Page 33 of Perfectly Petite Shorts (Perfect Pixie)

Dillon howled, long and deep before leaping over a chair, slipping under a table—toppling it over and crashing to the floor. Bodies scrambled out of our way as we raced through the bar .

The skeets separated, one going low and the other high.

Loosening my hold on Ruthie’s fur, I jumped back onto the wall, scrambling up the surface as I chased the skeet down.

It made a mistake, heading to a corner where there was no hole.

Whipping around, the skeet hissed, baring its needle-sharp teeth.

Three tails lashed out at me, and I dodged and weaved, leaping from one wall to the other as I avoided the poisonous barbs at the end of those tails.

The skeet shifted and threw its tails wide, sailing over my body.

It reared up on its four rear legs, exposing its fleshy underbelly.

Ducking low, I went in for the kill. Opening my mouth wide, I chomped down, catching the skeet in its middle.

The satisfying crunch of its small bones was music to my ears.

The blood slipping down my throat and coating my fur was an added delicacy to the juicy meat settling inside my belly.

Bloody carnage stained the corner of the wall. I wanted to take time to relish my victory, but we still had another skeet on the loose. I used my vantage point to view the scene. If the situation had been different, it would have been humorous.

Broken tables and chairs littered the floor like so much splintered wood.

Broken glasses and their fluid lay on the floor, creating pools of shimmering dampness.

All the pixies were in the air. Phlox was in his Pallas’s cat form, his pixie wings fluttering madly as he stayed aloft.

The vampires had all transformed, their elongated fingers tipped with deadly talons and their eyes bled crimson.

Alpha Voss was partially transformed but kept his bipedal form as he stared at his niece and nephew, a low growl rumbling from deep within his chest.

Ray was in his warrior fairy glory. Wings of fire filled the air while he held his blazing sword aloft. Wendall was by his side. He’d been practicing and had more control over his own wings of water. They undulated and broke like the tide.

And there, in a corner on the other side of the room, was the remaining skeet.

Parsnip, Phil, and Peaches flew over the top of it, scattering their dust. The dust hit the skeet, outlining its shape before the dust faded.

The pixies were pointing at the hissing thing, adding to the cacophony of noise.

Scrambling down the wall, I ran as fast as I could. Dillon and Ruthie were dangerously close. If the skeet got them with its poison, it could prove fatal. I would not lose a member of my tribe.

Slipping around and between legs and feet, I skittered to a stop just in front of Dillon’s nose, slapping it back with my tail. I twisted and madly chittered at him, bullying him into backing up. Dillon let loose a low growl. I didn’t want to fight him, but I would if that would keep him safe.

“Alpha Voss, tell Dillon and Ruthie to back away.” Ray’s cool, controlled voice slid through the mayhem. “Tell them to do it now.”

Sedrick didn’t question the order. Words little more than a growl, Sedrick used his alpha voice. “Dillon. Ruthie. Stand down, and come to me.”

Dillon flipped his head from side to side.

“Now.” Authority dripped from those three letters.

Dillon crouched low and slunk to his alpha. Ruthie acted similar though not as subservient.

“You know what that thing is?” Warlock Kines asked Ray.

“It is a skeet and is of Fairy.”

“Then what the fuck is it doing here?” Phlox asked. He’d transformed back into his pixie form.

“I do not know,” Ray answered. He remained in his warrior attire but pulled his wings in and dowsed his fiery sword.

King Moony didn’t sound impressed. “The how is currently unimportant. Despite its minuscule size, Hellfire Rayburn appears concerned. Therefore, I am inclined to share that concern.”

The skeet continued hissing and spatting, swinging its tails and jabbing the air with their poisonous tips. It could dart up the wall any minute. I’d follow but didn’t relish the thought of doing so again.

“I’ve heard Aunt Silvidia mention them before. Didn’t she ask the Master of Beasts to take care of a nest?” Wendall moved closer, and I barked at him to stay back.

“You heard correctly. Skeets are very dangerous. Their poison can—and has—killed fairy children. Adult fairies survive their sting, but it can take well over a century to truly heal.”

“Well, shit.” Vander lifted his hands, and sigils appeared in the air. Speaking a language I didn’t understand, Vander slammed his hand into the sigils, and they flew forward, surrounding the skeet. “I trapped the thing, but it won’t last forever. How do we get rid of it?”

“I believe you have what you require.” Aurelia crouched beside the skeet, poking at Vander’s shield with her finger. “The scuttlebutt has already eliminated one.”

