Blue Skies on Fire (2 page)

“Shoot.”

“What is his beast?”

Teal grinned. “You know better than to ask that.”

Teebie sighed. “I know, but it was worth a try. See you later.”

Chortling to herself, Teebie ran back to the Open Heart in a blue blur of tumbling smoke, down the main path. Using her speed wasn’t something she did often, but it was fun to engage in now and then.

It took three heartbeats to make it from the Meditation Centre back to the Open Heart. Teebie changed into comfortable jeans and a button-down shirt with her favourite rainbow sneakers as she crossed the room. Magic flowed around her, removing the molecular construction of her dress and replacing it with the comfortable clothing.

Tony and her guest were on the doorstep two minutes after she had everything settled.

Her breath rushed out of her lungs when her guest stepped inside. Teal had not exaggerated. While she had spent the better part of the last six months catering to the fey, this shifter had a beauty that outstripped them all.

“Good evening. I am Teebie, your host. Welcome to the Open Heart.”

The man inclined his head, and there was the definite feel of age around him. “Thank you for the welcome.”

Tony cleared his throat. “This is your guest, Andor Felix. Andor, this is Teebie. Whatever you need, ask her. She is excellent in getting anything a guest could wish for.”

Teebie kept her polite smile on her face. “Funny, Tony. I think Teal is waiting for you to come home so she can kick your ass.”

Tony blinked, smiled and left.

Andor watched his guide go with a smile. “I do not understand the joke.”

She blinked. “Oh, he and Teal tend to make light of the nature of my race. The wishing jokes are fairly frequent.”

He cocked his head. “Are you a djinn?”

Teebie sighed at the fact that he was not as smart as he was pretty. “I am.”

He extended his hand to her, and when she took it, he jerked at the shock that ran between them. Teebie jerked at the fire that wreathed their hands.

Andor kept his grip light but firm. “That is new. I have met fey before, but I have never felt that kind of a shock.”

She licked her lips and looked up at him. “What is the fire?”

He shrugged. “Magic.”

She wanted to roll her eyes, but instead, she pasted her hostess smile on her face, and she asked him, “Can I offer you refreshments?”

“Water?”

Teebie nodded and backed up a step, only realizing then that he was still holding her hand. She freed herself as gracefully as she could.

“There is also tea, coffee and lemonade if you like.”

He brightened. “Tea, please.”

In a matter of seconds, the tea tray was floating out, and it settled on the table in the dining room.

Andor looked over to the sitting room with the fire, and he smiled. “Can we sit in there?”

Teebie blinked, and the tea tray lifted off to sail gracefully through the air before it settled on the low table between the sofa and chairs.

Out of habit, she summoned a tray of cakes and cookies that followed her as she led Andor into the sitting room.

She set about acting as hostess, seeing him set up with his teacup and saucer before she gestured to the cakes.

“Something to snack on?”

He appeared to be about to decline when his eyes literally lit up, “Are those chocolate chip?”

The tray lifted, and he took one of the cookies with long, graceful fingers.

The small icon on his wrist swung slightly, and she noted the lack of a gemstone on the silvery surface.

“You are not confining yourself to fey mates?” She was shocked when the words came out of her mouth.

He chuckled. “No. I am keeping my mind open. My parents have an unconventional union, and I am not averse to the same.”

She nodded as if she understood, but she didn’t. It was against her nature to pry as to the personal lives of her guests unless it was called for.

He added one cube of sugar to his tea and stirred it carefully before popping the entire cookie into his mouth and smiling with bliss. A bit of chewing and a sip of tea later and he was reaching for a second cookie.

With her guest set up, Teebie poured herself a cup and sat back with a sigh as magic put the sugar and a squeeze of lemon into her beverage.

“Do you always use so much magic?” Andor quirked his brow.

“Around here, yes. Anywhere else in the Crossroads, no.”

She didn’t explain about bleeding off the energy into consumable forms, but she got the feeling that he would understand if she tried. There was something magical about him.

