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The delicate face creased, her fine features exaggerating the pain.
Sacha s own pain swelled, thinking of how eager Elias had been when he first met
the pixie princess months ago. His whole life had been full of her, until its end. He
could never get enough of her, and his job often suffered because of it.
But Sacha had always given him the benefit of the doubt, because everyone in their
presence could see their love for each other. If Sacha hadn t been so marred by life s
tragic nature, she would have been tempted to believe in true love because of Elias and
Althea. And now, as life would always have it, tragedy extended even to them.
 I miss him too, Althea. Sacha touched Althea s delicate arm. It felt too fragile
under her fingers, like a twig waiting to be snapped.  You re not alone.
Althea wiped the tears from her cheeks and stared at her wet fingers.  Pixies never
cry, you know.
 I didn t know that.
 I would have given up my wings for him. She smoothed her hands on the gauzy
fabric of her dress.  Angus said that Elias died bravely. So at least his spirit will survive
this life. Perhaps we will meet in another.
Sacha stiffened. Somehow, with these pixies, talk always turned to religion, and she
never knew quite how to respond. Althea searched out her eyes, looking for comfort, no
doubt. All Sacha could do was offer a rueful smile.
 I was with Elias just before he& was killed.
Silly pixie! Why couldn t she have gotten to this a little earlier?  Exactly when were
you with him? And where?
Althea s cheeks flushed and she averted her eyes.  I don t know if 
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Airship Seduction
 No, I don t mean to tell me the details. I need to know if you saw anything that can
help us determine what happened.
 That s just the thing. Althea s brow furrowed and she took a deep breath.  But
Angus said I should never tell you. He said that we don t know what it means.
Sacha s frustration rose, a fire scorching up the sides of her throat. It would have
been so easy to grab the tiny woman by the shoulders and shake the information out of
her. She pushed it back down. Pixies didn t respond well to violence, even just polite
violence.  Angus is gone, Althea. If we re ever going to find out what happened to
Elias, you have to tell me what you saw.
 Elias and I had just left& one of the closets. We were looking for a& well, a place
where we could be alone and& with a 
Sacha rolled her eyes at the pixie s prudery.  There s nothing to be ashamed of,
Althea. This isn t some polite society or high court to put on a pretense. You re perfectly
free to express your love for one another.
Althea s cheeks reddened once more.  Well, I still don t wish to 
 I know what you were doing, and what you were looking for.
 Well, Elias kept me in the closet so he could find a& a suitable room. But when he
opened one of the doors, there was someone inside.
Sacha s senses perked.  When did this happen?
 Shortly after we left Barcelona. We would always meet shortly after takeoff
because it unsettled most of the creatures, so everyone would be in their rooms. A
wistful remembrance glazed the pixie s big eyes.  And Elias knew where all the empty
rooms were, far from prying ears. A tear slipped down her cheek.  To think that we ll
never be together again& 
For an un-crying breed, pixies sure could turn on the waterworks when it suited
them. Sacha crossed her arms and sat back on her heels. No use pushing. It would only
make the tears come faster.
After Althea had expunged the tears, she met Sacha s eyes again.  I m so sorry. I
just& this is my first cry.
The thought struck Sacha as strange. To have never cried before. What a thought.
Sacha had cried many times, shed tears for both Angus and Elias in the last two days.
Even now, she had to keep her walls carefully erected, or she would be drawn into
Althea s emotive downward spiral.
 Did you see anything when Elias went into the room?
 I didn t see anything at first. There was a voice, but I couldn t place it. I don t think
Elias recognized him at first, either.
 So it was a man?
Tears welled in Althea s eyes, spilling over the edges and onto her perfect porcelain
skin.  I m so sorry, Sacha.
 Sorry for what?
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Camryn Rhys
Althea took a deep breath, her shoulders rising almost to her pointed ears.  When [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]