Page 95 of Purrfectly Peculiar Pixie

Deeply sighing, Queen Silvidia waved a disinterested hand in Arie’s direction. “Perhaps fairy law needs a refresh. One such as you should have been eliminated long ago.”

Phlox stiffened within my arms. Fairy law could already be brutal. I doubted any of us relished the thought of it becoming even stricter.

Arie threw his body against the barrier imprisoning him, headless of the self-harm he caused. It should have been satisfying. Instead, it was pathetically disturbing.

“Enough,” Queen Silvidia ordered and Arie’s body stilled but his eyes remained wide. “Let us be done with it.”

I’d expected some type of motion, a hand gesture, something that would indicate Queen Silvidia’s intentions. Instead, all she did was turn, disregarding Arie Belview’s gasp before his neck twisted, snapping his spinal cord and dropping the powerful alpha to the ground. This time, the silence emanating from Arie’s direction wasn’t caused by magical manipulation.

Alpha Arie Belview’s reign was over. His chest didn’t rise, and his black heart no longer beat. Just like Janus’s death, Arie Belview’s was disturbingly quick and simple. Death remained the great equalizer. There would be no second life offered to Janus or Alpha Belview. They’d squandered the ones gifted to them and had not earned a second opportunity.

Dismissing Arie’s corpse, Queen Silvidia made her way back to Ray. “My father would be terribly disappointed in me.”

“My queen?”

“I am afraid I have little interest in the torture he loved so dearly.” Queen Silvidia stared at her empty palm. “It has never held such appeal to me. I find the whole thing…tedious.”

Ray gave a discrete bow while the rest of us held our collective tongues.

“I trust you can sort out the rest?” Queen Silvidia asked Ray.

“Of course.”

“Thank you, Hellfire.”

I thought that would be it, that the Queen of Fairy would leave us. Instead, she walked toward Peaches’s barrier, stopping just outside it. “Peaches, may I enter?”

“Oh!” Peaches fluttered about, spreading golden dust everywhere. “Yes. Please do.” He waved her inside.

“Thank you. You have a lovely orchard. I would enjoy returning when the situation is calmer.”

“As long as you mean my land no harm, you are welcome anytime,” Peaches answered easily.

Queen Silvidia smiled, and her peach eyes glowed. “A most generous offer. Now, if you will allow, I will remove this warlock from your presence.” She stepped toward Ambrose, his body still unconscious and prone on the ground.

Peaches’s appeared alarmed and his eyes immediately sought out Vander. Queen Silvidia interrupted Peaches’s concerns. “He will be taken to Fairy but as promised, I will withhold judgement until I’ve spoken further with Warlock Kines and Philodendron. Is this acceptable?”

I thought Queen Silvidia asked more out of politeness than true need. Had she wanted, Ambrose’s body would already be in a holding cell deep within Fairy.

“More than acceptable,” Peaches said.

“Excellent. I will take my leave then.” Creating a new atmospheric tear, Queen Silvidia walked toward it, Ambrose’s body hovering close behind. “Hellfire, please tell my nephew that I am sorry I missed him today but look forward to seeing him soon. Do not be a stranger.” With that, the Queen of Fairy walked through the atmospheric slit and disappeared. The window sealed behind her.

The oppressive curtain Queen Silvidia brought with her dissipated with her absence. Familiar night sounds filtered back in, erasing the surreal atmosphere.

“Damn, djinn and the fairy queen.” Erasmus leaned against an apple tree, Aurelia oddly close by. “Pops is never going to believe this.”

“Sweet Gaia save us all,” Vander lamented. “Nikodemus will hold this over my head for the rest of my life.”

The universe quickly answered Vander’s painful lament. Phone ringing, Vander pulled it from his pocket and groaned. “Speak of the devil.”

Erasmus just laughed.

ChapterThirty-One

Phlox

“I promise, we’re fine,” I reassured Auntie Tandra. I typically kept Auntie Tandra in the dark about my missions, even when they were over. But this one was different. She’d been worried sick about the pixie trafficking ring and needed to know it was shut down. Auntie Tandra was expectedly upset when she learned the part I’d played.

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