Free Redeemed by Rubies (A Dance with Destiny Book 6) by JK Ensley, Jennifer Ensley Page A

of burning coals all but drowned out the peculiar scent of the man. He was large, a good foot and a half taller than she was… maybe more.
    Taka flew back to her, hiding within her curls as she knelt beside a tree, spying on the strange man.
    “Did you catch that scent, little one?” she barely whispered. “Strange, isn’t it? I thought he was an Elf. But with all that black hair—there’s no way.”
    Taka twittered, peeked around the side of her neck, then ducked back within her hair.
    “Spooked ya, huh?” She glanced back toward the man’s broad shoulders. “Something about him spooks me, too.”
    Jenevier stayed hunkered down as she made her way from tree to tree, nearing the back of the small house.
    “This is an Elf’s home. That’s for sure. See how it seems to be literally pulled from out of the tree trunk?” She pointed as she spoke. “That’s how they do it, Taka. They sing their houses right out of the trees. It’s amazing. Wait until you see Jezreel’s. You won’t be able to believe it. They sang a whole castle into existence. The forest wove every single room, lulled by their magical Elvish tune.”
    Jenevier quickly stood when she heard a familiar sound—thomp… thomp. She listened closer. Over the gentle popping of the small cook fire, she could make out the unmistakable sound of a bow being pulled taught… then released—thomp. She quietly flew up to the rooftop and sat cross-legged, watching the giant raven-haired archer put yet another arrow in the very center of a battered old stump.
    As the man drew his bow back once more, Taka wrapped his tail around Jenevier’s neck and began to purr, ever so softly. At the gentle, barely audible noise, the archer spun and released in her direction. Jenevier reflexively snatched the arrow, stopping it only a breath from her right eye. She glanced back down at the man as she lowered the expertly crafted projectile. He had already notched his next arrow, releasing before she could even speak. It made a hollow, pinging sound when it bounced off of her wing. She slowly lowered her diamond shield.
    “Are you quite finished?”
    Already notched and ready, the man released the third arrow. It made that familiar thomping sound when it penetrated the tree behind his home. He stared at the place she had only just been sitting.
    When Jenevier lightly tapped him on the shoulder, the man spun to face her as he reached for his fourth arrow.
    “Ah, ah, ah,” she tsked, holding up the entire contents of his now empty quiver. “I’ll just hang on to these for a bit. That okay with you?”
    The man growled as he lunged for her. Jenevier flew up to the nearest limb and perched there, looking down at the imposing, angry man.
    “Jeez… you didn’t even let me introduce myself.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Rather poor manners, I should say. Not much for entertaining, are you?”
    “What do you want?” he growled through gritted teeth.
    “I only wanted to say, hello.” She wiggled her fingers down at him and smiled. “I’m not much on strangers. I like to make them friends as soon as possible. And to be completely honest… you smell funny—different from any other creature I’ve crossed paths with before.”
    “I am not a creature!”
    Jenevier tilted her head to the side. “We are all Father’s creatures. Every living, breathing thing is a creature . We just don’t all have the same form. Father likes variety.”
    “What are you babbling on about?”
    “I’m not babbling. I’m talking.” She raised a single brow. “What? You don’t like to talk?”
    “No,” he spat. “And I don’t like being gawked at, either. Get on your way and leave me be. You’re not welcome here.”
    “Wow.” Jenevier snickered softly. “With such a lovely personality, I am surprised you aren’t entertaining even more guests.”
    “You are not a guest. You are a trifling nuisance. Be gone!”
    “Trifling? Well now, that sort of hurts my