Page 28 of Perfectly Petite Shorts (Perfect Pixie)
Johnny cleared his throat and rubbed Ruthie’s back. “That’s not something you’ve gotta worry with for a while.”
“That is true,” Ray agreed.
Curious, Dillon asked, “What kind of boon ?”
Ray’s crimson eyes momentarily lit with fire. “Lands, special time with the queen herself, a rise in status, the weapon of the vanquished, the head of—”
“I think we get the point.” Wendall sent a very directed glance Ruthie’s way. “I don’t believe the gifts that Ray has in mind would be something Phil would… appreciate .”
“Agreed. Pixies have far more tender hearts than fairies.” Ray sounded more factual than irritated.
Scratching the back of his neck, Wendall gave Dillon and Ruthie an apologetic look. “I’m sorry. I don’t think we’re very helpful.”
Dillon’s shoulders sagged. “Maybe we should ask Uncle Sed.”
“Why haven’t you yet?” Johnny asked.
Instead of Dillon, Ruthie answered. “We wanted to find something on our own. Something special.”
Trinket let loose something close to a growl before hopping off Dillon’s shoulder and running toward their latest storage room guest. Unbothered, Phlox, in Pallas’s cat form, swatted at Trinket before manifesting his pixie wings and flying upward.
Pixie dust filled the air and instantly created a collective sneezing fit .
Settling on a higher shelf, Phlox transformed back into his pixie form. “Sorry about the dust.”
Johnny waived a hand in front of his face, dissipating as much of it as possible. Soon the dust evaporated, taking care of itself. “It’s fine. No worries. I’ll just be sneezin’ my fool head off the rest of the night.”
“Stop being dramatic,” Phlox scolded.
Ruthie clapped her hands. “You’ve still got a tail,” she happily giggled.
Said tail swept out, nearly knocking off a bottle of quality burnt rum.
“Helps me balance when I’m up high.” Phlox grinned before sticking his tongue out at a very perturbed Trinket.
“That’s what you get for showing me your teeth.
” Phlox held out a hand, transforming his fingers into lethal claws. “You get the claws.”
Trinket padded back and forth, barking her distress.
“Come here.” Wendall scooped his scuttlebutt into his arms, rubbing her fur. “You did a fine job protecting them. But it’s just Phlox. You’ve seen him in his Pallas’s cat form before. He’s no threat.”
Trinket huffed and calmed, barely mollified.
Swinging his bare feet back and forth, Phlox stared down at the odd mix.
“So, this is where you’ve all been. You know, if you’re planning on having a secret meeting, you should have a better cover story for why all of you are MIA at the same time.
Also, a secret meeting isn’t worth its salt if I’m not invited. Honestly, I’m hurt you’d exclude me.”
Wendall continued rubbing Trinket. “I don’t think it was planned. Besides, Ray and I weren’t exactly invited either. We just sort of barged in.”
Phlox appeared appeased. “Well, then, I suppose that’s acceptable.” Turning his attention back to Dillon and Ruthie, Phlox cocked his head to the side, sending his horizontally blue-and-tan striped hair shifting over a shoulder. “What’s this about a present for Phil?”
“You heard all that?”
Phlox waived Johnny off as if his question was inconsequential. “I hear everything. Now, what’s going on?”
For the third time that night, Dillon and Ruthie explained their predicament, along with the suggestions they’d been offered so far. Phlox dutifully listened and only snickered a little.
“So, you’re on the hunt for the best present ever, huh?” Phlox tapped his clawed fingers along the metal shelf.
“I just don’t understand why this is so hard,” Dillon tapped his foot with irritation. “This should be easy.”
Phlox shrugged. “Oh, I don’t know about that.
You’re right, Phil would like anything you get him.
He’s great like that. Phil’s easygoing and content as can be.
In Phil’s mind, now that he’s a bonded pixie, he’s got everything in the world he ever wanted.
So, you see, that’s why this is so difficult.
What do you get the pixie who has everything? ”
A sad lightbulb of understanding flared in Dillon’s head. “It’s impossible.” Ruthie leaned into her brother.
“I didn’t say that,” Phlox countered. “I only said that’s why this is hard.”
Wendall looked almost as hopeful as the kids when he asked, “So, you have an idea?”
Phlox rocked back and forth, his tail twitching as counterbalance.
