Page 86 of Perfectly Charmed Pixie

She blinked, expression neutral. “Interesting.”

Vander reached out, grasping my wrist and holding tight. “She’s not touching you,” I boldly claimed. “I won’t let her.”

She pulled a cell phone from a back pocket without saying another word. “I have a situation” were the only words spoken before the air shifted again, a single line torn through the atmosphere.

A fairy with crimson hair walked through that singular tear.

Vander’s hand clenched around my wrist to the point of pain.

I didn’t flinch.

“Anna, what seems to be the problem?”

“Ray,” she answered, a slight tilt of her head showing that Ray was above her in authority.

Ray’s gaze traveled the room, taking in the sleeping ogre and Letty’s body still hanging in limbo. She’d exhausted herself, head hanging and lank hair draped around her shoulders, hiding her features. Finally, his burning gaze settled on Byx, Vander, and me.

A crimson eyebrow raised. “This certainly appears interesting. Warlock Kines, what situation have you dragged Anna into?”

Quick and efficient, the fairy I now knew as Anna gave Ray the rundown. I would have taken a lot longer and added in a lot more profanity and adjectives to describe what happened, but I didn’t interrupt, and neither did Vander or Byx.

When she was finished, Ray moved closer, and I stiffened. Hands clasped behind his back, Ray closed his eyes and inhaled. I didn’t think he was scenting anything in particular, more that he was centering himself, focusing on the magic surrounding Vander.

A slow, barely there smile tilted his lips before he opened his eyes. “I see the problem. Calling me was the correct action, Anna. You may go, and I will resolve this problem. Please take the witch with you. I will contact a local ogre rehabilitation service. I’m certain they will be able to care for Franny properly.”

“As you wish, Hellfire Rayburn.” Anna used Ray’s full name before she walked to Letty.

Byx shifted to her knees, staring daggers in Letty’s direction. The dragon hair clips she wore spewed smoke, roaring their anger.

Ray stared on with what appeared to be a rare expression of amusement.

I wondered exactly how Anna intended to handle Letty. With a firm grip on Letty’s chest, Anna pushed, and they both slid through the atmospheric rent. I gasped, but Ray appeared unfazed, so I hoped that’s what was supposed to happen.

I tensed as Ray’s attention focused back on the three of us. I needn’t have worried.

“Fairy law is clear on matters such as these. Pixie bonds are sacred and not to be broken. It is rare for a social pixie to form a bond, but not impossible. Parsnip has chosen you, Warlock Kines. No living creature has the right to attempt to break that bond. To do so would be a death sentence to Parsnip, and since he is not at fault and has not broken fairy law, it would be unjust to injure him. I would suggest completing the bond from Vander’s warlock nature. A double bond would provide even more protection for the both of you.”

Byx squealed, throwing her arms around Vander’s shoulders, all previous pain temporarily forgotten. Vander hugged her back, but he slumped while doing so. None of us were very hale and hearty at the moment.

Hands still clasped behind his back, Ray took another step closer. “There are other punishments I could enact, and I would be justified in doing so. Punishments that would not affect your life span or affect your pixie bond negatively.”

Vander and I tensed while Byx held her breath.

“However, I find this situation fortuitous and believe we can come to a mutually beneficial agreement.”

I moved closer to Vander, wrapping my arm around his shoulders, needing the contact.

Fairies didn’t strike deals often. They didn’t need to.

“What can I do for you?” Vander asked, voice steadier than mine would have been.

“At the moment, you can rest and heal. As for the future… There is an alpha werewolf that is becoming increasingly tiresome.”

Vander nodded. “Arie Belview.”

“Hmm.” Ray’s gaze slipped to the side. “It is odd, but I’ve developed a…fondness for a few local individuals, and Alpha Belview seems to have an unnatural fixation on these same individuals.”

“I haven’t been approached since I turned down that beta wolf. I would have let you know if I had.”

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