“There was another one?” Parsnip asked. “Goddess, how many of these things are here?” He twirled in the air as if trying to find more.

“The djinn is correct.” Ray came to my side. “When my queen asked the Master of Beasts for aid, she specifically requested scuttlebutts. There is no better hunter where skeets are concerned.”

“Damn.” Johnny’s hooves tapped along the surface of the bar. I wasn’t sure when he’d jumped on top but was glad he and Lizbeth were out of the way for now. Of course, skeets could easily scale the bar, but they were safer there than on the floor. “Is that what you were after in the storage room?”

“What happened in the storage room?” Leon asked.

Johnny waved him off. “We’ll talk about it later. Right now, I’m thinking you’re not going to be nearly as pissed as I thought. Sorry I scolded you, Trinket.” Johnny waved a hand at the skeet. “By all means, do your thing.”

“You’re going to kill it?” Phil asked. “I…I mean, is that the only way or…”

“You do not keep a skeet as a pet,” Ray firmly answered. Aurelia’s Caribbean-blue eyes flared with interest. “Skeets are wild creatures and extremely dangerous, even to those that live in Fairy. Vander, if you would be so kind as to release the skeet.”

“Go get ’em,” Vander said right before the cage fell away.

I darted forward, mouth unhinged and open wide.

The skeet made to jab me, but I leapt on the wall, pushed off and twisted midair.

The skeet couldn’t maneuver quickly enough.

I chomped down, slicing the skeet in half and immediately ending its life.

One did not play with their food when said food was a skeet.

The poisonous tip of its tail fell to the floor. That was part of the skeet I didn’t eat.

“I think I’m gonna be sick,” Phil said as he drifted back to the floor and into Sedrick’s waiting arms. Pixies were vegetarians by nature.

“It was kind of vulgar,” Peaches agreed as he too headed for his mate, his beloved King Moony.

“It was necessary,” Parsnip said as he drifted down.

“You guys are weenies,” Phlox huffed. Striding forward, he took a piece of broken chair leg and poked at the poisonous tip lying on the floor. “I wonder if the Magical Usage Council can use this for anything. Hey, Leon, can you get me a jar or something to put this in?”

Job done, I pranced to Dillon and Ruthie. They were still in their wolf forms. They both nudged me, pressing against me. I cooed my gratitude and regret for being harsh earlier. Dillon rumbled low and nudged me again.

“Come here, you magnificent scuttlebutt.” Wendall was down on one knee, arms outstretched and grin pulling his lips. His eyes swam with the sea.

Tottering over, I scrambled into Wendall’s arms. Standing, he lifted me close, nuzzling into my fur. “Always my protector.”

Ray’s fingers wound their way into my fur. “Indeed. You have done exceedingly well, Trinket. I am proud to be a member of your tribe.”

Ohhhh, those words… I could do nothing short of preen.

My tongue darted out, licking the last of the skeet’s blood from my fur.

Cooing, I pressed into Wendall’s chest again before making my way to the top of his head and settling in.

I had another good vantage of the room, and it was… alarming. Dusk was trashed.

“Not what I had in mind when I offered Dusk as a venue for your reception,” Lucroy calmly said as he came to stand next to Ray. Taking a few more steps placed the vampire king in front of Wendall.

I could feel the heat of Wendall’s flush through my tail wrapped around his neck. “I’m sorry, Mr. Moony. I’ll clean it all up and find a way to pay to—”

“Things can be replaced. This will be cleaned up and replaced in time for tomorrow evening. I am most grateful for Trinket’s services.” His coal-black eyes glanced toward the top of Wendall’s head as Lucroy asked, “Are there more skeets present?”

“An excellent question,” Ray agreed.

I shook myself back and forth.

Lucroy allowed a single eyebrow to raise. “Am I to assume that is a no?”

I happily danced on top of Wendall’s head.

“I believe Trinket has taken care of all the skeets,” Ray answered.

“That is good to hear.” Turning his attention to Ray, Lucroy’s tone became noticeably frostier. “I assume there will not be a repeat in the future.”

Ray maintained his cool, expressionless mask. “It would be unfortunate if there were.”

Lucroy’s black eyes momentarily ringed crimson. “That is not the no I would like to hear.”

“As you well know, Southeastern Vampire King, we do not always get to hear what we wish,” Ray answered.

Aurelia sucked in a hissed breath. “Wishes can be a dangerous desire.” I gave Aurelia a consoling coo.

