Page 24 of Purrfectly Peculiar Pixie: Phlox's Story (Perfect Pixie Series Book 5)

Phlox

Found one?I processed those two words again and again and yet they still made no sense. Or, perhaps, my brain just couldn’t cope with the terrible meaning and didn’t want them to compute.

“Tell me you’re lying,” Johnny begged.

“Then I would be lying to you, Johnny.”

“I’ll take that lie.” Johnny swallowed hard and I reached out a hand to steady him. I understood how he felt. “Sweet goddess above. That’s… I can’t even find the words.”

I could. “If he’s found one, then why are we all still alive?” I wasn’t sure if Alpha Belview would come after me straightaway, but if he was out to get Leon, then I knew where I’d be, and it wasn’t cowering in a corner.

“An excellent question,” Lucroy answered. “Of course, it is not certain he truly has the djinn in his possession.”

“Then why do you believe he’s succeeded?” Leon asked what I was thinking.

“Again, Sylvie’s computer. During her communications with her contact, they made it clear they would be stepping away from the smuggling ring. She was very upset about this until she was reassured others would fill the void. Her contact simply stated he’d gotten what he needed out of the endeavor and had other, more pressing, concerns to attend to.” Lucroy maintained his emotionless tone.

I slumped, shoulders rounded and wings lax. “All this loss of life…” I could hardly fathom it. “All this suffering…for money.” I spat the last word like the curse it was.

“Money was only the means to his main, end goal,” Lucroy corrected me. “If we are to presume the mastermind is truly Arie Belview, then he used his ill-gotten gains to fund his djinn search. Possibly, he’s used those same funds in other nefarious ways.”

“His pack,” Johnny said, voice fading. “That note Sedrick got. Do you think it was the real deal?”

Lucroy silently contemplated the question. “I believe it is possible. Arie has become a single-minded alpha. Revenge is a dangerous obsession that often harms the wielder as well as the recipient.”

I’d seen enough ravages of revenge to know Lucroy was all too correct. “You think he’s abusing his pack to get what he wants?” I asked.

“He’s done it before,” Leon answered. “It was a much smaller scale, but if revenge is truly Arie Belview’s one and only mission, then he would care little for who his quest destroyed, even his own pack.”

“That’s”—I wasn’t sure what to call it besides—“very un-werewolf like.” I could see it in vampire nests, but weres took care of their own. They were very pack driven with a hierarchy designed to protect the pack at all costs. The way Alpha Belview was suspected of acting was as wrong as an alpha werewolf could get.

“I think that note was a true cry for help.” Johnny sounded like he was talking more to himself than the rest of us. “I might be wrong, but if what you’re saying is true, Arie’s pack might finally have had enough.”

“I believe that was true long ago,” Leon said, and the barest tinge of sadness colored his words. “When a group is under stress, they find ways to cope. The abnormal becomes normal and acceptable given the confines of their situation. And then things change. The situation becomes untenable. Those coping mechanisms no longer function, and the group implodes. There is always a tipping point. I believe Arie Belview’s pack may have reached that precipice.”

“Most likely, you are correct.” Lucroy’s eyes had long ago changed back to their typical obsidian darkness.

We quieted. I know I needed a minute to digest what I’d learned and assumed Leon and Johnny felt similarly. Finally, Leon asked, “I assume Ray has informed Queen Silvidia.”

“He said he would after we spoke. I have not heard back from him yet.”

“Do you think she’ll interfere?” I asked. “From what you just said, there isn’t absolute proof. Will she act without it?” Fairies were all about the law, even their queen. Most of the time, that was a good thing. I’d hate to think what our world would be like if fairies viewed themselves above the laws they set into place or if there were no law to abide by. Some thought fairies created laws and adhered to them out of a sense of boredom or perhaps to try and get one up on each other in a way that didn’t leave another dead. Others thought it was to avoid conflict with brownies. Brownies were nonviolent as a general rule, but I don’t think anyone wanted to test that theory if they felt truly threatened. Fairies were smart enough to realize that.

