Persie Merlin and the Witch Hunters - Bella Forrest Page 0,58
no wonder he’s depressed.” I knew it was a joke, but her eyes lingered on the Grendel, her fingertips grazing the glass sadly. “Didn’t you say they were venomous?”
I nodded, pleased that she’d remembered. “They are, but they use that mostly to liquify their food before they eat it. Although, if pushed, I imagine they would use it to defend themselves.” It made me wonder why this one hadn’t tried to sink its venomous fangs into the hunters who’d captured him. If he had, he might’ve escaped. Had he behaved, to an extent, because of Persie? Or was this one born, as I’d just told Genie, without a killer instinct, even when his life was in danger?
“There goes my appetite.” Genie grimaced. “Lucky for the Grendel, I don’t imagine those protein cubes need much liquifying.”
“No, probably not. It’s the monster equivalent of rice pudding.” I led her away from the Grendel and over to the pixie trio, who were in need of a second dose of tonic. In the initial stage of their recovery, they needed more every few hours. They lolled about at the bottom of the orb like overstuffed emperors at a feast, though they perked up as we approached. “Can you hold the pixies for me while I dropper the liquid into their mouths?”
She nodded excitedly. “No problem. Just call me Genie Vertis, pixie wrangler.”
“Hopefully, Boudicca will be more cooperative this time.” I opened the iris and, without any encouragement, the pixies roused from their bored stupor and flew out. Cynane made a beeline for Genie’s shoulder, taking a lock of her silver hair and wrapping it around her face. She made cooing sounds, stroking the hair as if it belonged to her. Boudicca followed, perching on Genie’s head while glaring at me. Not wanting to be the odd one out, Spartacus fluttered down onto Genie’s spare shoulder and sat, swinging his legs like a kid on a swing. “Let’s go for Spartacus first.”
The pixie draped himself sideways over Genie’s shoulder, mouth open wide like I was feeding him grapes at a Roman feast. After swallowing the tonic, he unleashed an almighty burp that made Genie giggle. Cynane went next, emitting a satisfied sigh as the liquid went down. But Boudicca remained obstinate, putting up her little fists like we were going to box by Queensbury rules.
I rolled my eyes. “It’s making you feel better! You know this.”
She chirruped in protest, wafting her hand in front of her nose and making those charming retching sounds again. Only, this time, she was too far away for me to get the tonic in her mouth while she was busy playing charades.
Quick as a flash, Genie’s hand shot out and grasped Boudicca, bringing her within my reach. The pixie struggled and threatened to take a bite out of Genie’s fingers, but Genie held on. After all, Boudicca couldn’t disappear into black mist with the ring around her ankle; an unnecessary restraint which had, suddenly, become a little more necessary. Feeling like a vet with a savage cat on the table, I held Boudicca’s jaw open as gently as I could and dropped the tonic in, pinching her nose and keeping her mouth shut to stop her from spitting it back out. Which she absolutely would have done.
“You can fly around for a bit,” I offered by way of an apology. “I know it tastes horrible, but it’s healing you.”
Boudicca glowered at me and covered her heart with her hand. Then, with a menacing scowl, she clamped her hand into a fist. Apparently, I’d broken her heart by trying to help her. All I could do was hope she’d forgive me when her color came back and her lights were glowing at full capacity again. She flew straight back into her orb and turned her back to the glass, sulking. Following their leader, Cynane and Spartacus did the same, saving me the job of trying to get them back inside later. Boudicca had certainly cut off her nose to spite her face, giving up free flying time for the sake of her stubbornness.
I closed the iris again and turned to find Genie much closer than she’d been before. Breathtakingly close. My senses were overwhelmed by the scent of her. Before I could stop myself, I reached out to readjust the tangle of hair that Cynane had created. I smoothed it down until it was flat, my hand pausing for a moment on her cheek. My gaze flitted toward her lips, which