Page 45 of Elemental Fae Academy: Book Three

“River promised me it was the same thing. And it’s not even that bad, as long as you don’t think about it.”

“Troll fat?” I repeated, still catching up with Exos’s statement. “I’ve been cooking troll fat?” No, not just cooking it. Eating it. “Oh God…” I was going to be sick.

Titus caught me around the middle before I could run from the room, his lips against my neck. “Trolls look like pigs, sweetheart. They’re gross little things that roll around in mud. Same kind of meat, just a different species.”

“Gross,” I muttered, cringing.

“Now you see why we won’t be touching that,” Cyrus mused, taking one of the sandwiches instead.

“I like it,” Sol said, on his second helping of food. “You all are seriously missing out.”

“I’m sorry, Claire.” Vox hung his head. “I couldn’t get you bacon, so I improvised.”

“And gave me troll fat,” I translated. “Which I wrapped around dragonsteak. For Christmas dinner.” I blinked a few times and then burst out laughing at the absurdity of it all. Welcome to the fae world, where nothing matched human reality. Like my sad Christmas tree.

I giggled and shook my head, wiping tears from my eyes.

“Now I can’t wait for you all to open your presents. It’ll be one joke after another.” Especially since Vox’s grandfather helped me. For all I knew, I’d actually be giving them fertility gifts.

I laughed again, my stomach hurting from the effort.

But the men had sobered, their attention falling to the boxes beneath the tree.

I waved them on, too humored to help at this point.

Vox did the honors of distributing the boxes. Which they all praised for being beautiful. When I told them they actually had to unwrap them, they all started laughing right along with me.

Wow, we came from different lands.

Yet somehow that made this Festivus all the more unique and special, because they were teaching me about their traditions while I showed them my own. It didn’t escape my notice that had my mother actually been around while I was a child, my experience would have been completely different today.

For one, I wouldn’t have put fertility leaves on a tree.

I also would have known it was troll fat, not bacon.

Still, I wouldn’t have changed any of my mates’ reactions for the world. Vox’s excitement at unwrapping his new fae flute—an item his grandfather had recommended—would stay with me forever. Same with Sol’s genuine pleasure over the seeds I’d created of all the fruit trees from back home.

Titus loved the bo staff I’d created for him using my earth skills. I’d melded it with fire and water, ensuring it would last more than a few practice sessions beneath the weight of his hot power.

“Can I slap Cyrus with it?” he asked. “Give it a good test run?”

“No,” my Water Fae said with finality. He palmed his own gift—a ring forged from my elements. I’d created an identical one for Exos as well, which he had already slipped onto his finger.

Eventually, I would make ones for Sol, Titus, and Vox. When our matings were complete.

“Humans wear symbolic bands to indicate their relationship status.” My cheeks heated, uncertainty swirling in my thoughts. “I mean, I don’t know if it’s really like marriage here, but I’m mate-bonded to the two of you on the deepest level and, soon, hopefully, to all of you. I just… I want to show that to the world, somehow.” I shrugged. “Maybe it’s silly.”

Cyrus wrapped me in his arms and kissed me. “It’s not silly, little queen. It’s heartfelt and true.”

Exos agreed with a smile, then glanced at the others. “We should make a gift, too.”

“What did you have in mind?” Titus asked, arching an auburn brow.

“She says a ring symbolizes love,” Exos murmured. “How is metal made?”

“By joining the elements,” I said, my head against Cyrus’s chest. “Or that’s how I did it, anyway.” It took some serious effort and a lot of trial and error, but I finally figured it out.

“On it,” Titus said, his hand glowing as he held out his palm.

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