Page 32 of Pixie Problems
Nick patted my knee, and I wanted to punch him. He likely saw the anger in my expression because he raised an eyebrow and lifted his hands in the air to show he wasn’t going to touch me again.
“You have two of my best guards,” Draven reminded me.
I let my head fall forward and closed my eyes, trying to gather my emotions and calm myself. “I’m sorry, Mr. Leto.”
“Draven,” he corrected me, and I nodded.
“Draven, then. Thank you. I also wanted to thank you for assigning guards to me. You didn’t have to. It was a kind thing to do.”
Draven sat back and studied me for a moment or two, and I wanted to fidget. Eternal beings always made me fidgety. I knew they saw so much more than the average individual due to their long lifespans. It was an insight they’d earned, but it still made me fidgety.
“You didn’t have to tell me about the hedge witch, either,” he gently murmured after a moment, “and yet you did. Is that not what life should be about? Shouldn’t we look out for one another?”
I mean, in an ideal world? But our world was far from ideal, even among paranormals. “Ideally.”
Draven chuckled. “To be so jaded at such a young age,” he said, mostly to himself.
I wrinkled my nose. I didn’t disagree, but he made it sound like it was abadthing. Speaking of the hedge witch . . . “Is the hedge witch okay? Did she see a specialist?”
Draven nodded. “Since she was still in stage 1, they were able to get her into surgery and remove the tumors. Now, they’re using targeted chemotherapy to remove the rest of the cancer cells.” He paused before adding gratefully. “You saved her life. Thank you.”
“I’m glad I was able to help her. Did she go out of town for the surgery?”
Draven nodded. “Yes. Unfortunately, there aren’t any medical wizard specialists that live here in Moonhaven Cove.”
“Too bad you haven’t opened your apothecary yet, huh Dice?” Nick said with a chuckle.
I squawked at him. “Stay out of my brain, you thought leech!”
“You want to open an apothecary here in Moonhaven Cove?” Draven asked, straightening up in his chair, looking intrigued.
I gave Nick the evil eye.Death and retribution later, big guy. And I know you can hear me.
He chuckled again, looking unconcerned.
I turned back to Draven, digging my shoulders against the rock-hard sofa, and sitting on my hands so I didn’t accidentally pinch Nick.
“Initially, I wanted to open a shop near my home in Wyoming, but I don’t know? Maybe I can talk my grandparents into moving here? They’re getting up there in age, and I’m beginning to really love Moonhaven Cove. At the very least I think I’m going to suggest they sell the Circle P to our head foreman. He’s worked with them for years and knows the ranch inside and out. So, to answer your question, I think I’d like to. I’m just saving enough start-up capital first.”
His eyebrow went up. “How much do you have?”
“Fifty-thousand.”
Nick whistled and Draven looked impressed. I didn’t knowwhythey were impressed when Nick could snap his fingers and have a whole bank-full of money and Draven, from all appearances, was pretty affluent himself.
Draven laced his hands together and was quiet for a few moments, his eyes staring off into space. He turned back and gave me his full, weighty attention. “I’d like to help.”
I blinked in shock.
* * *
I staggeredout of the Leto mansion—my mind buzzing with a million different things—with Nick at my side. He was chuckling, and when I could string two coherent thoughts together, I promised myself I was going to pinch him.
“Did a master vampire just offer to finance my apothecary shop?”
“Yep,” Nick said, popping the p.
I blinked at him, in shock still. “I have no idea what just happened,” I said dazedly.
