Page 23 of Perfectly Petite Shorts (Perfect Pixie)

The Realization

“No fair, your legs are longer.” Dillon lay buck naked on the grass, his arms and legs thrown akimbo.

His younger sister, Ruthie, was no less shy regarding her lack of clothing.

Shifters were like that. Human skin was just another version of fur, and considering clothing wasn’t necessary while in their animal forms, neither child could figure out why they were so important when humanoid.

“My wolf is so big,” Ruthie replied. Her tone spoke of amazement, not bragging. “I feel like I’m all legs.” Ruthie threw her arms in the air and tossed them about, mimicking how she felt in her dire wolf form. “I’m surprised I won. You win our races most of the time.”

“True.” Rolling over, Dillon stared at his sister, a huge grin splitting his face. “Your wolf is badass.” Not an ounce of jealousy tinged his words. Pride sang through. Pride and affection. “Mom and Dad would have been so proud.”

Ruthie’s joy faded. “If I hadn’t been there, if I hadn’t seen them…I wouldn’t have a dire wolf form. I’d be normal-sized. Th at’s what Uncle Sedrick said, and he wouldn’t lie to us. Not like Grandpa Arie did.”

Dillon’s lips pursed, and his eyes momentarily flared gold.

His alpha instincts had only grown stronger this past year.

“Grandpa Arie’s dead. He can never lie or hurt us again.

He can never hurt anyone again. Our pack made certain of that.

” Dillon’s chest puffed with pride. “Uncle Sedrick is a good alpha, and I’m gonna be just like him one day.

” Dillon was filled with the confidence youth brought.

Ruthie rolled over on her belly. The warm sun beat down on her backside and the grass was cool. “You’re gonna be the best alpha ever.”

“You know it.” Dillon grinned. “And you’re gonna help me do that. Uncle Sedrick says you’ll be able to tell when someone’s lying or if they’ve done something bad. Together we’ll make sure our pack is safe.”

Pushing back her tangled hair, Ruthie giggled. “Everyone will want to join our pack.”

Dillon stood and walked to his pile of clothing. Slipping on his pants, Dillon nodded. “We’ve already got pixies, dwarves, a fairy, warlock, and vampires.” Dillon snapped his fingers. “Oh, and Johnny. He’s a faun. Trinket too.”

“And humans.” Ruthie’s nose scrunched in thought as she slipped her arms through her T-shirt. “What’s Phlox? Is he a pixie or shifter?”

Dillon shrugged. “Not sure. Both I guess. We’ve got him too.” Dillon gave a sage nod. “Uncle Sedrick says diversity is good. Everybody’s got special skills they bring, and it makes the pack stronger.”

Barefoot, the were children walked through the garden. They wouldn’t have been able to do so safely a little over a year ago. The gnomes were long gone, and the garden was lush with vegetables. Flowering bushes and perennials lined its edges, marking the garden’s boundary .

The day was warm, and the windows on the house were open. Phil’s voice drifted outside along with the scent of snickerdoodles. Dillon and Ruthie’s noses lifted into the air, smelling the sweet, sugary scent.

“They’ll still be warm,” Ruthie said, her mouth already watering.

“Come on.” Dillon grabbed Ruthie’s hand. “Maybe Phil will let us take some to Uncle Sedrick at the mine.”

They scrambled toward the house. Phil’s voice grew louder, his words more distinguishable. Dillon didn’t bother reaching for the doorhandle. It typically opened for him. Only this time, it didn’t.

Cocking his head to the side, Dillon stared at the door. When he reached for the handle, the door threw the lock, keeping him and Ruthie out.

“What’s going on?” Ruthie asked as she peeked around her older brother’s shoulder.

“Don’t know.” Hands fisted on his hips, Dillon gave the door the stink eye. “The house is playing games. It’s had a mind of its own since Phil bonded with it.”

“Yeah, but it doesn’t keep us out.”

Dillon considered pounding on the door and demanding entrance.

Phil was just inside, and he’d never allow the house to keep them out.

But as he raised his fist, something inside him balked at striking the house.

It was their home, and with Phil around, it wasn’t just timber and stone.

The house was sentient. It didn’t seem right to hit it.

“Come on. The window’s open. We can call for Phil.” Dillon grabbed Ruthie’s hand again and dragged her toward the kitchen window. If worst came to worst, they could always climb through that way.

Standing beneath the window, Dillon started to call Phil’s name but abruptly stopped when Phil’s words reached him.

“My birthday’s not a big deal.” Phil sounded exasperated. “ No, he doesn’t know.” There was a pause, and Dillon guessed Phil was listening to whoever he was on the phone with. “There were a lot of things going on last year.”