As a djinn, it was understandable why she detested the word wish.

Walking closer, Aurelia’s Caribbean-blue eyes covetously stared at me.

“You are a remarkable creature. Should you ever tire of your current tribe, seek me out.”

I don’t think Aurelia heard my hiss of displeasure. She vanished too soon for that.

“She’s always such a pleasure,” Phlox said, voice laden with sarcasm.

“Hush,” Peaches scolded. “Aurelia’s had a rough life.”

Phlox shook his head. “Honest to the Goddess, I have no idea if you’re a fool or genius, Peaches. Regardless, I’m glad it’s you holding Aurelia’s leash.” Phlox gave a full-body shiver.

“A sentiment I wholeheartedly agree with, beloved.” Leon stroked his lean fingers through the length of Phlox’s uniquely colored hair.

Dillon and Ruthie sat on their haunches, tongues hanging out and heavily panting. Sedrick looked down on his niece and nephew with a mix of pride and exasperation. “Did you bring a change of clothes for them, Phil?”

“The bag’s in the truck,” Phil answered.

Sedrick’s large palm stroked down his chin. “You two wanna change back, or do you want to ride in the truck bed back to the house?”

Dillon gave a low woof while Ruthie nudged Sedrick’s thigh with her large head. “Back of the truck it is then. Ray, Wendall, it’s been…exciting, but I think it’s best I get these two back home. Lucroy, I’m happy to return after to help clean up.”

“While your assistance is appreciated, it is unnecessary. This will not take long,” Lucroy answered.

“Yeah, we’ve got this. No problem,” Peaches agreed, already flying high and heading to a far corner. He picked up a chair, looked it over for damage, and set it on top of the table. The next chair he came to he tossed into the center of the room.

Vander’s gaze wandered the room before he offered, “If you collect all the stuff that’s trashed, I can turn the remainder to ash. It’ll be easier to get rid of that way.”

“Thank you, Warlock Kines,” Leon answered as he too began sifting through the damage.

“We can help!” Wendall made to step forward, but Lucroy and Leon held their hands up in unison.

“It is your bonding night,” Lucroy said. “As I said earlier, this will take little time to set to rights.”

“But—”

“But nothin’, kid,” Johnny scolded as he hopped down from the bar, Lizbeth close behind.

“Like the boss said, we’ve got this. You two go get frisky between the sheets.

” Johnny made some type of lewd hip thrusting motion that made Wendall’s skin burn like fire.

Johnny just threw his head back and cackled.

“Ray, we should—”

“We should do as our friends say.” Ray kissed the side of Wendall’s head. He probably would have kissed the top if I hadn’t already claimed that particular patch of real estate. “Come. It’s been a busy day.”

Wendall’s fingers dug into my fur, scratching my body and sending my soul thrumming with pleasure .

“I’m sure Trinket’s tired,” Wendall thoughtfully said.

“I’m certain she is,” Ray readily agreed. “Shall we go home?”

Wendall scanned the bar, still uncertain.

Groaning, I tapped my feet on his head, shifting my body back and forth.

My belly was full, and they were right—I was tired.

I wanted to curl up in a ball and sleep.

Later, when Ray and Wendall’s bedroom quieted, I’d head in there, roll on my back, and air out my belly.

I’d definitely wait until the moans and groans settled.

“O-okay,” Wendall finally relented. “Thank you all. I…I’m sorry for how things turned out.”

“Pfft,” Lizbeth blew out a huff. “Don’t be.

This is the most exciting wedding reception I’ve ever been to.

God knows it beats the hell out of my brother’s boring-as-shit reception.

” She rolled her eyes. “And my friends wonder why I love coming into work. They are never going to believe this shit.” Lizbeth chuckled as she swept up broken glass.

“Skeets! I’m probably the only human that’s even seen one. ”

“And lived to tell the tale,” Ray said, voice too low for Lizbeth to hear.

Wendall’s head cocked to the side, and I dug my claws in tighter, holding on. “Sounds like they’re kicking us out.”

“Then let us take the hint.” Ray opened a portal. I noticed his eyes scanned the area. “Any trespassers, Trinket?”

I shook my body and widely yawned before settling more comfortably on Wendall’s head.

The portal was blessedly clear. By the time Wendall and Ray stepped through the portal, I was fighting to keep my eyes open.

Satisfaction sang through my soul. Because of me, my tribe was safe.

I would protect Wendall and Ray with my life. They were so very lucky to have me.