Page 27 of Purrfectly Peculiar Pixie: Phlox's Story (Perfect Pixie Series Book 5)

Leon

Johnny advised me he was capable of contacting the rest of the staff. He’d asked what excuse we were going with, and I’d left the decision in his capable hands. Johnny would spin a believable tale. Most likely he would point to some maintenance issues or the like. Most would buy the excuse and those that did not would wonder in silence. He would also place the notice on the doors and create a social media post. Stragglers would appear, but their numbers would be few.

Lucroy and I’d long ago set up a communication chain within the nest. It was relatively easy alerting our nestmates that Dusk would be closed for the foreseeable future. We also let them know that it was more dangerous now and to use caution and keep a low profile. Our nestmates would be easy pickings for a djinn under Arie’s control.

Lucroy asked if Phlox and I could pick up more food for everyone. Vander and Parsnip were on their way. Byx had gone to stay with some of her brownie relatives, much to her dismay. I was certain Vander would relay Byx’s arguments later. Perhaps in support of the brownie, Phlox wore the meerkat hair clips she’d gifted him.

We’d already stopped at the store and were winding our way through the country when Phlox’s phone rang. I recognized the tone as the Magical Usage Council. He answered after the second ring.

“Yes, we’re on our way now. I think we should—” Phlox’s heart rate spiked, and his hand gripped the phone tighter.

“Say that again.” Phlox’s anxiety changed, anger taking its place. “You can’t ask me to do that,” he flatly stated.

I continued driving, keeping one ear on Phlox’s wellness while we continued toward Peaches’s orchard.

“Let me rephrase it,” Phlox hissed, his voice slightly slurred through his dropped feline teeth. “I won’t do that.” His grip was so tight I thought the phone might shatter. “Why? Because he’s my mate, you moron. You cannot ask me to leave my mate behind. I won’t do it and Leon will not abandon his king.”

My grip on the steering wheel tightened. Phlox told me he loved me, but he’d never referred to me in the shifter way as his mate. “It’s not important when it happened,” he flatly stated. “Yes, I’m sure!” Oh, he was furious at that question. “You’re a mated werewolf shifter. How dare you ask me that!”

Phlox settled back against his seat. His wings desperately tried fluttering but kept hitting the back of the seat. Crossing his arms, he huffed. “I know I’m only half shifter, but I’m telling you, my cat recognizes Leon as my mate. And what’s more, I’m Leon’s beloved.” Those words rang with pride.

“You think?” Phlox asked in disbelief. “Yeah, that was a dumbass request. No, I’m aware this is news to you. Even if it weren’t I’d need to stay. My mission is to stop this damn pixie trafficking ring and that’s exactly what I’m going to do. Arie Belview is the apex of that pyramid and needs brought to justice. He’s going to pay for the pixies he’s helped capture and kill. Not to mention all his other crimes. When that moment happens, someone from the council needs to be present and it might as well be me.”

Phlox silently sat there, nodding and grunting now and again. Few words were spoken and soon enough, he ended the call. “Stupid idiots,” Phlox lamented. “The sheer nerve. Ordering me back to headquarters. As if I’d just pick up and leave my mate.” He hissed before huffing. I doubted Phlox had any idea what he’d just admitted. I considered leaving the comment alone but couldn’t.

“Mate?” I quietly questioned.

Phlox’s head whipped my direction, his long hair flying around his shoulders. Mouth parting, his cheeks flushed deep crimson. Finally clearing his throat, Phlox answered, “I didn’t realize it until recently. I don’t…I don’t always understand what my cat’s trying to tell me. We don’t always communicate the best. It’s a work in progress.”

Reaching across the console, I offered my hand. Phlox readily accepted the gesture, and I entwined our fingers. “I am honored your cat views me as such.”

Phlox’s grin lit his face. “I figured you would be. Well, maybe not honored, but I thought you’d be pleased. I have to say, my inner Pallas’s cat is nearly impossible to tolerate right now. The damn thing’s preening. Gloating too. It wants to rub all over you.”

I raised Phlox’s hand, peppering kisses across his knuckles. “You may do as you desire. I relish your touch no matter your form.”

“You…” Phlox was at a lovely loss for words. His cheeks puffed before he blew out a heavy breath. A soft chuckle passed with that breath of air. “I have no idea what to make of you, Leon. Who knew you were such a romantic?” Phlox winked. I doubt anyone before would have accused me of such affection.

