A wicked gleam entered Phlox’s eyes. “Just wait until Wendall hears about this.” Phlox slapped his hands, sinisterly rubbing them together like an ancient movie screen villain. “Yes. That’s exactly what I’ll do. Wendall will make sure Ray understands the error of his ways. Not a transportation service, my ass.” Phlox huffed again, and I could only guess that’s the reason Ray had given for not doing as asked.
Empty glass still in hand, I channeled Momma and asked, “Would you like something to drink? I’ve got water, lemonade, beer, or sweet tea. Word of warning, when I say sweet tea, I mean sweet.”
Phlox beamed. “Bring on the tea.”
“You’ve got it.” I poured two glasses, setting them both on the kitchen table. Phlox landed on the ground again, wings stilling as he settled in the chair. “I’m sorry. I don’t really have any backless chairs.” Understandably, pixies preferred them as they helped give their wings room.
“No worries. This is fine. I can always shift them away if it becomes tiresome.”
My glass was halfway to my mouth when those words fully sank in. “You can do that?”
Instead of verbally answering, Phlox’s wings grew smaller until they completely disappeared.
“That’s…” I wasn’t sure if I’d go foramazingordisturbing. It was a little bit of both if I were being honest. In reverse order, Phlox’s wings reappeared.
“It comes in handy sometimes. Especially on long plane rides.” Phlox took a large gulp of tea. His eyes instantly lit up, and when he pulled his glass away, a huge grin pulled at his lips. “This is fantastic.”
My cheeks heated with a strange sort of pride. “I’ll let Momma know you think so. It’s her recipe.”
Phlox drained the rest of his tea, wiping the back of his hand across his lips before setting the empty glass down.
“Would you like more?”
Phlox cocked his head to the side as if contemplating. His long, blue-and-tan striped hair slid over his shoulder. “If it’s not too much trouble.”
I stood and headed to the fridge. “It’s no trouble at all. If there was one thing Momma taught me, it was always to have plenty of sweet tea on hand.”
“I think your momma and I would get along very well.”
“I’m glad to hear that as I’m sure she’ll pop by sometime while you’re here. A word of warning, Momma’s very curious about you, and she might ask some inappropriate questions.” I cringed while thinking what those questions might be.
“As long as she doesn’t ask about my sex life, then all will be good.”
I nearly choked on my tea. “Gaia, no. Momma would not be so crass as to ask about that.” Momma would be mortified to even think it.
Phlox chuckled before his gaze ran the length of my kitchen, as if he were looking for something or someone in particular. “Where’s your human? Is he hiding somewhere? I promise Leon and I don’t bite unless someone asks. Or they really deserve it.” Phlox gave another disturbing grin, carnivorous feline teeth on full display.
I chuckled, assuming (hoping) Phlox was joking. “Unfortunately, Franklin was called into work earlier this morning.”
Phlox snuck a glance at the clock on the wall. “Must have been pretty early.”
“It was,” I answered while refilling his glass.
“He’s a homicide detective, right?”
I nodded. “For better or worse.” I didn’t begrudge Franklin his job and thought the world was better for it. I just hated the emotional wear and tear it placed on the man I loved.
“Do you have a lot of homicides around here?” Phlox took a smaller drink of his tea, one eyebrow raised. “What little I’ve seen of the area appears charming enough.”
“You’d be surprised.”
“I suppose so. Guess it’s like that old saying, one should never judge a book by its cover and all that.” Phlox set his glass back down, frowning at it. “I’ve worked for the Magical Usage Council for years, and somehow I’m still surprised by what others do, not to mention the reasons given for such actions.” Phlox shrugged. “Who knows if those imagined reasons are truly the driving force. Individuals can get really creative when they’re trying to justify their actions.”
My fingers danced along the kitchen table as I sightlessly stared at my half-empty glass of tea. “I know what you mean, only I can tell when a soul is lying. It’s weird sometimes. Some souls know what they’re spewing is total bullshit. It’s not so simple with others. Some souls truly believe what they’re saying. That doesn’t make it true, only that they believe it is. Those cases are tougher.”
Phlox shivered, scattering dust into my kitchen. “Yeah, I think I’ll pass on the wholefeeling a soulschtick. I’m more than happy leaving that up to you.” Phlox raised his glass as if saluting me and took another drink. When he set it back down, it was only a quarter full, and his gaze looked as distant as mine had felt mere moments ago.
“Do you need time to rest also?” I asked. “I should have thought of that. You’ve been up for a long time too and—”
