Phlox

“I promise, we’re fine,” I reassured Auntie Tandra. I typically kept Auntie Tandra in the dark about my missions, even when they were over. But this one was different. She’d been worried sick about the pixie trafficking ring and needed to know it was shut down. Auntie Tandra was expectedly upset when she learned the part I’d played.

“I hate thinking of you in that much danger,” Auntie Tandra said. “You know I hate your job. At the same time, I’m also so damn proud of you I want to go shout from the rooftops what you did.”

“Auntie Tandra, you can’t—”

“Oh, I know I can’t do that, but it doesn’t stop me wishing I could. Besides, you know me, I’d post it on social media first.” Auntie Tandra giggled. “I’m joking. Well, not about wanting to post it, but you know I wouldn’t do that.”

Thankfully, I did know.

“So, when do I get to meet your mate?” she asked, all coyness gone and tone deadly serious. “I need to make certain he’s treating you right. A vampire,” Auntie Tandra clucked. “Who would have thought? Certainly not me. Not that I’m judging. As long as you’re happy and he’s treating you like the gem you are, then we’ll get along fine.”

Warmth flooded my chest, and I grabbed the fabric over my heart. “Thanks, Auntie.” I knew she’d understand. Not all pixies would, but Auntie Tandra wasn’t like that. My happiness truly was all that mattered to her.

I checked the time and reluctantly said, “I need to get going. The party should be starting soon, and I don’t want to miss it.”

“No, no. I don’t want to keep you. Thank you for calling and telling me what you can. I can’t tell you what a relief it is to know this particular pixie ring has been dismantled. Others will most likely pop up.”

“And I’ll be there to shut them down,” I promised.

Auntie Tandra inhaled deeply. “That is and isn’t a comforting thought. Regardless, I’m so proud of you, Phlox. Perovskia would be too. Your mother would be brimming with pride. Have a good night. I love you, Phlox.”

“Love you too, Auntie.”

Auntie Tandra blew a kiss across the phone line before the call ended. I sat on the edge of Leon’s bed, kicking my feet back and forth as I stared at the darkened screen. My fingers swept the mark on my neck, making me shiver. Despite our exhaustion after the showdown with Arie Belview, Leon and I’d come back to Dusk and claimed each other. Leon sported my mating mark, and I was equally marked as his beloved.

That had been a little over a week ago. Queen Silvidia acted quickly, and fairies tracked down each and every member of the pixie trafficking ring Arie Belview was responsible for. Those individuals were promptly dispatched. Over a dozen pixies were rescued in time. Seven weren’t so lucky but their bodies were found and returned to their loved ones. Countless others were unaccounted for. Queen Silvidia, along with the Magical Usage Council agreed to continue working until all their fates were discovered. Of course, we knew they wouldn’t be found alive, but it was important to bring their bodies home.

I’m not certain whose idea the party was. Lucroy offered to host. Dusk would be closed tonight to all but his nestmates and Sedrick’s pack. We’d waited for Phil to recover. From what I understood, Phil was unconscious for two days. He’d gotten steadily stronger and was now well enough to leave his bonded home for a few hours.

Peaches also suffered. While he wasn’t away from his bonded land, that stunt Janus tried to pull by ripping the ground apart had done a lot of damage. Peaches spent the earlier part of the week repairing the land’s foundation. Lucroy stayed at Mulligan’s Orchard, watching over and taking care of his beloved.

Vander was also tired. Parsnip called a few days ago, agitated worry making him grumpy. Evidently, Vander extended himself a little too far and had taken four days to fully recuperate. Byx wasn’t pleased either, but like Parsnip, she was more concerned than angry.

As far as I knew, Erasmus was long gone. He’d taken off shortly after Queen Silvidia. I’m not certain what his frame of mind was. His actions hadn’t killed Janus. In fact, I believe returning Janus’s soul would have allowed him to live out a full, human life, if he’d chosen to do so. But that wasn’t Janus. Whether djinn or human, his soul was a black pit of violent desire.

Erasmus offered to do the same for Aurelia. So far, she’d declined. However, Peaches said Aurelia had an odd fascination with Erasmus and continually stalked the necromancer. Peaches didn’t seem nearly as concerned as the rest of us regarding this development. Well, Wendall didn’t act too concerned either. I would have felt more at ease if Aurelia wanted to go back to sleep.

She didn’t. Aurelia was on a loose leash. Time would tell if that was wise or not.

The double door leading to Lucroy’s underground sanctuary opened. I easily recognized Leon’s light footfalls.

“Beloved?” Leon called out even though I knew he could hear my heartbeat and knew exactly where I was.

Hopping off the bed, I flew into Leon’s open arms. My inner cat and I were in heavenly agreement when it came to Leon’s touch.