The road narrowed when I turned down the dirt lane leading deeper into Peaches’s orchard and territory. I knew the moment we passed through his bonded barrier. The magic washed over me in welcome greeting. Phlox’s eased posture let me know he felt the same.

Phlox was a nature pixie and I briefly wondered if he desired something similar—a territory to call his own. He’d never mentioned it and had a more wandering spirit than other nature pixies. Pallas’s cats claimed territory as well, but I doubted it was the same. In time, I would learn the answer.

Another vehicle I didn’t recognize came into view and I assumed it was Vander and Parsnip’s transportation. Phil and Sedrick’s truck would be absent considering Ray planned on collecting them himself. I had a moment to wonder if they were here yet when two wolves tumbled through the distance. No, make that three. One was gleaming white, the second tawny gray-brown. The third wolf was much smaller and darker gray. They nipped at each other’s heels before heading off into the surrounding orchard.

“Looks like the Vosses are here,” Phlox said, leaning forward and staring out the window. “Goddess, I don’t think seeing them like that would ever get tiring.” Nose scrunched, Phlox said, “I thought there were just two children.”

“There are,” I answered before opening my door. The humid night air sat like a wet blanket against my skin.

“Damn, it’s still hot,” Phlox complained while pointlessly fanning himself. “Who do you think the other wolf was?”

“I am unaware.” Moving to the back of the vehicle, I pulled out bags of food. Phlox did the same on his side. “I would imagine we are about to find out.”

“You two need some help?” Phil asked. Sprites danced around him, diving here and there as they consumed his pink dust.

“There are a couple more bags back here,” Phlox answered. When Phil reached in and grabbed them, Phlox offered his thanks.

“Here, give me some of those.” Sedrick’s resonant voice echoed through the still night.

“I’ve got them.” Phil leaned in and kissed Sedrick’s cheek, just above his scruff. “Thank you though.”

Sedrick’s cheeks pinked, their heightened color barely visible above his dense scruff.

“We saw a third wolf,” Phlox said, the question hanging in the air.

“Here, give me the perishables and I’ll take them inside while Sed fills the two of you in.”

Before I could offer a protest, Phil deftly grabbed the food and headed inside.

“He’s very quick.” Phlox echoed my thoughts.

Sedrick grunted. “Tell me about it. I’ve never met anyone like Phil.” Sedrick’s words overflowed with fondness. “I can’t figure out how I managed without him.” Now he sounded truly perplexed. “It’s like my life started the day he walked into our home.” I didn’t think Sedrick spoke to Phlox and me. I doubted he even realized he said the words out loud.

Phlox and I silently waited while Sedrick’s wandering mind returned. Inhaling deeply, Sedrick’s musing turned deadly serious. “That other wolf is a child from Arie’s pack.” A low, rumbled growl rose from deep within Sedrick’s belly. “He came to the house today. Poor kid looked half-starved and was filthy from head to toe.”

“He just showed up?” Phlox asked, glancing questioningly. “I mean, where’s his home? Did he travel far?”

Rubbing at his beard, Sedrick gave a shallow nod. “Not sure exactly how far, but there’s at least thirty miles between my place and anyone associated with Arie Belview’s pack. Shawn, that’s the kid’s name, traveled in his wolf form. The kid can’t be more than seven or eight.” Sedrick’s bent head shook back and forth. “No one sends a child out like that unless they are beyond desperate. That note was the real deal.”

“The one left at Dusk?” Phlox asked.

“Yeah,” Sedrick said with a sigh. “Things in Arie’s pack have well and truly gone to shit. Or maybe they’ve always been shit and now it’s just gotten to the tipping point.” Sedrick’s growl reverberated and his eyes shown amber. “According to Shawn, Arie’s keeping prisoners.”

“Prisoners?” I asked.

“Pixies?” Phlox asked in alarm.

Sedrick flinched. “No. Worse than that, according to pack law. He’s keeping members of his own pack prisoner…or basically the equivalent. I always wondered how in the hell Arie kept his pack so loyal.” Sedrick huffed. “Shawn’s too young to understand everything, but he knows enough and was told to repeat certain information to me.”

