Pixies were known to dwindle away, their will to live lost. Many stopped eating, little more than skin and bones left in gilded cages, their bodies shriveled away to nothing as they simply laid down and died.

Peaches shuddered before giving a slow nod. “That’s true. At least with ogres, it’s due to an addiction. Humans, it was pure entertainment.”

I cocked my head in agreement.

“Sprites went to ground. Or maybe to a forest. The point is they like to hide. Mr. Gladstone said he doesn’t have any sprites, but he might have an associate who does. But . . . it’ll cost. A lot. Mr. Gladstone didn’t say exactly how much, but if he says it’s expensive—”

“Then it is likely very expensive.”

“Yes.” Peaches agreed on an exhale. “Mr. Gladstone told me I should talk to you.” Peaches’s voice softened to little more than a whisper, as if he wasn’t sure he should say the words and thought quieting his voice would make them more palatable. “He said that you had connections, that . . . Well, he just said I should speak with you.” Wings fluttering madly, dust filled the air, briefly settling on the table before vanishing into nothing.

“Hmm.” Leaning back, I contemplated Peaches’s suggestion, or more precisely, that Titan Gladstone had sent him my direction. There were others he could have suggested, but I was eternally grateful the brownie had the sense to send Peaches to me.

“I’m sorry.” Peaches took my silent contemplation the wrong way. “I should just ask Mr. Gladstone to—”

“Nonsense.” I waved Peaches’s concern away. “I was just thinking about options and who I want to contact first. If you’re certain this is the path you wish to take, I’ll be happy to help. Procuring the sprites shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Really?” Peaches bounced, a little hop that shot him into the air briefly. “That would be . . . I can’t even tell you how much that would mean to me.”

My mind instantly delved into guttural depths that had no place, given Peaches innocent gratitude. My gaze tracked Peaches’s pink tongue as he swiped it along his bottom lip.

“I don’t mean to press, but how soon? It’s just the trees are really suffering, and the longer the aphids are allowed to feed, the worse the situation will get. They’ll weaken the trees, making them more susceptible to other insects and diseases. I can’t . . . That’s very difficult to watch, and there’s only so much I can do.”

“I appreciate the urgency of the situation. I doubt it should take more than two, maybe three days at most.” I didn’t like the desperate longing on Peaches’s face. If it was in my power, I would procure them this very night.

Peaches slumped as if someone had cut his strings. Relief flooded his body. “I can’t tell you how much that means, Lucroy.”

Given Peaches’s reaction, I didn’t think words were truly necessary. “I’ll make some calls tonight. No matter what I find, I’ll contact you before sunrise.”

“Thank you.” Perking, determination flooded Peaches again. “I’m not sure how much it will cost, but I’d like to leave Mae and Don out of it if I can. They’ve financially extended themselves too much as it is. I have some money saved up, and I’m happy to give it to you, but if the sprites cost more—”

“Cost is of no importance to me, Peaches. Consider the sprites a gift.” Money meant next to nothing. Six hundred years had given me more than I could ever hope to spend, even if I existed for another six centuries.

Peaches wasn’t having it. “No. I insist on paying. This isn’t your problem, and you’re already doing me a favor.” Pushing a finger into my chest, Peaches got up in my face. “Iwillpay you back if it’s more than I can afford, and youwilllet me.”

“Boss?” Leon chose that inopportune time to walk in, leaning an elbow against the back of the booth I foolishly sought privacy within. Smirking, Leon’s gaze traveled from Peaches to me. “You got a pixie problem?” Leon barely choked back his laughter.

“I beg your pardon.” Peaches’s wings beat, lifting him off the seat and into the air. Hovering above me, the small pixie fisted his hands on his hips and stared Leon down. “I’m not causing any trouble,” Peaches defended.

Leon’s eyebrows shot up, eyes wide, their black depths shimmering with reflected pixie dust. “My mistake.”

Peaches huffed but seemed mollified. Lowering, Peaches’s toes touched the booth seat, but he remained standing, warily eyeing Leon.

Unable to hold it in any longer, Leon slapped my back. “Looks like you’ve got things covered, boss. I’m gonna go see if Lizbeth needs anything.”

“Leon.”

My second immediately stopped, humor gone and attention laser focused.

“What can I do for you, Lucroy?”

“Contact Arie Belview. I need a meeting.”

Leon’s eyes briefly widened before a pleased grin tilted his lips. “You going alone, or do I get to play with the wolves too?”

“Youth,” I sighed, gazing up at Peaches. “Always so eager for a little playtime. You can come, as long as you play nicely. I simply need to have a chat with Alpha Belview. I’ve no plan for violence.”Yet, my mind helpfully supplied.

“On it.” Leon nodded. Turning to leave, Leon hesitated before tilting his head toward Peaches. “It was nice to see you again. Don’t be a stranger, okay?” Leon threw Peaches a wink that flushed my pixie’s cheeks. Jealous rage pounded with the borrowed ogre and human blood rushing through my veins. Leon’s laughter dampened the rising violence.