Page 27 of Purrfectly Peculiar Pixie

“Hush,” I whispered, attempting to get them to settle and stay quiet. While I was relieved Byx’s magic survived Sylvie’s spell, I didn’t want them revealing just how special they were.

Thankfully, they stilled.

“You don’t look so good,” Oxley said while leaning down and scrutinizing Sylvie’s complexation. “You’re kind of gray around the edges.”

“I need rest,” Sylvie snapped. “And food.” She shivered. “Somewhere warm would be helpful also. Come on. Let’s get topside and get in touch with our contact. I want to see if this vamp is as juicy a piece of meat as I think he is.” Sylvie kicked Leon’s leg. It wasn’t a hard insult, but it was enough to make me growl. Thankfully, it was too low for either of them to hear.

Finally turning from Leon, Oxley followed Sylvie as she made her way back toward me and the exit. Oxley’s eyes remained fixed on Sylvie, watching her as if she might keel over any second.

“Rest up, little pixie.” Sylvie grinned. That malicious movement was tempered by her waxen complexion. Oxley was right, Sylvie didn’t look good. She’d magically overextended herself. Good for her. I couldn’t think of a better witch to feel like shit.

I shifted to the back of the cage, shaking with false fear. Only, it wasn’t as false as I wished it were. While I wasn’t afraid for myself, I was very afraid for Leon. What happened if her contact didn’t think Leon was worth keeping around? If he was more trouble than he was financially worth?

When I thought of that, my fear was all too real.

“Not as pretty as some, but that’s not what’s important to our client. You can make dust, that’s what counts. You’ll be worth a pretty penny to a desperate, drug-addicted ogre.”

I threw my hands over my face, feigning shock. I could have said something, begged for release. I didn’t. I just couldn’t lower myself to useless groveling. Nothing I said would make a bit of difference to this greedy pair. Even if I were independently wealthy and offered them what they coveted most, they wouldn’t release me.

I knew who they were. They’d made no effort to hide their identities. Only those who didn’t expect their prey to live did that.

But they were as wrong as wrong could be. This little pixie wasn’t about to roll over, flap my wings, and produce dust for some addicted ogre until I faded. Oxley and Sylvie were in for a painful wake-up call. And as far as I was concerned, the more painful, the better.

ChapterTen

Leon

Awareness came by slow, painful degrees. My head felt fuzzy, as if my senses were coated in thick wax. Feeling came first, sharp and cruel. The left side of my face prickled with little needles of fire. Those same agonizing bolts of pain radiated from my hands and the left side of my neck.

Memory is a tricky mistress. Mine flickered, little pieces coming into focus only to be replaced by the next jump in the reel. The picture finally presented itself in all its bitter glory…only that picture didn’t include my current circumstances.

“Leon? Are you awake? Please tell me you’re awake.”

The waxy coating covering my ears instantly fell away.

Phlox.

My eyes flew open, and only then did I realize they’d been closed. Opening them didn’t improve my situation. In fact, opening my eyes made me instantly furious.

“Phlox.” My voice should have been garbled. I could feel my teeth pushing against my gums, but they remained stubbornly the same and nearly useless. Similarly, the press of transformation uselessly pushed against my limbs and joints. Even my nails refused to obey my instinctual need.

I growled, low and far too human. “Phlox, what is going on?”

“Nothing good,” Phlox grunted. “Although, you being awake is a start in the right direction.”

I wasn’t so sure about that. I was on the floor. Metal manacles trapped my wrists and neck. There was a single bulb illuminating an otherwise dark and dank room. Instinctually, I realized the sun had recently set. Phlox and I were deep underground, and worst of all, Phlox was trapped within a metal cage.

Yanking, my bondage remained stubbornly in place. I could feel the uncomfortable prickle of magic against my skin. It chafed my already singed flesh.

“Stop it,” Phlox scolded, worry softening his order. “You’ll only hurt yourself. The cuffs are charmed.”

“Witch or warlock?” I asked. Their magics were different but not something I could discern.

“Witch,” Phlox hissed. “And a nasty troll,” he added. “Best I can tell, the witch, Sylvie, spelled Dusk’s doorknob. When I touched it, I was transported here. Since I had a hold of you at the same time, it seems you were pulled along for the ride. Sorry about that.”

“Not your fault.”

“No, but it does make this situation more complicated.” Phlox huffed. “I finally get captured and now I’ve got to get us out of here way earlier than planned.”

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