Page 23 of Perfectly Perfect Pixie

“I’m not sure I really helped much there. You and Dillon got hurt. Ruthie almost got injured too.”

“You know Sedrick and I don’t hold you at fault.”

I did and smiled. “I know. That doesn’t stop my regret.”

Phil huffed. It was a topic we had to agree to disagree upon. The sound of beaten batter was a little louder before it ended completely. Quiet briefly descended before Phil’s voice came back, softer with a hint of mischief. “So, sounds like Mr. Moony really came through for you.”

My eyes rolled heavenward. “Goddess, Phil, you sound like a grade-schooler.”

Phil’s giggle reinforced my childish reference. “Maybe. That doesn’t change the fact that Mr. Moony helped out in a big way. Regardless of the reasons, I’m glad he was there for you. Sedrick wants to thank him properly.”

“He doesn’t need to do that.” I sat up, gripping my phone tighter. “I don’t want Sedrick to think he’s responsible for me or that—”

“Too late,” Phil hummed. “You’re pack. Sedrick is miffed you didn’t come straight to him for help. You hurt his alpha pride, and now he needs to remedy that.”

“Oh, I . . . That’s not what I meant to do.” I’d wanted to save Phil and Sedrick from getting involved, especially if Arie was at all responsible. I hadn’t meant to offend Sedrick.

“He knows. We both do.” Phil let loose a long breath. “It’s hard. We’re pixies, not weres. Our instincts are different from theirs, and it’s difficult to get it right all the time. Deep down, Sedrick knows that. Mostly he’s relieved that the situation is under control. I think he just wants the opportunity to show Mr. Moony his gratitude, or at least express it.”

“I see.” I may not have understood it from a werewolf point of view, but I understood the need to express gratitude.

“What do you think about heading over to Dusk Friday night? I’m sure Burt and Ollie would be willing to watch Dillon and Ruthie for a few hours. Sedrick and I could swing by and pick you up. We could use a night out and a private one . . . in.” I could almost hear the blush in Phil’s voice. “It’s hard to find private time with little werewolf ears listening in. It doesn’t bother Sedrick. He says it’s natural for weres, but—”

“You’re not a were, you’re a pixie,” I finished, reiterating what Phil and I’d been talking about earlier.

“Yeah,” Phil said with a long sigh. “I’d like to relax and go with it, but it’s difficult, knowing Dillon and Ruthie are in a room nearby and can hear . . . everything. I think if I’d heard my mom and dad going at it like that, it would have mentally damaged me.”

I folded over, laughing like an idiot. I shouldn’t take so much pleasure in Phil’s obvious discomfort, but the situation was funny as hell. “Goddess, that’s the truth. Oh, Phil, I don’t envy you.” Only I did. Not that I wanted to be a home-and-hearth pixie, but I envied the connection Phil and Sedrick had.

“Anyway,” I could practically see Phil wave a dismissive hand in the air, “Sedrick and I could use a date night, and what better place than at Dusk? That will give Sedrick a chance to thank Mr. Moony in person too.”

Chewing my bottom lip, I contemplated the thought. “I think I should call and ask Lucroy if it’s okay that we stop by.” Memories of the last time Phil and I dropped in swam in my head. I hadn’t liked the other vampire at the bar. He’d said things that made me distinctly uncomfortable and made me feel very unwelcome. I didn’t want to cause any issues for Lucroy and his nest.

“That sounds good. Let me talk with Sedrick before you make plans with Mr. Moony. I’ll need to make sure Burt and Ollie don’t have anything pressing Friday night either.”

Phil and I talked for a few more minutes, making plans. A few more sprites flew over, feeding off my dust before darting back to the apple trees. At this point, I thought they were evicting more aphids than ingesting. That was fine by me. I didn’t care how the aphids left, only that they did.

I ended my conversation with Phil and leaned back into my tree. The days were getting shorter, the nights cooler. It wasn’t cold enough to send me into my cottage, but the winds were definitely changing. Winter was around the corner. The earth would go quiet as nature napped and rejuvenated. The sprites had started building their homes in the trees. To my surprise, my apple trees were pleased.

I’d been right—a sprite-filled forest was a happier forest. My orchard wasn’t exactly a forest, but it was close enough. Peace settled into my bones, lulling me to sleep as the sound of busy sprite wings fluttered and my trees happily hummed.

ChapterTen

LUCROY

My borrowed blood buzzed. My cheeks fairly hurt from the hint of a smile I’d been unable to wipe from my face. Peaches was coming. Tonight. Phil and Sedrick too, but that did little to dim my pleasured anticipation.

“Evenin’ Lucroy,” Johnny greeted from behind the bar. “What time are the pixies expected?”

I’d made no secret regarding Peaches impending visit, at least not where Johnny was concerned. I’d contemplated informing the rest of my local nestmates, or at least one particular nestmate, but had thought better of it. Directly ordering Frederick not to come into Dusk tonight would have implied I held his opinion with any type of regard. Frederick was nothing. I wasn’t foolish enough to privately treat him as such, but I wouldn’t openly fuel his greedy need for attention.

“I believe they should be here a little after ten.” Peaches had told me that Sedrick and Phil would pick him up. The timing depended on when the Voss children were dropped off with their questionable dwarf oversight. I could only hope the dwarves I saw partying and drunkenly enjoying themselves the night of the orchard festival would show some sobriety when caring for Dillon and Ruthie.

“Good.” Johnny grinned, rubbing his hands together before one slipped behind the bar and pulled out an amber-colored bottle. “I asked my cousin for a little somethin’ special for our pixie guests.”

Moving closer, I gave the amber glass a speculative glance and asked, “Is that what I believe it is?”

Johnny’s grin was infectious. “If what you’re thinkin’ is the finest honeysuckle mead in the whole damn country, then it’s what you think.”

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