Page 46 of Perfectly Petite Shorts (Perfect Pixie)

Agonizing seconds ticked by as Queen Silvidia drew more and more poison from Todrik and the ground.

The substance seemed never-ending and yet, as the final disgusting taint faded to mist, Todrik’s branches twitched.

Their brittle bark softened, and the blush of fresh, green leaves tipped their edges.

My knees were weak with relief and my hearts light with joy. Lilibeth’s happy sobs echoed my feelings though I kept my emotions tightly contained.

“Thank Magic,” Lilibeth gasped. “I thought… I was certain we’d lost him.”

Queen Silvidia rested her palm on Todrik’s trunk. “Be well, little dryad.”

Todrik’s tree form shuddered into a pale, pink haze. When the haze cleared, Todrik stood in his humanoid form. Wide, pale green eyes blinked at me before his knees gave way. I doubt I’d ever moved more quickly, catching him before his knees hit the ground.

My arms wrapped around his quivering form. Todrik’s soft, warm puffs of air drifted across my neck. Holding him so close, I could feel the steady beat of his heart.

“H-Hamish. What…w-what’s going on? I…” Todrik flinched. “There was so much pain, and then…I don’t remember anything else.”

Burying my fingers in Todrik’s pink hair, I pushed his sweat-dampened strands away from his forehead.

“We will discuss what happened later. What is important is that you are well.” And he was.

Todrik was not just alive, he was healthy.

The ground beneath our feet had been transformed as well.

To save one and not the other would have only delayed the inevitable. My queen was not only caring but wise.

“Thank you, my queen.” Those words hardly seemed adequate, but they were all I had.

Queen Silvidia stepped closer, and instead of reaching out for me, she touched Todrik. His eyes grew impossibly wide as he stared up into her captivating, peach-ringed eyes.

“You’re beautiful,” Todrik whispered, his voice filled with awe. “Who are you?”

My queen’s gentle smile belied her deadly core.

Ignoring the question, Queen Silvidia said, “I am pleased you are well, young dryad. And I suspicion you and I will see more of each other in the future.” Pulling her hand back, Queen Silvidia turned her gaze to me.

“Although you have not officially requested it, your dryad is welcome in Fairy.”

“Again, thank you.” I bowed as best I could, considering my position on the ground.

“You’ve got my thanks as well, Queen Silvidia.” Lilibeth placed her hand on my shoulder, her opposite hand ruffling Todrik’s hair. “You righted a great wrong today.”

My queen tilted her head in acknowledgment.

“I am always happy to be of service to our brownie sisters and brothers.” No one knew if brownies and fairies had a common ancestor or not.

Likely Magic had birthed us independent of one another, but it wasn’t uncommon for our species to refer to each other this way.

“That is much appreciated.” Lilibeth inhaled deeply, her shoulders squaring.

“Now, if it’s not too much to ask, I have another favor.

” When Queen Silvidia merely inclined her head, Lilibeth continued, her wicked smile showing off thinly pointed teeth.

“A line has been crossed. I’m content to allow Fairy law to punish the culprits, however, I request the right to exact that punishment. ”

Queen Silvidia looked to Todrik. “As the most offended party, do you take issue with this request?”

Todrik shook his head. “No. Although, to be honest, I’m still confused regarding what happened.”

I pressed my lips to the crown of Todrik’s head. “Do you trust me? ”

Todrik’s response was an immediate “of course.”

My hearts warmed at the utter lack of hesitation. Holding him that much tighter, I met Lilibeth’s deep brown gaze. “I trust you will make certain Sage and Jessup never question a brownie’s wrath again.”

Lilibeth’s answering smile reminded me just how dangerous brownies truly were. “Put me on the stand, Hamish McIntyre, and I will make certain Sage and Jessup never have the chance to underestimate a brownie’s vengeance again.”

My answering grin was just as malicious. “Vaydra. If I am not mistaken, Sage and Jessup are your clients.”

“As unfortunate as it now seems, yes.” Vaydra’s answer was as frigid as the rest of her. “I am under contract and must do my due diligence as their lawyer.”

“I would not dare ask otherwise,” I reassured. “I only meant to warn you that by the time I am finished with your clients, losing their mother’s inheritance will be the least of their concerns.”

