31. Sedrick
Sedrick
P hil was quiet. Too quiet. Too still. Phil’s wings didn’t so much as twitter. If it weren’t for the constant pressure of his hand on my shoulder, I would have thought he’d disappeared just like a brownie.
But Phil hadn’t disappeared. He’d stayed and listened to everything.
I didn’t want Phil to know. I didn’t want him to worry, and I didn’t want him to think he was a problem.
As far as I was concerned, Phil was the solution to damn near everything that had been wrong in my life.
Even areas I hadn’t known were problematic.
“You really think he’s the one behind what’s happening with my mom and dad?” Phil asked in little more than a whisper when Ray stopped speaking.
“I don’t think,” Ray answered. “I know.”
Phil’s hand shook and vibrated through the length of his body.
Twisting, I pushed my chair far enough away from the desk that I could pull Phil into my lap. He didn’t fight it. Instead, Phil cuddled into me as if it were the most natural position in the world. I couldn’t disagree. Holding Phil close to me felt so right, it was frightening.
“Can he really take my parents’ home?” Phil asked.
“I wouldn’t say it is impossible, but it is doubtful,” Ray answered. “My concern is that if he can’t get the house, he’ll use other means to harm you or your parents.”
“Just like Peony.”
I tightened my arms at the sadness in Phil’s voice. “What happened to Peony?” My anger burned deeper and brighter as Phil relayed the story to its inevitable end. Arie Belview sowed death and destruction far too well.
“And that is my concern,” Ray said once Phil was finished.
I ran my hand through Phil’s hair to relax us both. Glancing at the office entrance, I asked, “I assume you brought the kids with you.” I couldn’t imagine Phil leaving them at home, especially given the unwanted guest we’d had a few days ago.
“They’re with Oliver.” Phil’s breath ghosted across my neck and made me shiver.
“Moon Goddess knows what effect that’ll have on Dillon’s language.” Oliver cussed like a human sailor of old. “But at least it’ll keep them busy for a while.” I didn’t want Dillon or Ruthie to wander into our conversation the way Phil had.
“I’m sorry. I should have called first. It’s just . . . I hated the way we left things last night, and then you left today without eating breakfast, and Dillon sort of suggested that maybe we should bring you something to eat and . . . Well, here we are.”
“Here you are,” I agreed.
“Are you angry?”
I took a minute to contemplate Phil’s question and decided that I definitely wasn’t angry.
“No.” If anything, I felt more settled, more at ease since he’d shown up.
That was the crux of the problem. Phil relaxed me.
His presence was soothing and allowed me to think clearly. I couldn’t imagine giving that up.
“Although no one asked my opinion, I am very pleased that Phil arrived when he did. Perhaps now we can come up with a plan of action.” Ray burst my contented little bubble with those few words.
Phil sat up, pulling away from me but remaining on my lap. My pixie didn’t show any sign of moving, and I wrapped my arms around his waist to let Phil know I agreed. “I don’t understand,” Phil told Ray. “How can I help?”
Ray spared me a glance. It was the only warning I got before he said, “You can leave Sedrick’s home.”
Phil stilled. I could feel and hear his heart as it slowed and then picked up speed, racing at an untenable rate. “L-leave? I . . .” A wounded sound escaped Phil’s throat, and I hugged him closer.
“You aren’t leaving, Phil.” I buried my face in his back, nestled between the base of his wings. “That’s why I’m going to challenge Arie. If I do that, he’ll be out of the picture for good. He won’t be able to hurt you or the children any longer. He—”
Phil spun in my lap. One of his wings slid across my face, its gossamer touch barely there.
“But that’s only if you win. And even if you do, just like I heard Ray say, that will make you alpha of the entire Belview pack.
” Phil scrunched up his nose in distaste.
“That’s not what Dillon’s and Ruthie’s mom and dad wanted, and you know it. ”
Phil wasn’t wrong, but I couldn’t see another way out. “I won’t lose you, Phil. That is unacceptable. You’ve done wonders for the house, and the children adore you. I . . .” I wasn’t sure if I could say it, but regardless of my readiness, the words needed to be spoken. “I adore you too.”
Phil’s face melted. His grass-green eyes glinted with moisture, and his face flushed the lightest shade of pink.
Hesitant fingers touched my cheek, skimming down the length of my skin and getting lost in my beard.
Phil’s light pink lashes darkened with his tears.
“I like you, too, Sedrick. I like you a little more than I should.”
“Just a little more?”
Phil’s face flushed darker, and a hint of a smile lifted his lips. “Maybe a lot more.”
“That sounds better.” I squeezed Phil tighter and was rewarded with widened eyes and a gasp of surprise.
Ray ignored our revelations and continued down his hated path.
“It wouldn’t be forever, Phil. Just long enough to keep you and your parents safer.
