Page 19 of Perfectly Perfect Pixie

“They have agreed?” Lucroy asked, reminding me that he didn’t know what the sprites said.

“They have.” I beamed up at Lucroy. Even with him holding me off the ground, Lucroy was still a good head taller than me.

“That is excellent news.” Again, Lucroy offered me a hint of smile, just enough to warm his expression but not enough to show fang.

“It is,” I answered before flying toward the sprite that was once more hovering within Mattie’s outstretched palm. “Would the rest of your colony like to come out? I’ll drop the barrier enough to let you inside. My barrier is strong. Once inside, you should be safe from predators and humans.”

The sprite zipped away, shooting back into the box.

Mattie’s soft laughter filled the evening, a pleased smile pulling at her lips. “It’s good. I’m glad they’ve got a home with you, Peaches. I couldn’t think of a better scenario. Sprites have gotten a bum rap over the years. They can be mischievous, but it’s all good-natured. They’re gentle souls and have been pushed to the brink of habitation. I think, out of all the species, they’ve suffered the most over the years.”

Before I’d needed them, I hadn’t given much thought one way or the other to the plight of sprites. I itched to call Phil and tell him everything I’d learned. I’d already called him twice today, asking for his advice. Given the time of evening, Sedrick would be home from the mine, and the kids would be home from school. Next to morning, this was Phil’s favorite time of day. I’d bank my enthusiasm and call him tomorrow, when Sedrick and the kids were gone.

A string of intense lights left the box, one by one. I wasn’t certain how large this sprite colony was. In the big scheme of things, the box Mattie brought with her wasn’t that large. Part of me was a little dismayed to see just how few of them there were. I wasn’t certain how many it would take to clear the aphid problem. Beyond that, it just seemed like there should be . . . more. I didn’t do a head count, but I estimated there to be fifty, maybe less.

Flying closer, I peered into the box and asked, “Is that all of you?” I didn’t see any more tiny lights inside.

“It is.” The voice was still pitched high, but there was something different, something I couldn’t exactly discern but told me it was a different sprite. “Not all of us made it out.” All the sprites dimmed, their light just a bit dulled.

“I’m sorry.” I swallowed hard.

“Not your fault,” the same sprite answered, the whole group shifting closer. “Can we taste your dust?” A hopeful tremor went through the colony.

Fluttering my wings faster, I rose higher off the ground and waved them forward. “I don’t see why not.” In an instant, they swarmed me. I was surrounded by a halo of illumination rivaling my dust’s yellow-gold.

The sprites dove and twisted, zipping around me at what appeared to be an alarming speed. Humming lit up my right ear. Joyful sounds and squeaking giggles.

Twirling, I did the pixie equivalent of dancing. Arms thrown high, I spun, taking my entourage with me. Their happiness infected me, and for the first time since I’d heard the cry of my apple trees, I relaxed, my heart light. When I stopped spinning, I was at least five feet off the ground, my eyes pinned to Lucroy. Deep wells of black consumed his eyes. Those depths should have appeared soulless. Instead, they looked hungry.

ChapterEight

LUCROY

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Leon had insisted on driving, even though I was more than capable. He’d also insisted on asking me that no less than three times. Four, including his latest inquiry.

“Who knows,” I answered with a disinterested shrug. “If nothing else, meeting with Arie should prove entertaining.” I flashed a fang.

In truth, I didn’t want to meet with the alpha werewolf. I’d much rather be back at Dusk. Sitting alone in a corner booth or down in my basement apartment, I didn’t much care. The only requirement was I not be interrupted. I’d gone to ground that morning with thoughts of Peaches warming my cold body, speeding my lumbering heart. He’d looked magnificent. There were no other words. Flying happy and free, surrounded by a halo of dancing sprites. I’d been alive well over six hundred years and couldn’t remember a single vision that came remotely close to that breath-stealing moment.

Not that I had breath that could be stolen.

“Entertaining? Huh,” Leon grunted. “I can think of a lot of other ways to entertain myself, and none of them involve being around the stench of werewolf.” Leon crinkled his nose. “Their blood’s one thing.” Licking his lips, the tips of Leon’s fangs dented his lower lip. “I miss that. Otherwise, I don’t have much use for the furry beasts.”

“Not many vampires do,” I mused. “Still, I believe I may have inserted myself into Sedrick Voss’s werewolf pack. I’m uncertain if my offer was truly taken up and, if so, what my status in the Voss pack is.”

“I still can’t believe you did that.” Leon shook his head, red hair tossing this way and that, vibrant against the paleness of his skin. “You know it’s another thing Freddie is happily spreading around. Only he’s got a different spin on it. According to Freddie, you’re so weak that you had to align yourself with a werewolf alpha to hold on to power.”

“Frederick is an idiot.”

“I’m not disagreeing. Unfortunately, he’s gained a following. Freddie has a knack for saying what some of the other vamps want to hear. He hits a nerve with the ones that have never been happy with fairy law constraints.”

Leon wasn’t wrong. In some ways, vampires had taken fairy authority nearly as badly as humans. Many balked at the idea. The vampire council had made concessions—some of which were highly unpopular. It wasn’t that I didn’t miss slaughtering weres and other creatures without the threat of consequences, but sometimes, one had to curb their baser instincts and desires for the good of all. Most vampires recognized this undeniable fact. Some chose willful ignorance.

Leaning back, I allowed my body to relax. I’d fed well before we left Dusk. Leon had too. A heavy feeding was good when going into a questionable situation, but it needed time todigest.

“Frederick’s willful misinterpretation of events is interesting,” I finally answered, knowing my words wouldn’t satisfy Leon. “If I remember correctly, I offered to be Sedrick Voss’s second so that he would not need to fight the wolf Arie Belview pitted against him. Had Sedrick allowed me to participate, the fight would have been over far sooner.”

I wasn’t boasting or bragging. When it came to a one-on-one fight between an aged vampire and a werewolf—alpha or not—there wasn’t much competition. In general, the only time a were was capable of incapacitating a vampire was if they were a new fledgling or if several weres ganged up on a single vampire. Even then, the odds were still not in their favor.

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