Personally, I thought it was a combination of both.

“When do you expect to hear from Ray?” I asked.

Lucroy’s dark eyes blinked before he answered. “I am not certain. Time moves differently in Fairy.”

“Shit,” Johnny repeated, echoing my sentiment.

“Indeed,” Leon agreed before asking Lucroy, “What preparations are we making?”

“I’ve spoken with Peaches, Philodendron, and Parsnip. According to Aurelia, pixie bonds are difficult to break. She cannot speak for all djinn, but she said if she were ordered to harm a pixie while they were in their bonded safe zone, she would need to find a creative way to do so. Should Alpha Belview truly already have a djinn in his possession, it is fair to believe he will go after Sedrick and Philodendron first.”

“They’re staying within their home,” Leon correctly assumed.

“They are. I understand Ruthie and Dillon are not pleased, but they understand the danger.”

Given their ages, I didn’t envy Phil trying to keep the two youngsters entertained indoors for goddess knew how long.

“Peaches will stay within his orchard. I will stay there as well.” Lucroy didn’t sound as pleased about that.

Johnny chuckled. “Bet you had to promise him that so he’d stay put.”

Lucroy nodded. “Perceptive as always, Johnny. Aurelia has agreed to remain awake. I do not know if she will offer more aid or not. At this point, it does not appear that she will detrimentally interfere. Erasmus has agreed to stay as well.”

I perked up at that and wanted to ask more questions, but Lucroy quickly added, “Peaches asked Vander, Parsnip, and Byx to stay at the orchard also. They’ve agreed for the time being, but I am uncertain how long they will remain if the situation drags on. Vander does have a business to run, and Parsnip has a television show he is contractually dedicated to.” Lucroy tilted his head and he appeared to contemplate something before he said, “We are uncertain how effective Parsnip’s bond will be protecting them. We believe it would be strong enough to keep Vander safe, but—”

“But his bond doesn’t necessarily protect him,” I surmised. Social pixies rarely formed bonds and it was always with another individual instead of land or a home.

“Correct. Vander and Byx can help protect Parsnip through magic, but Aurelia says magical manipulation is far easier to break through.”

I wondered about Vander and Parsnip and asked, “Would Alpha Belview come after them?” The history in this little corner of the world was varied and difficult to grasp.

Johnny chuckled before clearing his throat. “Yeah, well, you see, Vander kind of insulted Arie by not taking a job.”

“What kind of job?” I innocently asked.

Leon answered. “Alpha Belview requested Vander severe a pixie bond. In particular, a home-and-hearth pixie bond.”

I sucked in a heated breath and claws sprouted, digging into the bar surface and adding my own bit of graffiti. “That’s…at the very least, that would be punishable by death.” Why in the hell was Arie Belview still alive?

“As with everything, it’s only suspicioned Arie was behind the commission.” Johnny sounded as angry as I felt.

Eyes wide, I’m sure they glowed yellow. I was furious. To think someone would stoop so low, to condemn a pixie to that kind of unspeakable death. Arie Belview had no soul. I was convinced. Before coming to Rutherford Haven, I’d heard the Belview name. The Magical Usage Council was well aware of a portion of the crimes he was accused of. It was also aware of the challenge that had taken place between Alpha Belview and Alpha Voss. At this point, it was believed Alpha Belview would run afoul of his oath and fairy law would eliminate him. Evidently, the alpha was a little too cunning or perhaps devious. Or maybe he was just lucky. I didn’t know. All I knew was that Alpha Belview needed to be taken out.

Lucroy’s dark gaze danced from Johnny to me. His typically emotionless voice held a tinge of sympathy when he said, “There is some chatter. Hearsay mostly. Some say Arie Belview managed to find a warlock willing to attempt such an endeavor.”

My claws dug into the bar surface and my lips pulled back. I could feel my teeth lengthen. I was ready to rend Alpha Belview into little more than chunks of flesh too small to make a good stew.

