Page 49 of Perfectly Petite Shorts (Perfect Pixie)
I rolled my eyes. I had no idea how Hamish could sound so unemotional given what just happened. Throwing out my arms, I waved toward where Sage and Jessup had been sitting not ten minutes ago. “This… Them… Lilibeth claimed the right of vengeance? What does that even mean?”
Hamish gently nudged me forward, and we made our way down the aisle and out of the courtroom.
We traversed the hall and walked outside into the cool night.
He led me around the courthouse to a small garden.
There were two benches, both unoccupied.
He headed to the furthest one and sat, pulling me down beside him.
“Lilibeth invoked her right, as your friend and Jamila’s.
It was a concession given to brownies when fairy law was put into place.
” Hamish’s arm wound around the top of the bench and laid across my shoulders.
I leaned into his space. I was still trying to get used to how safe and welcome his arms were.
“Why?” I was puzzled. “Just brownies?”
“In this particular case, yes. Other species have specific laws that only relate to them. Fairy law is…complicated.”
“But you enjoy it.”
“I enjoy the strategy,” Hamish confirmed. “It is a far more peaceful outlet for my species to exhibit their prowess.”
I scoffed but couldn’t think of much else to say.
By nature, most dryads were peaceful creatures with little commercial desires.
Maybe we didn’t need things , but I was growing very fond of snuggling up to my fairy lawyer.
But now that the case was finished, where did that leave us?
I didn’t need to stay at Hamish’s house any longer.
I could go back to Jamila’s land for good.
Hamish didn’t need to protect me. If things played out the way I assumed, all of Jamila’s land would soon be mine.
The fight was over. Hamish had won. The game was done. Did that mean Hamish had lost interest?
That thought gutted me and I attempted to pull away. Hamish’s tightened arm didn’t allow that. “Stay,” he softly said.
I didn’t argue. My hand found its way to Hamish’s chest. I could feel his hearts beating. Their pulse wasn’t exactly in sync. It shouldn’t have felt as harmonious as it did. Licking my suddenly dry lips, I hesitantly asked, “Will I see you again?”
Hamish went still. “Do you want to see me again?”
“I… Yes.” It was difficult to admit, to put myself out there and my heart on the chopping block, ready for the axe to fall. “I would very much like that.”
“That is fortuitous, as I plan to see you as often as possible. It would have been very awkward had you not felt the same.”
My head jerked up, my lips parted in amazement. “Are you trying to be funny?” Sarcastic was more accurate.
Hamish’s lips twitched. “Perhaps, though the topic is far from humorous.” Hamish’s slender fingers slipped through my hair, whispering against my scalp.
His touch felt divine. His words broke my world apart.
“I cannot speak of what your near loss did to me. I will not speak of it,” he firmly added.
“I almost…” Hamish sounded unusually hesitant, and his hearts sped. “What do you know of fairy bonds?”
I gasped and grasped Hamish’s shirt, wrinkling it within my palm. “Fairy bonds?” I wanted to make certain I heard correctly.
“Yes.”
“I… Not a lot.” I knew some, but not enough. I was half scared to death and half over the moon that Hamish wanted to have this conversation with me.
“Then we have much to discuss, young dryad. Would you rather converse at our home or on your land?”
Our home . I melted within Hamish’s arms. He wasn’t abandoning me. Hamish wouldn’t disappear from my life. In fact, I suspicioned it would be just the opposite.
My sudden longing for Jamila’s land—my land—made my answer easy. “Take me to my land. I want to sink my roots into the soil while you explain fairy bonds.”
With my head tilted up, Hamish bent closer. My eyes fluttered closed as his lips gently pressed against my forehead, across my eyelashes, cheeks, and finally nibbling on an ear.
“Your wish, my lovely dryad, is my command. That is your first lesson regarding fairy bonds.”
I barely felt it when Hamish lifted me to my feet.
He most likely held most of my weight as he created an atmospheric tear, stepping through and onto the beauty of Jamila’s land.
The soil Sage and Jessup poisoned was now a lush green.
Inhaling, I took in the scent that would forever be home.
It would forever be safe. I would make certain of it. The fairy at my side would help me.
My roots sank deep and flared wide, soaking up the plentiful nutrients. My branches spread in a thick canopy, green leaves sprouting, pink cherry blossoms plentiful, their sweet scent filling the air.
“Lovely.” Hamish said that single word like a prayer before lowering himself and leaning against my trunk. His presence felt natural, as if he’d always been present. Hamish’s voice was soothing as he began. “A fairy bond is precious and can only be given once. It…”
The moon shone bright as I soaked in its brilliance. I couldn’t believe the peace I’d found. There would always be a hole Jamila’s passing left, but that hole was smaller now.
Jamila was my magical past. The fairy sitting at my roots was my equally magical future.