Page 81 of Perfectly Perfect Pixie

“He’s not lying, Peaches.” Leon’s gaze tracked Peaches’s touches. “How are you still alive? That shouldn’t be possible. You . . . You should be just like Bree.”

“Poor Bree.” Peaches spared a glance at what was left of my nestmate. “I know what she did to me was wrong, but she did it for you, Lucroy.” Big, wide, golden eyes filled with moisture stared up at me. “She really thought I was hurting you, and she . . . she wanted to save you the same way you saved her.”

I wrapped Peaches in my arms, savoring the warmth of his skin. “She would have been punished for her actions, but I would have taken your words into consideration.” I wasn’t so sure I could have been so lenient if Peaches hadn’t spoken up for Bree, if he hadn’t sounded so brokenhearted.

“She sacrificed herself to try to save you.” Leon solemnly said. “Although, by the looks of it, her actions were needless.” With a shake of his head, Leon added, “I still don’t understand how you’re not a pile of ash. Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful. I just don’t get it.”

“Pixie blood,” Nirgal said, voice so low as to barely be audible. “More specifically, nature pixie blood and that of your beloved. The bond hasn’t been fully created, but you’ve taken enough from Peaches that it has affected you. Horatio was the same.”

My body stilled, my heart beating just a little faster than typical. Thinking back on the last few days, I knew Nirgal was right. “That’s why I’ve woken during the day.”

Leon pulled back. “You’ve been waking during the day?”

I hadn’t told him.

“I didn’t know what to make of it and thought it an anomaly.”

“It’s why you woke when your phone rang.” Sedrick was nearby, Philodendron tucked up by his side.

“My blood did that?” Peaches was filled with awe. “It didn’t harm you. It . . .”

“Has made him much more powerful,” Nirgal finished. “Horatio thought the change permanent. He thought the sun was no longer life-threatening. He never claimed his pixie. Horatio knew she was his beloved, but he turned from her, never completing the bond. He was able to feed from others, although I could always tell by the look on his face that he found the blood disgusting. Horatio believed that the pixie blood he’d ingested had changed him forever. But that was not true. We are but a reflection of the blood we borrow. It is fleeting within our bodies. This was a lesson Horatio did not take to heart. It had been too long since he had taken in pixie blood. Horatio walked into the early morning sun, the rays weaker than what he’d sustained in the past. He was wrong.”

“That’s what ultimately killed him,” I mused aloud.

“Horatio paid for his foolish mistakes. Make sure you do not follow the same path, King Moony.”

The sprite flew from Peaches’s hair again, twirling around Nirgal, a bright light that lit up his translucent skin and drew a faint smile. “Beautiful,” Nirgal softly whispered. “A fascinatingly beautiful species.” The sprite briefly alighted on Nirgal’s outstretched finger before slipping back into Peaches’s hair.

Nirgal stared at his finger, now devoid of life. Finally dropping it, he turned to Peaches. “It was a pleasure to meet you. As I said earlier, it has been far too long since I’ve had the pleasure of being around a pixie.” Offering a final glance in Philodendron’s direction, Nirgal turned, the flow of his robes barely rustling as he made his way down the hall and toward the parking garage. The rest of the vampire council followed, not a single backward glance.

Silence consumed as all eyes tracked the exiting council.

Only when the door eased closed did Ray speak. “Congratulations, King Moony. I will relay your continued leadership as well as finding your beloved. I assume the claim will be completed shortly.”

I stared into Peaches’s warm eyes. “As soon as my beloved consents.”

“Soon then,” Peaches answered.

“What a mess.” Leon’s gaze traveled the floor. “Do you want me to call Muriel’s Zombie Cleaning Service to clean up the wolf? I think a broom and dustpan will be enough for the vampires.”

“Please. Throw all the ashes in the trash, except for Bree. Peaches, if you would be so kind, perhaps we can spread Bree’s ashes on your orchard. I believe she would have liked that.”

“I’d be honored,” Peaches readily agreed, relief clear.

“We need to get this taken care of before Johnny gets back. He’ll be pissed if he sees the mess you made.” Leon grumbled but pulled out his phone.

My nestmates were already putting the tables back to rights. With Peaches by my side, we made our way around the room, soothing those who remained. It had been a long night and also a trying one. They’d lost nestmates, although I didn’t think Freddie and his small gang would be overly missed. The UV light had frightened them more than anything. I received thanks and smiles. I was pleased Peaches’s reception was the same. Word would spread through my nest. Peaches was my beloved. He may be a pixie, but instead of weakening me, he’d strengthened me.

I was not Horatio. Peaches was mine. I had no idea how Horatio had turned from his beloved. Even if I’d had to give up my kingship, I would have gladly done so if it meant spending the rest of my second life with this incredible creature. Leon could have the nest. All I needed was Peaches. Thankfully, I didn’t have to choose.

ChapterThirty-One

PEACHES

“Ishould get Phil home. Are you going to be okay?” Sedrick still had his arm wrapped around his mate.

Phil’s color wasn’t great, and he started taking on a gray tinge. He’d been away from his home for too long. Since Phil was bonded to Sedrick too, he had a little more leeway than me. But there was nothing so soothing as being within the home he’d bonded to, surrounded by Sedrick, Dillon, and Ruthie.

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