Page 20 of Perfectly Charmed Pixie

In a sad way, I understood. Not that the bad name warlocks had gotten over the years was truly deserved. A couple of bad apples had not only spoiled our collective barrel, but they’d also rotted it to the ground.

“Tell me,” Johnny leaned an elbow on the bar, making me realize there must be a riser or stool on the other side to allow for his extra height, “what’s a warlock of your caliber doing out and about tonight?”

“My caliber?” I asked, an eyebrow high. “Trying to flatter me?”

“Nope. Just call it like I see it. You’ve got a certain vibration. It’s easy to spot.”

“Huh.”

I’d heard that before. Different species had different abilities, and individuals within those species varied even more.

When Johnny’s eyes widened expectantly, I said, “Nothing nefarious, I promise. Also, nothing really to do with King Moony or his beloved. At least, not directly. I’m looking for a pixie named Parsnip. From what I understand, he’s in town filming a show involving King Moony and his beloved, Peaches.”

Johnny’s eyebrows rose a little higher, showing off the whites of his eyes. His gaze slid by me, landing on someone just over my right shoulder. The magic I surrounded myself with pinged vampire.

“Parsnip. Hmm,” a smooth voice answered. I’d only heard those cool tones from one species. I hadn’t needed the confirmation, but it was nice all the same.

Spinning on my barstool, I was confronted with ivory skin and flaming red hair bright against its pale glow. I’d never met Lucroy Moony, but I knew enough to realize this wasn’t him.

“Leon.” The vampire didn’t hold out his hand. Instead, he glanced at Johnny and said, “I could go for a snack.”

“Consider it on the way,” Johnny answered before he hopped off the riser on the other side and scuttled off to get Leon his blood.

His attention back on me, Leon’s pitch-black eyes roved up and down my body. He was handsome, and there was more than a hint of desire wafting from him. Three days ago, my dick would have perked up and done a happy dance. Instead, it flaccidly lay there, absolutely refusing to come out to play.

Damn Georgiana for being right.

“A warlock,” Leon said with not a hint of distaste. “Don’t see many of those. Then again, there aren’t really that many to be seen.”

Leon was right. Warlocks were far from plentiful. Witches outnumbered us nearly ten to one. No one knew why. I’d never cared enough to ponder it too long.

“Tell me,warlock, why are you looking for Parsnip?” A purr laced Leon’s cool voice. I should have been suppressing shivers and fighting down attraction. But there was nothing beyond appreciation for a good-looking male.

Internally sighing, I dove into the reason I’d walked through the door. “Parsnip came to see me about a…project. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to help him out, so I sent him on his way. Turns out, I might be able to accommodate his request. Unfortunately, he didn’t leave me his contact information. My work partner figured out he was probably in Rutherford Haven and whoInterspecies Habitatwas filming. I took a shot and decided to try Dusk, see if King Moony could tell me where I might find my wayward pixie.”

For some reason, Leon found that funny. “We’ve definitely got our fair share ofwayward pixiesaround here. You sound genuine enough, but who knows.” Leon leaned back, and the corner of his lip ticked up into a parody of a grin. I took the fact he didn’t show fang as a promising sign.

“Tell you what,” Leon said, “why don’t you give me your information, and I’ll pass it along to Lucroy. Next time he sees Parsnip, he can give him your details, and if Parsnip wants to get into contact with you, then that’s up to him.”

Disappointment flooded me, but I understood and, in some ways, was grateful for Leon’s protective instincts. Parsnip was a celebrity of sorts. I could be a dangerous stalker for all the vampire knew.

A pen and napkin slid my way, and I scribbled down my name and phone number. My name probably would have been enough. Clearly, Parsnip already knew how to find me. When I was done, I started to slide it back but hesitated.

“This is for King Moony,” I reiterated. “I’m not a hookup.”

I’d been around the block enough to recognize the signals Leon put out. I might not feel like reciprocating, but that didn’t mean I was blind.

“No?” Leon questioned, gaze sweeping up and down my body again. “I’ve heard warlock blood is better than fine wine. Can’t say I’ve ever had the opportunity to make my own personal judgment. It would be nice to change that.”

“No doubt, but it won’t be from this warlock.” Not wishing to offend, I hesitantly said, “I’m, uh, already taken.” It wasn’t a lie. My one and only just didn’t know it yet.

The flirty smirk dropped from Leon’s face, an unwelcome blank mask of apathy taking its place. “Pity, warlock.” Swiping my information off the bar top, Leon tucked it into his jacket pocket. “I’ll make certain Lucroy gets this. Currently, he is off premises with his beloved.” Leon’s voice drifted toward the end, his attention taken by something or someone by the front entrance.

“Excuse me.” It was more of a brush-off than a true request.

Swiveling on my barstool, I followed Leon’s exiting steps.

“Damn,” I whispered. The sound of Dusk’s music covered my expletive. “Ray.”

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