Page 28 of Purrfectly Peculiar Pixie: Phlox's Story (Perfect Pixie Series Book 5)

Phlox

Djinn.

Having met Aurelia, it was obvious what stood just beyond Peaches’s boundary. Devoid of any visible hair, the male’s body was covered in ink. His ears were larger and lay flat against his head. Metal hoops pierced his lobes and ran through his nose. He was large, in every conceivable way. The djinn struck an impressive figure—tall, broad, and well-muscled. Those impressive muscles were on full display as his only scrap of clothing was a navy patterned, Scottish kilt.

“He is called Janus.” Aurelia appeared from seemingly nowhere. “As time is meaningless, I am unaware the last occasion we saw each other.”

Janus grinned. Unlike Aurelia, his teeth were shark-like, filed into sinister points. “Aurelia. I heard you were slumming it with a bunch of pixies.” Janus tilted his head, expression cast in mock sympathy. “Unfortunate for you.”

Aurelia lifted a single brow. “That depends on how you define the word unfortunate. I would not consider the likes of your current master an improvement upon my situation.”

Janus’s grin grew. “Now see, that was always the difference between you and me. I happen to like the wolf’s black soul.” Rolling his shoulders, Janus flexed his impressive physique. “He’s got some truly horrific plans. It is a relief, finding a master who knows how to wield one of us.”

While my heart stuttered, Aurelia seemed unruffled. “He is a master, just like all the others. The decisions are not yours. You are a mere puppet with another pulling the strings.”

Janus’s grin thinned and his eyes briefly flared, along with half a dozen tattoos. “I cannot argue that point. However, he will prove more entertaining than most.”

“And when he no longer proves entertaining?” Aurelia prompted.

“Then he will die, just like all the others. To be honest, I am looking forward to the challenge. In the meantime, I expect he will use me to great and terrible effect. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a master to get back to. See you again soon.”

As quickly as he appeared, Janus was simply gone before I could blink.

“Aurelia.” Lucroy’s tone was cold.

“It is unfortunate Janus is the one that was found. Even in the beginning, he was…unstable.”

“Unstable how?” I asked.

“Out of all of us, Janus was the first to eliminate his creator witch. While all djinn hated our creators, I am uncertain we would have turned on them as quickly if it weren’t for Janus being the first. He showed us it was a viable option.” For the first time, Aurelia flinched, the barest hint of emotion leaking through. “Out of all of us, Janus carries the fewest restrictions. His creator’s death sparked concern within the remainder. Our creators became increasingly paranoid and abusive.”

“I’m so sorry,” Peaches said sincerely. “I promise I will never do something like that, Aurelia.”

Eyes narrowing, Aurelia ran her gaze up and down the hovering pixie. “Time will bear the truth,” she finally answered. I suspect everyone but Peaches understood the underlying threat.

“I’ll do right by you. I swear.” Peaches flew higher, clutching Aurelia’s object of attachment close to his chest.

Aurelia didn’t comment. She simply stared at the space Janus had recently inhabited. “Janus will not act as I did. He has always enjoyed bloodshed and the violence that causes it. He will not attempt to find work-arounds to Arie Belview’s orders. He will enact them with gleeful expediency.”

I swallowed hard, feeling that lump of saliva ache down my throat. Leon was statue still at my side. Only his lips moved when he said, “We must find a way to remove Janus’s object of attachment from Arie’s possession.”

Peaches’s wings fluttered faster. A few sprites dove in and munched on his dust, but most had disappeared back into the surrounding woods. If they were smart, they’d remain there for the foreseeable future. “But how do we know what that even is? It could be anything. It took a minor miracle for us to figure out what Aurelia’s object was.”

Lucroy asked, “Aurelia, do you know what Janus’s object is?”

Silence descended again. Aurelia’s arms crossed under her ample chest. Staring Peaches in the eye, she asked, “Is that an official wish?”

Lips parting, Peaches appeared momentarily torn before finally shaking his head. “No. I won’t make you do anything. I would appreciate your help, but I won’t force you.”

Head tipping to the side, Aurelia inhaled deeply before releasing it in slow measure. “It is a dagger. By today’s standards, I assume it would appear ancient and I do not know its current condition beyond the assurance that it is still intact. If it were not, then Janus would be no more.”

Now that we understood a djinn’s soul, their very life essence, was woven into the fabric of their object of attachment, that fact made more sense.

