“Don’t worry about it, Rache,” Jenks said as I gathered myself to move. “There’s something about a hole in the ground that just turns a person into an animal. Every time I got Mattie alone in one of the back tunnels—” He hesitated, then smiled, his head down and his wings still. “Tink’s titties, I miss her.”

I could only smile sadly with him, but I wished I could give him a hug. I was surprised he was talking about her already. Maybe the pixy psyche was like that, live hard and fast.

Jenks darted out and away as I wrapped myself in the blanket and shuffled to the opening. Standing creakily, I blinked in the sun, relishing the fresh air and being upright. Pierce was under a huge oak, hands on his hips and doing some kind of nineteenth-century exercise that looked stiff and about as effective as toast, though seeing him doing them in his underthings had a certain appeal. The chatter of the unseen river was obvious. Jenks was a hum of noise beside me, and gazing at Pierce, I whispered, “Don’t drive him away. He’s a nice guy.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Jenks perched on a fern, looking like he belonged, his bright red bandanna catching the sun. “Did he make sparkles sift from you before or after he told you his lies?”

“Sparkles sift from you” was nicer than “porked you,” or “boinked you,” or “had crazy monkey sex,” and I smiled. “After. Not that it’s any of your business.” Jenks’s wings dropped, and I added, “I know he uses black magic. So do I.I like him even if he’s a pain in the ass, and he makes me feel less evil, okay? I’m not going to be stupid. I know it’s not forever.” My thoughts flashed to Kisten, and I sobered.

The pixy didn’t say anything, just looked sad as Pierce approached,looking rejuvenated and a little less rumpled. He extended a hand to me, and with his help, I scrambled out. My bare feet touched the moss, and it was as if I was reborn, new again with hope.

“Thank you,” I whispered, meaning about six dozen things. Thank you for last night, for thinking I’m worth sacrificing for, for holding me when the dogs came, for giving me hope, for not leaving …

His hand fell from mine. “You’re welcome. You’re a sight in the morning sun, Rachel.”

I put a hand to my hair, knowing it was matted and that I stank of river and dirt. “I must look awful.”

“You’re grand,” he affirmed, blue eyes delighted. “The sun is in your hair, and it’s all over in a most comely fashion.”

“Yeah,” Jenks said, interrupting. “Rachel looks good after she gets boinked. It’s the only time she relaxes.”