Page 47 of Perfectly Petite Shorts
Sedrick waved them in. “Phil’s in the garden.” Sedrick leaned back, glancing out the window. Phil was probably about halfway through his mission. “I’d say we’ve got about twenty minutes.”
“Plenty of time,” Peaches sang as he flew through the opening. Lucroy followed at a much more sedate pace. “This is a marvelous plan.” Peaches giggled, and golden pixie dust filled the room.
“Shoulda brought a mask,” Ollie grumped, and Peaches apologized for causing the sneezing fit.
“I’ve got some charms that’ll help with the pixie dust,” Vander said as he too entered the house. “Here.” Vander handed the charms to Parsnip. “You mind passing them around?”
“No worries,” Parsnip answered, zipping into the room. “Good work mini-weres.” Parsnip held up his hand and high-fived Dillon and Ruthie. “Didn’t know the two of you could be so sneaky. I’ll need to remember that.” Parsnip winked at the Voss children before flying away, scattering gray dust mixed with sparkling bits of aqua.
“Yo, Byx, you got the decorative charms?” Vander yelled through the rift.
“You’re so damn loud, Vander.” Byx stomped into the room, a small box in hand. “It’ll take you what? Thirty seconds to activate the charms.” Byx huffed but grinned when she laid eyes on Dillon and Ruthie. “Don’t you two worry. We’ll have this place party festive in no time at all.” Handing the box to Vander, the two of them got busy.
“Need some help with that, Johnny?” Lizabeth asked. “I’ve got a free hand.”
“Grab that honeysuckle mead if you will. I’ve got the cake.” Johnny’s cloven hooves clopped against the hard wood floors. “Well, isn’t this just the quaintest home in the whole universe.” Johnny’s eyes tracked around the room, and he nodded with approval. “This is exactly the kind of home I imagined Phil would make. It’s lovely and—whoa there!” Johnny jostled the cake, barely saving it from splatting on the floor when Trinket scuttled past him.
“Trinket! Manners,” Wendall scolded. “I’m so sorry, Johnny.”
Chuckling, Johnny dismissed Wendall’s concerns. “She’s just excited to see her friends. See, she’s already gotten comfortable.” Sitting on top of Ruthie’s head, Trinket flounced back and forth, messing up her carefully coiffed ’do.
“Leon and I’ve got the rest of the snacks,” Phlox said as he stepped into the room, arms laden with bags of food.
“Indeed, I had no idea the living required so much sustenance,” Leon offered as he followed his beloved.
“Stuff it, Leon.” Phlox gave Leon a withering stare. “Not all of us have the luxury of our meals walking on two legs and following us everywhere we go.”
Leon’s brows lifted, but his obsidian eyes gleamed with mischief. “Indeed, I am a very fortunate vampire.”
“We both are,” Lucroy agreed.
Dillon craned his neck, watching as their guests streamed into the room, filling the space with noise, laughter, and adding to the good vibes of the house. Chewing on her bottom lip, Ruthie tugged at her brother’s sleeve. “I don’t see them.”
Neither did Dillon. Stomping toward the now-closed rift, Dillon tilted his head back and demanded, “Where are they? You said you’d bring them.” If Dillon were a year or two younger, he would have stomped his foot.
Ray’s cheek twitched as his eyes narrowed, fire briefly flaring within their depths.
“Is something wrong?” Ruthie asked.
“No, nothing’s wrong,” Wendall hastened to placate the children and Ray. “We gathered everyone at Dusk to make transport easier, however—”
“Phil’s parents are in California while we are in Virginia. Their recovery requires a second transport,” Ray interjected. “Patience is not a quality werewolves are blessed with.”
Dillon shrugged. “We’ve got a lot of other kick-ass qualities that make up for it.”
“Humility appears absent as well,” Ray added, wholly unimpressed. “I will return momentarily with Phil’sgift.”
“Thank you, Ray!” Ruthie shot forward, wrapping her small arms around Ray’s thighs. Trinket took the opportunity to jump from Ruthie’s head to Wendall’s shoulder, immediately wrapping his tail around Wendall’s arm.
Ray stood frozen. Beside him, Wendall silently mouthed,Tap her head.
Hesitantly, Ray’s fingers found their way to the crown of Ruthie’s head, a soft “you are welcome” slipping through his lips. Ray waited for Ruthie to release him before quickly creating another atmospheric tear and slipping through. Wendall stayed behind to help with the preparations.
“This is going to be the best,” Dillon stated, a wide grin stretching his lips. “Phil’s gonna be so surprised.”
The house heaved a grateful sigh, filled with relief and joy.
“Shhh,” Dillon hissed. “Quiet. Phil’s coming.” Hardly able to contain himself, Dillon bounced on his toes. Ruthie was no better as she constantly twitched and barely contained her expectant giggles.
