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EMBER
Rafferty carries me on his back as we follow the tiny naked creature through the darkening woods. Around us, crickets chirp, and owls hoot, but thankfully, nothing more frightening has made itself known.
Here’s hoping it stays that way.
We round a corner and come to a stop beside a bunch of brush so thick I cannot see anything through it.
“What is the meaning of this?” Rafferty demands. He doesn’t trust Falcon, that much is evident, but the little creature merely rolls his eyes and whistles.
The brush begins to part right down the center, and a mixture of music and lights pour from the opening. Falcon grins widely at Rafferty before winking at me. Then, he turns and flies through the opening, bare ass on display.
Honestly, he looks like a tiny cupid, and I find him incredibly adorable, though I’d never tell Raffe that. Somehow, I don’t think he’d take that as innocently as I mean it.
“Welcome to Pixie Thicket,” Falcon announces proudly, gesturing to the booming village ahead. Naked, flying creatures zoom through the sky. Some dance just ahead. Some have arms full of fruit. But every single one of them has a massive smile on their face.
Especially when they see Falcon.
All eyes turn to our guide. “Falcon!” they cheer loudly, and he beams in response.
“I have brough’ us some guests!” he announces, gesturing to Rafferty and me. Their amethyst gazes shift from Falcon to us, and they throw their hands up in a massive cheer.
“Dinner! We must feed them!”
“Dancing! We must entertain!”
The creatures fly through the air, zooming quicker than my eyes can track, all while we move farther inside. One quick glance back and I see that the thorny bushes have once again closed, a wall sealing us off from the rest of the world.
Trees, tall as the eye can see, stretch up, their branches full of houses in various colors. There are no bridges, no stairs, and why would there be? These guys fly faster than even a hummingbird.
“This is beautiful,” I say, and Rafferty grumbles in agreement though he doesn’t take his eyes off of Falcon.
“If ye’ follow me, I will take ye’ to where ye’ll be stayin’ tonight.” Falcon turns away from us and begins flying through the village while Rafferty continues to carry me.
Every inch of this place is crawling with life, completely unaffected by the monsters I’ve witnessed in this incredible world. They are nothing like the burdened fae I’ve come across, nothing like the man carrying me now.
Instead, they laugh, dance, sing, and play—safe in their little haven. Their Pixie Thicket as Falcon called it.
They’re nothing like anything I would have imagined. Their bald heads and pointed ears certainly give off an elven appearance as do their bright purple eyes, but their short statures and pointed fingers and toes are more like a goblin—adorable goblins, sure, but definitely not pixies.
Then there’s the fact that every single one of them is naked.
“I will never be able to unsee this,” I whisper into Rafferty’s ear.
To my absolute delight, he laughs. “And here I was just thinking the same thing.”
Holding on tightly, I close my eyes and rest my cheek against his strong back as we continue to walk. Exhaustion pulls at me, always there but especially so right now.
Finally, we stop. “Ye’ both can sleep in ‘ere. My apologies if ‘tis not to ye’r likin’, but at least ye’ won’t die.”
I open my eyes and take in the bright orange hut directly in front of us. It’s one of only two that are large enough to hold us, making me wonder just how many fae guests these pixies invite in.
“Go on in, then, it will’na bite ye’.”
Rafferty steps forward and pushes the door open so we can move inside. I’m surprised—and delighted—to see that the coloring of the décor matches the outside perfectly. The orange is everywhere.
Pillows.
Blankets.
