"If he crosses the town line with those bees," Leander said. "Then I'll cease to exist."
Penny reached up to the front seat and squeezed his shoulder. "The ward will stop him. We'll stop him," she said.

Gammy's bug groaned in protest as they flew through the outskirts of Sugar Falls towards the town line. Penny didn't breathe until the field where they'd fixed the ward came into view. A sign on the side of the road read, "Thank You for Visiting Sugar Falls, Come Again Soon!" Beside that sign a large van, painted red and gold like the magician's tent, was tipped over into the ditch on the side of the road. Smoke poured from the hood of the car and a very angry man in coattails was bent over it.

The magician brandished his wand as the bug pulled to a stop behind his van. Gammy was the first out of the car. She popped the trunk and pulled out her trusty pitchfork which she turned on the magician. There was a low humming coming from the back of the van.

"If you've upset my bees," Gammy growled.

"Stay back, lady," the Great Bellini said with wave of his wand. "And watch where you're pointing that thing!"

Leander hopped from the car and stalked over to where the man stood next to the smoking engine. The magician didn't have time to move before Leander delivered a swift punch to the man's jaw. He crumpled with a pitiful scream and the wand fell to the ground. Leander picked up the wand and snapped it in two. "You can take my magic, but this is still my town and my magic will come back long before I forget this ever happened. Leave," he said as the magician scrambled to get away from the prince. "I don't ever want to see you or any of your kind around Sugar Falls ever again."

The magician whimpered, but clambered to his feet and took off down the road. Once he'd disappeared down the road they turned their attention to the humming in the van.

Gammy approached the back door and hesitantly heaved it open. Bees poured out in chaotic mass. "They're swarming," she exclaimed. "They don't know what's going on and where to go!"

"Talk to them," Leander said with a hand on Penny's back. "They love your voice."

Penny watched the bees zip through the air, no single one flying in the same direction. "Um, hi bees," she said. "Hey. It's me. You know me! Come on," she said. "If you follow me, we'll take you home."

The swarm slowed to a lull at the sound of her voice. Penny climbed into the beetle and the bees seemed to follow. Gammy took the wheel and rolled down the windows as Penny started to sing a song her mother had taught her, and she'd in turn sung for the bees.

Are you going to the Bramble Berry Fair?

Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme;

Remember me to the one who lives there,

For once she was a true love of mine

Gammy turned the bug around. With a dancing flurry of bees trailing just behind, she headed for home.

The Honey Parade had stalled. Penny readjusted the crown atop her head as word spread that one of the piccolo players in the marching band had collapsed in the heat. The sun beat down on the back of her neck and she looked out over the smiling crowds that lined Main Street. Children watched the floats hungrily, their eyes darting about as they tried to catch the best candy that was thrown into the crowds.

That's when Penny saw him. Standing under an oak, the Prince of Bees watched her with a lazy smile. She gave him a formal wave fitting of the Honey Queen and watched his shoulders shake with a laugh. He pushed off the tree trunk and sauntered past the row of kids trying to find the quickest access to the candy on the curb, and walked right into the street.

No one stopped him as he walked right up to the convertible where Penny was perched and hopped into the back seat.

"What are you doing?" she asked as he took the spot next to her.

"You make a beautiful Honey Queen," he said with a glance at her crown. Penny couldn't breathe as Leander brought a hand to her chin, tilting her face up to his. "And I've wanted to do this for a very long time."

The noise of the parade faded away. Penny could feel the sun warm her face as her eyes fluttered closed. Leander's lips pressed to hers tenderly and her insides felt as hot as her cheeks.

He tasted like honey right off the comb.

THE END

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO READ THIS LITTLE TALE. I HAD SO MUCH I COULDN'T FIT INTO A SHORT STORY, SO I'VE DECIDED TO TURN THIS INTO A NOVEL!!! THERE WILL BE MUCH MORE AT STAKE AND YOU'LL GET TO SEE DEEPER INTO PENNY AND LEANDER'S LIVES! I'VE ALREADY STARTED RE-PLOTTING THE BOOKS AND I SHOULD BE READY TO START WRITING FOR NANOWRIMO!!!