Page 30 of Perfectly Petite Shorts (Perfect Pixie)

TRINKET

Skeets!

Soooo soft . I nuzzled deeper into the fur on top of Wendall’s head.

The two-leggeds didn’t call it fur. They called it hair.

Wendall’s was exceptional and made a blissful place to perch.

My toes dug deep, my nails wrapped within its tendrils.

Sitting atop my tribe leader’s head gave me the best vantage point to scout for danger.

Wendall was strong, but he still required protection and that was my job.

“Careful, Trinket. Don’t forget, I need to breathe now.” Wendall’s voice was soft and not chiding. It was an important reminder. Wendall was wonderfully alive now, and I needed to be careful regarding how tightly I anchored my tail around his neck. “Thank you,” he said when I loosened my hold.

My answering chitter made Wendall chuckle and earned me a scritch on the side. I leaned into the touch. Nothing was as good as Wendall’s scritches.

I shifted my weight when Wendall leaned over a table, gathering dirty glasses and loading them into his bin.

Wendall swayed to the music. It was softer now as Dusk wound down for the night.

I liked this time the best, when the music quieted and the crowds lessened.

While I was still vigilant, the threat level was lessened.

I’d had to be even more watchful this time.

Wendall’s mate had business in Fairy. I puffed up with pride.

Ray trusted me to protect his mate. He was the one who brought me into Wendall’s life.

Ray gave me the beginnings of a tribe when he delivered me to the human world.

Wendall and I’d grown our tribe since then, and our members were many. We were formidable.

I remembered our first meeting. Wendall had smelled…

off. He’d held the scent of decay, and when I listened, I could hear no heartbeat.

I’d met a few others like him before, yet not like him at all.

I’d been confused and hesitant. But I knew, just as all scuttlebutts know, that Wendall was worthy.

Scuttlebutts are never wrong. We are excellent judges of character.

“Busy night,” Wendall mused, mostly talking to himself.

He did that more often than his mate realized.

“Sometimes I miss the days when I didn’t get tired.

” Wendall straightened, shifting his bin of dirty glasses on his hip.

“But I don’t miss my diet of brains.” He made a strange gagging noise.

For a moment, I thought my tail was too tight again, but that wasn’t the cause.

Wendall’s body shivered. He did that sometimes.

Mostly when he thought of how he used to be.

Zombies didn’t come back from being dead.

Wendall hadn’t been like most zombies. Shifting forward, I nuzzled Wendall’s hair, inhaling his very alive scent.

I could feel the steady beat of Wendall’s heart through my tail.

Queen Silvidia was disappointed Wendall didn’t have two hearts now that he was just as much fairy as human.

Wendall didn’t need two hearts. The one he had was good enough. Better than good enough.

“How you doin’?” Lizbeth asked. The fur on top of her head was bright pink tonight.

I licked my lips. A human earlier this week brought in something called cotton candy.

I relieved the fool of much of his tasty treat.

It had been pink too, the same shade as Lizbeth’s hair.

I needed to find a way to get Wendall to get me some more of the sweet, fluffy substance. It melted so wonderfully in my mouth.

“Just a couple more tables. How about you?” Wendall replied.

“I’m caught up. I think all we’ve got left are the dishes out on the floor.

” Lizbeth glanced around. “The only ones left are Lucroy’s nestmates.

” Lizbeth checked her watch. “The sun will be up in another two hours, maybe less, so they’ll be heading out soon too.

” She wiped the back of her hand across her forehead.

“If things keep going like this, Leon’s going to have to hire more help.

” Lizbeth wrinkled her nose. I’d learned that meant she didn’t like something.

“I could offer to work more hours,” Wendall said. The tone of his voice indicated he didn’t really want to do so. I’d found Wendall often did things like that. I gave a low grumble of displeasure. Wendall was important. He was my tribe leader and should be able to do as he wished.

Lizbeth shook her head, her pink fur blurring around her head.

“Thanks, but you work enough. And I think if you even suggested it, Ray would be tempted to burn Dusk to the ground.” Lizbeth grinned while fingering the spiked collar around her neck.

She did that a lot too. I still wasn’t sure what that gesture meant. “He doesn’t like it when you’re apart.”

I could feel the heat of Wendall’s blush through my tail. “Well, that… I’m sure he’d be fine,” Wendall sputtered, and I chittered with amusement.

Lizbeth reached up and ran her fingers through my fur. I leaned into the touch. “You think that’s funny too, don’t you, Trinket?”