Phlox’s eyes rounded, reminding me of his Pallas’s cat form. “He’s keeping his owner pack locked up?”

Sedrick gave a slow nod. “In a way. Of course, Arie’s dressed it up and put a shitty smelling bow on the whole damn thing. According to Shawn, nearly every family in the pack has someone who’s given the honor of living in the pack house.”

“Honor?” I lifted a single eyebrow. “I get the impression it is not viewed in such an esteemed light.”

“It’s a way to control the pack. Family is everything to werewolves. We don’t abandon family. Arie found a way to keep his pack members under his thumb and bent to his will. He’s got someone they love close by, living under his roof, punishment near at hand should someone step out of line. That’s why no one in Arie’s pack leaves. It’s why they’re so damn loyal.”

“Only it’s not loyalty,” Phlox said. “It’s blackmail and fear. Sweet goddess above, that is deviously cruel.”

“Arie Belview summed up in only two words. Congratulations, Frost.” Sedrick tipped his head in mock appreciation.

I stared off into the distance, my vampiric eyes easily seeing into all the shadowed nooks and crannies. “And that young wolf, he came to you of his own free will?”

Sedrick followed the direction of my gaze. “His mother sent him. She knows it’s a risk. Shawn told me that Arie has his grandfather, but before his grandad was taken, he told his daughter, Shawn’s mother, to forget about him and get Shawn out.” Sedrick swallowed hard, his eyes pinched, and lips drawn in pain. “I can’t even imagine the guts that took or the sacrifice.”

“She sent him to you.” Phlox’s voice was soft. “She sent him to you to protect.”

Sedrick’s nod was painfully slow. “Looks that way.” He grimaced. “I just hope… Things are a little uncertain. I’ll do my best to keep him safe, but—”

“But the future’s a little sketchy right now,” Phlox finished.

“To say the least.”

The bags in Phlox’s hands rustled as he shifted them. “The Magical Usage Council will want to know about this. If what Shawn says is true—”

“It is,” Sedrick snapped.

“Then it goes against shifter law and won’t be tolerated.” Phlox sounded resolute.

Lucroy’s voice washed through me like cool water. “If it can be proven. Alpha Belview does seem to exceed in the area of deception.” Lucroy walked past Sedrick, coming to stand before me. “I assume the situation with Dusk and our nest is settled.”

“As much as possible,” I answered truthfully. “I believe we have done what we can.”

“And that is the best any of us can hope for. Thank you, Leon. As always, you’ve proven my faith in your abilities is well placed. I could not have chosen a better second.”

Pride consumed me, warming my eternally cool blood. “It was my honor and privilege, my king.” Lucroy and I were rarely this formal. Something in the atmosphere called for the it.

Lucroy’s lips lifted, offering a rare grin. “I am comforted you are here. I did not like the idea of you being so far away and unprotected.”

“Thank you.”

“You have nothing to thank me for, Leon. It is I who am grateful.”

“What are you grateful for?” Parsnip asked, flying out of the house at lightning speed, Vander following at a far more sedate pace. “I find it difficult to believe there is much regarding the current situation to be grateful for, so if you’ve found something, I’m all ears.” Flying high, Parsnip’s arms crossed over his middle, his chin raised in defiance.

“You’ll have to forgive him,” Vander said, tossing a thumb in Parsnip’s general direction. “To put it bluntly, Byx is pissed I asked her to go to a relative’s house. She zapped me no less than three times and I swear Byx cracked more than a few finished charms when she screamed at me before transporting out of the shop. I better survive the next few days or Byx will never forgive herself.”

“Why?” Phlox innocently asked.

Parsnip flew lower and grinned. “Because, her last words—calling Vander a ‘moronic warlock with a death wish’—will haunt her memories. She’s not totally wrong, but neither one of us wants her taking that to the grave.”

“If things get dicey, I’ll shoot her a text or something,” Vander said, drawing disbelieving stares from all of us. “What? Why are you all staring at me like that.”

Parsnip rolled his eyes. “If things go to hell in a handbasket, I’ll dial her number myself and you can talk to her.”

“How is that different than what I said?” Vander sounded genuinely confused.

“I’ll explain it to you later.” Parsnip flew down, eye level with Vander before he ruffled the warlock’s dark hair, a placating smile tilting his lips.

Peaches and Phil left the small cottage, coming out to meet us.

