Page 22 of Purrfectly Peculiar Pixie

“Sorry.” Given Leon’s reaction to my leaving the building during the daylight, I should have figured that out. What I also figured out was that I didn’t like Leon using my agent name. Coming from his lips, it didn’t sound right. Staring at my fingers, I said, “Phlox.”

“Pardon?” Leon leaned closer but refrained from touching me.

I cleared my throat. “Phlox. That’s my real name. When we’re alone, I’d like you to use it.” There wasn’t a lot of difference between the two names, and yet, Phlox felt so much more personal.

“Phlox.” Somehow, Leon made my given name sound sexy. “I will enjoy using your true name when we interact.” Just as he’d made my name sound different, when Leon said the word,interact, it sounded positively filthy.

“Nice, Leon.”

Leon’s answering grin barely avoided showing fang tips.

The sound of Johnny’s hooves eased into the little bubble Leon and I’d wrapped ourselves in. The sound of the washroom door swinging open, followed by Johnny’s loud “you two are up early” popped our bubble completely.

“No offense, Frost, but for a pixie, you look like shit. Not sure what you’ve been up to today, but I’m sending you upstairs to clean up before you head back down here. Go on, shoo.” Johnny waved me off.

“Aye-aye, Johnny.” I gave a little salute before sliding off my chair. My wings were recovered enough that I could fly, adding a little dust to the air. Johnny quickly covered his nose. Leon’s dark gaze followed my exit. I could feel that lusty stare bore into my back. Johnny might think I looked like shit, but Leon was a different matter. Leon was a different matter altogether.

ChapterEight

Leon

“Is there something you wish to tell me?” Lucroy asked as he lounged against the booth seat opposite me. Peaches was at the bar, socializing with Johnny and Lizbeth. He offered a cursory greeting to Phlox but managed to keep the interaction to a minimum. Peaches was exhibiting a generous amount of self-control.

“I don’t follow.” Lucroy and I were friends, but that didn’t automatically mean we shared everything. I rarely offered information without knowing what the one doing the questioning truly knew.

Lucroy’s gentle smirk signaled he was game to play. “I see. Perhaps I should be more specific.” Still at his leisure, Lucroy tapped his slender fingers along the back of his seat. “I spoke with Lizbeth…or perhaps the more accurate description would be Lizbeth spoke with me. It seems our human bartender was rather concerned earlier this evening.”

“Was she?” I took a sip of blood and barely concealed a cringe. My human blend tasted increasingly foul. I hadn’t taken a sip of Phlox’s blood and yet it was all I craved. No wonder Lucroy had been so set on tasting Peaches. At the time, I’d viewed it as ridiculously risky. I had a new appreciation regarding Lucroy’s need now.

“Mm-hmm. It seems you did something completely out of character and lost control of your transformation. It also seems Frost was at the center of that mishap.”

It sounded odd hearing Lucroy call PhloxFrost. Now that I knew his true name, Frost seemed wrong. And yet, it also seemed right. At least, right for everyone else.

When I remained silent, Lucroy said, “I do not ask out of a need for gossip. I am truly concerned. If there is a problem between the two of you, then I—”

“There is no problem.” I rarely interrupted my king, and yet I could not hold my tongue. “At least, there is not a problem like you believe. I assure you, Frost is completely safe within my care.” Per his desire, I used Phlox’s agent name when speaking with Lucroy. It tasted wrong on my tongue, but I would do as he asked.

Lucroy arched a single eyebrow. “Forgive me, but that is not the way Lizbeth saw things.”

We both trusted the human, so I did not take offense. “I do not fault Lizbeth’s recall. From her perspective, I am sure the situation was…uncomfortable.”

Lucroy’s second eyebrow met the first. “Uncomfortable?”

Had I been a younger vampire, I would have squirmed. Ignoring the purposefully understated word, I said, “Frost and I worked through our issues.” That wasn’t completely true. Phlox and I had a lot that still needed to be verbalized. Or perhaps, words were overrated, and action was what was truly needed. I would not drink from him until Phlox was ready. However, there were other ways we could enjoy each other without sharing blood. Swapping other body fluids hadn’t been discussed yet.

“That is good to hear, but I must ask what prompted thisuncomfortableevent?”

As king of the Southeastern nest, it was Lucroy’s duty to question me. Understanding the need did not diminish the irritation.

“He left the building.” When Lucroy only stared at me, I added, “During the daylight.”

Lucroy’s slow blink was purposeful. “And that was a concern why?”

My fingers dug into my palms. A quick glance toward the other end of the bar reassured me Phlox was fine and unharmed. He was currently cleaning a four top. Wendall was in the back washing glassware.

“I could not follow,” I ground out. My teeth desperately wanted to lengthen, and I fought the transformation urge with everything I had.

Lucroy stared, his dark eyes revealing nothing. His casual posture belied his sharp mind. We remained silent, Dusk’s surrounding music a pounding base drum constantly beating in the background. I knew the moment Lucroy understood. I doubt another would have noticed the subtle uptick of his brows.

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