Pixie Tamer

by Megan Haskell

  “All right. Each of us requires tribute as well as our freedom, and Possn needs a safe place to recover. And we still want to know how you made the green lights on the wall.”

  “The lights are easy, it’s just a reflection from my ring.” Rie waved her hand in small motions, sending the lights spinning again. The pixies made appreciative noises, then turned back to face her.

  “And everything else?” the leader asked, cocking her head to the side again.

  “I’ve already set you free. I broke the window open.” Rie pointed to the window she had smashed. “And I will happily let Possn stay with me as long as necessary to recover. But I don’t know what you mean by tribute.”

  “Tribute. Don’t you speak the common tongue?” the pixie chided. “A gift of gratitude, respect, or admiration.”

  Rie snorted at the pixie’s impertinence. “I know the definition, but I don’t know what you want.”

  The pixie shrugged. “What do you have to offer?”

  Rie thought about it for a moment. She didn’t have much with her, but with the pixies’ small size, they probably didn’t need much. “I can give you anything on my person that you can carry, except my ring. That was an irreplaceable gift. Otherwise, please take what you want with my gratitude for your forgiveness and understanding.”

  Huddling together as a group, the pixies clicked and whistled, glancing over their shoulders every once in awhile at Rie’s seated form.

  “Done,” the leader finally announced. “My name is Niinka, and I will take one of your gold buttons,” the leader said, pointing to the line of buttons on Rie’s cuff.

  Rie agreed without hesitation, cutting off the button with her dagger.

  “My name is Hiinto, and I will take the shoelace off your left boot,” said the male pixie with the broad grin.

  Rie looked down at her foot. The shoelace in question was torn about two inches from the end, the threads barely holding on. “The broken one?”

  “Yes.”

  “If you’re sure.”

  “Of course I’m sure. I’m a pixie, I know what I like.”

  Rie shrugged, and untied her boot.

  “I’m Tiik. I’d like one of the beads from your hair.”

  Rie nodded slightly, unwinding her bun and sliding one of the decorative silver beads off her nearly black hair. She held it out to the second male pixie, who gleefully put his entire arm through the hole and wore it like a gigantic bracelet.

  The rest of the pixies chose their tribute, all except Possn. “Possn, Right?” Rie asked, lifting the pixie up to eye level. “I owe you a bigger tribute for your pain. You can stay with me in my rooms, and I will give you a prize each day, until you can once again fly. Will that be acceptable?”

  The pixie nodded, her head bobbing vigorously.

  The door opened behind her. The visitor took one step into the room and stopped. When Rie stood and turned to look, she was greeted with an image she’d never before seen. Curuthannor surprised.

  “The pixies all live?”

  “Well, four of them escaped through the window,” Rie pointed to the broken pane, “which I will repair, of course. And this one broke her wing when I knocked her to the ground, but yes, otherwise they are all here and healthy.”

  “Why?”

  “It seems that pixies are not the savage carnivores most people believe. When I realized they weren’t really attacking me, we negotiated a truce.”

  “I see.”

  “They have been kind enough to forgive my ignorance.”

  Curuthannor’s lips curved into a smile that reached all the way to his eyes. Rie felt her own answering smile spread across her face. This might be the first time she had ever felt like she’d earned Curuthannor’s respect.

  “Well done. And did you learn anything?”

  “Keeping a level head and thinking through a problem is faster and more efficient than jumping into a fight with bared blades. If I had paused to consider the first pixie’s approach, I wouldn’t have had to fight at all, and she wouldn’t have been injured.”

  Curuthannor nodded, and clasped his hands behind his back. “And how does that apply to your fight with Galadir?”

  “If I had been thinking clearly, I would have realized that he was using his power to manipulate my emotions, and I would have had a chance to fight against the compulsion. But how can I do that without first realizing I’m being manipulated, especially in a situation where I don’t know the person’s abilities?”

