Blue Skies on Fire (3 page)

“That is a pretty big hedge.” Andor chuckled.

She snorted and walked toward it. “It keeps the grazers from taking our groceries down to nothing.”

“Is that a problem?”

“Not usually, but every now and then, you get a frisky horse or reindeer that wants to nibble its way to a decision. They head right for the hedge.” Teebie sighed.

The wall of green parted as she walked forward. Andor was right behind her, and when the hedge closed behind them, he whistled long and low. “This is amazing.”

Acres of ground had been turned into a garden, and Teebie’s magic tended it. “Thank you. My aunt started it, but I added my own touches.”

He glanced at her. “What were your touches?”

She waved the baskets toward the cultivated crops. “All of it aside from that clump of bushes over there.”

With purpose, she took the
shopping list
that Al had provided her with, and she headed for the peppers.

“May I see the list and help?”

She grinned and showed him. “The onions are over there. Lettuces are harvested last.”

“Where do the berries fall?”

“Between cabbages and tomatoes.” She gestured toward the far end of the expansive allotment. He took his baskets and trudged in the direction that she pointed.

Teebie did what she always did. She turned into mist, and she harvested the fresh fruits and vegetables that had so recently become necessary to the smooth running of the Crossroads.

In the old days, when it was just shifters, the veg would be brought in weekly on a specially arranged transport. Dira grew the soft fruits, but everything else had to be brought in. The Crossroads was just not strong enough to let life flourish in those days. Now, it was a different story.

Sometimes, Teebie thought that the influx of the fey had been planned all along. She wouldn’t put it past her aunt. Dragons thought in the long term.

She gathered the items on her list and tucked them into the baskets. Moving as quickly as she could through the task, she kept Andor in her field of view. He was careful when he selected the vegetables, but he was also quick.

She completed her harvest and weeding in a few minutes before she regained her solid form and walked to the small orchard.

Andor was done with his collection, and he looked in surprise at where she had been working. “You did all that?”

“Of course. No sense in wasting time. Now, to get those lemons and oranges.” She smiled brightly and swung her basket.

“How is that possible?”

“Practice.” She winked and continued into the orchard where pears, apples, oranges, grapefruits, lemons and limes all held court. There were plans for cherries and other stone fruits, but the orchard was new, so they had to pace themselves.

Today’s shopping list had lemons, a few limes for the bar and some oranges. For her own kitchen, Teebie grabbed half a dozen apples while Andor handled the citrus.

“Can you grab me an extra lemon?” Teebie called out.

When she looked, it was a little vexing to see that Andor could reach far higher than she could without going into gaseous form.

She hopped up and down to grab the apples, getting the first four without trouble and then getting stuck on the last two.

“Would you care for some assistance?”

Teebie huffed to the ground for the fifth time. “Please.”

Andor looked into the branches and reached above her head to pluck the last two apples she needed with one hand.

She held out her basket. “Thank you.”

He slid the apples in with their brethren and smiled. “You are welcome. What is next?”

“Cabbages, leafy greens and herbs.”

Andor chuckled. “Excellent. One question. How are we going to get this all back to the Open Heart?”

Teebie twisted her free hand in the air and all of the baskets levitated. “Like this.”

He nodded. “Fair enough. It explains why you can do all of this on your own.”

She grinned. “It hasn’t always been this hectic. In times past, it was just me and a fruit patch. This does take a bit more planning.”

“The apples were not on the list.”

“No, they are for me. I was getting the urge to make a pie. It is also why I needed the lemon.”

They walked toward the greens portion of the garden, and she produced a knife for him and a set of scissors for her.

“Why don’t you just harvest this with magic?” He raised his brows and waggled them.

“I can’t cut living matter with magic. I can lift it, but I can’t cut it. I have to do it manually.” She could do it with her mist form, but if he hadn’t seen it while she was working, she didn’t want it to be a memory of her.

Teebie hadn’t been this distracted by a man since... ever. She wanted to show off, she wanted to preen and she wanted him to think she was ladylike. It was a conflicting situation considering that he had been told she was off limits.