His eyes had sparked with energy when he looked at the cookies, and as she checked her cake tray, the cookies were dwindling rapidly.

“How long have you been here, Teebie?” He asked her when he was refilling his teacup.

“A few years. It was a family business.” She glanced over her shoulder at the portrait of Dira on the wall. The image of Dira and Mak was in the dining room.

“A portrait of the founder of the Crossroads. Very tasteful.”

Teebie blinked and her mind reeled. “You recognize her?”

“I do, indeed. The Lady Dira. She is one of the greatest dragons in history.”

“How do you know so much about dragons?”

He paused and cleared his throat. “I would rather not say.”

She did roll her eyes that time. “As you like. So, did Tony give you a comprehensive tour of the Crossroads?”

“He showed me the bar, the café and the restaurant.”

“There is also a salon and spa now, but he doesn’t concern himself with that kind of thing. Did you see the General Store?”

“I did. What I am interested in this evening is my room and a bit of regrouping before I charge into the fray.”

It was a practical way of looking at it. “Just say the word and I will take you upstairs.”

“Why, Miss Teebie, you do move fast.”

She snorted and then thanked her complexion for hiding the blush at the unladylike noise.

“I am kidding. I have been warned that the workers here are off limits.” There was a hopeful arch to his tawny brows.

“Of course we are.” Teebie wanted to give Tony a wedgie that his children would feel.

Andor sighed, his shoulders slumping. “Of course you are.”

He set his cup and saucer down with finality and smiled. “I am ready to get some rest if you are ready to lead me.”

Teebie sent the tea set back to the kitchen and got to her feet. “Please, come this way.”

Andor rose and followed her.

“Breakfast is served beginning at dawn, and it continues until all my guests are up. It is usually over around nine in the morning. If you need a picnic for a romantic lunch, I can help you out with that. I work with Al at the restaurant to get something special together.”

She gave him the lecture as they headed up the stairs. She turned left and led him to the end of the hallway. She opened the door.

“The door is keyed to your wrist charm and you can come and go as you like. There is a balcony for you, as per your request, and I hope you enjoy your stay at the Open Heart.”

She smiled politely. It was a practiced smile. “May you find what you seek.”

He blinked at her bland tone. “I suppose I will see you in the morning.”

She inclined her head and waited until he entered his rooms. The moment the door closed, her shoulders slumped in relief and she headed back downstairs.

For one brief moment, she had felt a connection with someone and then reality had smacked her in the face. She was bonded to the Crossroads. There was no time off for her. Her time as host was her life. She had just been reminded of it.

She headed back to the kitchen, and she prepped the dry goods for the next day’s breakfast. When everything was ready, she split her consciousness and body and went to bed.

The late comers occasionally needed a little help getting settled, and she needed a presence to provide them with their hospitality. Her mist form looked solid and could wield basic magic. It let the majority of her body get some sleep.

Tonight, she just wanted the bliss of nothingness.

With the bed and breakfast sorted, cleaned and ready for the morning as well as for evening arrivals, she went into the underground grotto that was Dira’s horde and Teebie’s bedroom.

She settled on the round silk-covered bed and curled up. Not thinking about Andor was the hardest thing she had ever done.

Breakfast was going to be hell.

Four guests was an average load in the old days, but now, nine at each seating was what she could expect. Today, there were five males and four females seated at the dining room table. It took all of her concentration to keep everything replenished as the feeding frenzy began.

Andor was the centre of the female attention, and the other males at the table were a little perturbed by it, especially as two of the ladies had spent the night with their soon-to-be mates.

To Teebie’s amazement, none of the men were directing their irritation toward Andor. They pinned their selected females with grumpy gazes.

No one could get mad at Andor. This evening was going to be astonishing. When you got male shifters together, territorial nature was the prime motivation. The beasts did the choosing.

If the beasts didn’t mind Andor being the alpha, that was their business.

Teebie watched her guests from behind the wall, and when food was required or a clean dish was needed, she sent it out to them. They didn’t want to see her. They had other things on their minds.

