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better at defense than I have shown myself to be here in your territory. I’m very sorry. I wouldn’t have come on the trip and endangered my human friends had I realized any of this would happen.”
    “So you believe they were after you?” Pete asked as Steve held off, watching and weighing the pixie’s words.
    “Whoever they are.” She shrugged. “I’ve been hunted off and on for a few decades. There’s been a slight uptick in the number of incidents just lately, but I didn’t think anything could get past my defenses. I’ve learned my lesson after tonight.” She made a face. “I would appreciate it if you didn’t reveal my differences to my friends. I like being human and living among them as much as I can. I wouldn’t want that to change because of tonight’s misadventure.”
    On one level, Steve couldn’t believe how selfish this woman sounded. On another, he sort of understood her desire to be just a normal human with no worries other than the normal human worries. But this little fairy was in for a rude awakening and Steve was just the man to deliver it.
    “I won’t reveal your secret, but you’d better wake up and realize the Venifucus are out there and they’re gunning for every being who serves the Light. Even one as self-centered as you.”
    The pixie recoiled from Steve’s accusation and he was glad she appeared to be thinking about his harsh words. Steve was building up a good head of steam when Pete put one hand on his arm, the gesture saying without words that Steve should be more cautious. He didn’t like it, but this was Pete’s territory. Steve needed to defer to the Alpha werewolf in his Pack house.
    “We will not out you to the humans, but neither can we allow you to put either them or us in even more danger than we are already in. This Clan has already paid a terrible price to the evil of the Venifucus recently, and we have still not recovered from it.”
    “I don’t understand.” To her credit, the pixie-woman actually looked both confused and concerned. “The Venifucus . They don’t exist. My father said they were vanquished centuries ago.”
    “How old are you, child,” Bebe asked in a soft, motherly tone.
    “I just turned seventy,” Lynda answered in a small voice, clearly responding to Bebe’s warmth.
    “Och, you’re just a baby by your people’s standards. Ours too, come to think of it. You don’t know much about the ancient troubles with the Venifucus, do you? And if you’ve been living completely among humans, you probably haven’t heard the news that they are most definitely back. Come now, let’s get you cleaned up and then we can have a long talk. I’ll catch you up on everything that’s been happening in the magical world while you’ve been playing at being human.” Bebe put her arm around the much shorter woman’s shoulders and led her down the hall, shooting a look back at the men that said let me take care of this , in no uncertain terms.
    “Thank the Mother of All for Bebe,” Pete muttered, and Steve had to agree.
    “Do you have any blood-drawing equipment? Syringes, tubes, sterile pads. That kind of thing.” Steve turned to Pete, already on to the next thing on his mental list.
    “Sure, why?” Pete looked interested, and Steve was glad to explain. The Alpha would need to know what was going on in his Pack territory, especially right in the Pack house.
    “Trisha is a doctor. She wants to try to identify the substance they were all dosed with. I said I’d take her by the lab and she seems eager to try to do something to help her friends.”
    “Won’t they just sleep it off?” Pete frowned.
    “Probably,” Steve agreed. “But I can see her point in wanting to know exactly what it was they were given, in case there are any longer-lasting effects.”
    Pete nodded. “Hall closet should have what you need. I’m going downstairs to talk to everyone and meet Grif, Slade and Kate. I’ll send them up when they get here.”
    “Thanks.”