Page 96 of Purrfectly Peculiar Pixie

“I hate thinking of you in that much danger,” Auntie Tandra said. “You know I hate your job. At the same time, I’m also so damn proud of you I want to go shout from the rooftops what you did.”

“Auntie Tandra, you can’t—”

“Oh, I know I can’t do that, but it doesn’t stop me wishing I could. Besides, you know me, I’d post it on social media first.” Auntie Tandra giggled. “I’m joking. Well, not about wanting to post it, but you know I wouldn’t do that.”

Thankfully, I did know.

“So, when do I get to meet your mate?” she asked, all coyness gone and tone deadly serious. “I need to make certain he’s treating you right. A vampire,” Auntie Tandra clucked. “Who would have thought? Certainly not me. Not that I’m judging. As long as you’re happy and he’s treating you like the gem you are, then we’ll get along fine.”

Warmth flooded my chest, and I grabbed the fabric over my heart. “Thanks, Auntie.” I knew she’d understand. Not all pixies would, but Auntie Tandra wasn’t like that. My happiness truly was all that mattered to her.

I checked the time and reluctantly said, “I need to get going. The party should be starting soon, and I don’t want to miss it.”

“No, no. I don’t want to keep you. Thank you for calling and telling me what you can. I can’t tell you what a relief it is to know this particular pixie ring has been dismantled. Others will most likely pop up.”

“And I’ll be there to shut them down,” I promised.

Auntie Tandra inhaled deeply. “That is and isn’t a comforting thought. Regardless, I’m so proud of you, Phlox. Perovskia would be too. Your mother would be brimming with pride. Have a good night. I love you, Phlox.”

“Love you too, Auntie.”

Auntie Tandra blew a kiss across the phone line before the call ended. I sat on the edge of Leon’s bed, kicking my feet back and forth as I stared at the darkened screen. My fingers swept the mark on my neck, making me shiver. Despite our exhaustion after the showdown with Arie Belview, Leon and I’d come back to Dusk and claimed each other. Leon sported my mating mark, and I was equally marked as his beloved.

That had been a little over a week ago. Queen Silvidia acted quickly, and fairies tracked down each and every member of the pixie trafficking ring Arie Belview was responsible for. Those individuals were promptly dispatched. Over a dozen pixies were rescued in time. Seven weren’t so lucky but their bodies were found and returned to their loved ones. Countless others were unaccounted for. Queen Silvidia, along with the Magical Usage Council agreed to continue working until all their fates were discovered. Of course, we knew they wouldn’t be found alive, but it was important to bring their bodies home.

I’m not certain whose idea the party was. Lucroy offered to host. Dusk would be closed tonight to all but his nestmates and Sedrick’s pack. We’d waited for Phil to recover. From what I understood, Phil was unconscious for two days. He’d gotten steadily stronger and was now well enough to leave his bonded home for a few hours.

Peaches also suffered. While he wasn’t away from his bonded land, that stunt Janus tried to pull by ripping the ground apart had done a lot of damage. Peaches spent the earlier part of the week repairing the land’s foundation. Lucroy stayed at Mulligan’s Orchard, watching over and taking care of his beloved.

Vander was also tired. Parsnip called a few days ago, agitated worry making him grumpy. Evidently, Vander extended himself a little too far and had taken four days to fully recuperate. Byx wasn’t pleased either, but like Parsnip, she was more concerned than angry.

As far as I knew, Erasmus was long gone. He’d taken off shortly after Queen Silvidia. I’m not certain what his frame of mind was. His actions hadn’t killed Janus. In fact, I believe returning Janus’s soul would have allowed him to live out a full, human life, if he’d chosen to do so. But that wasn’t Janus. Whether djinn or human, his soul was a black pit of violent desire.

Erasmus offered to do the same for Aurelia. So far, she’d declined. However, Peaches said Aurelia had an odd fascination with Erasmus and continually stalked the necromancer. Peaches didn’t seem nearly as concerned as the rest of us regarding this development. Well, Wendall didn’t act too concerned either. I would have felt more at ease if Aurelia wanted to go back to sleep.

She didn’t. Aurelia was on a loose leash. Time would tell if that was wise or not.

The double door leading to Lucroy’s underground sanctuary opened. I easily recognized Leon’s light footfalls.

“Beloved?” Leon called out even though I knew he could hear my heartbeat and knew exactly where I was.

Hopping off the bed, I flew into Leon’s open arms. My inner cat and I were in heavenly agreement when it came to Leon’s touch.

“Did your phone call with your aunt go well?”

“Very well.” I didn’t tell Leon that Auntie Tandra was proud of me. I didn’t think I’d be able to contain my tears if I did. Instead, I said, “She wants to meet you.”

Leon pulled back, eyes slightly widened, and eyebrows raised. “Should I be concerned?”

“No. She’ll love you just like I do.” Wrapping my arms around Leon’s neck, I flew up and slammed our lips together. Leon’s fangs nipped my lower lip and he groaned when my blood hit his tongue.

“So infinitely delicious.” Leon’s purr rivaled my cat’s.

I nuzzled Leon’s neck, rubbing my cheek along his mating mark. I easily felt the fruits of my labor as Leon’s cock thickened against my thigh.

“If you keep doing that, we shall miss the party,” Leon gasped.

“Is that such a bad idea?” Right now, I didn’t think so.

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