Page 44 of Perfectly Petite Shorts (Perfect Pixie)

Hamish was a fairy. By definition, they were beautiful creatures. Few things were as certain as a fairy’s beauty, power, and ruthlessness. Hamish was all those things, and yet he’d proved to be so much more as well.

Inhaling deeply, I released that breath in a long sigh.

Nothing good could come of such thoughts or from getting too attached.

I was a simple dryad. While dryads weren’t a dime a dozen, they weren’t anything terribly special either.

At least not when compared to other species.

I wasn’t knocking my species, and I certainly wasn’t complaining that Jamila’s love and magic had transformed me into a dryad.

What I was doing was being realistic. If I hadn’t walked into Hamish’s office and irritated the shit out of him by endlessly ringing that bell, he wouldn’t have looked twice at me .

With that depressing thought in mind, I pushed my body up, forcing myself to sit. A wave of dizziness swept over me, and I closed my eyes against the rolling images falsely churning in the room.

“Shit.” Forehead cradled in the palm of my hand, I waited for the dizziness to abate and my breathing to steady. I was so tired of feeling, well…tired. More than tired. I was exhausted and weak.

Easing my legs over the edge of the bed, I shakily stood and made my way to the bathroom. After relieving myself, I headed for the kitchen. Hamish wasn’t there, but he was outside on the porch, laptop at his side. I’d never heard of a fairy who used human technology the way Hamish did.

“What time is it?” I asked as I walked toward Hamish. He looked good in his tailored suit. I rarely saw him in anything less posh. His dark green hair was left free today, trailing down his back, the ends resting on the patio.

“A little before noon,” Hamish answered. “You still aren’t feeling well,” he said without glancing up from his computer screen.

I rubbed the back of my neck and answered, “Not the best, no.”

Hamish closed his laptop and stood, the move annoyingly graceful.

“The dirt we brought from your land is not sufficient for your health.” Hamish moved closer.

His fingertips ghosted across my cheek, making my eyelids flutter.

When I opened them again, it was to find Hamish staring at me, his lips thin and gaze narrowed.

“The dirt should have been sufficient, at least for the short term. I do not understand why it is not.”

I didn’t either. “Maybe it really is something special in the place itself, not just the dirt.” I shrugged. “Maybe Jamila did something we’re not aware of. I mean, if she could transform me into a dryad, who’s to say she didn’t change other things.”

Hamish didn’t appear completely convinced but, in the end, he conceded.

“Perhaps. Regardless, you cannot continue as you are.” Hamish stepped away rubbing the fabric over his chest. I’d caught him doing that more and more recently, as if he were uncomfortable.

I’d asked once, and he’d informed me it was nothing for me to be concerned about.

Maybe I should have pushed it, but I hated to be a rude guest.

“I see no other option than for you to return to your land. At least for the day.” Hamish’s thinned lips turned into a frown. “I am due in court today.”

“I thought that wasn’t until later this week.”

Hamish shook his head. “It is a different case.”

“Oh.” I should have considered that. Hamish wasn’t exclusively my lawyer. He had to have other cases he was working on. “I’m sorry. I should have thought of that.”

He waved me off. “There is no reason that is true.”

I glanced at the large pot of soil sitting on Hamish’s patio.

It was soil from Jamila’s land. My land.

But for whatever reason, it wasn’t enough.

Despite that, I felt my roots yearning to dive into its depths.

“You could drop me off. It’s been almost two weeks since Sage and Jessup tried to do anything.

They’re probably too lazy to act on their threats.

” It was interesting what time could do.

In this case, time away from Sage and Jessup had made me think I might have overreacted.

They’d seemed scary and threatening while standing in front of me, but maybe I’d just been too emotional and allowed my imagination to get away from me.

Hamish’s scowl made me think he disagreed. “It is not safe for you to be there alone.” When I started to argue, Hamish held up a halting hand. “That is not up for debate, Todrik.”

My mouth snapped closed. Fresh anger flared. “You do not get to tell me where I can and can’t go.” Arms crossed, I huffed.

“That is not what I am attempting to do,” Hamish argued.