“Did your phone call with your aunt go well?”

“Very well.” I didn’t tell Leon that Auntie Tandra was proud of me. I didn’t think I’d be able to contain my tears if I did. Instead, I said, “She wants to meet you.”

Leon pulled back, eyes slightly widened, and eyebrows raised. “Should I be concerned?”

“No. She’ll love you just like I do.” Wrapping my arms around Leon’s neck, I flew up and slammed our lips together. Leon’s fangs nipped my lower lip and he groaned when my blood hit his tongue.

“So infinitely delicious.” Leon’s purr rivaled my cat’s.

I nuzzled Leon’s neck, rubbing my cheek along his mating mark. I easily felt the fruits of my labor as Leon’s cock thickened against my thigh.

“If you keep doing that, we shall miss the party,” Leon gasped.

“Is that such a bad idea?” Right now, I didn’t think so.

“My king would be disappointed, but he would understand.”

I’d learned that disappointing Lucroy wasn’t something that sat easily with my mate. He did not love Lucroy Moony as he did me, but Leon respected Lucroy and was loyal. It was one of my mate’s best qualities.

Reluctantly, I let Leon go and said, “We’d better head up there before I change my mind.”

Flying, I kept ahold of Leon’s hand as I made my way up the stairs. When the doors opened, music filled the stairwell, laughter hot on its heels.

* * *

Ooh, Peaches was right. Johnny’s cousin made the best honeysuckle mead. I sipped the sweet nectar and leaned back. My wings spread flat and wide against the back of the booth we’d all crammed ourselves into. Currently, I was content where I was. Peaches and Parsnip were out on the dance floor, flying high and spreading dust everywhere. A large group of dwarves were dancing underneath, just out of range of their falling dust. Johnny and Lizbeth ran the bar. They’d sent the other employees home given the smaller crowd.

Phil leaned against Sedrick. He looked nearly normal. I thought the area under his eyes still appeared a bit bruised, but his pink hair glimmered in Dusk’s low lights. They’d brought Dillon and Ruthie with them tonight and the children were out on the dance floor with the dwarves.

“They’re having a good time,” Phil lazily said while one of his fingers toyed with the diamond and platinum choker wrapped around his neck.

“Moon goddess only knows what kind of language we’ll be subjected to.” Sedrick’s voice was fondly gruff. “Burt and Ollie aren’t the best influences.”

“It could be a lot worse,” Vander offered before taking a large drink of burnt rum. “I’m always amazed Byx turned out so well. Georgiana gave her a strong base foundation that even I couldn’t ruin.”

“Idiot,” Byx said before sending a zap Vander’s way. He jumped and rubbed his arm, but Vander’s grin said he wasn’t upset. “I’m gonna go join the dwarves.” Byx downed her soda before she looked at me and said, “Phlox—is it okay if I call you that instead of Frost?” Byx looked around the table before her eyes settled on me. “I mean, if you’re staying and all . . .”

I’d shared my true name with everyone shortly after the battle with Arie. Most were used to calling me Frost. I wasn’t particular to either name and answered to both. Truthfully, I only cared what Leon called me.

“Phlox is fine,” I easily answered.

Byx gave a firm nod before scrunching her fingers in a gimme motion. “I think those meerkat hair clips still need a little work. Give them to me before we leave, and I’ll see what I can do.”

I touched the sleeping meerkats. That was mostly what they did. I didn’t mind so much. They were still super cute.

“You guys need any refills?” Wendall asked, a light bin of dirty glasses balanced on his hip.

“Sit down and take a load off,” Vander said, slapping a nearby chair.

Trinket cooed but Wendall shook his head. “Maybe later. I need to get back to the washroom.” Wendall’s grin widened. “Ray’s washing the glasses. I need to make certain he’s not screwing it up.”

Laughing, Wendall wove his way around the dwarves, wiggling his hips as he made his way past the bar and into the back.

“Fucking hell, I’d like to see that,” Vander said. “The Hellfire Rayburn—dishwasher. What we do for love.” Vander fingered the ring on his finger. It was lit up crimson and burned bright.

“Never a truer statement spoken,” Lucroy said as he came around from the back of the booth. His gaze settled on Peaches, a soft, fond smile tilting his lips. Settling into the booth, Lucroy’s gaze momentarily strayed to Leon and while his fond smile changed, the light in his eyes did not.

“Speaking of true statements,” Sedrick started, leaning forward and sounding serious, “I can’t thank you enough for what each and every one of you did. Without you, Phil would—”

“No thanks are necessary, my friend,” Vander quickly cut in when Sedrick’s voice wobbled. “Ambrose was desperate and na?ve. Not every warlock has a Georgiana to keep them on the straight and narrow.”