Ten minutes later and their produce parade was on its way back to the Open Heart.

The nervous bride was in deep discussion with Teebie’s avatar. Teebie had the avatar excuse itself, and a moment later, she came around the corner with a gown draped over her arm.

“Here you are, Missande.”

The bride grinned. “Thank you, Teebie. It is perfect!” The woman ran up the stairs with the gown in her arms.

Teebie manifested an avatar just down the hall from Missande’s room, and when the woman was inside her door, it knocked and moved in to help her dress.

“What was that?”

Andor was smiling and watching her from the kitchen doorway.

“It was how I act as host. When one person needs attention, it seems they all do. I send an avatar of my consciousness along to help each one out to make sure that their hair and makeup is done to perfection before they head off to their balancing ceremony.”

“What did you do before the ceremonies?”

She smiled. “The balance is only needed when it is a fey and shifter union. A pair of shifters need only sign a contract and go on their way.”

“Why do the fey and shifters need the ceremony?”

Teebie turned and walked over to him, lifting her hand to his cheek. The crackle of energy snapped between them, and she hadn’t even made contact. “Does that ring a bell?”

“Ah, I suppose it would wear on them if it continued for an exceedingly long time.” He shrugged. “My parents had an arranged marriage, so they had their own issues to deal with.”

“Really? I didn’t think that shifters did that kind of thing.”

Andor smiled. “I believe it depends on the shifters.”

Teebie grinned and shrugged, pulling her hand back. “I suppose it does.”

Her skin tingled from the slight touch, and she closed her hand into a loose fist to keep the sensation on her palm. “If you will excuse me, I need to get the delivery to Albert and some of the tomatoes and lettuce to the café.”

“Can I help?” He looked hopeful.

She shook her head. A moment later, her kitchen was clear with the exception of her apples and lemon.

He must have felt the rush of cold air behind him, because he turned to stare at the place where their harvest had been. “You excused yourself for that?”

“My auntie taught me that manners matter, even in magic.”

“I would like to meet this auntie of yours.” Andor smiled and stepped toward her.

Teebie stepped back. “Unlikely. Soon, you will find a mate and be off back to the human world.”

He frowned, and the hand he had raised lowered to his side. “Right. I had nearly forgotten that you were off limits.”

Teebie’s heart ached as he left her in the dining room and exited the Open Heart. It was for the best. He needed to find another shifter or a fey to live happily ever after. Her life would be an eternity in a magical limbo catering to horny guests.

She wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

Missande and Treymor stood together, the green vines of his magic printed themselves into her skin and his eyes glowed hot yellow with his new wolf waking inside.

Teebie fussed with the small buffet, and Chuck and Ivy presented the special bottle of wine to the couple.

The vintage impressed Treymor, and he hugged Chuck and Ivy in turn. Teebie grinned. It was always a good day when the couple was happy with everything around them. The power adjustment would take enough of their attention over the following days. A joyful start made it easier.

When the buffet was settled and the guests were milling around, Teebie took a plate over to the mage. “Emira, you look hungry.”

The young woman smiled weakly. “I am. Thanks, Teebie. All of these ceremonies may be great for the survival of the fey, but they are hell on me. I have another two this afternoon.”

Teebie blinked. “You do?”

“Yes, they are occupants of one of the other bed and breakfasts. Despite your amazing track record, there are folks who occasionally stay at the other ones.”

Teebie wrinkled her nose. Emira Darfcourt was the latest and strongest mage that the guild had provided. She might be cranky, but she knew what she was doing.

“Is there anything I can get you, Emira?”

The mage stood and stretched, rubbing her back. “Can you get me a massage before this afternoon?”

Teebie manifested an avatar at the spa and made the request. Stephyn agreed to fit Emira in, and Teebie resumed her complete body at the ceremony grounds.

“You are booked in in an hour. Stephyn is going to work you over.”

Emira gave a rare smile. “Thank you. So, when is it going to be your turn?”

Teebie watched the woman nibble at the small sandwiches and decoratively cut vegetables. “My turn for what?”

