Raxtus fairy form

  "Right," Raxtus said. "Do you mind closing your eyes?"

  "Not at all," Bracken said.

  Kendra covered her eyes. Even with her hands in the way, she sensed the bright flash.

  Several of the fairies in the area tittered. It was hard for Kendra to decide whether they were mocking or flirting. Perhaps a little of both.

  "No peeking," Raxtus said, his voice pitched higher.

  The comment tempted her. She slid her fingers apart just enough to see the back of a rather scrawny fairy with shaggy silver hair and an elaborate set of metallic wings fluttering toward the hatchway. The fairy was the largest Kendra had seen, about a foot tall. His head turned as if to glance back, and Kendra closed her fingers before he completed the motion.

  "Okay, you can look," Raxtus called a moment later.

  Kendra dropped her hands and opened her eyes. The spindly male fairy stood at the hatchway. His face was impishly handsome, with a sparkle of mischief in his bright eyes.

Chapter 18