  “You must always be on your guard, always question others’ motivations. Use your head, not your heart, at least until you are confident you’ve found an ally.”

  “But that’s so cold. Don’t you trust anyone?”

  “I trust my lifemate, and I trust you. Isn’t that enough?”

  Rie felt her spine straighten at the compliment, an irrepressible grin stretching across her face.

  “Now, let’s go celebrate your nameday. I believe Grmelda has cooked something special for dinner, and Lhéwen has a gift for you, as well.”

  “What about the pixies?”

  “They are, of course, free to go.”

  “Actually,” Niinka, the leader interrupted, “a few of us would like to stay with you, if you’ll allow.”

  Curuthannor’s eyebrows lifted, and he turned to watch Rie.

  “I would be honored, but I’m afraid I don’t know your living requirements,” Rie replied, carefully. She didn’t necessarily object to having the pixies around. Especially if they continued to be rational. But being unfamiliar with their habits and core nature, she wasn’t sure it was a good idea.

  “Not to worry, we’ll make do.” Niinka grinned, serrated teeth glinting in the light coming through the window.

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  Excerpts from Sanyare

  I created Pixie Tamer in response to the reader feedback I received in the early days of Sanyare's release. Everyone seemed to love my vicious little guys, and I heard things like "so much fun!" and "not what I expected, at all!" I knew that there was something great embedded in these tiniest of characters, and I wanted to write a story that prominently featured their relationship with Rie, where readers could learn more about their history.

  Now, if you've already read Sanyare, you know all about the mischief the pixies get into. But in case you haven't, here are a few more snippets featuring the pixies from Sanyare!

  Enjoy!

  Excerpt From Chapter 1

  The man screamed, gun firing two rounds in quick succession. Rie flattened against the log, but the rounds weren’t aimed at her. Poking her head above the wood again, Rie gagged, the contents of her stomach threatening to spill onto the sand.

  The pixies were hard at work. A fine red mist gathered like a cloud around the assassin’s head. He swatted at empty air, turning in circles, but never close to touching Rie’s friends. His cheeks disappeared first, hollowing out as the pixies stole chunks of soft tissue. Only visible as a flash when they paused to strike, the pixies made fast work of the man’s face. With little meat left on his cheeks and Hiinto harassing his eyes, Niinka tunneled into the skin beneath his jaw. His scream abruptly cut off, Rie assumed when Niinka bit through his vocal cords.

  The assassin faced her, mouth gaping like a fish. Lidless eyes glared, whites showing all the way around the chocolate colored iris. He stepped forward, lifted his gun for a final attempt on Rie’s life. Hiinto landed hard on his wrist, clawing his way into the tendons and veins, sending the weapon to the ground along with a hard spray of arterial blood. Having eaten most of the man’s tongue, Niinka crawled out through his mouth. Rie stood, aimed. A flick of her wrist sent the knife spinning through the air, once,
twice. The third round connected the pointed blade deep into the man’s neck.

  The pixies continued to feed as the assassin fell face first into the sand. Blood arced from multiple wounds, slowing along with his heart rate. The pixies, bloated with blood and flesh, flew to Rie’s side, bobbing drunkenly from side to side.

  “Sorry we were late,” Hiinto said, his head tilted to the side. Blood and gore streaked his face and body from eyes to bellybutton. “We got a little distracted when you cut the first one.”

  “They were blood sidhe, not human. A more complex flavor, more depth to savor,” Niinka added, dragging her fingers one by one through her mouth, licking off every drop of red liquid she could find. Despite her trip through the gunman’s throat, she was already clean, only a few spots of red marring her smooth white complexion.

  Excerpt From Chapter 8

  “So?” she asked, daring Braegan to meet her gaze.

  Braegan coughed, covering his mouth with one closed fist. “You look…dangerous.”

