Free Hair of Gold: Just Right (Urban Fairytales Book 6) by Erik Schubach Page A

bedrolls, and I cleared my throat gently as she looked at the coals of the fire. She glanced over, and I nudged my head toward Andrei. “I can do better than that ratty old bedroll.”
    She joined me, and I pulled her to my bears. I just flopped in between them cuddling into the soft fur and was surrounded by their intense body heat. She looked at me as if I were mad then exhaled and shrugged and more timidly slid in by my side.
    She sat for a moment then smiled. “They're so warm.” I nodded triumphantly, and she just gave a toothy grin and snuggled deep in between them. I caught Andrei, who was feigning sleep grinning and elbowed his ribs before allowing myself to drift off into a light sleep, partially aware of the wolf sounds in the distance.
    The last thing I was aware of was the overwhelming smell of bear and the underlying scent of lilies I have been catching ever since we met Gretel. I think I was smiling as sleep came to claim me.

Chapter 9 – Hansel and Gretel
    I awoke to the feeling static in the air, like the feel of a close lightning strike that leaves the hair on your arm and the back of your neck standing on end. My brothers were lurching to their feet as I rolled to mine.
    Gretel was on her feet with her dagger in one hand and that odd green magic in her other. It was pulsating with a slight uneasy black that was tainting it. She was demanding, “Who are you?”
    I realized my blade was in my hand, and Andrei and Vlad were scanning the camp for threats. What did she see that we did not?
    Then I followed her gaze to an overly amused Pavel as he held his hands up in a non-threatening manner, grinning like a fool as his beard trembled from his barely contained laughter.
    I rolled my eyes at the man and stepped beside Gretel, laying a hand on her dagger arm and applying gentle pressure as I whispered, “That's Little Bear.”
    Then I chastised my brother, “You could at least have waited until we were awake to change so that you didn't alarm our guests.” Then I narrowed my eyes at Hansel, who was stoking the fire with a grin on his face. I shook a finger at him. “And you're no better than he is you scalawag!” That got the young man laughing.
    Then I turned back to my brother and said with a warning tone as Gretel caught on to what was happening, “Pavel, now apologize to her, da?”
    He looked down and tried to stop grinning as he nodded and said, “I'm sorry to have startled you, Gretel, it was not my intent.” I narrowed my eyes, his grin got toothier, and he amended, “Well mostly not my intent.”
    She sheathed her dagger and asked in an amazed voice, “Little Bear? It is true then, you three are human.” She shot me an apologetic glance and said in her own defense, “I thought you might be half mad.”
    She gave me an apologetic grin, and I burst out in a giggle and said, “You may not be too far off in that estimation.”
    Then I turned to the two giant bears who had relaxed and seemed overly amused at the situation. “Don't make me come over there boys. Now go get changed and I'll see about getting a morning meal put together.”
    They trundled quickly off, grabbing their packs in their jaws so they could go change. I wiggled my eyebrows at the brunette beside me who looked thoroughly entertained by me. I shrugged. “The best way to discipline them is through their stomachs.”
    She nodded sheepishly. “That is what got Hansel and me in our predicament, the promise of sweets.”
    She and Hansel contributed supplies for the meal, and I had to blink at the three goose eggs that the man had in his pack. How had he not cracked them open during the fight? They made a great addition to the breakfast.
    I had to shoo her away as she tried to help cook. “I have this, you can dig out the tin plates from my pack just there.”
    Pavel chuckled. “She claimed our kitchen as her own as well, we can't get within five paces of the stove at home. Feisty little kitten that one is.”
    They