Page 97 of Perfectly Charmed Pixie

“Meaning there’s an active pixie trafficking ring out there.”

Lucroy hissed while Sedrick growled.

“And it doesn’t look like it’s ogre-driven. I can’t believe the ogre rehabilitation society is pleased about it either.”

“Someone’s capturing and selling pixies?” Lucroy’s tone was deathly quiet.

“They are. Parsnip’s been using his money to help rehab rescued pixies. His brother, Parsley, has a home in Washington State. He lets them stay there until they’re ready to go home. Apparently, there’s a stigma within pixie society, and captured pixies are often reluctant to go directly back to their families. It probably has to do with how long they were kept and just how much they’ve faded. Parsnip told me that most pixies regain their colors. He was kept for a long time before rescued and”—I rolled my hand in the air—“his results were a little different.”

“Unacceptable.”

“Understatement, Lucroy,” Sedrick huffed, eyes glowing with alpha power.

“I believe the vampire council will be most interested to hear this,” Lucroy said, gaze fixated on Peaches. “Accepting Peaches as my beloved has had interesting…consequences. Let us simply say that my bonding has sparked interest within the vampire world. I believe my species has more vested interest in keeping pixies safe.”

“That would be fantastic.” I sat up a little straighter. “I can ask Parsnip for contact information for the group he’s affiliated with.”

Lucroy nodded. “And I will see what Leon can find out in the meantime.”

“I can spread the word within the shifter community too,” Sedrick offered. “Most of my species think I’m nuts mating a pixie, but that doesn’t mean they’ll take kindly to trafficking.”

Some of the tension I’d been carrying around eased. “Thank you. Both of you.”

“Of course,” Lucroy easily answered.

Sedrick gave a grunt of agreement.

Parsnip’s loud laughter drew my attention back to the dance floor. Phil had just tossed him into the air, and Parsnip did an ariel barrel roll, hair and clothes flying out around him.

“Fuck, that would make me puke,” Sedrick said, and when I looked in his direction, he appeared a little green around the edges.

I laughed. “Can’t disagree.” I looked at our empty glasses and asked, “You want me to get us another round?”

“Please,” Sedrick answered. “It looks like we’ll be here for a little while.” He said it with more affection than malice. “How long until you need to get Peaches back to his orchard?”

“We have another hour, maybe a bit longer. I will watch the time. When he is in this condition, Peaches tends to lose track of it. I will get him back to his land before he sickens.”

“I think the honeysuckle mead already has that covered.” Sedrick grimaced.

“The fallout is worth it,” Lucroy answered.

Sedrick chuckled. “That it is. That it is.”

Rising from our shared booth, I wormed my way around the dance floor. We weren’t the only ones fascinated by the show the pixies and dwarves were putting on. Nearly all eyes were glued to the end of the dance floor. And all those eyes shimmered with amused joy.

“Another burnt rum?” Johnny asked as I saddled up to the bar.

“And another beer for Sedrick.”

“You got it.” Johnny threw me a wink, gaze drifting up to our dancing pixies, a chuckle rumbling his chest.

Leaning against the bar, I couldn’t take my eyes off Parsnip. His joy was contagious, and I was happily infected. Rubbing Georgiana’s ring, I whispered my thanks. “I’ve got the prettiest pixie.” A fresh jolt of warmth shot through my finger, arching up my wrist, through my arm, and settling in my chest.

It was the warmest zap Georgiana had ever given me.

Epilogue

The worldof fairy was odd, even to me. It was separate yet intimately connected to the Earth. That connection spurred fairies to intervene when humanity threatened to destroy the planet. Visiting the Land of Fairy was something innate to all fairies and fairies alone. No other species could visit unless in the direct company of a fairy. That system had kept us safe and protected. It had also kept us isolated.

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