Page 84 of Purrfectly Peculiar Pixie

“Thank you.”

“You have nothing to thank me for, Leon. It is I who am grateful.”

“What are you grateful for?” Parsnip asked, flying out of the house at lightning speed, Vander following at a far more sedate pace. “I find it difficult to believe there is much regarding the current situation to be grateful for, so if you’ve found something, I’m all ears.” Flying high, Parsnip’s arms crossed over his middle, his chin raised in defiance.

“You’ll have to forgive him,” Vander said, tossing a thumb in Parsnip’s general direction. “To put it bluntly, Byx is pissed Iaskedher to go to a relative’s house. She zapped me no less than three times and I swear Byx cracked more than a few finished charms when she screamed at me before transporting out of the shop. I better survive the next few days or Byx will never forgive herself.”

“Why?” Phlox innocently asked.

Parsnip flew lower and grinned. “Because, her last words—calling Vander a ‘moronic warlock with a death wish’—will haunt her memories. She’s not totally wrong, but neither one of us wants her taking that to the grave.”

“If things get dicey, I’ll shoot her a text or something,” Vander said, drawing disbelieving stares from all of us. “What? Why are you all staring at me like that.”

Parsnip rolled his eyes. “If things go to hell in a handbasket, I’ll dial her number myself and you cantalkto her.”

“How is that different than what I said?” Vander sounded genuinely confused.

“I’ll explain it to you later.” Parsnip flew down, eye level with Vander before he ruffled the warlock’s dark hair, a placating smile tilting his lips.

Peaches and Phil left the small cottage, coming out to meet us.

“What did we miss?” Peaches eagerly asked.

“Only that Vander’s an idiot,” Parsnip said before adding, “but I love him despite his shortcomings.”

Vander snatched Parsnip out of the air, tickling his sides. Parsnip’s uncontrolled giggles filled the air and briefly lifted the ominous haze coating each of us like oppressive oil.

Turning from their genuine affection, I asked, “Is Erasmus still here?”

The smile left Peaches’s face. “He is.” Waving a hand toward the orchard, he said, “He’s somewhere out there. I think he’s tired of us.”

Lucroy moved closer to his beloved. “I believe the necromancer has much weighing on his mind. With that said, I do not think Erasmus is used to this much company.”

“Most necromancers are loners,” Vander agreed.

“And Aurelia?” Phlox asked. “Is she still…awake. I’m not really sure if that’s the right way to say it.” Phlox looked at Peaches for confirmation.

Peaches simply shrugged. “I think that’s as accurate as anything. Aurelia refers to it as sleeping when she’s inside her object of attachment. Saying she’s awake when outside of it sounds right. To answer your question, yes, she’s awake. I’m not really sure where she is currently.”

Panic attempted to claw at my insides. “You are unaware where the djinn is?” This sounded beyond reckless. Peaches’s casual disregard indicated he felt otherwise.

“I don’t control her every movement. I don’twantto control her.”

Lucroy stepped in and explained. “Peaches still has Aurelia’s object of attachment. As long as that is the case, Aurelia’s powers are restricted to his wishes. I believe she is enjoying her reprieve.”

“It’s the least we can do,” Peaches adamantly defended. “I told her she could rest and here it is, just a few months later, and I woke her up already.”

My thoughts regarding djinn were restless. While I understood they were sentient beings, and, perhaps even more tragic than initially thought, I also saw them for the powerful weapons they were meant to be.

Wolf yips sounded far in the distance, drawing Sedrick and Phil’s attention. “Sounds like they’re having a good time,” Phil said warmly.

“I’m glad,” Sedrick answered. “Dillon and Ruthie have been troopers, but they’re getting cabin fever. It’s good to stretch their legs. They’re also distracting Shawn. After some food and rest, he became anxious. Burning off some of that youthful energy is good.”

We remained quiet, listening to the distant sounds of Dillon, Ruthie, and Shawn. Absently I wondered if the wolf children were anywhere near Erasmus or Aurelia.

Sedrick chuckled. “I think Phil and I will be hearing about traveling by fairy transport for the rest of our lives. Dillon especially seemed taken by the idea. Honestly though, I think he was a little disappointed. All we did was step through an atmospheric tear at our home and step out into Peaches’s orchard. It was like walking through a door.”

Speaking of fairies…“Where is Hellfire Rayburn?” I asked.

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