“As I said, it is merely hearsay.” Lucroy said nothing regarding my loss of control.

“Beloved.” I wasn’t certain when Leon stood, but he was suddenly by my side, eyes level with mine.

“He can’t do that,” I hissed. “I will shred him before he has the chance.”

Leon’s cool hands gripped my face, holding me steady. If it were anyone else, I would have lost my shit at being held down. “And I shall assist you in that endeavor.”

“We all will,” Johnny reassured. I had no idea what the faun thought he could do, but the conviction those words were spoken with eased my inner cat. “Phil’s my friend,” Johnny continued, fury echoing through every word. “It’s past time Arie Belview was put down.”

“Here! Here!” Lucroy echoed.

“Don’t leave us out.” Wendall slid through the swinging door leading to the washroom. Trinket on his shoulder, her feet pattering back and forth, mouth open and letting loose high-pitched yips. “Trinket wants in on the action too. She might be small, but don’t underestimate her.” Wendall sank his fingers into Trinket’s fur, vigorously rubbing.

“Only the foolish would do so.” Ray exited the washroom behind Wendall. His words brought a grin that nearly split Wendall’s face.

Lucroy stood and asked, “What is Queen Silvidia’s ruling?”

Ray and Wendall came closer, standing beside Johnny. “My queen has deemed Arie Belview an imminent threat.”

Imminent threat sounded promising. “So, she’s taking action?” I asked. When fairies intervened, it typically wasn’t pretty. A slap on the wrist wasn’t their way of handling situations. Death and utter elimination were more the fairy idea of justice. I suppose it made sense considering they rarely got involved in minor squabbles. When fairies stepped in, especially their queen, the shit had truly hit the fan.

Wendall huffed, fisting his arms on his hips. “She would if she could find him.”

“What?” Johnny and I said in unison.

Ray’s fingers clenched and the fire constantly ringing his pupils expanded. Heat pressed against my skin. It wasn’t enough to burn, simply raise the temperature.

“It seems Arie Belview has disappeared.” Ray’s voice was deathly quiet, its icy tendrils in stark contrast to the heat emanating from his body.

“Disappeared?” Johnny’s mouth fell open. “How in the hell does one disappear from the Fairy queen?” Johnny’s gaze snapped between Lucroy and Ray. “I mean, she’s fucking powerful as…” He waved a hand in the air. “Honestly, I’ve got nothing to compare her to. She’s powerful, and let’s leave it at that.”

Ray’s eyes slid closed, and he inhaled deeply. Wendall gripped Ray’s bicep before entwining their fingers. Giving Ray a chance to pull himself together, Wendall answered, “That’s a good question. My aunt’s really angry.” Wendall swallowed hard. “I, uh… That’s the first time I’ve seen her so mad. It’s scary.”

“She would never injure you,” Ray said defensively.

“Oh, I know that. I didn’t mean to imply otherwise. I’m just saying that Johnny’s not wrong. Aunt Silvidia is scary powerful and if she can’t locate Arie, then—”

“Then he’s found what he was looking for,” Lucroy coldly answered.

“I fear you are correct,” Ray agreed. “I believe we must all accept the idea that Alpha Arie Belview is indeed in possession of a djinn.”

“Goddess save us,” Johnny prayed.

My stomach cramped, filled with knots and squirmy discomfort. “I need to alert the Magical Usage Council,” I stated, tone flat. I didn’t want to make that call. Being the bearer of Armageddon-level news wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.

Despite my words, I sat there and made no reach for my phone. Disbelieving silence filled the air, surrounding us in a fog of uncertainty. That silence was broken by Johnny’s tapping hoof. His fingers danced along the bar surface, adding another beat. With a head shake, Johnny asked what was probably on all our minds. “If Arie’s got a djinn at his beck and call, then what the hell is he waiting for?”

The collective, oppressive silence was answer enough. None of us knew the answer.