Page 60 of Purrfectly Peculiar Pixie

Peaches flew off into his orchard. None of us followed. I didn’t want to know where he’d stashed Aurelia’s object of attachment. Controlling a djinn only had one final outcome—death.

ChapterTwenty

Phlox

Goddess, I wanted Leon. My skin itched like it was too tight. We weren’t bonded, not in the pixie or vampire way. Being away from him wouldn’t be physically dangerous. I wasn’t so certain about the emotional aspect of things. The sun was almost down. If I called, Leon would be awake enough to answer. He’d still be down in Lucroy’s sanctuary underneath Dusk. He could safely leave soon.

My phone was a heavy weight within a loose pocket. I left it where it was. I wasn’t certain how long it would take Peaches to recover Aurelia and I didn’t want to rush a conversation. Besides, talking with Leon right now would probably make me crave his presence more. I needed to keep a cool, level head. Especially if a djinn was involved.

Little dots of far-off lights lit up the sky, surrounding Peaches in a twinkling cloud. Dusk had settled in enough for the sprites to begin showing off their true glory.

Peaches’s hands were clasped in front of him, holding something close to his chest. I couldn’t see what he cradled but could only assume it was Aurelia’s object of attachment.

“I’ve got her,” Peaches said as he dropped down beside Lucroy. “Are you certain we have to do this?” Peaches asked Ray.

“Beloved, I do not believe this is a request Hellfire makes lightly.”

I didn’t think it was truly arequestbut didn’t argue with Lucroy.

“Indeed, it is not,” Ray answered.

“Okay.” Peaches stared down at the dirt covered amphora within his cupped palms. Wendall stepped closer, placing a comforting hand on Peaches’s arm. Trinket scurried over and perched on Peaches’s shoulder, leaning in and cooing her support.

“Thanks, Trinket.” Peaches dug his fingers into her fur, scratching lightly before he sucked in a deep breath and said, “Aurelia, I wish for your presence.”

At first, nothing happened. Then a hazy mist eased from the amphora. The Caribbean blue mist coalesced and a figure formed.

“Sweet Gaia. Look at all that ink,” Erasmus barely whispered. He moved closer to me, perhaps seeking comfort in the only other one who hadn’t met a djinn before.

Erasmus wasn’t wrong. The being standing there in combat boots, ripped jeans, tank top, and flannel was bald. Inked markings ran along nearly all her visible skin. Golden hoops and rings pierced through Aurelia’s large, pointed ears. Her thick, plush lips pouted, and her eyes dangerously narrowed when she stared at the congregation surrounding her.

“Master,” Aurelia gritted out when she stared at Peaches.

“No. Goddess, no.” Peaches frantically waved his hands in front of his chest, Aurelia’s object of attachment clasped in one hand. “Please don’t call me that. I’m no one’s master. Or, at least, I don’t want to be. Please, Aurelia, call me Peaches.”

Some of the hostility leaked from Aurelia’s tense posture.

Beside me, so quiet I doubted anyone else could hear, Erasmus stuttered, “That’s…strange.”

Personally, I thought the whole thing was strange and ignored him.

“You promised me rest, Peaches. And yet, you’ve called me back…already.” Aurelia glanced around the area probably noting no one had changed since the last time she’d seen them.

“I’m so sorry about that,” Peaches apologized.

“It was not his desire.” Ray stepped forward. “I felt it necessary and for that, you also have my apologies, Aurelia.”

“And my thanks,” Wendall jumped in, rushing to Aurelia and pulling her into his arms, hugging her tight. Aurelia stood there, arms at her sides, eyes wide, and expression deeply confused. “You saved me. And you made it so Ray and I can be together for a long time by increasing my fairy DNA. I can’t thank you enough.” Wendall offered a final squeeze before pulling away. Aurelia continued staring at him as if he were a puzzle she wasn’t certain she wanted to figure out.

Wendall appeared unfazed. Hopping from Peaches to Wendall, Trinket nestled in close, cooing her thanks as well.

Wendall stepped back and sheepishly said, “I’m sorry if that made you uncomfortable. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever get a chance to thank you properly.”

“And that is the reason I was awoken? So you might…thank me?”

“I wish,” Vander huffed sounding exhausted. Aurelia’s attention immediately snapped to the warlock.

Instead of Vander answering, Ray stepped closer, once more wrapping his arm around Wendall’s side. “It appears as if another might be looking for a djinn of their own.”

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