Page 27 of Fairies Don't Fall

“Sorry, Princess Sparkles. You’re a midnight fairy. The only death you deal is when you play cards.”

“I don’t play cards.”

He pulled a small rectangle out of his inside pocket and winked at me. “Now you do. What’s your pleasure? Go fish? Rummy? Or poker?”

“Poker?” I asked blankly.

He started shuffling the cards rapidly. “Good. Fairies are supposed to bluff better than a buffalo. That’s another saying that makes no sense, like Catch-22 unless you’ve read the novel.”

“Oh. It’s from a book. You’ve read it?” I asked, taking the cards he offered me.

“My beast read it. He reads more than you’d think. Are you impressed?”

“Very. I’ve only read ‘The Wolf Wore Pajamas.’ I imagine Catch-22 had a different plot, and a few more words.”

“That’s right. Actually, it’s surprisingly relevant. A soldier feigned madness in order to avoid a war, but the fact that he did so proved his sanity. Catch-22. Your efforts to avoid prove the ultimate vehicle to bring about what you were avoiding. So, you’re avoiding being Queen…”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “You think you’re so smart.”

He nudged me with his elbow, only gently so he didn’t knock me over onto Berry. With his superior senses, no doubt he was reeling from the scent of the pixie-dust addict. “I’m the Alpha, so I can avoid being controlled, but the pack controls me more thanI do myself. Catch-22. Also, I won’t take any higher positions, because I know that responsibility is the ultimate trap. I have to be free to follow my moon.”

“Well, I’m nothing like that.”

“No? Why, then? Why are you dodging Queenship like a bullet?”

“Because bullets kill you. And so does being Queen.”

He studied me for a long time before he put an arm over my shoulder and pulled me over so I fell into him. He was warm in spite of the chilly night breeze, and he smelled much better than my bubblegum shampoo. Spicy. Like the wind and something fresh.

“Okay, Princess Sparkles. I personally think you’re just avoiding being tied to this Vervain the Terrible.”

I looked up at him, but I didn’t lift my head off his shoulder. It was comfortable, and I was very tired. “I’m going to close my eyes for a second. Can you make sure Berry doesn’t take off? You can teach me poker later.”

“I’ll keep an eye on Berry if I don’t fall asleep.”

“Werewolves are nocturnal.”

“So are Midnight fairies. Yes. Sleep. I will guard your dreams, princess. And the rest of you.”

I closed my eyes and let his warmth soak into me, surrounding me like a blanket of warmth and safety that nothing could pierce. Even a bullet.

Chapter

Nine

Berry was so delighted to wake up to Max prodding him with his boot. Actually, I’d never seen anyone so horrified as Berry, looking from Max, who might rehabilitate him, to me, who might execute him or other death fairy nonsense.

I smiled brightly. “Okay, Berry. You’re going to tell me what your favorite combination of trees for terraforming woods is while we walk. It’s going to be a beautiful day, don’t you think?” I asked, smiling at Max.

He smiled back, showing more teeth than usual. “Why yes, Princess Sparkles. It looks like a fine day to find a sky and a waterfall.”

Berry blinked at me and then at Max. “You’re both insane.”

Max shook his head and put a hand on Berry’s shoulder. I knew that grip. He hadn’t used it on me for some time, but I remembered. “If you know that, maybe you shouldn’t say it. So, favorite trees for terraforming?”

Berry stammered and started talking about trees while we walked, leaving the rocks and rubble for the pathway above that followed the river. It was a mile and a half to the docks, where tents were set up along the side, and pots that steamed with sweet grains and fruit were served by a group of tough-lookingsurvivors. Fairies, but not like Berry, who could hardly walk in a straight line.

They wore respectable clothing and served the slouchy, shifty, pixie-dust addicts with stern faces. They wouldn’t be as easy to influence, and they didn’t look like they needed something to do, so I focused on the minds of the hazy folk, implanting the need to find a seed or small sapling and bring it to the werewolf caverns.

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