Page 33 of Purrfectly Peculiar Pixie

I thought I’d learned patience over the centuries. Currently, those lessons evaded me. Full transformation allowed me to peer into the air duct, but Phlox was beyond my sight. I’d been able to barely hear him while he’d scurried about. I could only assume he’d found what he was looking for and was currently stationary. I hated him out of sight and auditory range.

Tilting my head and cracking my neck, I relaxed back into a more human personage. I fought the urge to pace. Would I be able to hear as well if I were moving? I didn’t know and that kept my feet planted. I could barely make out the clicking of computer keys on the other side of the thick wall. The sound was dull, and I doubt I would have mentally clocked it if I weren’t so hyper aware.

I stood there, drifting into a dark, welcoming headspace. I needed to find that core of patience and pull from it. Phlox would be fine. He had to be fine. Now that I’d found him, I could not conceive of a life without him.

Beloved. That singular word whispered through my brain and danced on my tongue. Could Phlox really be the one? I don’t know why I questioned it. I’d been suspicious before. Now that I’d tasted his blood, there was no doubt.

The only true question was if Phlox would consent to being my beloved. It was not as forgone of a conclusion as I would like. I would not force him. The very idea made me recoil with disgust. Phlox was precious. He was my everything and harming him would only serve to harm me.

Vampires lived their second lives in search of a purpose. Why were we allowed more time? What was the point in living decade after decade, century after grueling century? I’d been struggling with that question of late. It was an early warning sign. The answer was now so very clear.

Phlox.

Phlox was my reason for existing. Everything I did from now on would be with him in mind. Was this what it was like for Lucroy? I could only imagine it was. I’d thought I understood before, but that understanding was a pale imitation of my current knowledge. It was frightening how completely thoughts of Phlox consumed me and yet that fear was tempered by overwhelming joy. I wanted to scream to the heavens that I’d found my beloved, that, if Phlox was willing, I would never suffer loneliness again. This damn confinement restricted my voice, but it could not quiet my delight, nor the overwhelming peace such thoughts brought.

I would need to speak with Lucroy. Given how much his work meant to him, I could never ask Phlox to give up his position with the Magical Usage Council. However, my protective instincts would not allow him to do perform that job alone. Given how much Phlox had to travel, that might require me to give up my position as Lucroy’s second. The thought gave me pause, but I was not overly concerned. If anyone would understand, it would be Lucroy Moony.

Time floated by. My internal clock tracked the sun’s path. We had a little over an hour before the sun’s rays tipped the horizon. That gave me four and half hours before I would be completely useless and little more than undead meat for the slaughter. Whatever came, Phlox and I needed a plan before that happened.

Faint scratching sounds met my ears. The soft sound of fur sliding against metal became clearer and clearer. Transforming again, I stretched until my eyes tipped over the edge of the duct. I was met with Phlox’s large, yellow eyes. Reaching forward, I plucked my beloved from the duct, cradling his dust-covered fur against my chest as I eased back down into my humanoid form. My actions garnered a rough tongue against my cheek before Phlox fully transformed, leaving me no longer holding fur and claws, but a petite pixie. No, scratch that, I was holding a busting-at-the-seams pixie.

“You have discovered something?” I inquired, keeping my voice low.

“Oh, hell yeah.” Phlox wiggled and his body slid to the floor. He immediately began the equivalent of pixie pacing—flying back and forth, spreading dust all over the room. Fisted hand to his chin, Phlox’s joy turned pensive. I allowed him to mull, but we didn’t have a lot of time to waste.

Thankfully, Phlox came to some type of decision and flew toward me so fast he nearly slammed into my chest. “We need to get out of here. The council needs to know what’s going on.” Phlox tapped his head while his eyes scanned the room. Disappointment replaced his earlier excitement. “I’d really hoped someone would be here when I got back. Someone from the council,” Phlox clarified when I gave him a questioning look. “It should be dark in Rutherford Haven by now. They should know you’re gone too. Surely someone can put two and two together.”

I thought Phlox was most likely correct but didn’t say so.

He chewed on his bottom lip before his gaze fell to the window. “How much time do we have?”

“Thirty-six minutes before the sun crests the horizon. Sluggishness will set in immediately. It will be possible to wake me for another three hours, but after that…” I shrugged.

Phlox gave an understanding nod. “That leaves us two options.” He shook his head. “No, really just one.” He blew out a deep breath. “The good news is that you’re worth something.” He frowned. “The bad news is that you’re evidently worth as much dead as alive. I got a good look at Sylvie’s online conversation, but the username is bound to be a fake. The point is, whoever Sylvie spoke with…they want your demise recorded.” Phlox swallowed hard and he appeared torn between rage and terror. “I’m not sure when they plan on doing the deed, but I can’t imagine they’ll wait out another twenty-four hours. Most likely they’ll wait until you’re immobile and take you outside to await the sunrise. Either that or they’ll cut off your head. The method wasn’t specified, only the need for proof that it is truly you and that you’re nothing but a pile of ash when it’s done.” By the time he was finished, Phlox’s throat was clogged with emotion.

“That certainly doesn’t sound pleasant.”

Phlox slapped my chest, yanking his hand back with the sting. “Damn, I keep forgetting you’re made of granite or something equally hard. Anyway, don’t sound so flippant. I could hardly… I could barely sit still when I learned that. I…” Phlox turned from me, dull fingernails turning into lethal claws.

Moving between his wings, I allowed them to settle along my sides as I slipped my arms around him, pulling Phlox in tight. “I do not plan on expiring this day. Obviously, slipping back into the underground cavern and awaiting execution is not a viable plan.”

“No, it isn’t.” Phlox’s silken hair shifted against my skin.

“Then what do you propose?” I knew what I wanted to do but wasn’t certain it would have the desired outcome.

“We need to take Sylvie and Oxley out. If possible, we need to keep one of them alive. Sylvie will be more dangerous, but she’s probably got more information than Oxley. By his own admission, Sylvie hasn’t shared much with him. But—”

“Witches are unpredictable.”

“Exactly.” Phlox blew out a breath, and the gentle beat of his wings hemmed me in. “She’s not as dangerous as she could be. Sylvie still looks wiped, but she’s probably got a litany of charmed paraphernalia at her disposal. The odds aren’t in our favor nearly as much as I’d like.”

I kissed the top of his head, relishing in his scent. “Well then, I suppose we will need to be extra careful.”

“Yeah. Very careful. Once we’ve got them contained, you can go back underground where it’s safer. I can grab Sylvie’s computer. She’s also got a cell phone on her desk. As long as I’ve got a good signal, I can contact help and by tomorrow night, we should be out of here.”

“Did you learn wherehereis?” I asked, more curious than anything.

“I did. I’m not sure which one exactly, but it seems we’re in the Canary Islands.”

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