Halfling

By Cindy C Bennett

Banished from the South Pole, Kara tries to carve out a new life among the elves of the North. It’s not easy with a secret to protect—a secret she's cursed with by the unusual circumstances of her heritage: half-elf, half-fairy. In the North, she’s assigned to work with Seb on a special project. He's the most gorgeous elf she’s ever seen—and the orneriest.
As if being banished wasn’t punishment enough.

Seb introduces her to Trystin, a fairy from the nearby fairy forest. Trystin discerns her secret right away and promises to teach her how to use the powers given to her by the very thing she’s fighting to keep hidden.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cindy C Bennett
• Release date: Nov 9, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310892387

Cindy C Bennett

Cindy C Bennett has been writing her whole life, but she fell in love with young adult novels after her teenage daughters introduced her to the genre. Her first two novels, Heart on a Chain and Geek Girl, were written for her daughters, who then encouraged her to publish them. Today, she has eight published novels to her name, including the Whitney Award–nominated young adult romance The End of Feeling. The mother of four grown children and two grandchildren, she enjoys writing, hanging out at the Salt Lake Comic Con, and riding her Harley all over Utah, where she was born and raised.

Book preview

Halfling by Cindy C Bennett

Banished from the South Pole, Kara tries to carve out a new life among the elves of the North. It’s not easy with a secret to protect—a secret she's cursed with by the unusual circumstances of her heritage: half-elf, half-fairy. In the North, she’s assigned to work with Seb on a special project. He's the most gorgeous elf she’s ever seen—and the orneriest. 

As if being banished wasn’t punishment enough. 

Seb introduces her to Trystin, a fairy from the nearby fairy forest. Trystin discerns her secret right away, promising to teach her how to use the powers given to her by the very thing she’s fighting to keep hidden.

H

alfling

by Cindy C Bennett

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Other Books by Cindy C Bennett

About Cindy C Bennett

Copyright

Halfling

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Copyright 2013 Cindy C Bennett

Cover Background Copyright cynnalia_stock-d3sf29n

Fantasy Hair copyright http://hellonlegs.deviantart.com/

Blowing Dress copyright http://www.123rf.com/photo_16140289

Wings copyright wings-da

Cover design by Cindy C Bennett

Smashwords Edition

Tags: Young Adult, YA, New Adult, Contemporary, Fantasy, Christmas, Romance

Chapter One

* * * * * * * * *

Kara took a deep breath, her hand on the glass doorknob. A new beginning. She kept repeating the words over and over in her mind. They rang just as hollowly now as when she’d been banished. Well, there was nothing to be done for it. This was her new life—for now. At least until her secret was once again discovered.

She twisted the knob and pushed on the massive, heavy oak door. It swung inward easily enough. Kara was immediately assaulted by the sights and sounds of the workshop’s interior. The other elves worked cheerfully, noisily, happy to be back to work after the month long break following Christmas. Kara doubted she’d ever find the same joy that seemed to come so naturally to everyone else.

She stepped into the bright room, which seemed as if a rainbow had exploded within, painting every color imaginable across the walls, ceilings, and workbenches. Instead of appearing overwhelming though, the colors complimented one another bringing a feeling of peace and cheer. She supposed that was the way the North Pole should appear.

Are you Kara?

She turned toward the speaker, a man with white hair. She nodded and shook his proffered hand. A pair of round spectacles rested on the end of his nose, as much a fashion statement as a necessary accessory. He glanced down at his clipboard and flipped through some of the papers as Kara took the time to study him. He looked like a typical male elf: smooth skin, handsome features, pointed ears, strong, masculine body. She guessed his age to be around eight hundred by the stark color of his hair. Most elves didn’t earn their white hair until they’d lived at least six hundred years, more commonly seven hundred when the first one appeared. He was tall, though not as tall as her father.

I’m Abriel. I’ll be your trainer.

Without waiting for a response the harried man strode away. Kara assumed she was to follow, and did so. Abriel seemed surprisingly sullen for an elf, but that didn’t surprise Kara. Many of the supervisors, who were the only ones authorized to train newbies, were as abrupt as Abriel. The quality and quantity of production depended on their management skills. She also knew that outside of work, men like Abriel were some of the happiest and most content.

Abriel led her to one of the back workbenches. Kara had managed to work her way up to Upper Fabrication in the South before her world fell apart, but now Abriel led her to the Department of Early Production. So, she’d been demoted as well. Tears pricked her eyes at her loss. Not just at her position, though she’d been very proud of being in Upper Production at her young age. She missed her family, her father in particular. He was big and strong, and a fierce protector of Kara and her three older sisters. The fact that she’d recently found out he wasn’t her blood father didn’t change her love for him.