Vaydra’s sigh sent a blast of cool air shivering across my cheek. “If you can prove your accusations, then my clients will pay the cost. But first you must win your argument.”

Oh, I’d win, all right. This was a case I could not afford to lose. “I’ll get you on the stand,” I promised Lilibeth.

Lilibeth’s cackle and eagerly clapped hands stirred my need for vengeance. “I look forward to bringing those two heathens to their knees. Jamila would be horrified to learn what they’ve done. Even she would have understood.”

“Then I will leave everything in your capable hands,” Queen Silvidia said as she moved away.

“I am being called back to Fairy. Be well,” she said before slipping through a rift.

The scent of roses lingered in her wake.

Soft puffs of air pulled my attention to Todrik, and when I looked down, he was deeply slumbering.

“Rest well, my lovely dryad. No one will dare threaten your life again.” It was a promise I had no intention of breaking.

T odrik

I still couldn’t believe Sage and Jessup had gone so far as to poison Jamila’s land.

More importantly, the land I’d been born onto.

I’m not certain why I couldn’t wrap my head around it.

Maybe it was because Jamila was their biological mother.

I couldn’t figure out how those two had strayed so far.

When I’d expressed that thought to Lilibeth, she’d simply answered, “Sometimes the apple doesn’t just fall away from the tree, it bounces into another country.

” I wasn’t sure if Lilibeth was right or not.

The only thing I was certain of was that Jamila’s children had tried to kill me.

My life had a price tag, and it was whatever the real estate developer had offered for Jamila’s land.

Hamish told me that price had a lot of zeros attached to it.

Somehow that didn’t make me feel any better.

“Why the long face?” Lilibeth poked me in the side with her elbow.

“Cheer up. This is about to get really entertaining.” She grinned and giggled, swinging her feet back and forth.

The courthouse chairs weren’t made for smaller individuals like Lilibeth.

She’d been asked if she wanted a shorter chair and declined the offer.

Lilibeth said that at that height, she wouldn’t be able to see anything unless she stood.

While I wasn’t tall, my legs were long enough that my feet did hit the floor.

Twisting my shirt between my fingers, I stared at the wrinkled fabric. “You’d think that charm would stop wrinkles from forming.”

“In clothing?” Lilibeth smacked my arm. “It’s not that kind of charm.”

I stared at my seemingly longer fingers, no longer milk pale but a lovely shade of burnt umber. “It’s weird.” Swiveling, I asked, “Don’t you think it’s weird?”

Lilibeth shrugged. “I can see through it, so no, I don’t think it’s too weird. Although, it did do a number on Hamish. I don’t think he likes the new look.”

“I’m not sure why. This charm makes me look a lot more handsome.

Taller too.” I wasn’t truly taller, but anyone looking at me would think so.

Well, evidently anyone but Lilibeth. I wondered if the brownie witnesses standing beside our vampiric judge could see through the charm also.

I supposed it didn’t matter. As long as Sage and Jessup didn’t know it was me sitting in the audience, that was all that mattered.

Lilibeth grunted. “Your fairy lawyer is smitten with your true form. You could look like the most gorgeous pixie in the land, and he’d still think the real you looks better.”

My cheeks flushed, and I wondered if others could see that through the charmed facade.

Hamish had certainly been more…attentive.

I’d always heard that fairies were, at best, aloof and at worst, downright cold.

While I’d thought that true when I’d first met Hamish, he was no longer like that. At least, not with me.

“Pay attention. Your fairy’s about to hit those idiots where it hurts.” Lilibeth sounded exceedingly pleased. Wiggling, she scooted to the edge of her chair in anticipation. She didn’t have to wait long.

“If it would please the court, I call Lilibeth Canna to the witness stand.” Hamish turned his body ever so slightly. A single forest-green eye met my gaze, softening for half a second before clearing with focus.

“About time.” Lilibeth slid from her chair and walked down the short aisle.

Hamish held the gate open for her, and she patted him on the wrist as she walked by.

I lost her smaller form as she slipped behind the witness stand, walking up the short flight of stairs before her brown head of hair popped up on the other side.

I think it was one of the other brownies that slipped a booster under her before she sat down, raising her height enough for all to see.

“This is bullshit.” Jessup’s deep grumble echoed through the courtroom, earning him a stern stare from the judge.