Page 49 of Purrfectly Peculiar Pixie

“I am afraid I agree with Sedrick,” Lucroy replied smoothly. “When it comes to either topic, I find it increasingly difficult to control my more feral side. Without my beloved, I doubt I would be able to maintain such an amiable façade.”

Peaches nuzzled Lucroy’s neck. While I doubted the full truth of that statement, it was clear to see the calming effect Peaches had on the Southeast vampire king. I longed for that same peace and contentment. While Phlox sat hip to hip beside me, that level of bliss had never seemed so far away.

ChapterSeventeen

Phlox

Dusk was nearly empty and I was on the last bin of glasses. Johnny left about five minutes ago and Lizbeth only a few minutes before that. All the other workers left even earlier. Sedrick and Phil went home about the same time as Lucroy and Peaches. Both pixies had been away from their bonded areas a little too long and were beginning to show signs of wear by the time they left.

Parsnip didn’t have that problem. Bonded to Vander, as long as his warlock was near, Parsnip could go anywhere he wanted for as long as necessary. Given his profession and need for travel, that was a very good thing.

Leon was on the phone. After the meeting broke up, he’d immediately gone into work mode. The vampire had barely spared me a glance the rest of the night.

A glass slipped from my fingers, crashing into the sink. My inner cat huffed at my clumsiness, but in truth, it was my shifter agitation that probably caused it. My cat wasn’t happy with Leon or, I suppose, the way Leon was ignoring us. I was so confused I wasn’t sure which way was up. Leon was so damn hot and cold. I couldn’t get a read on him. At first, I was upset. Now I was just angry.

“What the fuck’s his problem?” I groused at the dirty dishwater. “I mean, in the beginning, he couldn’t keep his hands off me. He’s transforming and being all huffy and protective and shit and now…” Now what? What happened? And why in the hell wasn’t Leon feeding? His skin held an unhealthy luminescence, his cheeks were hollower, and I’d heard him snap at a couple of employees. That wasn’t the vampire I knew and… I couldn’t exactly finish that statement, despite the fact I knew the word that fit.

I rinsed the final glass and laid it on the counter to air-dry. I’d put them all up tomorrow evening before Dusk opened.

Drying my hands on a towel, I tossed it into a nearby bin. Hands fisted and firmly planted on my hips, I stared at the clean washroom. My wings fluttered and lifted me off the floor, leaving my tapping foot connecting with little more than air.

“This is ridiculous,” I huffed. “I’ve had it. Enough is enough. I’m not spending another day sleepless and wondering what’s going through his head. We’ve got too much shit going on to deal with that too.”

Decision made, I flew toward the door, slamming my palms into it. The door swung open, banging into the wall. My eyes quickly scanned the empty bar. Last I’d seen, Leon was sitting at the back booth, phone in hand and taking care of Dusk’s business.

That’s not where my vampire still was. Leon was at the door leading to Lucroy’s underground sanctuary.

Rage flared. I caught my reflection in a nearby mirror, my eyes no longer deep blue but burning yellow.

“You’re going down without me?” I accused. I wanted to fly at Leon but stayed where I was, hovering in a cloud of angry pixie dust. “Were you even going to tell me? Or are you just slinking off to hide for the day.” I didn’t have independent access to Leon’s hidey-hole. Once he was locked inside, I’d be locked out.

Leon shifted, one hand still on the now open door. If he wanted to dart inside, I’d never be fast enough to get there before the door shut and locked.

Arms crossed, I huffed. “I never took you for a coward, Leon.”

Rage, unmitigated and fierce filled Leon’s eyes, turning them into shimmering rubies. “Coward?”

Oh, he didn’t like that. Good.“I call it like I see it. And right now, you’re scurrying into a vault to get away from me.”

Leon’s mouth opened in a snarl. His fangs elongated and he snapped them. Joints popping, Leon’s transformation wasn’t far off. I’d definitely pulled the tiger’s tail.

With deliberate purpose, Leon’s eyelids slid closed, covering that scarlet glow. His body went eerily still. Seconds morphed into minutes and somehow, I managed to hold my tongue, waiting for Leon to get his emotions in check. It shouldn’t take him this long. Leon had far better control than what he currently exhibited. His current state confirmed all my earlier thoughts. Something was wrong and that something needed fixing ASAP.

Flexing his fingers, Leon’s voice was deceptively cool when he finally said, “Forgive me. I should not have reacted so—”

“Dramatically?” I finished.

Leon gave a slow nod. “That is certainly one word for it.”

I could have kept pushing that angle, but instead I aimed for a direct hit. I was tired of beating around this thorny bush. “What’s going on, Leon?”

“I don’t know what you—”

“Don’t you dare finish that bullshit statement.” I flew forward and punched a pointed finger into his granite-like chest. “You haven’t been feeding. Even by vampire standards, you’re pale. You’re short-tempered, irritable, and wholly unpleasant. And you’ve been purposefully ignoring me all night. Now, what the fuck is going on? I swear to the goddess, if you don’t tell me, I’ll find a way to make you. Don’t ask me how. All I know is that I’ll figure something out.” It’s what I excelled at.

Leon’s stoic countenance fractured, and his lips twitched on the verge of the first smile I’d seen all night. “That might be…entertaining.” His hand raised, as if he wanted to touch me, only to fall to his side, a flash of pain lighting his otherwise onyx eyes.

I moved in closer. Maybe Leon questioned if he should touch me, but I had no such qualms. Placing my hands on his chest, I stared up into his troubled eyes and begged. “Tell me what’s wrong. Please. I’m worried about you.” I was more than worried.

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