Page 95 of Perfectly Charmed Pixie

Vander chuckled, completely unfazed. “You don’t know what you’re missing,” he answered while throwing back half the glass.

Sedrick shivered as he sat down next to Phil, immediately draping his arm over the back of the booth. “Give me a beer any day of the week.” Sedrick held up his cold mug.

Lucroy was the only one without a drink in front of him. At Sedrick’s raised eyebrow, Lucroy grinned sinisterly. “I get my beverage straight from the source.”

“Moon goddess, save us.” Head tilted back, Sedrick roughly ran his hand over his beard while Phil patted him on the chest.

Peaches just giggled and snuggled up next to his vampire. The fresh bite wound on his neck was clear to see.

Lucroy’s grin spread wider, nearly showing fang. He appeared ready to retort when a commotion came from Dusk’s entrance. The dance floor parted, and I craned my neck to see what was going on. Raucous laughter rose above the music, and deep in the crowd, someone yelled, “Party bus is here!”

Phil jerked, and Sedrick’s jaw dropped.

“Is that…?”

“Ollie, Burt, and the rest of their crew,” Sedrick finished. “Yup, I’d say so.”

“The dwarves are here?” Peaches hopped up, standing on the bench, wings madly twittering. “Oh, Phil! Thatisthem.” Leaning across the table, Peaches held one hand out to Phil and another to me. “Come on! Time to dance.”

“Oh, I…” I couldn’t remember the last time I’d danced in public. “I don’t know if…” I glanced at Vander.

Those same steady, hazel eyes gazed back at me. “I’ll be right here,” he said, those words meaning so much more than they should.

My heart thudded, wondering if it were possible to love him any more than I already did.

“All right.” Gaze still fixed on Vander, I clasped Peaches’s hand and allowed myself to be pulled free.

The three of us flew up and over the table. By the time we reached the edge of the dance floor, the dwarf hoard had made it through. Phil and Peaches flew toward the two in the lead, fiercely hugging them. Cheers went up, and the music picked up steam. I flew high into the air, twirling and letting myself go. Peaches joined me, and Phil hovered a little lower. I spun with abandon, letting my hair fly free, my head thrown back, and laughter set loose.

Goddess, life was good.

ChapterThirty-Three

Vander

“We are three lucky sons of bitches,” Sedrick proclaimed before chugging his beer.

Lucroy made a miffed noise, eyes slightly narrowed. “While I do not disagree with the sentiment, I would, perhaps, have phrased it differently.”

Sedrick snorted. “Of course you would.”

I stared, starstruck, as Parsnip really let go. It was difficult to take my eyes off him.

“It never gets old,” Sedrick said, leaning back into the bench. “I could watch Phil spin and dance all day and night, and I’d still think there was nothing better in the whole damn world.”

“Again, I cannot disagree with the sentiment,” Lucroy said.

Absently, I rolled Georgiana’s ring around my finger. It glowed crimson nearly all the time now. I’d grown fond of the color because it meant Parsnip was near. Silently, I thanked her again for setting me on the right path, even from beyond the grave.

“He’s perfect.”

“They all are,” Sedrick answered, making me realize I’d spoken out loud. “I can’t believe Burt and Ollie are still on this party bus kick.” Sedrick shook his head before looking at Lucroy. “You sure you’re okay having them here?” Sweeping out a hand, Sedrick pointed toward the dance floor. “They’re taking up over half the space.”

“I care not. Dusk is for every species’ enjoyment.”

Sedrick raised a bushy eyebrow. Whatever he was about to say was cut off when Wendall shuffled up to the table. “Hey, boss,” he said, eyes shifting between us until they landed on Lucroy. “Johnny wanted me to ask if he can get into the good stuff down in the basement. I think he’d like to get something special for the dwarves.”

“Tell him that is fine. The dwarves are special guests.”

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