Page 44 of Purrfectly Peculiar Pixie

Gray pixie dust tinted with hints of aqua filled the area as Parsnip followed close behind. “What are we agreeing with Sedrick about?” Parsnip asked as he sat in the chair Vander pulled up for him, capping off the end of our booth.

“That he’s got an eclectic pack full of awesome members.” Vander took a great deal of liberty with that paraphrase, but no one called him out on it.

“Oh. Well, yes, then I heartily agree.” Parsnip snagged his cup of honeysuckle mead and downed its contents in one go. Vander reacted similarly with his burnt rum. I stared, a little starstruck. Auntie Tandra would lose her shit if she could see me right now.

Thinking of Auntie Tandra, I sheepishly asked. “Goddess, I know what this sounds like, but can I get a picture of you and Vander together? My auntie is a huge fan.”

Parsnip instantly perked up, a smile spread across his face, lighting it up and erasing some of the recent wear.

“Sure. I don’t look my best, but I think it should be fine.” Squeezing in next to Vander, Parsnip grinned and posed like the superstar he was. Vander did a fair job of faking it and managed to erase a little of his half-dead appearance.

I took a couple of pics and quickly sent them off to Auntie Tandra. She didn’t always have her phone on her, so I wasn’t sure if I’d get a response right away.

“Thank you,” I said honestly. “This will make her week.”

“No worries.” Parsnip waved me off. “I’m a social pixie. If anything, your request gave me a little energy boost.” Parsnip rubbed his hand over Vander’s bicep. “I wish I could do the same for you.”

Vander sighed, leaning heavily back into his chair. He rubbed the back of his neck, the strain of the last few days obvious.

Leaning in, Peaches asked what we were all wondering. “Were you able to find a necromancer?”

Vander winced. “Finding one isn’t exactly the problem, at least not if you know who to ask. Finding one who might be willing to help is another matter.”

Silence filled the table until Vander’s tense shoulders relaxed. “Fuck it. It’s not like it’s a hush-hush secret. It’s just not something warlocks talk about a lot. Necromancers are kind of like our dirty little secret.” Vander shook his head, seemingly upset with himself. “No, that’s not true. They’re our fear.”

“Fear?” Phil asked, twisting his head toward Sedrick before glancing back at Vander, worried. “Warlocks are scared of necromancers?”

“Not exactly. Shit, this is tough to talk about.”

Parsnip leaned into Vander’s shoulder, placing his hand on Vander’s chest. “Take your time.”

“Indeed,” Lucroy agreed before his attention shifted over our shoulders and his eyes narrowed a fraction.

“I’ll keep an eye on things,” Leon offered, already standing. His fingers gripped the edge of the table, and I knew it wasn’t simply my imagination that his skin was paler than usual. It was chalky white, not the luminous moonglow I was used to.

“Thank you, Leon.”

Leon gave a faint nod before walking away. He didn’t even turn and look my way before he left. Leon didn’t pat my hand or run his fingers through my hair. He was stiffer than usual. Something was definitely wrong.

I wanted to get up and follow him, demand that he spill whatever secret he was keeping, but I couldn’t. I was still the agent on this case, and I needed to hear what Vander learned.

Frustration filled me. Sedrick’s askance glance hinted I’d probably lost a little control and allowed a growl to slip through.

“Back again?” Vander asked as Lizbeth slipped another glass of burnt rum in front of him. “Ah, perfect timing.” Lizbeth shot him a grin before slipping back into the crowd. Vander took a sip before repeating, “Arie’s wolves—they’re back again?”

“It appears that way,” Lucroy coolly answered. “From what Johnny and Leon have told me, it is a much more common occurrence.”

“Always the same ones?” Parsnip asked.

“No. There are often repeats, but it is not always the same group, nor the same number. From what I understand, occasionally Arie himself shows up, but those instances are rare.”

“You could always kick them out,” Vander said casually.

“I could, but that would indicate I harbor concern,” Lucroy answered.

Vander raised an eyebrow, eyeing Lucroy. “But you do harbor concerns. A shit ton of concerns.”

“Of course, but Alpha Belview need not know that.” Lucroy sounded very matter of fact.

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