilarious. “What did they say?”
    September stopped laughing and turned to Jacob. “Kenji and Brojan were at Akeno’s house. They said you should always keep one messenger with you and to send only one of us at a time from now on, just in case something happens and you need the other Minya’s help.” He looked at Akeno, who was still trying to get Early. “You need to get Akeno out of the forest right now—the trees are poisonous to him.”
    Jacob raised an eyebrow. “Poisonous trees? What else are we going to come across here? Animal-eating flowers?” The Minya ignored him. “At least the tree didn’t hit me too. One of us had to stay sane.”
    September shook his head, watching Early and Akeno. “Brojan said Akeno isn’t acting that way because he got hit. The trees—their influence—are poisonous to him, like they were to the adult Makalos. He must be getting older.”
    Jacob rolled his eyes. Of course the Makalo was getting older. “Was there anything else?” he asked.
    No response. Jacob waved his hand in front of September. “Hello? Was there anything else?”
    “Oh, yes, there was.”
    “Well?”
    September finally turned back to Jacob. “Brojan said, ‘Absolutely do not go into the forest.’ And Kenji said, ‘Don’t tell Akeno you’re moving him. Just grab him and go.’”
    “Okay. And that’s all?”
    “Yes, that’s all.”
    Jacob motioned toward Akeno. “Have Early bring him back.”
    Akeno’s ranting became louder as he and the Minyas drew closer. Jacob waved his arms. “Hey, Akeno!”
    “You stay out of this, you good-for-nothing human!” Akeno screamed, spittle flying from his mouth. “Who cares who you are? Who cares where you come from? I could’ve done this just as well as you, only I could’ve done it alone!”
    Jacob frowned, trying to decide the best way to move the Makalo. Bribery? He dismissed that idea as soon as it came to him. Akeno wasn’t acting logically right now, and wouldn’t respond well to a verbal approach. That meant there was only one thing Jacob could do. Grab Akeno and run—just as Kenji had suggested. “I’m really sorry for doing this,” Jacob said, and then he rushed forward, picked up Akeno, and swung him over his shoulder.
    “Put me down! Put me down right now!”
    With a sudden squirm, Akeno turned and clawed at Jacob’s face. Surprised, Jacob dropped him, and Akeno took off, running full speed into the forest.
    “Oh, no!”
    Jacob dropped his bag and sped after Akeno. He wasn’t surprised when the trees started thrashing around him.
    Dodging branches, dead animals, and stumps, he stumbled through the forest, doing his best to ignore the angry, moving trees. He kept his eyes on Akeno, but the Makalo was much faster than Jacob had given him credit for, and it was difficult to keep up.
    The forest