“For me to wave my arms and bond you to the being of your choosing. You have been here longer than all of the fey. I am surprised that you weren’t first in line.”

Teebie blinked. “It isn’t a matter of being in line; it is a matter of finding a compatible mate. Not everyone is willing to live their life in the Crossroads, and I physically can’t live in the human world without attracting attention.”

“How did you get along before you came here?”

Emira’s blunt curiosity surprised Teebie. She didn’t normally ask anything personal.

“Um, I stayed inside and used a heavy glamour when I absolutely had to go out. My family insisted that my colouration would cause too much trouble.”

“Did it?”

“I never tried. My aunt came by and took me out for excursions. She covered me with her glamour, and I got to feel normal.”

Emira nodded. “And then she offered you a place here.”

“Yes. I jumped at the chance, and here, I do stand out, but I am accepted.”

“Your aunt is here. Wow, who is she talking to?”

Teebie turned and saw her Auntie Dira talking to Andor.
Of course.
He probably jumped at the chance to meet a dragon.

Andor bowed and Dira inclined her head. Whatever he was saying, Dira was impressed and amused.

Teebie turned back to Emira. “Well, enjoy your massage. I will see you tomorrow. I can feel that another one of my couples is close to finalizing things.”

“Oh. Goody.” Emira rolled her eyes and sighed. “Well, seriously, thanks and I will see you tomorrow.”

Teebie nodded and walked toward the shadows, cruising along the wall and out through the Meditation Centre.

She needed to get back to the Open Heart. She refused to think of it as hiding.

* * * *

Andor bowed to the Lady Dira, Dragon of the East and West, Creator of the Crossroads. “Lady. I am charmed to meet you.”

The dragon in woman form smiled. “You know who I am?”

“Yes, my father has spoken of you over the centuries.”

“Your father?”

“Kyrok of the Ice Throne.”

The woman’s green eyes widened in surprise. “I heard that he had married one of his sacrifices.”

“My mother has been at his side for an eon, yes. She has never let him forget about their unique start.” Andor smiled.

Dira reached out and touched his arm. “Where is he? I haven’t felt him moving in the world lately.”

“He has been sleeping. He started an arctic diamond company fifty years ago, and when mother was firmly in control of it, he went for a ten-year nap.”

Dira’s husband came up next to her. His golden beauty was unmistakable, and Andor knew a unicorn when he saw it.

“Mak, this is Andor, Andor, my husband, Mak. Andor is the child of one of the great northern dragons. Kyrok of the Ice Throne.”

Mak shook his hand and smiled. “I have heard good things about your father. Dira doesn’t speak kindly of many of the dragons, by Kyrok never earns a cross word.”

Andor inclined his head. “My father will be happy to hear it when he rises.”

Dira perked up. “Is he rising soon? I would like to visit him and Meridith if it is possible.”

“He will rise within the month. It is why I am here. They have decided that it is time for me to seek a mate.”

Mak smiled. “What do you think?”

“I think they are correct. I have had my fun and found out what I do and do not want in a mate.”

Mak grinned. “What have you decided?”

“I will take any woman that will have me.” He grinned in return, and the other man clapped him on the shoulder.

Dira rolled her eyes and looked around. “Mak, have you seen Teebie?”

Mak paused. “No.”

Andor inclined his head. “She removed to the shadows and left a few minutes ago. Do you know here well?”

Dira grinned. “Know her? I named her. She is my niece.”

Andor blinked as a thousand little clues now made sense. “I see.” He switched tactics. “How did you two meet?”

Mak slid his arm around his mate. “I came here looking for a mate, and she was my host. I was at my most charming, and she fell for it.”

Dira snorted.

“How did you get around the regulation about pursuing the Crossroads staff?”

Mak frowned. “There isn’t a regulation for that. Only for pursuing the ones who are already mated, but they are banded with silver on one wrist, male or female.”

Dira nodded. “Right. Otherwise, not only would I not have accepted Mak, but also Chuck would be single, as would Jim and possibly Spike. She met Al outside the Crossroads, but they locked in here.”