Page 8 of Perfectly Perfect Pixie

“Sore? How? Did something happen after Sedrick and I left?” Phil stopped stirring, concern filling his eyes and voice.

“No, nothing bad. I . . . It’s just, I’m not really sure what to say.” Slumped, I fiddled with a hangnail. “I’m not really sure why he keeps contacting me.” I blew out a frustrated breath. “And then I went and invited him to the festival, so it’s not just him. He’s flirty sometimes, and then other times, he’s cool and sounds disinterested. I’ve never . . . I mean, I don’t have a lot of experience, but I’ve got some, and none of it’s with a vamp. They usually aren’t interested in pixies.”

“And werewolves are?” Phil countered. “Ray said it himself. He’s never heard of a werewolf-pixie pairing before. I suppose that doesn’t mean it’s never happened, but considering how long Ray’s been alive, it makes me doubtful. That didn’t stop Sedrick and me.”

I cocked my head to the side, studying Phil. “But you doubted it. You didn’t think there was any way Sedrick could be interested in you as a mate.”

Phil blushed prettily. His peaches-and-cream complexion always looked beautiful underneath a rosy glow. “That’s true. Some days, I still can’t believe it.” Phil absently rubbed the mating mark at the juncture of his neck, and an involuntary shiver racked his body.

I was so damn happy Phil had found his home and his mate. No pixie deserved a happier fate than Phil.

Kicking my feet, my heels gently tapped against the lower cabinets. “He can’t go out in the light, Phil.” My voice was little more than a hushed whisper. “I can’t imagine living like that. I’m a nature pixie. I love the sun. I love everything about it. Some days, I just sit on my cottage roof and soak up the rays. And blood?” I shivered. I wasn’t squeamish around blood. Animals died. It was all a part of nature and how the earth worked. That didn’t mean I wanted to be there when they had their final moments, and it didn’t mean I craved seeing the end. “I’m a vegetarian, Phil. How would that even work?”

Phil walked to the fridge, and the door swung wide when he was within a couple of steps. Phil pulled the door wider, stepping to the side and waving a hand à la Vanna White. “And what do you think all this pink stuff is in here? Meat. Lots of it. I don’t eat it, but it’s a must for Sedrick and the kids. I’ve had to learn a lot of new recipes.”

“I don’t think cooking is something I’d have to worry about with Lucroy.”

Phil flushed, swinging the door closed. “No. I suppose he needs something a bit . . . fresher.”

My hand flew to my neck, and I lowered it nearly as quickly. I wasn’t sure if feeding would be part of a relationship with Lucroy, but I figured it would come up eventually. Surprisingly, it wasn’t the most damning idea I’d had. Mostly, it was the whole sunlight issue.

I hopped off the counter and paced the kitchen. “This is all so stupid. I don’t even know if Lucroy’s interested in me like that. It’s so hard to tell with vamps.” I threw up my hands, spinning in a circle. “His eyes are just deep, black pits. And I don’t think he ever makes an unintentional motion.”

“I know what you mean.” Phil’s lips pinched. “He’s so still. All vamps are.”

“And they’re predators. I mean, I’ve never gotten the feeling that I was unsafe with Lucroy. But what he did to that werewolf at the kids’ custody hearing.” I shivered—two parts awe and one part horror. “Did you see what he looked like when he went into scary vamp mode?”

“I did.” Phil swallowed and looked a little green around the edges. “You don’t see them like that very often anymore. I mean, I’ve seen pictures in books, but to see it in real life . . . But he did it to save you.”

“I know, and I couldn’t be more grateful. I’d be dead if Lucroy hadn’t acted. I just . . . It was a little disturbing how much he seemed to enjoy it.” I rubbed my cramped belly. I didn’t begrudge Lucroy his nature. Vampires weren’t necessarily bad. They were what they were, just like any other species. You had to understand them and work around or with the danger.

“I’m just a pixie, Phil.” I would have given Phil a stern talking-to if he’d referred to himself similarly. “I’m not strong like Lucroy. Vampires don’t socialize with pixies, and there’s a reason for that. They think we’re weak. Some of them even think we’re weaker than humans.”

Phil called me out on my bullshit. “And if I said that to you, you’d tell me that was bullshit. Not that some of them think that way, but that they’re dead wrong. You know that, Peaches.”

I did. I knew it very well. And what’s more, I believed it.

“Now, I’m gonna get back to my cookies, and you’re gonna stay here as long as you can. We’re going to stuff our faces and not worry about anything else for today. I think you and I need to make a little trip into town later this week. I haven’t seen Johnny in a while, and I’d like to stop in and say hi.” Phil threw me a wink. “For now, you’re in my home, Peaches, and I’ll take care of you.”

Goddess, bless Phil.I wasn’t sure how I’d gotten so lucky when he moved into Martin’s Boarding House. Thankfully, Phil’s heart was as large as he was.

ChapterFour

LUCROY

Thursday evenings were a preview of Friday. In some ways, they were my favorite day of the week. It was a nice, steady hum of activity. The music wasn’t as loud, the dance floor wasn’t as crowded, and the atmosphere was a little more laid back.

I exited my underground home in a pleasant mood. That mood took an immediate nosedive when I saw Freddie and his lackeys sitting at the bar. Lizbeth was behind the bar. As our one and only human employee, I was naturally more protective of the blue-haired beauty. Lizbeth changed her hair color as often as other humans changed their clothing. Tonight, the color bordered on teal.

The thick, leather-studded collar she wore around her neck was more than a fashion statement. While vamps could feed from almost any vein, the neck was our traditional favorite, and Lizbeth’s fashion accessory proclaimed her blood was off the menu.

I’d never employed a human before, and I’d been hesitant when Lizbeth applied. Johnny wanted her, and after watching her scamper up a troll’s back, wrap her arm around their thick neck, and squeeze until they passed out, I didn’t hesitate to sign her up.

Unfortunately, Freddie didn’t feel like Lizbeth’s wishes should be respected. In doing so, he also disrespected me. Also, unfortunately, that was hardly a surprise.

“I’m just saying, once I sink my fangs into you, you’ll beg me to do it again and again.” Freddie leaned over the bar top, forcing Lizbeth to step back. Johnny wasn’t around. Most likely, he was occupied behind the scenes. If he’d been present, Freddie still would have acted like an ass, but he would have kept his comments tamer and remained on his side of the bar.

“Frederick.” I allowed my voice to descend like frost. I’d learned long ago that a low timbre often worked better than a scream.

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