Page 2 of Caught By Her Guardian
Tales of finding sleeping children along the route.
His brother not trying to kill him.
Simpler times indeed.
His gaze landed on the picture window behind his desk where he could see the Well of Magic glowing and the Portal beyond, made of the ancient bones of a long-extinct magical creature.His home was here, and he was going to defend it to his last breath to ensure that the magic of the world remained pure and good.
Because he was Santa and that was his job.
Tooth fairy Pixie hovered near the sleeping child, her wings beating soundlessly as she reached for the tiny tooth tucked under the pillow.The room was dark, save for a nightlight in the corner that cast a warm glow along the walls.She could see the toys and books on the floor, and she smiled down at the sweetly sleeping young boy.
With practiced ease, she slid her hand under the pillow and took the tooth, placing it into the small, enchanted sack at her waist.When she returned home, the teeth she hadn’t used to supplement her magic would dissolve into pure, magical energy, seeping into the fairy gardens that dotted the island, the magic dispersing into the earth or carried by the wind to spread its protective power.Most people never realized that the energy of children’s lost teeth lingered, subtly sharpening the world around them and weaving good fortune into the air.
She turned toward the window, her wings flickering as she pulled her shadow magic closer to herself and stepped out, closing the window behind her silently and setting her course for the next home.
Her wings carried her to the next home a few streets over.She moved through the night silently and unseen, thanks to the magic garnered through the teeth.Not only could she pull shadows to conceal herself, but she could enter a home and move between houses without being heard.
She entered the two-story home, using her magic to unlock the bedroom window and glide inside.Surveying the room, she found the child asleep, hugging a stuffed unicorn with a soft smile on her face.She moved silently to the bed and reached for the tooth that she could feel was underneath the pillow when she heard a low, growling rumble from the doorway.
Pixie froze.
A large golden retriever, face white with age, stood in the doorway, dark eyes locked on her.It whined quietly, tail wagging, and trotted toward her.
“Oh, for stars’ sake,” Pixie whispered, taking a step back.
She tried to pull the shadows around her more deeply to obscure herself from the dog, but it didn’t stop coming toward her.
The retriever grumbled happily, collar jingling.Pixie exhaled sharply.Her magic was running low and that’s why the dog had sensed her.
She grabbed the tooth under the pillow and squeezed it between her thumb and finger.The small tooth disintegrated instantly, turning into glittery dust.Moving her hand to her chest, she inhaled, and the magic rushed through her like cool water and replenished her magic.
She easily pulled the shadows around herself now, obscuring her from the dog’s sight.
The retriever let out a low whine, its head tilted in confusion.
Go lay down, she silently ordered.
The dog stared into the shadows for a moment longer, then leaped onto the bed, turned in a circle, and flopped down at the child’s feet with a grumbling sigh.When neither the child nor the dog moved again, both settled into sleep, Pixie let out the breath she’d been holding and shook her head.That was close.At the last house, she hadn’t realized how low her shadow magic was getting.She definitely needed to be more careful.
Flying out of the room, she closed and locked the window and then perched on a nearby tree to check her ledger.The small book was magically updated for her territory in the state of Delaware.Glowing names were added as children who believed in the tooth fairy put a tooth under their pillow.Children who were most at risk of losing their belief in the tooth fairy had top priority, their names glowing red instead of gold.
She’d already collected twenty-three teeth and had eight more to go.
An average night.
Her busiest night she’d collected nearly fifty teeth and had to replenish her magic frequently to keep up.The faster she flew, the quicker she moved in the homes, the more her shadow magic depleted.Her main magic—that allowed her to open portals to move anywhere in the world and fly—was replenished at the Well of Magic at the top of the world.
She had to go there only once a year.
Not that she disliked it, although it was as cold as all get out.
Readying herself for the next home, she put the ledger away in her pouch and flew from the tree into the sky.She spotted the golden glowing window in the distance and set off for her target, happy to be part of keeping magic alive for children, whether they were human, shifter, or another magical creature.
* * *
The moment Pixie walked through the portal, the salty scent of the ocean mixed with the flowers from the fairy gardens, made her smile.Evermere Island, part of the Florida Keys but only accessible through magical portals, unfolded before her, the air humming with magic, the trees rustling in the breeze.
It was a few hours before dawn and she’d managed to finish her shift without any more issues like the old pup who’d nearly busted her.It wasn’t that people in general didn’t know about tooth fairies or other magical people, but tooth fairies didn’t like to get caught by anyone.Even family pets.It ruined the illusion that tooth fairies moved in and out without detection, the same way Santa preferred not to get caught by children staying up to see if he would show up.