“Arie Belview will not need to have the object on him to control Janus,” Aurelia reminded all of us while pointedly staring at the amphora clasped within Peaches’s fist. “It is merely important he be the last to touch the object. Arthur Stover was far too paranoid for it to be out of his possession. That is not always the case. As long as it is stored somewhere safe, where no other knows its location, those who do not carry our object are wiser than those that do.”

“Point taken.” Peaches glanced at Lucroy and said, “I’ll be right back,” before flying into his orchard. When he returned, no doubt the amphora would be gone.

I turned to Sedrick and asked, “What do you think? Will Alpha Belview have it on him or not?”

Sedrick’s facial muscles tightened as his hands fisted. “I give it a fifty-fifty chance. Sorry, but I’m not sure. Arie is paranoid, but he’s also deviously smart. He’ll figure out holding onto the object isn’t smart.”

“Indeed, Alpha Voss is correct.” We all turned when Ray and Wendall joined our group. I wasn’t certain where or when they entered Peaches’s protective boundary.

Immaculate as ever, Ray strode forward, a slightly more rumpled Wendall by his side. “Hey everyone,” Wendall offered a small wave. “Sounds like we missed something.” Trinket hopped on Wendall’s shoulder, flicking her wet tail. Water droplets flew from its tip, landing on Sedrick.

“Sorry about that.” Wendall blushed before turning his attention to Trinket. “I can hear the children in the orchard. Go on. I’m sure they’d like to play with you. Just be mindful of your teeth. Okay?” Trinket skittered down Wendall’s body, leaping to the ground when she reached his hip. Tail flying in the wind, she scurried into the woods, heading toward the sound of the children’s playful yips and howls.

Wendall’s turned back gave us all a view of his soaking shirt.

“What happened to you?” Parsnip asked, flying closer and inspecting the sopping shirt. “You look like you did a trust fall into a lake and Ray let you down.”

Ray’s eyes narrowed and Wendall’s cheeks flared. Glancing down at his feet, Wendall shuffled back and forth a little before raising his oceanic eyes and answering, “I’ve been trying to get in touch with my fairy side. Aunt Silvidia thinks I’ve got more potential than originally thought. I was working on manifesting my wings while Ray filled Aunt Silvidia in on what’s going on with Alpha Belview’s pack.”

“And that made your back wet?” I asked, sharing a confused glance with Parsnip.

“Yeah. My wings are water.”

My head jerked. “Water?” rang out in questioning unison.

Ray answered, “Fairy wings reflect our innate nature. Mine are fire. Hamish’s are plant life. Wendall’s sire, Prince Hanon, had an affinity for water. The ocean rolls through his eyes as it fills his wings.”

Wendall’s flushed cheeks deepened. “Ray used a lot prettier words than I would have, but essentially that’s it. I’m just not very good at it.”

“Yet,” Ray corrected. “You are very young and new to your fairy side. Queen Silvidia is most impressed with your progress. As am I.”

Wendall’s blush turned atomic. “That’s very nice. Currently, all I seem to be able to do is manifest a wet shirt.”

“You will improve,” Ray said with utmost confidence.

“Thank you.” Wendall’s words were whisper soft, his rolling eyes filled with affection. That affection dwindled as he returned to the topic at hand. “Aunt Silvidia’s even more pissed than before.”

“She is quite angry,” Ray agreed. “Out of courtesy, my queen will contact the Magical Usage Council, but she has directed Hamish and me to rectify the situation with all due haste. Currently, the only issue tying our hands is an unknown djinn.”

“Not unknown,” Sedrick growled before waving a hand in Lucroy’s direction. “Mind filling him in?”

In answer, Lucroy gave Wendall and Ray the rundown on what had just happened. As he spoke, it occurred to me that Aurelia was no longer present. Her appearances and disappearances were beginning to grate.

“She’s gone,” I leaned in and whispered into Leon’s ear as Lucroy continued speaking.

“So she is,” Leon answered. Although barely audible, a thread of tension strung those brief words together. I found his irritation oddly comforting.

“I don’t like it,” I said.

“Nor I. However, I do not see how we can change the matter.”

I huffed. “I still don’t like it.”

Leon’s arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me in close. I found his unyielding body even more comforting than his words. It was a solid show of support. This vampire, my mate, wouldn’t leave me. Come hell or highwater, Leon would be by my side. We’d either make it out of this mess together or meet the afterlife as a united duo. I didn’t relish the thought of dying and thinking of Leon passing from his second life nearly doubled me over in pain. However, there was comfort in the knowledge that we were bonded. Where one went, the other followed. Life and death intertwined in a coupled dance.

I tuned back in when I heard Lucroy say, “I do not find Aurelia’s opinion of Janus comforting.”

