Page 3 of Perfectly Perfect Pixie

Walking in front of Phil and Sedrick, I positioned myself to greet our latest guests. While most of the dwarves scattered, Ollie and Burt headed toward me, Dillon and Ruthie trailing after, their caramel apples now completely gone.

“Thank you for coming,” I beamed at Burt, the younger of the dwarves.

“Thanks for inviting us.” Burt reached up, grasping my hand and giving it a good shake. “It’s not often we get invited out as a whole group. We don’t get a chance to leave the mining ground much.” Attention on Sedrick, Burt’s tone grew serious. “Don’t you worry, Mr. Voss. Plenty of us volunteered to stay behind and protect the mine.”

The Voss mine had hit pay dirt a few months past. Palladium. Sedrick and Phil would never want for money again.

Ollie slapped his cousin on the shoulder, nearly sending Burt sprawling. “Always so damn uptight.” Ollie shook his head in disappointment. “Don’t you worry, Sedrick. We’ve got things under control.”

“I’m not worried about the mine,” Sedrick answered, an eyebrow raised at the monstrous bus taking up real estate in the orchard.

“Told ya we were gonna rent a party bus.” Ollie cackled. “We had a grand time gettin’ here. The bus is stocked.” Ollie waggled his considerable eyebrows and made a motion with his hand that indicated he’d taken advantage of a beverage or six.

“Bloody hell,” Burt lamented, face flushed. “It’s fun,” he seemed to reluctantly agree. “Might be worth doing again in the future, even if we don’t have anywhere to go. Not like we can’t afford it.”

“Moon Goddess, help us.” Sedrick leaned back, staring up at the waxing gibbous moon.

“Uncle Sed, can we shift now?” Dillon bounced on his toes.

Ruthie looked just as excited. She still allowed her brother to lead their little duo, often following in his stead. Today was no different.

When Sedrick didn’t answer right away, Dillon’s fists landed on his hips. “You promised we could.”

“No,” Phil answered instead of Sedrick. “Your uncle promised you could shift if Peaches said it was okay. This is his day, and we’re on Peaches’s land. It’s polite to ask your host first. It might not be a good idea to have a couple of wolves running around the orchard.” Phil shot me a hesitant, almost apologetic glance.

Dillon and Ruthie’s eyes were wide pools of pleading innocence. “Please, Peaches,” Dillon begged. “We’ll be good, we promise.”

Coming from a couple of rough-and-tumble werewolf children, I wasn’t exactly sure what that type of promise entailed. It didn’t matter. I couldn’t tell either of them no.

“If they get out of line, I’ll make sure they know it,” Sedrick promised.

Hoping I wouldn’t regret my decision, I nodded. “It’s okay with me, but there are humans present. Try not to scare them too much, okay?”

Dillon jumped, punching his fists into the air. “Yes!” he screamed before divesting himself of his clothes. Ruthie was hot on his heels.

Phil hissed in a breath, wings fluttering madly, filling the area in a pink cloudy haze. Ollie and Burt waved their hands in front of their faces, sneezing madly before hightailing it out of there.

“Not in public, you two.” Sedrick squeezed the bridge of his nose and once again pleaded, “Moon Goddess, save us. Peaches just said there are humans present. They’ve got different views on nakedness.” Turning to me, Sedrick asked, “Is it okay if they go inside and change into their fur?”

“Go ahead.” I waved a hand toward my cottage. “It’s not locked.” I was laughing so hard I could barely get the words out.

Dillon and Ruthie shot off toward the house.

“Sorry about that.” Sedrick rubbed the back of his head. “Kids are tough. Nudity’s nothing to weres.”

“It’s uh . . . it’s taken some getting used to.” Phil’s cheeks flushed.

“Indeed, weres are a different lot when it comes to the flesh.”

All of us turned toward the new voice. I’d invited Ray but wasn’t sure if he’d come. Fairies were busy, and their intentions were difficult to read. Still, Ray had helped Sedrick win custody of Dillon and Ruthie. Right or wrong, I considered him a friend.

Sedrick did, too, and reached out a hand in greeting. “Ray, it’s good to see you again.”

“Especially in happier circumstances,” Phil chimed in.

Ray’s crimson hair hung long and loose. I’d only ever seen him in a suit and his . . . armor. He looked similar today, minus the jacket. The top two buttons of Ray’s dress shirt were open, and he looked as casual as I’d ever seen him. I hoped I never had reason to see Hellfire Rayburn in his full fairy armor again. Impressive as it was, once was definitely enough.

Ray had a cup of apple cider in one hand and casually stuffed his other into his pants pocket. He took a sip of cider and made a pleased noise. The sound made me stupidly proud.

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