Page 74 of Purrfectly Peculiar Pixie

I’d seen enough ravages of revenge to know Lucroy was all too correct. “You think he’s abusing his pack to get what he wants?” I asked.

“He’s done it before,” Leon answered. “It was a much smaller scale, but if revenge is truly Arie Belview’s one and only mission, then he would care little for who his quest destroyed, even his own pack.”

“That’s”—I wasn’t sure what to call it besides—“very un-werewolf like.” I could see it in vampire nests, but weres took care of their own. They were very pack driven with a hierarchy designed to protect the pack at all costs. The way Alpha Belview was suspected of acting was as wrong as an alpha werewolf could get.

“I think that note was a true cry for help.” Johnny sounded like he was talking more to himself than the rest of us. “I might be wrong, but if what you’re saying is true, Arie’s pack might finally have had enough.”

“I believe that was true long ago,” Leon said, and the barest tinge of sadness colored his words. “When a group is under stress, they find ways to cope. The abnormal becomes normal and acceptable given the confines of their situation. And then things change. The situation becomes untenable. Those coping mechanisms no longer function, and the group implodes. There is always a tipping point. I believe Arie Belview’s pack may have reached that precipice.”

“Most likely, you are correct.” Lucroy’s eyes had long ago changed back to their typical obsidian darkness.

We quieted. I know I needed a minute to digest what I’d learned and assumed Leon and Johnny felt similarly. Finally, Leon asked, “I assume Ray has informed Queen Silvidia.”

“He said he would after we spoke. I have not heard back from him yet.”

“Do you think she’ll interfere?” I asked. “From what you just said, there isn’t absolute proof. Will she act without it?” Fairies were all about the law, even their queen. Most of the time, that was a good thing. I’d hate to think what our world would be like if fairies viewed themselves above the laws they set into place or if there were no law to abide by. Some thought fairies created laws and adhered to them out of a sense of boredom or perhaps to try and get one up on each other in a way that didn’t leave another dead. Others thought it was to avoid conflict with brownies. Brownies were nonviolent as a general rule, but I don’t think anyone wanted to test that theory if they felt truly threatened. Fairies were smart enough to realize that.

Personally, I thought it was a combination of both.

“When do you expect to hear from Ray?” I asked.

Lucroy’s dark eyes blinked before he answered. “I am not certain. Time moves differently in Fairy.”

“Shit,” Johnny repeated, echoing my sentiment.

“Indeed,” Leon agreed before asking Lucroy, “What preparations are we making?”

“I’ve spoken with Peaches, Philodendron, and Parsnip. According to Aurelia, pixie bonds are difficult to break. She cannot speak for all djinn, but she said if she were ordered to harm a pixie while they were in their bonded safe zone, she would need to find a creative way to do so. Should Alpha Belview truly already have a djinn in his possession, it is fair to believe he will go after Sedrick and Philodendron first.”

“They’re staying within their home,” Leon correctly assumed.

“They are. I understand Ruthie and Dillon are not pleased, but they understand the danger.”

Given their ages, I didn’t envy Phil trying to keep the two youngsters entertained indoors for goddess knew how long.

“Peaches will stay within his orchard. I will stay there as well.” Lucroy didn’t sound as pleased about that.

Johnny chuckled. “Bet you had to promise him that so he’d stay put.”

Lucroy nodded. “Perceptive as always, Johnny. Aurelia has agreed to remain awake. I do not know if she will offer more aid or not. At this point, it does not appear that she will detrimentally interfere. Erasmus has agreed to stay as well.”

I perked up at that and wanted to ask more questions, but Lucroy quickly added, “Peaches asked Vander, Parsnip, and Byx to stay at the orchard also. They’ve agreed for the time being, but I am uncertain how long they will remain if the situation drags on. Vander does have a business to run, and Parsnip has a television show he is contractually dedicated to.” Lucroy tilted his head and he appeared to contemplate something before he said, “We are uncertain how effective Parsnip’s bond will be protecting them. We believe it would be strong enough to keep Vander safe, but—”

“But his bond doesn’t necessarily protect him,” I surmised. Social pixies rarely formed bonds and it was always with another individual instead of land or a home.

“Correct. Vander and Byx can help protect Parsnip through magic, but Aurelia says magical manipulation is far easier to break through.”

I wondered about Vander and Parsnip and asked, “Would Alpha Belview come after them?” The history in this little corner of the world was varied and difficult to grasp.

Johnny chuckled before clearing his throat. “Yeah, well, you see, Vander kind of insulted Arie by not taking a job.”

“What kind of job?” I innocently asked.

Leon answered. “Alpha BelviewrequestedVander severe a pixie bond. In particular, a home-and-hearth pixie bond.”

I sucked in a heated breath and claws sprouted, digging into the bar surface and adding my own bit of graffiti. “That’s…at the very least, that would be punishable by death.” Why in the hell was Arie Belview still alive?

“As with everything, it’s only suspicioned Arie was behind the commission.” Johnny sounded as angry as I felt.

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