Page 25 of Perfectly Petite Shorts (Perfect Pixie)

Sure enough, Dillon heard the reassuring hum of Peaches’s wings grow closer.

“Dillon! Ruthie!” Peaches dove in, wrapping them both in his arms. Typical pixie-sized, Peaches was considerably smaller than Phil. His arms couldn’t encircle them the way Phil’s did. The hug was still nice.

“Sweet Goddess, I didn’t know the two of you planned on visiting.” Peaches swung his head this way and that, his ombre golden-yellow hair following the path of his searching eyes. “Phil and Sedrick aren’t with you. Did the two of you come all this way on your own?”

“We did. It’s not really that far.” Dillon puffed up with pride. He was strong for his age and Ruthie was too, especially since she was a dire wolf. Now that their grandpa Arie was gone, it was a lot safer to be out and about.

Peaches’s eyes widened. “Oh my. Well, to what do we owe the pleasure?”

“Indeed,” Lucroy Moony said as he walked closer. The vampire was difficult to scent considering he drank Peaches blood. As far as Dillon’s and Ruthie’s noses could tell, Lucroy didn’t smell any different than Peaches.

“Mr. Moony,” Ruthie greeted, a smile on her face. She’d taken a liking to the vampire that Dillon couldn’t readily understand. It wasn’t that he disliked the king of the Southeastern vampire nest. But he was a vampire.

“Ruthie.” Mr. Moony bent at the waist, opening his arms and picking Ruthie up. She giggled as she was swung around. More sprites invaded the area, swarming them and lighting up the sky. Dillon always had to be careful and quell his instinct to swat at them.

“How are you this evening?” Mr. Moony asked Ruthie as he gently set her back down on the ground.

“We’re good,” Ruthie beamed. “Dillon and I ran all the way here.” Pride sang through Ruthie’s words.

“Goodness. You must be thirsty then.” Mr. Moony held out his hand, offering it to Ruthie. “Perhaps you’d like to come up to the house for a cold glass of water. I believe we still have some of last year’s apple cider as well. ”

“Apple cider!” Ruthie threw a fist into the air as she walked off with Mr. Moony.

Peaches hung back, keeping to the sky but staying downwind of Dillon’s sensitive nose. While Phil’s pixie dust didn’t bother Dillon, Peaches’s and every other pixie’s did.

“They’re adorable together,” Peaches cooed. “Lucroy really enjoys your sister. Not that he doesn’t like you too,” Peaches was quick to reassure, his wings fluttering faster with his anxiety.

“It’s okay, Peaches. Ruthie likes him too.” Dillon couldn’t keep the confusion out of his voice.

“I’m glad.” Peaches nudged his head in the direction of the cottage. “You’ve got to be thirsty too. That’s a long trip.”

“Not too bad,” Dillon answered.

“Does Phil know where you are?”

Dillon had been expecting that question. “No, and I don’t want him to know. Not if he doesn’t have to. He and Uncle Sedrick are in town. They’re having a date night.”

“Oh!” Peaches fluttered a little higher. “That’s so nice. Phil deserves all the date nights.”

Dillon couldn’t argue, so he just shrugged. “It was good timing because Ruthie and I need to talk to you.”

“You do? About what?” The swarming sprites dove around Peaches, munching on his dust and then darting off. Peaches continued flying forward, either unaware or uncaring about the constant glinting lights around him.

“Ruthie and I overheard a conversation you and Phil had earlier. We know his birthday is soon. We just don’t know when.”

Peaches flew ahead and blocked Dillon’s path.

He radiated joy. “That is such a relief.” Fisted hands on his hips, had Peaches been standing on the ground, he would have stomped his foot.

“I told Phil he should let his family know about his birthday. He only promised to tell Sedrick.” Peaches huffed. “Has he even done that yet?”

Dillon shook his head. “I’m not sure. If so, Uncle Sed hasn’t said anything.”

Peaches’s wings faltered, and he slowly descended to the ground. “I’m afraid that he might not, even if he does know. Phil’s, well… Phil just doesn’t think he’s worth fussing over.” Peaches’s lips tilted in an exasperated grin. “That’s sort of what makes Phil Phil . Does that make sense?”

“I understand,” Dillon reassured. “He’s not keeping it a secret to be mean or anything.”

“Exactly!” Peaches’s wings fluttered to life again, lifting him into the air and scattering more dust. “Come inside, and we’ll get you that cool drink.

I’m sure Lucroy’s already got Ruthie settled.

” Peaches turned his face to the setting sun, eyes slipping closed as he inhaled the fresh scent of apple blossoms. They were fading, but still smelled magnificent.

“The sun isn’t the danger it once was to Lucroy, but he says it makes him feel itchy.” Peaches scrunched his nose in thought. “I’m not certain I understand beyond he finds it a little uncomfortable.”

