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6
     
    Katenia considered hitting him. The man looked miserable and uncomfortable, but that didn’t mean he had to be mean. She gripped the handle thingy when he started moving the vehicle again, and glared at him. “Are you done insulting me?”
    “No, damn it. You need to start making sense before one of us does something we’re going to regret.”
    She thought she’d made perfect sense. Pair-bonding was bad. Sex was good. She frowned. Maybe the two were linked in his head? Sex and mating? “Nathan, your eye is twitching.”
    He pressed a palm to it and nodded. “It’s your fault.”
    Her grip tightened on the handle. “Please, can you keep both hands on the wheel? I don’t want to die.”
    He let out a low frustrated sound, then did as she asked. “Here’s an idea. No talking until we get to my aunt’s, alright? Because honestly, Katenia, I can’t handle much more of this conversation.”
    She ground her teeth together and turned her attention to the rapidly changing scenery.
    “Well?” he snapped.
    She turned very slowly to stare at him, before she finally understood. She nodded, not sure if she was relieved or heartbroken. “I got it. You’re insane. Right? You tell me not to talk, then snap at me when I don’t. You’re like Elder Asenia.”
    “I don’t know—” His words cut off as he sighed. “Who is Elder Asenia?”
    “She is one of the eldest fairies in our valley. Some days she insists she is a goat.”
    He pointed at her. “If I’m crazy,” he ground out, “it’s because you’re driving me there.”
    “I don’t understand,” she finally admitted. “I thought human men were more casual about sex than this.”
    He snorted.
    She sighed and shifted in her seat, trying to get comfortable in the enclosed space. While she could understand the convenience of a vehicle of this type, it wasn’t natural, and it showed a total lack of respect for the earth.
    When the vehicle stopped moving again, she leaned forward, staring out the open hole next to her, where the glass had been before it had mysteriously vanished at the push of a button. “Nathan, what are those children eating?”
    He glanced over, then shot her a confused look. “Ice cream. You’ve never had ice cream?”
    “No. Is it healthy?”
    To her surprise, he chuckled. “No, but it’s wonderful anyway.”
    “Oh.” Because she didn’t know what else to say, and he didn’t want to talk about anything that involved them, she tugged at the sleeves of her top and loosened the button on her pants. While most human females wore the same type of clothing, Katenia felt like her skin was suffocating.
    “Are you alright?” he asked after a long few moments. They’d turned out of the crowded area, and now, minutes later, there was nothing but rolling hills and trees. She perked up, her discomfort forgotten.
    “Oh, my.” She stuck her head out the window. “It’s beautiful. Where are we?”
    “Elm Springs. There are some beautiful gardens coming up.”
    She gasped as they passed house after house, each one with a lawn garden more beautiful than the next. Bright, gorgeous flowers spilled over windows and pots, the grass so green it hurt her eyes. She’d never seen so many flowers together. Even when she was flying at her highest, there had never been anything like this. Suddenly, she could see the benefits of being human, surrounded by all of nature’s beauty.
    “Does every house have a beautiful garden like these?”
    “Around here, yes. If you like these, wait until you see my aunt’s.” He chuckled again. “Just whatever you do, do not pluck one of the roses, or you may lose a hand.”
    Her head whipped around. “She’ll cut off my hand?” she asked, terrified. The woman had her kidnapped, and now she’d remove a hand for the price of a rose? “Nathan, are you sure—”
    He cut her off by reaching over and wrapping his fingers around hers. “I’m kidding.” He caught her gaze for a brief second. “Calm