Ruthie tugged on his hand and when Dillon turned to her, she silently mouthed, Birthday?

“I don’t know, Peaches. I mean, it’s really not that important.

” Another pause. “Yeah, of course I’d want to know when Sedrick’s birthday is.

Yes, but they’re kids. Birthdays are more important when you’re little.

” Phil sighed, long and deep. “I’ll tell Sedrick, and I’ll think about telling the children.

Yes, I promise.” The timer on the oven sounded, and Phil said, “I need to go. The cookies are done, and I want to check in on Dillon and Ruthie. If we hurry, the cookies might still be warm by the time we get to the mine.”

Dillon pushed Ruthie back, and as a unit they slinked away from the window. “Did you hear that?” Dillon asked his sister.

She nodded. “Phil’s birthday is soon. Do you think Uncle Sedrick knows?”

Dillon considered the question before vigorously shaking his head. “He’d tell us if he did. I think Phil plans on telling Uncle Sedrick, but not us. You heard Phil. He doesn’t think it’s important.”

Ruthie frowned as her brown eyes drifted toward the window. “But it is important. Phil is… Phil’s everything.”

“He’s also the alpha mate.” Dillon puffed up. “Alpha mates are very important.” Eyes lighting, Dillon slammed his small fist into his opposite, open palm. “We’re going to surprise him and get Phil the best present ever. Then he’ll know just how important he is.”

Ruthie’s eyes sparkled. “What will we get him?”

Dillon’s confidence momentarily shuttered before regaining its balance. “We’ll ask around. Phil has a lot of friends. We’ll figure it out, and then our present will be the best one he’s ever had.”

“Dillon! Ruthie! Where are—oh, there you two are.” Phil’s feet left the ground as he flew toward them.

Pink pixie dust scattered behind him, shimmering in the bright sun.

“I made some snickerdoodles. They just came out of the oven. Do you want to come with me to the mine? I think your uncle would like the surprise.”

Dillon rolled his eyes but kept his words to himself.

Phil took food to his uncle nearly every day.

It really wasn’t so much of a surprise anymore.

“Yeah, Ruthie and I will come.” Ruthie had been speaking again for nearly a year, but Dillon still answered for her a lot of the time. “Give us a minute to get cleaned up.”

Phil waved them off. “It’ll take me a few minutes to get the food packed.”

This time, when Dillon and Ruthie headed for the door, it remained open and welcoming.

Dillon gave it the side-eye. Their home loved Phil and by extension, the rest of the family.

With Phil around, not even a fairy could walk through the barrier surrounding the house without Phil’s personal invitation.

Patting the wood doorjamb, Dillon quietly said, “Thanks for the heads-up. We’ve got it from here.” Dillon could have sworn he felt the house give a sigh of relief as he and Ruthie were welcomed inside.

Q uestionable Dwarf Ideas

“Damn, Phil makes the best cookies,” Ollie said before stuffing the last of his fourth cookie in his mouth. Crumbs littered his beard, peppering it with sugary goodness.

“Don’t tell the misses that or you’ll be walking with an even worse limp,” Burt helpfully answered as he swiped another cookie out of Ruthie’s hand.

Ollie groaned. “Do I look that stupid?” When Burt stopped and stared, cookie halfway to his mouth, Ollie gave his cousin the finger and said, “Don’t answer that.”

Burt chuckled before biting off half his cookie. Still chewing, he said, “Thanks for this.” Swallowing, Burt brushed some of the crumbs out of his beard. “You two are the best.” He threw Dillon and Ruthie a wink before eating the remainder of his last cookie.

“That hit the spot,” Ollie said with satisfaction before belching loudly.

“I needed a sugary pick-me-up.” Throwing a thumb over his shoulder, he added, “That palladium’s not gonna mine itself.

” Ollie cracked up, and Burt was quick to follow.

They were both wiping mirthful tears from their eyes by the time they were finished.

“Back to the grind.” Burt slapped Ollie on the shoulder. “You two hanging around? I’d invite you in with us, but you know how Phil worries.”

Dillon stared at the empty bowl, all the cookies gone. He regretted not setting a couple aside. He should have known better. Dwarves had healthy appetites and didn’t seem to know the meaning of the word restraint when it came to eating or drinking.

One glance at Ruthie and he knew she was thinking the same thing. Setting the empty bowl aside, Dillon checked the area around him, making certain Phil was still in the office with his uncle

Ollie’s bushy eyebrows shot toward his hairline. “Now, that weren’t suspicious at all. Who are you lookin’ for?” Ollie shared a questioning look with Burt.

“We need to ask you something,” Ruthie said. “It’s a secret though.”