Page 58 of Of Withering Dreams
Kaden jumped, swatting one hand at his shaggy hair, his sword clattering to the ground.
Breena’s head popped out from her tent, yawning. “What’s the ruckus?” She rubbed her eyes before lurching forward as Rhaegar tumbled out behind her.
“Blasted pixies!” he shouted, his bulky frame wriggling on the glowing moss beneath him. A frenzied blur of shimmering movement bounced on his stomach. When he whipped his hands toward it, the glowing shape zoomed into his forehead, knocking him back.
I swore I heard a tinkling titter as a trail of luminescence rushed away from him and then vaulted off Breena’s nose.
A strand of my hair was tugged from my scalp. “Ow!”
Kaden and the others were flailing around, cussing, and slapping at the space around them. Another flash of shifting colors whizzed by my face.
A snarl of frustration shot from me, and I stomped my foot. My hands snapped out in annoyance, iridescent energy sizzling from my scar. It rocketed over my body and flared as I bellowed, “Enough!”
Everyone froze, looking at me with wide eyes and mouths gaping.
Rhaegar sprawled on the earth; one arm extended as he gripped a wriggling, winged creature between his thumb and forefinger while another yanked on the toe of his boot.
Breena knelt, her suspended hand clutching a chunk of her dark hair as another twinkling beastie pulled the end of it.
Kaden stood, his arms limp as he stared at me. Two glimmering sprites tugged at each of his ears, their tiny squeaks of exertion streaking through the silence.
With its fisted hands on its waist, a pixie—as Rhaegar had called the little fiends—materialized in front of me, four lucent wings flapping like a hummingbird. A frenzied swirl of splintered, rainbow-like hues gleamed around its figure, which was no bigger than my hand. With each puff of air, wispy white hair fluttered around its shoulders. With a seafoam green complexion, its features—neither feminine nor masculine—were strangely humanoid except for pointed ears and a flattened nose, which comprised two narrow slits in the center of its face. One of its light eyebrows cocked, copper eyes glowering.
My mouth twisted, my glare narrowing. I mirrored its stance and thrust my knuckles upon my hips. “If you would be so gracious—please call off your friends.”
The little beast huffed and crossed its arms over its chest. Then it stuck its tiny, jade-colored tongue out.
“Now,” I insisted, allowing my gift to flicker and ripple over my body in warning.
It flinched, squeaking and showing its palms to me. Turning its head, but keeping one metallic eye trained on me, the pixie let loose a string of anxious chirps. The others ceased their mischief and gathered around their leader with tilted heads, ogling me warily.
Rhaegar sat up, scratched his jaw, and grunted, “Well, I’ll be …”
The corners of my mouth tipped up, my aura dissipating. “Thank you.” I bowed to them, an idea weaving through my mind. “Would you happen to know where a meadow of giant flowers dwells?”
Furtive glances were shared between the winged troublemakers. Nervously, one pixie stabbed a finger in the direction catercorner to the coast, its bottom lip trembling. The group began to twitter anxiously as if scolding the defector, flitting around the creature and pulsing with light.
My brows rose as I glanced at Kaden, my fingers steepling in front of a barely contained smirk. His eyebrows rose, eyes twinkling with amusement.
Breena hoisted herself up, taking a few steps in the direction the pixie had indicated. She began to look toward me, but then her gaze snapped back as she withdrew her daggers and dashed off into the woods.
“Damn it, woman,” Rhaegar grumbled as he followed her, battle axe in hand. In the distance, the glow of footsteps lingered upon the moss where someone or something had spied on us from behind a gnarled tree, its bark’s radiance still gleaming from where it was handled.
“You all right if I go with them? They might need help,” Kaden asked, unsheathing his sword.
I nodded. “I’m fine here. Go ahead—I’ll watch the camp.”
Hesitating, Kaden pressed his lips together.
“Truly, I’ll be okay. Go on.”
He turned reluctantly, running after our friends.
The pixies suddenly stilled, hovering above my head, eyes unblinking. A grim line settled across the leader’s mouth, and it darted this way and that in front of my face. I waved my hand, trying to shoo the creature away, but it clenched its fists and yanked on the collar of my tunic.
“Okay, okay. You want me to follow you?”
It chirped, beaming—exposing teeny razor-like teeth—and zoomed past my shoulder, the others following. As a unit, they zigzagged through the forest, and I followed behind at a brisk pace. Their energy trailed behind them like shooting stars leading the way.
