Page 60 of Perfectly Perfect Pixie

“Oh! So there will be a pixie?” The human went up on tiptoe, leaning around Freddie, stretching her body across his lap as she attempted to get a better view of me. As if she were seeing me for the first time, her bloodshot eyes widened. “Aren’t you a handsome one,” she cooed.

Tugging at her already plunging neckline, she tilted her head, showing off a litany of scars. This woman had been fed from for years. Most of her feeders had failed to show her the simplest courtesy of sealing the wound they’d fed from. I’d need to find out if this woman had lived in my territory or if she was new to the area. If the scars were my nestmates’ doing, a strong discussion was needed.

Leon’s stilled body language let me know he’d seen what I had and most likely was thinking the same thoughts. It was just another reason, even if Leon hadn’t beaten Frederick bloody during his challenge, that Freddie wasn’t fit to be my second. He saw the human woman’s weakness as an advantage. Leon and I saw it as a problem in need of severe correction.

I’d had enough. There was only so much waste I could handle. I’d shown my face, done my due diligence, and greeted Dusk’s guests. It was time for a tactful retreat.

Standing, I allowed my body to waver. I kept the movement slight. My supposed weakness was meant to be believed.

“Lucroy?” Leon’s worry sounded genuine. There was a good chance my second’s acting skills exceeded my own.

Leon’s fingers gripped my elbow, steadying me. He asked nothing more. Frederick would know that if something were wrong, Leon wouldn’t advertise it.

“I’m fine.” I brushed Leon’s hand away. Tugging my shirt sleeves, I nodded in Frederick’s direction. “I expect your dinner to be sober enough to give permission before you feed from her. I would be most disappointed to find out you’ve been taking advantage of human addiction.”

Anger flashed through Frederick’s eyes, flushing them in a crimson haze that quickly dissipated. The crack of shifting bones met my ears. I’d angered him enough to instigate a vampiric shift. Freddie managed to control his anger, and barely an elongated talon was seen before he returned to his full human façade. The female beside him didn’t have the self-preservation skills to see the danger.

“Oh, I’ll make sure,my king,” Freddie mocked. I thought about correcting his disrespect, but that wasn’t part of the plan, so I walked away. I’d barely taken two steps when Frederick said, “Enjoy your pixie blood.” Pleasure radiated through that singular sentence.

Turning, I lifted the edge of my lip, flashing fang. “I intend to.” Freddie’s smile vanished. Gaze tracking to Leon, I said, “Please escort Peaches to my door when he gets here.”

“Of course,” Leon answered, staring daggers into the back of Frederick’s head.

I kept my gait steady, walking casually toward the door to my underground home. The door was tucked away, out of sight from those within the bar. The retinal scan allowed me entrance. I needed to add Peaches to the program. Perhaps we could do that tonight.

* * *

The nights shifted by, one rolling into another as one week, and then the next slipped by. Sedrick was kind enough to stop by each time we received a new shipment of blood. A couple more bottles of my special blend were found tainted, but the rest was fine. With Katie dead, only so many more bottles containing her contribution should arrive. Most likely, this last shipment was it. We’d been sure to keep an eye on my remaining contracted donors, and they remained well.

We were running out of time. So was the instigator of the plot. Each day, I acted a little bit weaker, a little less steady. I spent less and less time in Dusk, helping to fuel rumors that I wasn’t well. Leon and Johnny vehemently denied I was ill to any and all who would listen. No one would expect anything less.

Peaches and I saw each other as often as possible. We tried to split our time between his orchard and Dusk. Tonight, he was here, with me, in my underground haven. I’d continued feeding from him, taking a little more each time. Leon was no longer present. I had complete control. Peaches was never in danger when he was in my arms.

“Do you think it’s working?” Peaches asked while reclining against my chest. The scent of his blood, along with our combined cum, was mouthwatering. There was nothing better in this life or my last. If the sun rose and somehow made it through the concrete and dirt creating my home, I would lay there and allow it to burn me to ash.

“Hmm?” My mind was foggy, drunk and sated on every type of lust a vampire could enjoy.

Smacking my chest, Peaches leaned back, making sure he had my attention. “You heard me just fine. Do you think it’s working? Do you think they really think you’re weak?”

I yawned, showing a lot of fang. Peaches didn’t take offense. “I do. I’m a much better actor than I thought. And Leon . . . I had no idea he was so skilled.” Johnny was a given. My faun bartender could banter, throw shade, and disillusion better than anyone I’d ever met.

Worrying his bottom lip, Peaches leaned his head back on my chest. “But nothing else has happened. I . . . I hate this waiting.”

I hated it too, especially when it upset Peaches. Running my fingers through his softer-than-silk hair, I did not believe I’d ever find the shades of gold less fascinating. Quiet, even Peaches’s wings were still, not a hint of dust in the air.

“I know, and I apologize.” I was also waiting to hear more from the vampire council. I hadn’t gotten a missive from them since the last one almost two weeks ago. The quiet concerned me. I had no illusions they’d lost interest in my goings-on. They were out there, watching and waiting. I could feel it in my bones.

All had been quiet around Peaches’s orchard as well. His sprites kept a constant vigil around the perimeter and hadn’t noted any new tracks or scents. Sedrick had confirmed the scent on the napkin was one he’d picked up outside Peaches’s orchard. Sedrick had made a point of coming into Dusk several times, but the werewolf never showed up again. I’d disliked taking him away from his family and finally told him that if the werewolf showed up, I would contact him.

Unfortunately, there was never a need. Frederick came and went, but the werewolf did not. I still couldn’t say for certain if the were was connected to Freddie. Instinct told me he was; I just didn’t know how.

“It’s okay,” Peaches finally answered, his index finger tracing circles around my nipple, hardening it. “You still feel okay? Drinking my blood?” Peaches asked me this every night, and thankfully, my answer was always the same.

“I feel better than ever.”

I wasn’t lying. I wasn’t even exaggerating. I did feel better. Not that I’d felt bad before, but . . . it was difficult to explain. When dawn came, I wasn’t as tired. I didn’t feel the need to drop into bed. Yesterday, I’d even woken during the middle of the day. I couldn’t remember that ever happening before. I’d been confused and had to triple-check the time. It had been difficult falling back asleep. It was . . . odd.

Letting loose a deep breath, Peaches lazily shifted, briefly fluttering his wings. Golden dust shimmered in the low lights, turning my underground haven into a glittering jewel.

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