Page 44 of Perfectly Charmed Pixie

“She would have succeeded, at least in the knocking you out step. I doubt she could have gotten much sense planted in that stubborn brain of yours though.”

“Probably not, but she always enjoyed trying.”

“You think she enjoyed that?” Byx asked before grunting. “Why do warlocks have to be so damn heavy?”

“I don’t know, and yes, I think Georgiana enjoyed our sparring a lot. I know I did.”

“Yeah? You’re probably right. Somehow, she infected me with the same crazy desire.”

I threw my head back, belly-laughing and almost tossing Byx and me back down the stairs. We both wobbled, trying to get our balance before taking the final couple of steps.

Huffing, Byx caught her breath before she helped me to my room, unceremoniously flopping me onto my bed. I landed like a dying starfish.

“Please tell me that all this wasn’t for nothing.” Byx’s hand waved across the length of my sprawled body. “Please tell me the charm worked.”

“It did.” Satisfaction rang through my voice. “Parsnip said it was perfect.” Gaia, that felt good to say.

“Well, at least there’s that.” Byx let a hint of pride slip through. “If you fall asleep, I’ll zap you back awake. I meant it about the food, Van. You’re going to refuel your body before you sleep like the dead.”

“Aye, aye, captain.” I managed a sassy salute, and Byx dramatically rolled her eyes.

I fell asleep to the sound of an exasperated “unbelievable” and Byx’s light footfalls heading down the hall to our small kitchen. Waking would be painful, but there was no way I could keep my eyelids open. I fell asleep to visions of Parsnip’s brilliant smile. I’d made my one and only happy, and that was enough. It was more than enough.

* * *

True to her word, the first time I woke was due to an electric jolt of pain. The second time I woke wasn’t much better. My bladder wasn’t happy about the two glasses of water Byx had forced down my throat. My head wasn’t happy about the magical exhaustion, and my body was pissed off on general principle.

All of that paled in comparison to the text message waiting on me when I woke. It was a simpledid you get home okay?from Parsnip. The words filled up my cracks, melding me back into a semblance of life.

Pushing out of bed, I waddled to the bathroom to take care of business. Relieved, I came out and finally checked the time. It was a little past four in the afternoon. As usual, Byx was right. Closing the shop was for the best. Had anyone come in, my appearance would have scared them off more than drummed up business.

“You finally awake?” Byx asked, barely peeking into my room, hand covering her eyes.

“My eyes are open.”

“Are you decent?”

I looked down at my rumpled pants and shirt. They were the same ones I’d left the house in yesterday. Byx had taken care of me, but she’d rightfully left me to deal with the clothes.

“I’m covered,” I answered.

“No bits that will leave me scarred for life if I see them?”

“Nothing you haven’t seen before.”

“Good.” Byx pushed the door wider. Her nose scrunched when she took a step inside. “No offense, Van, but this place stinks.” Leaning forward and sniffing dramatically, Byx amended, “I take that back. You’re the one that stinks. The room is just collateral damage.”

Far from offended, amusement tickled me. Lifting an arm, I smelled my pit and agreed. “I’ll take a shower after you get done scolding me. That said, the quicker you are, the sooner the bad smell goes away.”

I thought it was a good bargaining chip. I was wrong.

Arms crossed and toe tapping, Byx said, “Nice try, but not good enough. I’ve been working myself up all night and all day. You will not cheat me out of my lecture.”

Resigning myself to my fate, I sat on the edge of my bed. My sheets were barely rumpled. I’d slept too soundly to move around much. Scrunching my fingers in a “gimme” motion, I said, “Let’s have it.”

Byx’s cheeks puffed before exhaling in a woosh. “I had this all planned out, and now you’re ruining it, Van. I swear, sometimes you make me so mad that I don’t even know what to do with you.”

I’d known Byx long enough to do the translation.Madwasn’t exactly right. I’d scared her, and that fear had turned into anger. Lots of times, that was an easier emotion to wrangle.

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