Page 78 of Purrfectly Peculiar Pixie

Vander spoke with Mattie earlier. She’d been just as horrified as the rest of us to learn where a djinn’s body came from. While Mattie knew more than the average current witch regarding djinn, that damning fact had been carefully hidden or, perhaps, completely erased.

“As do I. Perhaps it is for the best that knowledge has been lost.”

Phlox nodded slowly. “Yeah. I can see that.” He blew out a breath, shifting his hair from his face. Without thought, I ran my fingers through his hair, tucking the troublesome strands behind a pointed ear.

“Thanks.” Phlox shot me a shy but grateful grin before leaning into my cupped palm. A rumbling purr rose from deep within his chest.

“It is my pleasure,” I easily answered.

Phlox’s purrs increased, the sound filling the small washroom and bathing us in a brief, peaceful, reprise. It wouldn’t last. Both of us knew that. Regardless. We drowned ourselves in the moment of contented bliss, willing it to hold as long as possible.

Will and fate are often two opposing foes, constantly battling against each other. Unfortunately, will is rarely the victor.

ChapterTwenty-Six

Phlox

Leon and I enjoyed two days of strained peace. It was a little after four p.m. when my phone rang. The ringtone told me it wasn’t Auntie Tandra. It wasn’t the Magical Usage Council either. Leon stirred, his fingers immediately tangling within my fur. I’d shifted into my cat form and was perched on his chest. If we hadn’t been on Armageddon’s edge, I would have ignored the call and allowed it to go to voicemail. Given current circumstances, I couldn’t do that.

Stretching, I shifted back to my pixie form and answered the phone with a sleepy, “’Ello?”

“He’s made his first move.”

I sat up, sliding off Leon’s chest. Sheets wrapped around my lower body, I placed the call on speaker and allowed Vander’s voice to filter into the room. “I’ve got you on speaker,” I said. Leon’s awake enough to listen.”

“Hey, Leon. Sorry it’s so early for you, but I didn’t want to wait,” Vander said. His tone was deep, cool, and calm with just a hint of anxiety. With voices like that, had warlocks been so inclined, they would have made great school principals.

“It’s fine,” Leon said huskily. “It is not the problem it once was.” Leon’s fingers raked through my hair, fanning it out across his chest as he continued laying on his back. “What has happened?”

“Nothing bad. Yet.” Vander inhaled deeply. His voice was more distant, and I thought he was talking to Parsnip or maybe Byx when he said, “I’m getting to that.” Vander huffed before he said, “As predicted, the first shot came at Phil and Sedrick.”

“Are they okay?” I asked, not attempting to hide my worry.

“They’re good. It wasn’t a direct attack. Probably more of a fact-finding mission. Phil said he felt a something pushing at his bond.”

“Pushing at it?What does that mean?” I asked.

There was a rustling sound on Vander’s end and the next time someone spoke, it was Parsnip. “Phil said it was kind of an itchy feeling. He said it didn’t really hurt but was uncomfortable. The best he could describe it was like someone poking at the edges of his bonded area.”

“Around the house?” Leon asked.

“Yeah. The Voss household is locked down tight. Phil’s bonded with the house and a bit of the land extending away from it. When Phil told Sedrick what was happening, Sedrick ran out of the house. He stayed within the bonded area but wanted to see if he could sniff them out.”

“Did he?” I asked.

“Kind of. Sedrick said he didn’t recognize all the scents, but there was a hint of Arie Belview. Not enough to think he was that close by, but enough to let Sedrick know that whoever it was, they’d been around Arie recently.” Parsnip huffed. “It’s recon if you ask me. He’s looking for weak spots.”

If that was the case, Alpha Belview was going to be sorely disappointed. There was no stronger magic in the world than a pixie’s bond. I swallowed hard. I wasn’t as certain of that statement as I’d once been. Aurelia said she couldn’t get through a pixie bond, but also said there were creative ways to get around it. There was also the concern that Vander’s contacts came through with a possible warlock who’d agreed to try and figure out a way to break a pixie bond. If they’d succeeded… Goddess, I didn’t even want to think what that could mean.

Vander and Parsnip must have placed their phone on speaker also because Vander’s voice came through next. “I agree with Parsnip. Most likely it was a test of some kind.”

“That means that Arie must still be close by,” Leon said, finally propping himself up on his elbows. Leon’s pale chest was displayed, his washboard abs tight in his crunched position. My mouth watered and my inner cat preened. I was this gorgeous creature’s beloved, and he was my mate. Leon McMillan was a fine catch.

“Unfortunately, no.” Parsnip sounded exhausted. “According to Aurelia, the individual holding their object of attachment can be halfway around the globe and it wouldn’t matter. Djinn can transport to wherever they want, just like brownies and fairies.”

“Damn,” I muttered. “Do we really think Arie is on the other side of the earth?”

“No.” Vander sounded adamant. “That fucker enjoys doling out pain. He’s vindictive and when the final strike comes, he’ll want to be there to witness it. Arie Belview won’t be able to help himself. He’s all about the gloating, about the power, and about others knowing it was him that got the best of them. There’s no way he’ll be able to stay away.”

---