  “That’s it? That’s all you can say?” Niinka buzzed around Braegan’s head while he ineffectually swatted at her. “Do you have cotton for brains, or marbles for eyes? She looks fantastic! Like a red and black tigress on the prowl.”

  “Like a barbarian princess,” Possn chimed from her perch near the front door, surprising Rie. The shyest of the lot, Possn usually stayed hidden and quiet. She and Niinka had chosen to travel with Rie on her shopping trip, while the men explored the city on their own. Braegan had put up with them, seeming to get used to having them pop up randomly out of nowhere. Of course, it was a lot easier to deal with the girls, one of whom barely spoke, than the more mischievous guys.

  “No! Like a demonatrix!” Niinka tinkled a laugh.

  “Don’t you mean dominatrix?” Braegan asked.

  “Nope. A demonatrix. She’ll suck out your soul while she sucks you dry, and you’ll beg for more!”

  Excerpt From Chapter 12

  “Where in hell have you been?” Braegan asked. “Your pixie friends have been nothing but trouble.”

  “What have they done now?”

  “First, they attacked Tryg’s pet goat…”

  “Tryg, the troll bartender? He has a pet goat?”

  “Cliché, I know, but true nonetheless. And your pixies thought she was fair game for dinner. Tryg disagreed. I eventually calmed him down, but not before he caught one of the pixies in a jar.”

  Niinka zoomed out from the crowd and fluttered near Rie, but out of reach of Braegan’s swatting hand. Her shrill voice vibrated with anger. “Liar! He ratted on us, to get us out of the way. He’s only mad Tryg couldn’t catch us all.”

  Rie frowned, her thoughts scrambling to catch up. “But you were trying to eat Tryg’s goat?”

  “Well, yes,” Niinka admitted. “But we didn’t know it was Tryg’s goat. It was all a set up. He,” Niinka thrust a tiny finger in Braegan’s direction, “told us to go in back and find something to eat. What were we supposed to think?”

  “Maybe that you should get some salami or something. Not eat a live goat, lovingly tended in her own private stall,” Braegan said.

  “Ew. Cured meat? No, thank you!”

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  Sanyare: The Last Descendant

  "I do love a good urban fantasy, and this hit all the sweet spots. Complex relationships and a driving plot make this book a must read!" -- Bestselling Author Sherry D. Ficklin

  "A bad ass heroine, funny side characters, great world building, and an interesting story that leaves you wanting more." -- Angel Erin's Book Obsession

  "Fantasy, Action, Magic, Sexy Elves, Sexy Vamps - it really has it all. If you love fantasy, you'll enjoy this!" -- Katie McCoach Editorial

  BRAG Medallion Winner!

  A woman torn between honor and survival…

  Raised in a realm where humans are no better than slaves, Rie Lhethannien has struggled for decades to earn a meager post in the High Court messenger service. Even training as an elite fighter isn’t enough to earn the respect she craves. Scorned by the high elves who rely on her loyalty, Rie’s closest allies are the fierce carnivorous pixies who travel by her side.

  When she’s attacked on a routine delivery by assassins from the enemy Shadow Realm, Rie’s martial prowess keeps her alive…and frames her as a traitor. Facing execution at the hand of an unmerciful king, Rie must forsake her oaths and flee into enemy lands to prove her innocence. With surprising help from a bastard prince and an ambitious blood sidhe, Rie searches for the truth behind the attack. The secrets she uncovers may threaten more than her honor or even her life…for war is looming in the nine faerie realms.

  Sanyare: The Last Descendant is the first book in the Sanyare Chronicles, a fast-paced dark fantasy adventure. If you like kick-butt heroines and action-packed fantasy filled with mythological creatures, then you’ll love the first novel in Megan Haskell’s debut series. Start your journey across the nine faerie realms today!

  Start your adventure across the 9 Faerie Realms Today!