“Queen Silvidia came to the house,” Phil said. “She asked if I wanted Ambrose killed.” Phil swallowed hard and shook his head. “I…I didn’t know what to say. I mean, I know what he did and that he was trying to kill me, but I couldn’t…”

Sedrick palmed Phil’s cheek. “Of course you couldn’t. You wouldn’t be Phil if you did.”

“You’re not mad?” Phil asked.

“Never,” Sedrick quickly answered before leaning in and kissing Phil.

Vander’s elbows landed on the table as he leaned forward. “Ambrose was an idiot, but like I said, he’s young. Honestly, I don’t think he fully understood what he was doing or its ramifications. Manipulating magic is like that. There are a lot of things you can do, but that doesn’t mean you should. Some of us learn that sooner than others.” Vander took another drink before slamming his empty glass back on the table. “Ambrose is going to stay in Fairy for a bit. I’ve agreed to take him in when Queen Silvidia deems it appropriate for him to leave. Fuck knows when that will be. From what I understand, time moves differently in Fairy. I could be dead before that day comes.” Vander huffed but didn’t seem overly concerned about it.

“How does Parsnip feel about that?” I asked.

“Relatively okay.” Vander grinned and leaned back while pointing a black tipped finger in Sedrick’s direction. “Besides, I’d say I got off easy. I’ve just got one wayward warlock to wrangle, unlike some of us at this table.”

Sedrick’s growl rumbled through his chest. “By pack law, Queen Silvidia should be the new alpha. She’s the one that finally killed that asshole.” We all knew it grated on Sedrick, that he’d been denied the honor of dispatching Arie Belview. “Regardless, somehow I’ve still been saddled with digging through the Belview pack trauma.”

“It’s not the Belview pack any longer,” Phil corrected. “It’s the Voss pack, and it’s Dillon and Ruthie’s legacy. You will make it a pack worthy of respect and of your niece and nephew.” Phil’s tender smile matched his gentle touch as his fingers raked along Sedrick’s beard. “Arie’s pack is so desperate for honorable leadership. You’re the perfect alpha for the job.”

I couldn’t have said it better. “The Magical Usage Council agrees and has offered whatever support they can give.” I wasn’t really certain what that was, but the offer had been made and I wanted to make sure it was relayed.

“Will you have time, with the mine as well?” Lucroy asked.

“I’ve spoken with Burt and Ollie. That land belongs to the dwarves as much as it does me. We’re still working out the details, but I’m planning on turning it over to them. They’ll have majority stock in the mine. I hired Ray to take care of the legal details.”

Lucroy smirked, barely short of showing fang. “And how is Hellfire faring now that he is back to doing menial legal work?”

“Damned if I know,” Sedrick answered while pulling at his beard. “Fairies are hard to read.”

“Not that hard,” Phil said. “Ray is happy, although I’m sure that has a lot more to do with Wendall than legal work.”

Johnny walked up, placing fresh glasses of honeysuckle mead, burnt rum, and a beer for Sedrick on the table. Leaning in, Johnny whispered, voice just high enough for all of us to hear. “Wendall told me that he and Ray agreed to officially share their bonds.” Johnny glanced over his shoulder. “Wendall was all kinds of embarrassed when he told me, but you know how that kid is. Don’t worry, I plan on pestering him. I’ll know when the deed’s done and when it is, I expect congratulations all around.” Johnny pointed a finger at each of us before trotting off.

“Well, I’ll be damned.” Vander grinned, wide and bright. “It’s about time.”

Leon’s fingers found mine, entwining together and squeezing tight. Bonds were important. Bonds of love. Bonds of friendship. Bonds of comradery. When I was assigned this mission, I never dreamed I’d find all three.

Glancing at Leon, there was no doubt where I belonged. My mate would never try and cage or change me. When the Magical Usage Council sent me on the next mission, he would be right there by my side. Johnny could run the bar without him, and Lucroy and Peaches agreed to open the orchard to Lucroy’s nestmates when they needed their king.

Leon was mine and I was his. We’d make Rutherford Haven home base, but it didn’t hem us in. Everyone needed a touchstone, a place where they felt welcome and safe. Rutherford Haven would be that for us. It would be the physical representation of the love we held for each other in our hearts.

Without giving it much thought, my clothes fell away as I transformed into my Pallas’s cat form. Crawling onto Leon’s lap, I dug my claws in and kneaded his pants. Purrs rumbled through the air and Leon’s slender fingers slipped into my thick fur. There was no place I’d rather be. No place that had ever felt safer. No place I’d ever felt so warm.

Leon was my mate, and I was his perfectly peculiar pixie beloved.