Grumbling, Abriel pointed to an empty space at the workbench. You’ll work here.

As if he felt the weight of her appraisal, Abriel glanced up. Kara held his gaze. She had a secret, true, that her very life depended on keeping buried within her mind. But unless it affected protecting her secret, Kara prided herself on her honesty. She wouldn’t look away and pretend she hadn’t stared.

I assume since you had a position slightly higher than this one that you won’t need much training? He peered at her over the top of his spectacles. As it was rare for an elf to need glasses, Kara decided Abriel must spend a great deal of time reading to be required to wear them now—or he wore them to look important.

No, I think I can handle it, she answered.

Good. This is Pearl, he waved to the elf who stood next to an empty work station. Pearl’s pink hair framed a face that was beautiful even by elven standards. She’ll answer any questions, and summon me if needed.

Without waiting for her to respond, he turned and strode away. Kara watched him go, breaking into a smile. Abriel was very like the South Pole elves. At least that much was familiar. She turned to Pearl, who watched Abriel walk away also, sharing Kara’s smile.

He’s a good man, she said, looking at Kara. Kara was struck by the bright orange of Pearl’s eyes. Orange eyes—true orange eyes, were rare. Rumor was that orange-eyed elves came from a nearly extinct, ancient line of the most magical of elves.

Kara nodded. I know. He reminds me of someone I knew.

She slid into the empty work station and immediately picked up the tools lying there. The conveyor belt in front of them carried a variety of small metal cars. Kara snatched one up and used her tools to quickly apply the four tiny rubber tires.

You’re good, Pearl commented. Were you in Early Production in the South?

Kara shook her head, grabbing another car and repeating the procedure. No . . . Upper Production.

She wasn’t sure how much she should reveal to the beautiful Pearl. Everyone knew she’d come from the South—where else would an elf of her age come from? But they didn’t know she’d been forced here. They would all assume she was here by choice, and that it was an honor to have been accepted here.

Pearl whistled low between her teeth. Wow, you’re young for that. Why’d they start you here?

Kara shrugged, adding four more of the tiny tires in quick succession. I don’t know. Perhaps there was a need.

That’s true, Pearl agreed. Dotty was promoted only last week and we don’t have any newbies due for another three months. Maybe they’ll move you then.

Maybe, Kara said, though she knew it was unlikely. She’d been banished in shame.

How’d you luck out to get transferred here? Pearl asked.

Kara wanted to tell her it was the furthest thing from luck there was. She’d been foolish and careless and as a result had exposed her secret. There had been quite a furor, with Kara and her family caught in the middle. She’d had to distance herself from them after her discovery in order to spare them. She didn’t know which was worse—being separated from them in the South when they were so close, or being separated from them here, where she had no chance to see them.

You must be really good, Pearl continued without waiting for her to answer. Although it does seem odd that they’d place you in EP with your high ranking.

Kara knew Pearl couldn’t begin to conceive of an elf being shamed and banished. It just didn’t happen. At least, not for the last two hundred years—longer than she had been alive.

They worked side by side for some time while Pearl fed her gossip about the North elves. The names meant nothing to Kara, but she found Pearl amusing, and it helped the time pass quickly.

So quickly, in fact, that when the lunch melody sounded overhead from the familiar Angklung, she startled. Immediately all the conveyor belts stopped, and every elf put down their tools. Kara wished she could continue to work throughout the lunch break, but knew the request would cause an uproar.

Thankfully, Pearl took her by the hand and led the way to the eating hall. If the workshop was a festive place, the eating hall was even more so. In the South the eating hall had been business-like, nothing more than a place to partake of sustenance. Here, it felt as if she’d stepped into the middle of a celebratory dinner.

Elves talked, laughed, and some even danced around the edges of the room to the music that beat through the speakers from the live band that played on a raised stage in the corner. Long buffet tables were laden with an abundance of colorful, delectable foods that caused Kara’s stomach to rumble. Her eyes grew wide at the selection. She thought of her sister, Elena, who was so picky. Even she could find something to eat among the many choices.

Kara followed Pearl, choosing foods near where Pearl did. She didn’t want to lose her only acquaintance and have to search her out in the spacious room. The last thing she wanted was to eat alone. Pearl led her to a long table filled with other elves around their same age. They