“Not exactly, but now that we know the root of problem, we can start working through it. What we know is that Phil’s a home-and-hearth pixie.
He’s bonded to a home he loves, and that home obviously loves him back.
Same with his family. Phil’s got everything his heart’s ever desired, but it comes with a cost.”
Dillon didn’t like the sound of that. “What cost?”
Phlox’s normally deep blue eyes shimmered amber as his Pallas’s cat came forward.
“The same cost every bonded pixie faces. They can’t be away from their bonded for more than a few hours or they start to feel sick.
Longer and they’re dead. So, is there anything that’s more than a few hours away from Phil that he’d like but can’t have due to the distance?
Once you figure that out, you’ve got your best present ever. ”
Dillon’s head lowered in thought. Ruthie did the same. Shuddering, Ruthie’s small hand tugged at her brother’s sleeve. Dillon’s round, dark brown eyes stared down on his sister when he asked, “Did you think of something?”
Ruthie’s sorrow filled smile didn’t fill Dillon with a lot of hope. “I’d give anything to see Mom and Dad again,” Ruthie said, sending an arrow of pain through Dillon’s heart.
“I would too, but they’re gone.” Dillon didn’t want to be insensitive, but he couldn’t figure out what their deceased parents had to do with finding a present for Phil. “Phil didn’t know Mom and Dad. Why would—”
Ruthie adamantly shook her head. “Ours are gone, but Phil’s are still alive. He misses them. They call and talk to each other several times a week. How long has it been since Phil’s seen his parents? When was the last time they hugged him?”
Dillon’s slow blink turned into rapid realization. “Oh. Oh!” Wrapping his sister in his arms, Dillon gave her the best hug he could muster. It wasn’t anything compared to Phil’s hugs, but it would have to do. “Ruthie, you’re brilliant.”
Ruthie’s smile crinkled her tear-stained eyes. “We’ll need help.”
Releasing Ruthie, Dillon spun on his heel. The room was too crowded to make a big show. Regardless, Dillon mustered up all his burgeoning alpha power and declared, “We need your help, Ray.”
Ray’s expression remained cool and aloof, a single crimson eyebrow tilted skyward. Before Ray could utter even the barest dissent, Wendall spoke up. “Of course Ray will help! Won’t you, Ray?”
Wendall’s large, oceanic eyes stared up at Ray, their depths rolling with waves of hope and something a touch more sinister. Wendall was daring him to say no. Smirk barely contained, Ray stared into Wendall’s mesmerizing gaze and answered, “How may I be of service?”
T he Best Present Ever
“Do you think he knows?” Ruthie nervously asked her brother as she peeked out the window.
Phil was currently out weeding the garden.
Pixie dust rained down on the plants as Phil flew over the rows.
Ruthie and Dillon often helped, but they’d stayed indoors today, preparing for Phil’s birthday celebration.
“Get away from the window you two.” Sedrick called his niece and nephew to him.
“Everyone will be here in a few minutes.” Dillon and Ruthie decided to involve their uncle on their plans.
“I still can’t believe the two of you managed to pull this off.
” Pride and affection sang through Sedrick’s words.
Dillon puffed up. “It was Ruthie’s idea.”
Ruthie shook her head. For once her hair was tamed, braided at the top while the remainder was combed and flowed tangle free around her shoulders. “It was really everyone’s ideas.”
Dillon nodded. “That’s true.”
The house buzzed around them with anticipation. The day outside was warm, but a low-banked fire filled the fireplace, taking off the remaining chill. Every surface sparkled, and joy filled the air. It was impossible to be anything but happy within the walls of their home.
“Are you sure we shouldn’t have made some food?” Dillon looked around the house, not an edible party morsel in sight .
“Johnny’s got it covered,” Sedrick answered. “Peaches said he’d bring the cider. Vander and Byx offered to take care of the decorations. Phil would have gotten suspicious if we did anything.”
While that was true, Dillon hated not contributing more, and standing around waiting was agony. “I hope they get here soon. I’m—” Dillon’s eyes widened as an atmospheric tear appeared in their home, smack-dab in the middle of the living room.
“The party patrol has arrived!” Ollie hollered as he stepped through, quickly followed by Burt. The dwarves were just the beginning.
Wendall poked his head through and asked, “All clear?”
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?”