In response, I chittered louder, and she laughed. Pulling her hand away, Lizbeth checked her watch again and grew more serious. “You should get out of here. I can handle the rest. You’ve got a big day tomorrow.”

“I can keep working. I—”

“Nope.” Lizbeth wagged her finger from side to side. “It’s not every day a fairy shares their bond.” Lizbeth’s nose crinkled again. It was slightly different than before. “Not that I know what that really entails.”

Wendall leaned against the table he’d just cleaned, easing his bin down on its surface.

Scurrying off his head, I settled on Wendall’s shoulder, wrapping my tail around his upper arm for stability and comfort.

Wendall’s heart rate increased at the mention of the bond he was going to share with his mate.

I wasn’t sure why, but it made him nervous.

Anything that made Wendall nervous got my attention.

But it was more than nerves. Wendall worried.

Pushing my body into his neck, I softened my chitters into coos. Wendall liked this sound. It slowed his heart rate and eased the tension tightening his muscles.

“Thanks, Trinket. How do you always know just what to do?”

I cooed louder, pushing even harder into Wendall’s neck. He leaned into the touch, filling me with pride. I was such a good scuttlebutt.

“What’s wrong?” Lizbeth asked. “Are you having second thoughts?” Worry shot through her voice.

“Second thoughts about what?” Johnny asked.

I’d heard the clop of his hooves as he drew nearer.

Johnny was fine. He was a good tribemate.

Johnny was steady, and he treated Wendall kindly—both as a zombie and now that he was truly alive again.

Tossing a dirty towel over his shoulder, Johnny rested his fisted hands on his hips.

Johnny’s kilt showed off his furry faun legs.

“Sharing Ray’s bond,” Lizbeth answered, and Johnny sucked in a harsh breath .

Wendall’s hands went up, waving back and forth so quickly I had to tighten my tail to hold on.

“I’m not having second thoughts. Please don’t even suggest that.

” Wendall looked around, most likely trying to see if his mate was nearby.

I understood. Ray snuck up on Wendall all the time.

I don’t think he meant to do it, but it made Wendall anxious.

Since Ray wasn’t around, he must still be in Fairy.

“Then what’s the problem?” Johnny asked.

Wendall released a deep sigh. “I…I promise I’m not having second thoughts about Ray, but…it’s just…I’m not sure what to expect. I mean, I’m human. Mostly human. I was raised human, not fairy. This is all so…” Wendall tossed his arms into the air. “It’s a lot,” he finally huffed.

Johnny chuffed. “What? You mean being the long-lost nephew of the fairy queen herself is a little daunting?” Johnny grinned.

“Some days,” Wendall agreed. “Aunt Silvidia has been great. I mean, she’s really busy, what with being the fairy queen and all, but she still makes time for me, and I…I just don’t want to disappoint her or Ray. What if I mess things up?”

“What could you possibly mess up?” Lizbeth asked.

Wendall shrugged, lifting my body with the motion. His fingers absently stroked the length of my tail. “I’m not sure. That’s what I’m afraid of.” Wendall was so thoughtful and considerate. Sometimes to his detriment.

“Pfft. I’ve seen the way the fairy queen is with you, not to mention how smitten Ray is.

” Johnny tapped one of his hooves. “Bless the Goddess, I thought fairies were emotionally constipated jackasses until I saw how Ray is with you.” Johnny’s eyes scrunched, and he tapped his chin.

“Mind you, I still think they’re emotionally constipated.

Most are jackasses too. Huh, maybe my opinion really hasn’t changed much. ”

Ray’s voice broke through Wendall and Lizbeth’s laughter. “ You would not be totally incorrect. I believe Wendall thought much the same during our first few encounters.”

“Ray,” Wendall said on a heated exhale.

Slipping from Wendall’s shoulder, I scrambled to Ray’s outstretched arm. Scurrying up his sleeve, I nuzzled into his neck. Ray would always be welcome. He’d brought me to Wendall.

“I trust all is well, Trinket.” Ray’s long fingers dug into my fur. His touch was always more forceful than Wendall’s.

Happily chittering, I reassured Ray that I’d kept his mate safe.

“Thank you,” Ray offered before handing me back off to Wendall. Instead of scrambling up his arm to perch on Wendall’s shoulder, he cradled me in his arms, my tail dangling loose and free for once. “Now, explain to me why you believe you will mess something up during our bonding.”

Ray must have snuck up on us again.

Wendall’s heart rate kicked up again. “I…I’m just not sure I’ll get everything right. I don’t want to embarrass you or my aunt.”