Page 54 of Pixie Problems
I held out my hand. “Nice to meet you, Liam.”
He shook my hand. “Likewise, lass. My ducky tells me you’ve been taking good care of her. I’m grateful.”
“She’s been taking equally good care of me.” I mean what was friendship if you couldn’t bash a home-invader’s head in with a skillet in nearly naked defense of your friend?
It made me sad that others in this town were missing having such a great friend. Maybe I could introduce her to Mia? Mia had the ear—and it was looking like she had his heart as well—of Draven who was a master vampire. Draven was respected in this town. Not only because he’d been a founder of the town, not only because he was a master vampire, but also because he was such a great leader. I mean, how many leaders got a psychology degree just so they could be a better boss? Answer—none of them. Other than Draven. He was fair and just, and just really kind. As evidenced by his support of my apothecary shop. I mean, I knew that’s what his occupation was—backing small businesses—but still! So, if I could get Mia to accept Lucky, despite her many lovable quirks, I bet Draven would accept her too. And if Draven did, most of the town would.
It was a solid plan.
I tuned back into the conversation as Liam was gently chiding Lucky for ghosting his phone calls. “I was worried about you, ducky.”
Lucky’s shoulders slumped. “I just didn’t want to worry you,” she whispered.
I squeezed her arm to let her know I was here for her as Liam searched her expression. “What’s happened, ducky?”
Lucky’s eyes darted to mine, and I could tell she wanted my help to explain. Lucky got hopelessly tongue-tied when she was stressed or upset. I cleared my throat. “Lucky’s been—depressed. Her anti-magic has been really chaotic lately, and she told me she hates that it prevents her from making friends and meeting someone special.”
I moved closer and whispered to Lucky, “I have a plan for that.”
Her expression brightened, and I nodded. “It’s a good plan.”
“Ducky,” her grandfather gently interrupted, “I’ve been thinking I’d like to move closer to you, lass. To Moonhaven Cove.”
Lucky gasped and swung her gaze back to her grandfather. “Really?” she squeaked. “But youhatebeing around people! You literally live in the wilds of Alaska because of this. You said people give you hives.”
Liam chuckled. “Now, lass. Are you going to hold my own words against me?” He squeezed her hand. “You’re my only family, ducky. I miss you.”
Lucky squealed and finally let go of me to tackle her grandfather in a hug.
He laughed as he caught her. “Now, it might take me a few weeks. I have a fair few things to get packed and situated, and of course I need me a proper home here. I don’t suppose there are any decent homes on the market, lass?”
“You mean mansions,” Lucky said drolly.
Liam laughed. “Aye, I like my comforts, that’s a fact.”
“I’ll give you our realtor’s number.”
“I thank you, lass.” He smiled gently, his eyes filled with joy. “I can’t wait.”
Lucky, seeing the joy in his expression, relaxed, and smiled back at him. “Me either.”
Chapter16
Dice
October rolled into November, and before I knew it three weeks had gone by. Rhys and I had been taking things slowly, both for his sake and for mine. Hux’s pack had disappeared without a trace, and I was considering moving back in with Lucky.
I couldn’t stay with Finn permanently, but I didn’t want to bring danger to anyone else. It was a crazy situation, and one I hoped was over very soon. Finn and various officers had searched the city,continuedto search the city. They’d had mages and witches comb the city with magic. They’d had supernatural specialized police dogs nose through the city. So far, no luck. I really wanted to know where all of these bad guys were disappearing to because theystillhadn’t caught the crazy idiot after Draven and Mia.
Lucky was doing a little better with her granddad around, so she took up less real estate in my worries. And speaking of grandparents... My grandparents had rolled into town with their two beat up trucks pulling two trailers stuffed with all the earthly possessions they had left. They brought the dogs and settled into a nice place on the edge of town with a little bit of land. And proving that they were ranchers and farmers at heart, they immediately purchased some cows, chickens and sheep. The horses they’d had brought in viaanothertrailer a friend had driven down for them. It was like their life was incomplete without animals in the barn and pastures. I didn’t blame them. I looked at my wolf Naut who was happily in the back seat of Rhys’ Aston Martin DB11 Volante convertible. Ever since he’d gotten back from the vets, he was glued to me like asphalt to the driveway. We came as a package deal these days, including during the day when I was running the apothecary.
My grandparents were kindly running it for me right now—so Rhys and I could go on our first date. I looked over at him as he downshifted around a turn, his powerful forearms flexing. The wind was blowing his silver hair all over the place, and for the first time in weeks, maybe even months, his boysenberry eyes looked bright with happiness. I smiled just seeing it, because apparently I couldn’t help myself. It was true what they said. Star elves were addicting. Only one official date in and I was thinking I needed a ten-step program. Or possibly a Rhys patch so I could wean myself off of him. Only—I didn’treallywant to.
I was falling, and it wasn’t pretty. Granddad always told me I would fall hard one day, and I’d laughed at him.Laughed.I winced in remembrance. The line for pixies between self-assuredness and arrogance was a fine one.
Rhys reached out and took my hand. His hand swallowed mine, and it was warm and callused. I looked down at our fingers intwined together in bemusement. There was a song playing on the radio from the human world calledLa Vie En Rose. The strings, woodwinds and piano notes filled the air.Hold me close and hold me fast, that magic spell you cast. This is La vie en rose.La vie in rose translated meantlife in pink, essentially seeing life through rose-colored glasses.
I had never been a pixie thatsaw life through rose colored glasses before. My Insight gift had made that nearly impossible, but these last few weeks with Rhys had been magical. Even though we’d been taking things slow on the dating front, he’d been hanging around more than ever. Even more than we used to spend together during our eight-hour shifts at the Laughing Elf. I essentially saw him all other times he wasn’t sleeping, forced to work, or at Draven’s house talking through his troubles.
