Page 24

Christ, I’d been dosed. I’d forgotten how potent fresh pixie dust could be. It was incredibly rare to come into contact with pixies who’d only just inherited the ability. I needed to get away from them before they sent me into a full-on dust-induced hallucination.

Backing up rapidly, I raised my gloved hands in front of my face and looked away. Unfortunately, the drugging effect of their dust had me moving a bit like a bull in a china shop, my reaction time sluggish. I ended up falling into a wall of hostas, their lush leaves brushing my cheek before the pots crashed to the floor.

“Ahhh! Get away from him, Blossom. He’s a monster!” Itch shouted, snagging the pixie nearest me and tugging her back.

“Demon! Murderer!” Tangle hissed at me, his tiny fingers making a cross as if that could ward me off.

“Only one o’those isss accurate,” I slurred, attempting to right myself.

“What did those plants ever do to you? Look at them. You killed them,” Fancy scolded.

With a slow blink, I followed her pointed finger and took in the withered brown leaves on the floor.

“He’s Death,” Pepper whispered. “I knew the horsemen were here, but I didn’t think they’d come for us.”

I shook my head to try and clear my view. Sadly, it didn’t help.

“I’m not... here for... you.” It was hard to form words. It felt like I had to over-enunciate to counteract the effects of the drug.

“See to it ye never are. We’re immortal unless a creature like you takes us down.” Itch flitted in front of his companions, arms splayed out protectively. “Get out of our greenhouse. You’ve done enough damage already.”

I snarled accidentally as I moved to stand, and the little pixies shrieked before darting out of sight. Trails of multi-hued dust hung in the air like phantom fireworks, and I couldn’t help but scowl at them as I batted them away.

Unfortunately, all the move did was send more of the potent hallucinogen up my nose.

“Bleeding hell,” I grunted. “You’re in a damn ssstate, Brimsy . . . Grisby . . . Grim.”

What would my wildflower say if she could see me now? Probably laugh her sweet arse off, and rightfully so. I could not picture a more undignified state for the horseman Death to be found in.

An unexpected tingling started crawling along the nape of my neck.

Uh-oh.

“There’sss sstrouble afoot,” I said, an honest-to-God giggle escaping me before I could stop it.

Fuck. Me.

I hated this. I’d never been less in control of myself. And now I was being summoned.

This did not fucking bode well.

The tingling, while unexpected, was not unfamiliar. Death lurked on the horizon. Not literally, I was still very much in the greenhouse... right? I glanced down quickly to check that I hadn’t suddenly teleported. No. Still in the greenhouse.

I let out a sigh of relief.

A rush of heat engulfed me, starting in my chest before spreading across my extremities.Everyextremity. Fuck, I needed my Merri.

Right. Bloody. Now.

But the tingling came again, more insistently this time. I couldn’t ignore it much longer.

Blast it all.

Lifting my hand to wipe away the sudden sweat dotting my brow, I let out a near orgasmic groan at the brush of leather over my skin. Oh, this was very, very bad.

Death could not show up to a claiming—as Sin would say—tripping balls.

My cock was rock hard, straining in my trousers, and painfully obvious at present. That fucking pixie dust had done a number on me. I was afraid if I attempted to adjust myself, I might bring myself off instead. But it had to be done. I couldn’t walk around with a flagpole in my pants.