Page 21 of Perfectly Charmed Pixie

I’d met Hellfire Rayburn on a couple of occasions. I didn’t know the fairy well but doubted anyone else could claim differently. Fairies generally didn’t become fast friends with other species. Some wondered how friendly they even were with each other. Georgiana used to say they were like cats forced to live in too small of a home. They learned to coexist, but that didn’t mean they’d mourn the loss of a few other furballs.

The exchange appeared cordial enough, although Leon quickly escorted Ray off the main floor and into the back, away from prying eyes.

“Vander Kines, what in Gaia’s name have you done?”

After quickly turning, a grin lit my face, thoughts of vampires and fairies forgotten. “Mattie.” Hopping off my seat, I leaned over and drew the witch into my arms, hugging her fiercely. “It’s been too damn long.”

Squealing, Mattie hugged me back before I reluctantly let her go. The diminutive witch barely came up to my chest. Curly red hair, unruly as usual, with golden strands, caught the light and shimmered beautifully. With fingers decked out in as many rings as mine, just as many necklaces graced her collarbone. The tips of Mattie’s fingers weren’t blackened like mine, and her hair hadn’t prematurely grayed. Those weren’t physical attributes witches suffered.

“How do you warlocks get so damn big?” Mattie patted my chest before stepping back, a deep scowl marring her face. “What did you do?”

“What do you mean?” I hadn’t seen Mattie in what seemed like forever and couldn’t for the life of me figure out what I’d done to piss her off.

Taking another couple of steps back, Mattie waved a hand around my body. “I can see it, the pact. You can’t hide that stupid shit from a good witch, and we both know I’m better than good. Now, what on Gaia’s green earth would have made you seal a pact with fairy law? That’s beyond foolish, and you know it.”

I sighed, long and deep. Mattie was the last witch I expected to see tonight. Running a hand through my hair, I answered, “Blame it on Georgiana.”

Mattie’s eyes flew wide. “She’s dead and cremated, ashes spread to the wind. How can she be to blame?”

Unsure how to answer, I simply shrugged and said, “Regardless, I’m blaming her.”

With a heavy sigh of her own, Mattie stepped closer and hugged me again. “It feels like forever since we’ve seen each other.”

I thought back and nodded. “Probably not since Georgiana passed.”

Mattie’s bright smile faded before flickering to life again, though a dimmer version. “How’s Byx doing?”

My laugh was full of genuine joy. “Well. Or at least as well as a brownie can when saddled with me as their guardian.”

Mattie slapped me again, this time a little harder. “Every lost child should be so fortunate. Georgiana wasn’t stupid, Vander. She knew what she was doing when she left her daughter with you.”

I could only hope Mattie was right. “I suppose that remains to be seen.”

Grunting, Mattie dismissed my comment by leaning over the bar and waving her hand. Lizbeth hustled over. “Can I get another one of those lovely, fruity concoctions you made me before?”

“Comin’ up. You want another umbrella too?”

Mattie vigorously nodded. “Oh yes, please. A bright pink one this time if you have it.”

Accomplishing what I couldn’t, Mattie’s infectiously bright personality drew a smile from Lizbeth. “I think we’ve got that. It’ll take a few minutes.”

“That’s fine, dear.” Mattie waved her off. “My coven sisters and I will be here for a while yet. You might as well keep them coming.”

Lizbeth took off on her fruity-alcoholic-drink mission.

Turning back to me, Mattie winked and said, “Not every human invention is horrid. They have an unnatural knack for mixing a good drink.” Gaze drifting to my nearly empty glass with plum-colored liquid clinging to its sides, Mattie’s lips pinched as if she’d just sucked on a lemon. “Burnt rum?” She shook her head as if I were a lost cause. “I swear, warlocks have the worst taste buds of any species.”

“Even trolls?”

This time, Mattie turned a little green around the edges. “Point taken. You might not be that bad.”

It was always comforting knowing your taste in food didn’t run toward rotten meat. “You out with your coven sisters?” I’d heard her tell Lizbeth that, but it seemed polite to verify it.

“Out and about for a night on the town.” Mattie sounded like maybe she’d already had a couple of or a half dozen drinks, especially if she were drinking the human-grade stuff. It would take a lot of that type of alcohol to make an inebriated dent.

“So, what brings you to Dusk? This isn’t your typical scene.” Mattie wasn’t wrong.

With a heavy sigh, I leaned my elbows on the bar top. “I’m looking for someone.” Georgiana’s ring warmed with thoughts of Parsnip. “Can’t say I’m having the best luck though.” I really wanted to speak with Parsnip tonight. Once I got a thought in my mind, it was hard to shake.

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