  Chapter 1

  With a deep breath, Rie left the pretensions of the High Court and its glittering throng behind her. The portal stretched and squeezed, drawing her cell by cell from the hard marble hall onto soft sand touched by gentle waves. She rested her hand on the cool sandstone that arched above her head, gathering her bearings as her heart rate calmed.

  Centering herself, Rie pulled the salty stink of fish deep into her lungs before beginning the two-mile walk to Lord Garamaen’s beachfront estate. The beach was hushed, as if setting the stage for the first appearance of the sun above the hills. Even the birds held their breath. It was too early for the tourists and dog-walkers to be out, and only a few surfers lounged on the calm waves in the distance. Rie savored the quiet, even if her two tiny companions didn’t.

  “The human realm is so boring,” Hiinto said, spittle landing on Rie’s cheek.

  She wiped it away, careful not to swat the two-inch pixie holding onto her ear, but made a show of flinging the spit off to the side.

  “Why can’t we go somewhere new and fun?” he continued.

  “Please. You wouldn’t know what to do with yourself. You’d hide in Rie’s hair the whole time,” Niinka replied from her makeshift swing at Rie’s belt. She lounged upside down, appearing as nothing more than a trinket on a chain hanging out of Rie’s pocket, while she sharpened her claws to a precise point.

  “Not true!”

  Rie clenched her jaw, biting back her irritation. They were her friends, but sometimes she wished they would act like adults, rather than siblings.

  “It is true, and you know it,” Niinka said.

  “Quiet,” Rie snapped, patience gone. A headache throbbed behind her forehead. She needed to focus.

  Two men stood on the beach, directly in her path. Still at least fifty yards away, they seemed out of place without the surfboards or exercise attire of the usual early morning crowd. Rie paused, assessing. The blond one crouched, taking something out of a bag in the sand. He flipped it once, a shard of light glinting into Rie’s eyes. The throbbing in her brain burst in white-hot light, leaving her blind to the real world as she entered a vision.

  The blond man stands, facing her. He pulls his arm back, a knife whistles toward her. Blood streams from her belly, her shirt soaked in seconds, the sand absorbing the overflow. The sky is all she sees, expansive gray-blue dotted with thin wispy clouds. A small hand taps her face. Niinka’s wide black eyes float into view. Then darkness.

  Rie gasped, coming out of the premonition. The blond man rose from his crouch, facing her. His arm pulled back.

  Sending her thanks to the gods for the warning, Rie spun left as a knife passed through the air where she had stood. Dropping into a crouch, she scuttled behind a large rocky outcropping, just as another knife hit the sand at her feet. She picked it up, testing the weight as adrenaline surged and her heart rate sped. Fear twisted a knot of dread in her gut.

  Curuthannor’s training
kicked in. This might be her first life or death fight, but he had prepared her well. She took a cleansing breath, washed away the fear and replaced it with determination. The pixies let go of their hiding spots, chattering in the clicks and whistles of their native tongue. Rie ignored them, focusing instead on her surroundings, and her options. Stairs wound up the cliff to her left, heading toward the street above, but a hundred feet of open space stretched between her rock and the first step. No matter how fast she moved, she’d be an easy target. If she ran back toward the arch, she’d be similarly open to attack.

  Rie grabbed a handful of sand with her left hand, while her right hand reached behind and traded the unfamiliar throwing knife for one of two eight-inch khukuri blades in the horizontal sheath at her lower back.

  “What are they doing?” she asked Hiinto.

  The little pixie crawled atop the rock, his translucent wings pulled back and naked skin camouflaged to match the color and texture of the sandstone. “They’ve split up, one on each side. They’re creeping along now, not sure what you’re doing, I think. What are you doing?”

  “Which one is closer?”

  “The one near the cliffs.”

  “How close?”

  “Fifty feet, coming closer.”

  “Are you two hungry?”

  Hiinto grinned, revealing a mouth full of sharp, serrated teeth, while Niinka rubbed her hands together. “Humans taste almost as good as the elves and greater fae,” she whispered.