Arie is desperate, and desperation brews violence.
At the very least, he’ll fabricate information and documents besmirching your name and heritage.
While I doubt very much you care about that, it might impact the judge’s opinion regarding Dillon and Ruthie’s case. ”
Phil looked devastated. “If I stay, I could hurt your chances of retaining custody of Ruthie and Dillon?”
“I . . .” I had no idea what to say.
Ray didn’t have that problem. “Yes. I apologize, Phil. It was my idea for Sedrick to hire a home-and-hearth pixie. At the time, I had no idea he would find you.”
Phil slumped and tried to pull away.
I wouldn’t let him.
“This is because of my size, isn’t it? Because I’m so tall.”
“You’re perfect,” I immediately stated.
“While I cannot confirm or deny Sedrick’s affirmation regarding your perfection, Phil, I can tell you that Arie Belview is despicable enough to use your unique physical stature as a weakness he can poke at.
His claims are nothing short of discrimination, but judges see things differently.
Your qualifications could be called into question and negatively affect your future.
Those same questions could shower doubt on Sedrick’s decision-making abilities and his fitness to retain custody of Dillon and Ruthie. ”
“Oh.” Phil felt like a wet noodle in my arms.
I growled with my wolf. “You are an excellent home-and-hearth pixie, Phil. I don’t doubt that, and neither do Dillon or Ruthie. Don’t let Arie Belview make you think differently.”
Phil offered me a watery smile. “And you were willing to challenge Arie to avoid sending me away.”
“You’re damn right. I will challenge him. I will put Arie Belview in his grave and—”
“Shh.” Phil placed a finger over my lips, silencing me. “You’re not going to challenge Arie. You know that’s a bad idea. Otherwise, you would have done it a long time ago.”
I started to protest, but Phil smiled at me, and suddenly words wouldn’t come.
“I know you’re an alpha. I know it’s your job to keep your pack safe.
I also know you consider me part of that pack.
I might just be a pixie, but I feel the same toward you and the kids.
Don’t ask me to risk your life and the lives of Dillon and Ruthie, not when there’s another answer.
As Ray said, it won’t be forever. Once you’ve confirmed your custody, once a judge has ruled to uphold William and Kelsie’s will and wishes, I’ll come back. ”
My wolf howled, and my heart ached. I couldn’t believe I was about to agree to this, yet I knew that’s exactly what I would do.
“I’m glad to hear that, Phil.” Ray calmly stood and walked around the desk, facing the two of us. “But we’ll have to make it believable.”
I was afraid of what that meant and steadfastly said, “I won’t make a public scene.
I won’t humiliate Phil or berate him.” I had an idea that’s where Ray’s mind had wandered.
It would make sense and get the point across.
Word would get back to Arie. “I’m not that good of an actor.
I’d never be able to make it believable, and I don’t want to hurt Phil like that. ”
Ray’s contemplative gaze confirmed I wasn’t wrong. Finally, Ray nodded and said, “There are other ways to make it believable. The best way would be to find Phil another position somewhere else.”
Phil chewed on his bottom lip, drawing my eyes to that plump piece of tissue.
“I don’t think anyone else will hire me as a home-and-hearth pixie.
” Phil shrugged and gave Ray apologetic eyes.
“No one was willing to hire me before Sedrick. Besides, I don’t think my heart would be in it.
I’m not sure I could do the job in someone else’s home. I’m sorry.”
“Another position as a home-and-hearth pixie would be ideal, but if it doesn’t work, the point is moot. In fact, if things went badly and a complaint was issued against Phil’s abilities, then it could be worse.” Ray sounded matter-of-fact, and I was glad he hadn’t argued.
Phil looked down, running his eyes over my chest. Straddling my lap, Phil’s position was more than a little suggestive.
Ray didn’t bat a single eyelash. “I could always ask Mr. Moony for my old job back. I’m not sure he’d agree.
I did leave abruptly, and the few times I did work, my performance wasn’t that . . . great.”
I stiffened. “The bouncer job?” I asked, unable to hide my disbelief.
Phil nodded but didn’t say anything else.
“Mr. Lucroy Moony?” Ray asked. “The owner of Dusk?”
Phil looked up and answered, “He was kind enough to offer me a job when no one else would. But I kind of sucked at it.” Phil tapped his fingers along my chest, and I felt the burn of his touch.
“He wanted me to hide my wings and . . . cut my hair.” Phil swallowed hard.
“I could do a better job at containing my wings. I . . . I could cut my hair too.”
The word no was on the tip of my tongue, but thankfully Ray took that worry away.
“I don’t think that will be necessary.” Pulling out his cell phone, Ray glanced out the window before dialing.
Phil and I stared at each other while we heard Ray say, “Lucroy, it’s Ray.
I’ve got a favor to ask you. Call me when you get up tonight. ”