“Understated as usual,” Vander quipped. “And yet, I find I can hardly disagree. I’ll just add she about scared the piss out of me.”

“I second Van’s thoughts,” Parsnip agreed, holding up his hand in a physical show of support.

“I’ll bet Phil and I third and fourth that,” Sedrick agreed. “What do you think, Ray? Will Arie have that fucking object of attachment on him or not?”

My heart dropped when Ray answered, “Unlikely.”

“Fucking shit,” Sedrick growled. “I was afraid you’d say that.” Phil ran his hand up and down Sedrick’s bicep, offering him comfort.

“Is there a way we can track it down?” Phil asked. “Could Aurelia?”

Peaches flew out from the edge of the woods in time to hear Phil’s question. “She said no.” Peaches pulled to a stop beside Lucroy.

“No, she won’t tell us or no she can’t do it?” Phil asked, echoing my own confusion.

“No, she can’t find it,” Peaches clarified. “We talked while I was out hiding her amphora. She’s really very helpful when in the correct frame of mind. I don’t think Aurelia likes Janus, but at the same time, she won’t be that helpful.” Peaches’s anticipated the next question. “From what I understand, djinn aren’t very effective against each other.”

“That’s…that seems counterintuitive,” I said. “Why create them then?” I’d assumed witches were trying to outdo each other—get a leg up on their enemies.

Peaches shrugged. “I’m not sure Aurelia knows. From what she told me, witches tried using them to battle each other but found it nearly pointless. Djinn are indestructible. They can’t be defeated, at least not back then. They can’t even destroy each other.”

“Erasmus,” Ray said. “Is he still nearby?”

Eyes briefly slipping closed, Peaches nodded. “He’s still within the confines of my territory. He’s…the trees tell me he’s very troubled. Along with the sprites, they’ve been keeping an eye on him.”

“That must come in handy,” Parsnip said. “I’m impressed.” Truth radiated through that statement. As a nature pixie, it was possible I could one day have the same thing, although not all nature pixies found a place that synched with their magic. Currently, bonding with a piece of earth wasn’t my ideal. I traveled too much to make it work. Maybe one day that would change, but for now, I was happy being an unbonded nature pixie. My mate was more than enough. More than I ever expected.

“It is comforting,” Peaches answered before he flinched.

“Beloved?” Worry pierced Lucroy’s voice.

Sedrick’s rumbled growl echoed Lucroy’s concern. “I hear them, Peaches.”

“Hear what?” I asked. Flying, I twirled, attempting to see what made Peaches’s flinch and Sedrick’s wolf spark.

Leon and Lucroy’s heads snapped up, crimson flooding their onyx eyes. “We’ve got company,” Leon said.

“Lots of company,” Peaches amended. “They can’t get inside my barrier, but all land is connected and the area surrounding my bonded territory is screaming a warning.” Peaches placed the palm of his hand to his temple. “This isn’t good.”

“As if I expected good.” Vander’s tone dripped with sarcasm. “You let us know what we can do, Peaches. This isn’t all on you.”

“Vander is correct.” Ray’s attention turned toward the dirt road leading to Peaches’s orchard and the cottage contained within. Only the enemy didn’t simply come up the road, they walked through the surrounding prairie and woods. Arie’s pack slipped through the darkened night, surrounding Peaches’s boundary, barely a toe length away. At that distance, they had to feel the unwelcome prickle of his magic.

A string of large, dark SUVs lumbered up the road, dipping and swaying along the uneven ground. The first rolled to a stop and the were of the hour stepped out.

Sedrick’s body cracked, his transformation close at hand.

“Easy,” Phil whispered, and Sedrick calmed. At least for now.

Alpha Arie Belview looked good, if not a little wild around the edges. He was a broad individual and his bulk pulled at the bespoke suit that bunched and stretched across his chest. Alpha Belview’s thick, chestnut hair and beard were peppered with gray. His cheeks were filled out and his posture was one of smug ease.

The same could not be said for most of his pack. While some appeared well fed and hearty, the majority were too lean. Not emaciated, but whipcord raw with haunted, shifting eyes. Others simply appeared resigned, as if they’d rather be anywhere else than standing on the edge of a bonded pixie’s territory.

“Janus,” Arie said and suddenly the djinn appeared, as starkly underdressed as before. Janus said nothing, simply stood beside Arie, anticipation lighting his wicked grin.

But it wasn’t Janus’s appearance that made Vander swear, it was the appearance of a warlock, one with a mere smattering of gray at his temples. This warlock was young.

