Page 74 of Perfectly Perfect Pixie

“With pride.” I wouldn’t deny Peaches.

Gasps sounded. I’d just confirmed the rumors my nestmates feared.

A wicked grin wound its way up Frederick’s face. “And we’ve seen what your carelessness has done. You’ve been stumbling around, weak as a kitten. Your infatuation has clouded your judgment and weakened your nest. You are incapable of defending yourself, let alone the Southeast nest.” Frederick pushed his chest out in premature triumph.

I allowed the nest to calm. I’d learned long ago that remaining silent was a surprisingly effective weapon. When the silence stretched, becoming just this side of awkward, I asked, “Do I appear weakened to you, Frederick?” I allowed crimson to leak into my eyes, red fire glowing from within. Talons slipped free from the tips of my fingers, and I slid them together, creating a painful grating sound.

“I—” Frederick glanced around, the unease I’d seen earlier reappearing, along with an unhealthy dose of confusion.

Easing back into my humanoid form, I placed my hands into the pockets of my pants, once more appearing nonchalant. “I understand why you seem so confused. I did do a fair job of acting. Leon praised my abilities more than once.”

Leon held up a glass of warmed blood Ray had slid in his direction. I wasn’t sure when Ray had decided to play bartender. “Oscar-worthy.” Leon downed the contents, licking his lips with pleasure.

“But . . . but youwereweak,” Frederick accused. “I know it.” Those final words came out in a growl of determination.

“Oh, I’m certain you believe so. Especially since you infected one of my human donors, making her blood toxic.”

My words fell like a silent bomb. Instead of gasps, dead quiet blanketed the room.

Freddie gaped like a landlocked fish. “Are you going to deny it?” I kept my voice pleasantly blank.

“I . . .” It was fascinating watching Freddie cobble his cloak of fear, outrage, and desperation together. When the garment was complete, Freddie raged, “I did not! How dare you accuse me. No one contaminated your blood. It was the pixie. He—”

“Oh, someone spiked it all right.” Sedrick’s voice boomed, low and heavy. Standing in Dusk’s open door, a mixture of pink and gold pixie dust surrounded him.

So little surprised me anymore, and yet there I stood, momentarily dumbstruck.

“Hey, Lucroy.” Sedrick grinned, his pink lips barely visible past his thick beard. “Looks like you’re having some kind of party. I’d say it was a vamp-only affair, but Arie’s scent is already stinking up the joint, and it looks like Ray’s enjoying a cocktail.”

My nestmates didn’t hiss at Sedrick or the pixies that followed him in. They gracefully shifted out of the way, allowing the three comfortable passage.

Eyes trained on Freddie, Sedrick rumbled, “My nose doesn’t lie.” Sedrick tapped the side of his nose for emphasis. “And what it told me is that Lucroy’s got a rat in his nest. Something tells me that rat’s you.”

Frederick’s minimal color faded, draining away and leaving a parchment-white corpse in its wake. It was a harbinger of things to come.

ChapterTwenty-Nine

PEACHES

Goddess, help me. I’ve never seen so many vampires.

I’d been to Dusk many times and seen a lot of vampires, but never this many crowded into one space. I swallowed hard, pushing down my unease. Lucroy would never allow one of them to hurt me. Then my gaze caught on Bree, and I amended that thought. Then again, Lucroy hadn’tallowedher to do anything. I was kind of surprised to see she was stillalive. The fear that raced through Bree when she saw me made me second guess how long she’d remain that way. From the look in her eyes, Lucroy wouldn’t need to do anything to her. Bree might just keel over right there in front of me.

I tried to ignore her, but it was a lot more difficult to ignore someone who had tried to kill you than I thought it would be.

Still, I wasn’t here for Bree. I was here for Lucroy, and I was done hiding behind Sedrick and Phil. It was easier to fly up than around, and I headed for the ceiling. Phil hadn’t expected the move, and his fingers just missed grasping my ankle.

Swooping in, I slammed into Lucroy’s chest. Arms open, he easily caught me. Ever careful of my wings, he pulled me in close. I felt the press of his talons against my flesh and knew they could easily rip me apart. My wings wouldn’t stand a chance against their razor edges. I didn’t worry. There was no need.

“Peaches,” Lucroy murmured my name like a prayer.

“I’m okay,” I answered Lucroy’s unasked question, knowing that’s what he’d meant when he’d said my name. I wasn’t completely recovered, but I was well enough.

“You shouldn’t have come. You should be at your orchard. It’s too soon.”

I pulled away, a scowl firmly in place. “Lucroy Moony. You will not treat me like spun glass. We’re in this together. How could I be anywhere else?” A part of me was hurt that Lucroy hadn’t asked me to come, to be by his side. I understood it, but I didn’t like it.

Lucroy’s talons retracted, and his blunt nails gently carded through my hair. Leaning into the touch, my eyes slipped closed while my wings fluttered, spilling golden dust into the air.

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