“And you don’t want him to hurt,” Dillon sagely answered. “I understand. You take care of him the way Uncle Sedrick and Phil take care of each other. It’s what good mates do.”

Peaches’s grin widened with happiness. “Yes. That’s exactly right.”

Lucroy and Ruthie met them on the shaded porch. Ruthie held out a glass of cold apple cider that Dillon gratefully took, swallowing half of it in one go. “That’s good stuff, Peaches.” Dillon’s tastebuds sang with the flavor as he offered the sincere compliment.

“Thank you. My trees truly are amazing, and they get better every year.” Peaches was ready to explode with pride .

“Only because of you, beloved.” Lucroy possessively nuzzled Peaches neck.

Dillon shuffled his feet, and Ruthie stared into her nearly empty glass. When Peaches giggled, Dillon cleared his throat to remind them he and Ruthie were nearby.

Unapologetic, Lucroy stared at their guests and said, “Ruthie tells me you would like to know when Phil’s birthday is.”

“I thought you already knew,” Peaches said, sounding as confused as he felt.

“We overheard your conversation but not the exact date,” Dillon clarified.

“Oh, that makes sense. Let’s see, today is Wednesday so…Friday.”

“This Friday?” Dillon and Ruthie asked in horrified unison.

“No. Next Friday,” Peaches answered.

“Thank the Moon Goddess.” Dillon let loose a relieved sigh that was echoed by his sister. “That gives us some time.”

“Time for what?” Lucroy asked.

Ruthie gave a wide, toothy grin. “We’re gonna get Phil the best present ever. Aren’t we, Dillon?”

“You bet,” Dillon agreed. “That’s the other reason we’re here. We want to get Phil something that shows him just how much he means but we’re not sure what that might be. We asked Burt and Ollie, but—”

“Goddess help you.” Peaches exhaled while pinching the bridge of his nose. “I can only imagine what they suggested. Please tell me they didn’t offer up their party bus.”

“Sorry, can’t say they didn’t,” Dillon answered.

Peaches’s sigh was long and deep. “I suppose they mean well.”

“I’m certain that is so, beloved.”

Ruthie dug her toe into the porch while Dillon answered, “ The thing is, I don’t think Phil would want something that flashy.”

“Or loud,” Ruthie added.

“Good point,” Dillon agreed.

Lucroy concurred. “That is very wise of the two of you.”

Dillon relayed the dwarves’ other suggestions. Peaches looked thoughtful and agreed that while Phil would most likely enjoy some of Johnny’s cousin’s honeysuckle mead, it wasn’t something he would recommend.

“The gemstones might have merit,” Lucroy said. His obsidian eyes made it difficult for Dillon to get a read on the vampire. Between that and his lack of personal scent, Dillon was always on edge when he was around Lucroy. Ruthie had no such misgivings. Maybe it was the dire wolf in her.

“Phil already has the necklace Uncle Sedrick gave him,” Ruthie answered.

“That he does.” Peaches nodded.

“What have you gotten Phil in the past?” Dillon asked Peaches. “You’ve known him the longest.”

Peaches waved Dillon off. “I’ve known Phil a few years, but not nearly as long as everyone thinks.

Remember, he moved here from California.

That’s where the rest of his family is.” Peaches frowned.

“I don’t think Phil had a lot of friends on the West Coast.” Most knew that was one of the reasons Phil had moved cross country.

His unusually large pixie size had made him the butt of too many jokes and judgmental gazes.

Not that he’d had less of that while living on the East Coast.

While Phil might have been larger than your average-sized pixie, he was absolutely perfect for the Voss family and the two young werewolf children he’d happily claim as his own.

Peaches’s shoulders rounded with sadness as he contemplated the last few years.

“I had to be careful with what I bought Phil. It could never be too costly. He wouldn’t have liked the idea of me spending too much money on him.

One year I took him out for a nice meal.

Another year I purchased him a new comb and hairbrush.

Phil has such lovely hair.” Peaches smacked Lucroy’s shoulder.

“And you wanted to make him cut it all off.” Peaches huffed and crossed his arms.

“A mistake, beloved.”

“A mistake I’ll never allow you to forget.”

“Of course not.” Lucroy leaned in and pressed his lips to Peaches’ forehead.

Peaches sighed, temporarily mollified. “I always wanted to get Phil a lovely, quality pair of pants and shirt. His clothing had to be special made, and Phil couldn’t afford to purchase the kind of fabric that pixies love.”

Dillon gripped his chin in his fist. “Uncle Sedrick already bought Phil a bunch of fancy clothes.”

“They’re so soft,” Ruthie chimed in. “I love the way they feel against my cheek.”

Hands fisted on his hips, Peaches’s jaw jutted out. “As he should. Honestly, I have no idea where Sedrick got the idea that Phil liked wearing jeans and T-shirts.” Peaches did a full-body shiver, scattering more dust. “And do not get me started on those boots.”