Jared's Quest: An Unfortunate Fairy Tale Short Story

By Chanda Hahn

This is an 11K word short story placed in the UnEnchanted world, meant to be read between UnEnchanted & Fairest.

Mina Grime is a Grimm, bent on sending Jared, and his Fae kind back to their own world to end the curse on her family.
Jared is her Fae protector, and all around pain in the neck. Then the wheels of fate turn on Jared, and he is given his own quest to complete against his will. Jared has his hands full as he tries to save a bunch of spellbound boys, capture a beautiful shape-changing Fae, all while keeping Mina in the dark about it. He'll need all the help he can get, and will have to recruit one of his old Fae friends to help.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chanda Hahn
• Release date: Jan 28, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311878137

Chanda Hahn

Chanda Hahn is a New York Times and USA TODAY Bestselling author. She uses her experience as a children's pastor, children's librarian and bookseller to write compelling and popular fiction for teens. She was born in Seattle, WA, grew up in Nebraska and currently resides in Portland, Oregon with her husband and their twins.

Book preview

Jared’s Quest

An Unfortunate Fairy Tale

Short Story

Copyright © 2013, 2014, 2015 by Chanda Hahn

www.chandahahn.com

Cover design by Chanda Hahn

Editor Bethany Kaczmarek

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

3rd Edition

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form is forbidden without written permission of the author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Thank you for downloading this short story.

Find out more about free autographed book giveaways, exclusive contents and weekly sweepstakes & prizes by following me on Facebook. Get updates on my new releases and more when you sign up for my mailing list.

Chapter 1

He could see her from his perch in the tree. She was crouched below trying to be inconspicuous in the bushes. Her long brown hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail, and she wore all black clothes to blend into the night.

Very cliché. All she needs now is a utility belt and a cape and she’ll look like Batman. Jared had watched her for days and seen the signs—the lack of sleep, the anxiety, the constant looking over her shoulder. He could sense it too, the buildup of power that usually foretold a quest. Mina Grime was about to step into some very dangerous Fae business. He couldn’t believe she hadn’t even asked for his help. It was a good thing he didn’t need anybody’s permission to meddle in her business.

Jared slipped down to the next lowest tree branch to get closer, being careful to not snag his jacket. He flexed his strained fingers before wiping them on his jeans. Mina was oblivious to the fact that he’d suddenly materialized in the tree; she was focused solely on the house in front of her. Her entire body was tense, like the spring on a mousetrap just waiting to be sprung. A sly smile crept up Jared’s cheek as a sudden idea popped into his head. It was time to spring the trap.

Jared slowly opened his hand. A small yellow glow appeared, and a black stone materialized into his palm. Taking careful aim, he tossed it into the bushes ten feet from Mina. Her head flicked to the left, following the sound. He leaned forward and gripped a smallish branch in the tree, pressing down on it until it snapped

Mina jumped—straight into fight or flight mode. She turned in circles, scanning the area—looking everywhere but up.

Pay attention, Mina. The sound was in the tree. Attackers can come from anywhere. He watched as her breathing became ragged and her hands started to tremble. She pulled the Grimoire out of her jacket and held it close, at the ready. Jared frowned. Didn’t she realize that she could ask for his help, instead of the stupid book? Maybe it was because he burned his bridge of trust with her. No, he didn’t just burn it. He destroyed it with dynamite, and left their trust in pieces with his evasiveness.

He ran his hand through his thick hair, and his eyes narrowed. He thrust out his hand, and an even larger rock magically

Reviews for Jared's Quest

[Char P · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I wish there was more about him. More to fill the series with his perspective