One by one, and two by two, they left the dining room, and she whisked their dishes and cutlery away on currents of magic.

When only Andor was left, she peeped out to see him sitting and reading a computer tablet while sipping his coffee. The table was clear, and she whisked crumbs into nothing on the tablecloth.

“Are you going to come out now, Miss Teebie?”

Teebie wandered out, wearing her customary long skirt, boots and a comfortable top with a cowl neck. Her clothing was usually a cross between cowboy and bohemian. Under everything, she was wearing fire engine red lingerie, but he didn’t know that. It was her secret.

“Do you always hide at breakfast?”

“Only when there is no need for me to keep conversation going. You did just fine without me.” She looked at the crumbs on the floor and sent a broom after them.

“What did you do in the human world?”

She blinked. “I hid. Fey may be commonly acknowledged, but djinn aren’t around that often. They keep to themselves.”

He frowned. “But they are known.”

“Yes, but most have blended with the fey over the generations and are now just slightly blue. My bright-blue skin is a throwback. It carries power but also social stigma.”

“Why?”

“It is a symbol of primitive living. I am the only one of four sisters to have this colouring. My aunt named me.” Her lips quirked, and she summoned a cup of coffee.

“Teebie is an interesting name. What does it mean?”

She raised her brows. “What does Andor mean?”

“Eagle-thunder. It doesn’t trip of the tongue.” He grinned.

“Totally Blue. That is my actual legal name.”

His mouth opened in surprise. “Your true name is Totally Blue?”

“Correct. T and B, so Teebie.”

He gave her a slow smile. “That is fascinating and charming.”

She wrinkled her nose and sipped at her coffee. “Yes. Fascinating.”

“How do you live amongst humans?”

“I put all my power into a glamour. It is draining and gives me a headache.” She sat back and sighed. Her magic was making the beds upstairs and repairing the damage left by claws, beaks and unidentifiable stains.

“You are doing something right now, aren’t you?”

She gave him a slow smile. “Housekeeping. Each morning, the sheets and bedding are destroyed and reformed. It lets me stretch my magical wings, so to speak, and is surprisingly up my alley.”

“Domestic magic is the strength of the djinn.”

He said it with such confidence that she had to stare at him.

“How do you know that? Most shifters don’t realize that there are different applications for the magic.”

“I have studied, and I am older than I look.” He gave her a wink.

“I see. Well, that is your own business.” She inclined her head and finished her coffee.

Silence dropped between them. “Well, I have a day to enjoy here at the Crossroads. How should I spend it?”

Teebie blinked. “Walk around? Explore? I have to do my morning chores and those cannot be accomplished by magic.”

He perked up. “Do you need help?”

She thought of a dozen responses, but what she heard was, “Can you pick berries?”

Andor grinned. “I can.”

“Then, rise and prepare to crouch in the dirt. We have been trying to grow more of the fruits and vegetables used at the Crossroads.”

“May I help?”

“Sure. The couple who are participating in the balance ceremony today are still in bed. They plan to stay there for a few more hours. When they rise, I will have to return to the Open Heart. That gives me just enough time to do what I need to.”

“With four hands, the work will go faster.” He rose to his feet.

Teebie finished her coffee and agreed. “Then, why delay any further?”

She set her cup down, and it disappeared into a puff of vapour.

The next moment, she was on her feet and she led him through the kitchen and out the back door, collecting the gathering baskets as she went.

“Why don’t you just generate the baskets when you are in the field?” He took a handful of baskets and settled in to walk at her side.

“I reorder matter. I would be absorbing the plants and dirt around me to make the baskets. It would defeat the purpose of harvesting anything only to destroy the plants with ripe fruit.”

“I had no idea that that was how djinn magic worked.”

“It is why we are always associated with housekeeping. It is easy enough to reform items that are already around. Even dust and crumbs can be reshaped into something useful.”

They walked across the evenly manicured grounds and toward a tall hedge that stretched as far as the eye could see.