Novels by Jeanette

Exactly as the door creaked wide, I realized the living room was packed. They weren't looking at me, though, they were engrossed in that ball game with the floating stones I’d played with Monty. Miles was playing against him this time, looking genuinely baffled as he questioned how Monty managed to win every single round. Monty smiled, a wide, toothy grin. Several of the glowing stones stuffed inside his cheeks so his entire mouth lit up in a strobe of blue and orange. Miles laughed at his little brother, giving him a playful shove and a quick hug. The others stood around them, clearly entertained by Monty’s antics.I was just about to pull the door shut and hide when Ruben’s voice cut through the air."Successful mission yesterday, I see!" he called out, his voice laced with unmistakable mischief.Every head snapped toward me at once. Thanks, Ruben. Ruth looked surprised but happy, quickly pressing a hand over her mouth to hide a gi

"Okay," I whispered. He smiled a warm smile and led me toward his room. When he opened the door, I felt like I was stepping into a completely different world, again.While Miles’s room had been dark, sparse, and heavy with a brooding atmosphere, Felix’s room was like a scene from a fairytale. It was much brighter. The walls were adorned with hanging vines and lush, emerald-green plants that seemed to thrive in the moonlight. Soft, glowing moss lined the windowsills, casting a gentle lime-colored light across the floor.In the corner, there was a small, ornate stone fountain, but instead of water, a thick, silvery mist, like liquid moonlight, flowed over the tiers, pooling at the bottom and spilling onto the floor in lazy, swirling clouds of smoke. The air smelled like jasmine and fresh rain."It’s beautiful," I breathed, walking over to touch one of the soft leaves."It helps me think," Felix said, tossing his jacket onto a chair. He gestured to the bed,

The house was silent when we finally stepped back inside, the only sound being the soft click of the door closing behind us. The moonlight, from both moons, filtered through the high windows, casting long, silvery shadows across the floor. The Pentagon was empty of its residents; everyone had long since retreated to their rooms, leaving the main hall in a peaceful, heavy stillness. I walked over to the kitchen island, the weight of the day finally settling in my bones. With a dull thud, I set the Tinder fungus down on the smooth surface. It looked even stranger in the dim light, its stony texture a testament to the literal heights we had climbed to get it. Felix was standing by the sofa, his presence filling the room. He waved me over and as I walked, he just looked me straight in the eyes."Not bad for a girl who’s afraid of heights."I looked at the mushroom, then back at him. My hair was a mess of twigs and leaves, my clothes were dusty, and my muscle

"Sorry!" I loosened my grip on his throat but kept my face buried in his shoulder. With the extra weight seemingly bothering him not at all, Felix began to climb. He moved with incredible speed and ease, his muscles rippling under my touch as he ascended the final stretch of the giant tree. "Why didn't we do this from the beginning?" I grumbled into his shirt, feeling much safer as a passenger than a pilot. "Because" he panted lightly, a smirk evident in his voice, "You are supposed to do this alone with a little help. And besides... I really did enjoy the view from below."There it was, the Tinder fungus. It was a thick, shelf-like growth protruding from the massive trunk, looking more like a slab of ancient, grey stone than a living mushroom. I grabbed it and pulled, but it didn't budge. I tried to pry it with my fingers, then finally, in a fit of frustration, I slammed my fist against it. "Ow! Dammit!" I hissed, nursing my hand. It was like hitting a brick wall

"I... I can't," I whispered, my voice trembling. Felix stepped closer, his warmth acting as a shield against the cold shadows of the forest. "Yes, you can. Because I’m going to be here with you.” We started the climb, one foot at a time. For the first few meters, it was surprisingly manageable. Felix stayed directly below me, acting as a living safety net. He was quick to help and quick to help himself, too. I could feel his hand lingering on my backside as he boosted me toward the next branch. "I have a very good view from down here." he called up. The higher we went, the more the world began to change. The wind started to whistle through the canopy, a cold, sharp breeze that made the massive Elder-Oak sway with a rhythmic, sickening groan. The branches beneath my hands felt less like solid wood and more like a living thing, shifting and trembling under the pressure of the air. Suddenly, my foot slipped on a patch of slick moss. My stomach shot up into my throat a

"On a tree," Ruth piped up, her eyes following the lines of the list. "But not just any tree. It grows high up, near the canopy of the Elder-Oaks. Very high up." I looked around the room, eyeing the height of the ceiling and then looking at the group. "Anyone good at climbing... and heights?" I asked the room. Felix let out a short, confident bark of laughter. "Please, Constance. I could climb those trees in my sleep. And the view from the top? It’s the best in the kingdom. If you want that fungus, I'm your man." I nodded, feeling the plan start to take shape. "Okay. Jinkyu for the water, Felix for the fungus. And I guess..." I looked over toward Miles, my voice trailing off slightly as I met his gaze. "You for the Goemul?" Felix and Miles exchanged a long, unreadable look. Finally, Miles gave a short, sharp nod of agreement. "Ruth?" I asked, turning to her. "How good are you at catching small animals?" A sudden burst of laughter erupted from Felix, Ruben, and Monty. "Yeah, Ru