“No? It sure sounds like it. You just told me that I can’t go to my land. I’m sick, Hamish. I need to—”

Hamish was suddenly there, cupping my cheeks as he bent over me.

His long, forest-green hair curtained around me, making me feel oddly safe.

“That is not what I said.” His thumbs brushed over my sensitive cheeks.

“And I am well aware you are not well. I find this fact most…displeasing.” Hamish’s eyes flared before settling back and becoming placidly concerned.

“I cannot work today while worrying for your safety. While I may not understand this need, that does not negate it.”

My fingers slid over Hamish’s, both of us cupping my face. My anger fled as quickly as it had risen, leaving more exhaustion in its wake. “Then what do you propose? You can’t just not show up to court. I’m sure that case is important.”

“It is. Thankfully, there are other options.”

Hamish pulled away and my body chased his, leaning forward to the point I almost tumbled into him. Embarrassed, I righted myself. “And what would that be?”

“I find it exceedingly fortunate that you are on friendly terms with a brownie.”

“Lilibeth? I’m sure she’s busy and—”

“She will not be too busy for this. Of that, I am certain. Come.” Hamish grabbed my hand, opened up an atmospheric tear, and dragged me through.

“ Y ou should have contacted me sooner,” Lilibeth scolded.

It was amazing how someone so small could cut you down to size.

“Honestly,” she huffed. “I don’t mind standing guard while you get some quality time in the dirt.

” Lilibeth stomped next to me as we made our way to the grassy hill overlooking Jamila’s forest. “I’d like to see Sage and Jessup try something while I’m here.

” Lilibeth’s grin showed off her pointed teeth.

“I guarantee they’ll never do something so fucking stupid again. ”

I thought back to how amused Hamish was when I’d expressed concern for Lilibeth.

She was always so docile and kind when around me.

“I don’t want anyone to get hurt. I just…

I just want to save Jamila’s land.” Was that really too much to ask?

Maybe it was. I hadn’t truly considered what a financial hit this would be to Sage and Jessup.

The land had to be worth a lot monetarily, and while that wasn’t important to me, I wasn’t in their shoes. Maybe they needed the money.

When I said as much to Lilibeth, she scoffed.

“Trust me, they have enough, or they would have if they hadn’t squandered away Jamila’s generosity.

She never could tell those boys no.” Lilibeth shook her head.

“Jamila loved them, and sometimes love truly is blind. That’s not to say she didn’t see what they’d turned into, but more like she couldn’t stop loving them in spite of what they’d become.

That’s a parent for you. No matter what they do, they’re still your kids and you hold out hope that they’ll see the light and change.

Sometimes, that dim light is all you’ve got.

It broke my heart, watching her cater to them all those years.

Watching them trample on her good heart, intentions, and trust. They used her love in the worst way possible.

Maybe Jamila could never dislike them, but I don’t have that problem.

I see those two without the rose-colored glasses of motherhood. ”

Lilibeth patted me on the hip. “I’m glad that fairy of yours called me today. It’s been too long since I’ve been out on the land and far too long since I’ve been able to spend time with you.” When Lilibeth glanced up, the kind smile I’d grown to love was back.

“Thanks.” The word was more wheeze than discernible verbiage. The walk was taking a toll on me. Hamish had offered to bring me directly to my land, but I’d declined. I hadn’t wanted to put him out any more than I already had. I was currently regretting that decision.

“You waited too long.” Lilibeth’s words were scolding but her tone was full of concern. “I thought dryads could go longer away from their land.”

“S-so did I.” Relief hit me hard when I saw the crest of the hill come into view. I didn’t try and say anything else. Instead, I focused on placing one foot in front of the other as I shakily made my way to the top.

I barely noticed when Lilibeth stopped just shy of the top of the hill. “What on earth happened here? Everything’s brown and…”

Her voice faded as my concentration waned.

There was only one thing on my mind—one goal.

Vision blurry and head swimming, I used my last bit of energy to transform, pushing my roots deep into the soil.

Lilibeth’s voice was distant, her scream of warning unheard as agony shot up my trunk.

My leaves scattered to the ground, brown and curled.

My branches withered. I vaguely felt Lilibeth’s hands on my trunk before blessed darkness took away the pain.

H amish