“That’s a bad sign,” Vander grumbled before striding forward. Despite his halting hand gesture, Parsnip followed, a barely audible “as if,” echoing from Parsnip’s lips as he darted past me.

“What the fuck are you doing with the likes of him?” Vander shouted, waving a hand in Arie’s general direction. “Sweet Gaia, I don’t even want to think of what he asked you to do, let alone the possibility that you agreed.”

“Ambrose is a very talented warlock,” Arie answered, glee filling every word. “Much more talented than you.”

Far from offended, Vander scoffed, waving off the dig. “I doubt that. He’s younger and stupider. Most likely he’s got ability, but whatever he’s got, he threw his life away when he agreed to try and do what we all know you want.”

Ambrose was already sickly pale. I hadn’t thought it possible for him to get any whiter and yet that’s exactly what Vander’s words achieved.

Alpha Belview’s laughter slithered across my skin and wormed its way into my soul. With glinting, amber eyes, he turned his gaze on Sedrick and Phil. There was far too much pleasure in that stare, too much unmitigated joy.

“Where are my grandchildren, Sedrick?” Arie hummed. “Close by, I’ve no doubt. We stopped by that little hovel you call home first. I wanted to give you and your…pixie”—Arie sneered the last word, as if calling Phil a pixie was laughable—“a gift.”

“We don’t need jackshit from you.” I don’t think any amount of cajoling on Phil’s part could calm Sedrick’s wolf.

“Oh, I am perfectly aware of that,” Arie answered.

“Alpha Arie Belview, you are precariously close to breaking your oath, sworn on fairy law. I would advise choosing your following actions carefully, however, I believe we both know that you have already committed far worse crimes.” Ray stepped forward. Heat radiated from him as he slid past. Wendall didn’t go with him. He stood his ground. Trinket came running from the forest, shimmying up Wendall’s leg and settling on his shoulder, her tail firmly wrapped around his bicep. The ground shook as Ruthie and Dillon followed, still in their wolf forms. The smaller wolf, the one I figured was Shawn, stayed by the tree line, unsure what to do. I was glad the boy stayed where he was—out of sight and out of mind.

Alpha Belview threw his head back and laughed. At least two-thirds of his surrounding pack flinched at the sound.

“You amuse me, Hellfire Rayburn.” Arie’s grin was positively dripping with arrogance. My eyes flew wide. I’d never heard anyone so boldly insult a fairy.

Ray’s eyes swam with fire. “A curious response. A foolish one as well.”

All traces of humor fled as Arie’s facial features hardened. “It is you who are foolish. The end of fairy law—no, the end of Fairy itself is close at hand.” Thrusting out his arm, Arie made a sweeping motion in Janus’s direction. “I finally found something more powerful, and I hold its leash.”

Janus’s eyes narrowed and a handful of tattoos flared. Alpha Belview appeared far too self-absorbed, caught up in his own self-aggrandizing to notice. It was a dangerous oversight. Even if Arie won the day, the creature he hung his victory upon would one day be his destruction. Arie Belview either couldn’t or wouldn’t see it. More likely still, Arie’s arrogance wouldn’t allow him to believe he’d meet the same fate as all Janus’s previous masters.

Sedrick’s rumbled growl vibrated up my spine. “Your stupidity will be everyone’s downfall.”

“Stupidity?” Arie mocked. “I’m hardly an idiot. I’m an entrepreneur.” Arie’s chest puffed with pride. “When I’m told something is impossible, I see it as a challenge.” Arie’s grin was back, more wickedly pleased than before. “Take pixie bonds, for example.”

Everyone stiffened. Parsnip and Peaches dropped, temporarily grounded by fear.

But Arie wasn’t looking at them, his eyes had a single target. “I understand my grandchildren have become rather fond of your pixie, Sedrick. You might want to send them away. I doubt you’ll want them to see this.”

Sedrick strode forward, Dillon and Ruthie flanking him, all three standing before Phil. Dillon lunged and snapped, growling low. Ruthie took on a wide-based stance, ready to spring at a moment’s notice, all of them determined to protect Phil.

With a casual shrug, Alpha Belview said, “Suit yourselves. Ambrose.”

It was all the warlock needed. Raising his hands, sigils danced in the air, floating around a large uncut diamond. Words I didn’t understand spilled from Ambrose’s lips, drifting into the night, leaving a swath of pain in their wake.

“Fucking shit,” Vander cursed. “Don’t do it. Don’t—” Vander’s words were drowned out by Phil’s scream.