Page 93 of Purrfectly Peculiar Pixie

“Be my guest, but also be careful,” Peaches answered eagerly. “There are still a lot of wolves out there and not many of you.”

“There’s plenty of us,” Parsnip said, flying high and chest puffed out. “Besides, it’s clear most of his pack doesn’t want to fight.”

“Shawn’s mother might be out there,” Peaches reminded us.

“Damn,” Vander cursed. “Your beloved has a point, Lucroy. I hate killing the innocent.”

“Then try and just knock them out,” Parsnip answered. “We’ll sort out who’s who later.”

“Easier said than done,” I said while allowing my transformation to overtake me. While not as tall as Lucroy, my vampiric form was impressive. When I glanced in Phlox’s direction, I had to look down. My beloved had already shifted. Puffed up, he appeared twice his actual size. Claws digging into the ground, it was clear Phlox was ready to rend flesh from bones.

“Shit, that’s what he is?” Peaches said, flying lower. “Dylan and Ruthie will be sorry they missed this. He’s so freaking cute.” Directing a hand Phlox’s direction, Peaches yanked his fingers back as Phlox bared his teeth and swatted.

“I do not believe that wise, beloved,” Lucroy said while coming to Peaches side.

“Do not underestimate him due to his size,” I defended my beloved before leaning over and raking my talons through his thick fur. Pleasured pride rolled through me when Phlox easialy allowed the action. “Stay close,” I whispered.

Phlox’s low, grumbling answer was somewhere between a hiss and meow.

The sound of tearing fabric met my ears. Arie’s pack shifted while the alpha himself did a partial shift, appearing like something out of a horror film. Remaining bipedal, it was a form only strong alphas could hold. Sedrick should be here. He should have the pleasure of bringing Arie Belview to heel. But Sedrick Voss had learned a lesson Arie Belview never would. Love was far more precious than hate and revenge. Sedrick was where he was needed, where his life resided, where his soul came alive.

Arie’s words were garbled when he spoke. “Pathetic, hiding behind a pixie’s power.”

Peaches’s opened his mouth, but Lucroy’s taloned touch silenced him. My king understood as well as me nothing Peaches said would make Arie Belview understand. His words would be wasted.

“Kick his pompous ass,” Peaches said.

Lucroy answered, “With pleasure.”

Stepping through Peaches’s barrier was as easy as walking down a street. His magic swept over me, its welcoming strength inviting me back when I wished. As soon as we were on the other side, Arie raised his head and howled. His pack answered that call and came running. It was impossible to tell a reluctant wolf from an eager one.

“Look at their weight,” Vander said as he formed a sigil and slammed his hand into it. “Remember, the reluctant ones didn’t appear as well fed.” The wolf running at him fell to the ground, knocked out but still alive.

I wasn’t sure judging by weight alone was wise, but it was better than nothing. A large, fully fleshed out wolf leapt at me. Twisting, I drove my talons into its underbelly, tearing through entrails and ripping them out as I pulled away. The wolf went down, rolling on his side and quickly bleeding out.

Phlox sped past me. Jumping high, he latched onto the back of a smaller wolf, this one appreciably leaner. Teeth sinking in, Phlox shook his head and sank his claws deep. As the wolf attempted to buck him off, I grabbed it and slammed its head to the ground. The blow was hard enough to knock the wolf unconscious, but not deadly.

We tried weeding through the onslaught, but they kept coming. I’d just pulled my talons out of a large chest when something slammed into my side, nearly driving me to the ground. A sharp, stinging pain ripped through my side. Twisting, I managed to throw my attacker off. I barely held in my surprise when I turned and saw it was a very human Janus, wielding a wicked dagger. Fresh blood leaked from a split lip, my own borrowed blood dripping from the blade in his hand.

Janus’s grin no longer held a mouthful of razor-sharp teeth, but it was just as wildly sadistic. Maybe more so with its touch of desperation.

“I’d forgotten,” Janus huffed, breathing labored. “I’d forgotten what I was before that witch found me.” Janus’s smile widened. “I was a killer before.” He laughed gleefully. “That’s why she chose me. I was mercilessly deadly even before she made me what I was.” Holding up his dagger, Janus gazed at it lovingly. “She used my favorite weapon as my object of attachment. I didn’t remember that, but I do now.” Janus tilted his head and stared at the night sky. “I might be human, but I’m still going to kill you.” Twisting the blade, he pointed at my head. “A vamp can’t live without their head or heart. You’re too fucking easy to kill.”

My side ached but was already healing. Crouched low, I readied myself for the attack. Janus took a single step before he screamed. Scrambling around his back, Janus turned, and I could see Phlox. His claws were deep in Janus’s skin, as were his teeth. Climbing Janus’s back, Phlox made his way toward the tender flesh residing along Janus’s neck. I knew what he meant to do and moved to help him.

Phlox’s claw and my talon met, each sliding through Janus’s thick neck, slicing through each carotid artery. Blood spilled like lava down Janus’s chest, soaking his skin. Janus blinked, fingers clawing at the open wounds. But it was too late. Far too late. Janus was already dead, his mind simply hadn’t caught up with the physical blow.

Leaping off his back, Phlox landed on all fours before running in my direction. I picked him up, placing his smaller form on my shoulder, holding him much as Wendall did Trinket as we watched the light die from Janus’s ancient eyes.

It was a rather uneventful end to a magical life. When I glanced up, Aurelia stood in the background. She’d chosen not to engage in the fight. A mere spectator. Her expression was unreadable as she looked down on Janus’s unmoving body.

A shot of fire flickered to my right, pulling my attention to Ray as he trapped a group of wolves within a flaming inferno. It was a cage they had no hope of escape from. Trinket was nearby, tail wrapped around the slender neck of a smaller wolf. The wolf bucked and ran but eventually its legs went out from under them, and they fell to the ground, unconscious.

I searched for our main target, finally finding Arie Belview in the back of the fray, using his pack as a living shield. They had no choice but to fight. Some of them obviously relished the bloodshed while the majority only obeyed Arie’s command for fear of what would happen to their loved ones. It was clear that Arie Belview would offer his entire pack to slaughter for the chance of survival. While we strived to save those who did not truly wish to fight, it was becoming increasingly difficult to adhere to those high ideals. Keeping them alive took far more effort than dispatching them.

Jumping from my shoulder, Phlox shot into the melee, and I followed. We worked our way toward Vander and Parsnip. I’d wondered what use Parsnip would be. The pixie flew just out of wolf reach, scattering dust in his wake. Enough dust made it close enough to the wolves to induce sneezing fits. The distraction gave Vander enough time to formulate a sigil and put them to sleep. It was a surprisingly effective system.

Lucroy’s body flashed through the heart of the pack, breaking them up as if they were little more than pool balls.

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