“What did we miss?” Peaches eagerly asked.

“Only that Vander’s an idiot,” Parsnip said before adding, “but I love him despite his shortcomings.”

Vander snatched Parsnip out of the air, tickling his sides. Parsnip’s uncontrolled giggles filled the air and briefly lifted the ominous haze coating each of us like oppressive oil.

Turning from their genuine affection, I asked, “Is Erasmus still here?”

The smile left Peaches’s face. “He is.” Waving a hand toward the orchard, he said, “He’s somewhere out there. I think he’s tired of us.”

Lucroy moved closer to his beloved. “I believe the necromancer has much weighing on his mind. With that said, I do not think Erasmus is used to this much company.”

“Most necromancers are loners,” Vander agreed.

“And Aurelia?” Phlox asked. “Is she still…awake. I’m not really sure if that’s the right way to say it.” Phlox looked at Peaches for confirmation.

Peaches simply shrugged. “I think that’s as accurate as anything. Aurelia refers to it as sleeping when she’s inside her object of attachment. Saying she’s awake when outside of it sounds right. To answer your question, yes, she’s awake. I’m not really sure where she is currently.”

Panic attempted to claw at my insides. “You are unaware where the djinn is?” This sounded beyond reckless. Peaches’s casual disregard indicated he felt otherwise.

“I don’t control her every movement. I don’t want to control her.”

Lucroy stepped in and explained. “Peaches still has Aurelia’s object of attachment. As long as that is the case, Aurelia’s powers are restricted to his wishes. I believe she is enjoying her reprieve.”

“It’s the least we can do,” Peaches adamantly defended. “I told her she could rest and here it is, just a few months later, and I woke her up already.”

My thoughts regarding djinn were restless. While I understood they were sentient beings, and, perhaps even more tragic than initially thought, I also saw them for the powerful weapons they were meant to be.

Wolf yips sounded far in the distance, drawing Sedrick and Phil’s attention. “Sounds like they’re having a good time,” Phil said warmly.

“I’m glad,” Sedrick answered. “Dillon and Ruthie have been troopers, but they’re getting cabin fever. It’s good to stretch their legs. They’re also distracting Shawn. After some food and rest, he became anxious. Burning off some of that youthful energy is good.”

We remained quiet, listening to the distant sounds of Dillon, Ruthie, and Shawn. Absently I wondered if the wolf children were anywhere near Erasmus or Aurelia.

Sedrick chuckled. “I think Phil and I will be hearing about traveling by fairy transport for the rest of our lives. Dillon especially seemed taken by the idea. Honestly though, I think he was a little disappointed. All we did was step through an atmospheric tear at our home and step out into Peaches’s orchard. It was like walking through a door.”

Speaking of fairies…“Where is Hellfire Rayburn?” I asked.

Lucroy answered, “Ray and Wendall went to Fairy. Ray believed Queen Silvidia would be interested in Shawn’s tale.”

Phlox’s nose scrunched. I’d learned that expression meant he was thinking. “I’m not sure what Alpha Belview has done to his pack falls under fairy law. That’s more in the Magical Usage Council’s wheelhouse. Mind you, it wouldn’t break my heart if Queen Silvidia decided to make an exception in this case.”

“Fuck that,” Sedrick rumbled. “I want first crack at Arie. If he weren’t such a fucking coward, this shit wouldn’t even be happening. We could have met in the challenge ring and been done with it months ago.”

Phil stiffened but remained silent. From what I understood, the outcome of such a match was not a forgone conclusion. As it was, Sedrick barely defeated Arie Belview’s designated second.

Vander ran his black-tipped fingers through his hair and said, “I think at this point, we’d all like a—”

“Ah, here you are.”

Everyone froze, each pair of eyes drawn to a pleasantly malicious voice none of us recognized. Those who required air for existence sucked in plentiful quantities. Phlox immediately slid by my side, feet landing on the ground. Phil’s feet were also planted on the dirt. Peaches and Parsnip remained aloft.

Lucroy took a measured step forward, placing himself in front of the group. Peaches followed, staying by his right side. “And you would be?” Lucroy drawled, voice devoid of all emotion.

Our guest smirked. “I thought it would be obvious what I am.”

“Of course it is, but that was not my questions. I asked who you are. Or would you prefer we simply refer to you as djinn?”