A goose escapes from her family and seeks out a mate then changes her mind and tries to back out of the Crossroads. He has other ideas.
Tyla is a golden goose, creature of myth and legend. She gets a card in the mail and calls a transporter to get her out of her gilded cage and to the Crossroads.
Tyla has no experience with men, strangers, bright lights or loud noises. She is completely overwhelmed, and once she meets a man who is willing to make her dream of a mate come true, she comes down with a case of cold feet.
Arkenon enjoys travelling the world as one of the premier shifter tattoo artists. When he meets Tyla over a casual dinner, he is smitten with her shy looks but straightforward attitude. He enrolls at the Crossroads and pursues the woman he wants as a mate. He just has to work on defining his motives for both their sakes.
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Christmas Goose
Copyright © 2013 Zenina Masters
ISBN: 978-1-77111-752-4
Cover art by Carmen Waters
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.
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Christmas Goose
Shifting Crossroads book 11
By
Zenina Masters
Chapter One
Tyla Orwell sat and watched the parade march past her family’s home. She heard the giggle of her niece a moment before she was tackled. Well, it wasn’t much of a tackle. Tora was only two feet tall.
“Hello, shortcake.” Tyla lifted Tora in her arms and hugged her while the parade filed past.
Tora applauded and wiggled her legs as the brightly coloured floats slowly progressed past.
The tree-trimming party was under way, and the drunken revels of the Orwells were reaching Tyla’s ears. She was on babysitting duty, so she kept Tora in her arms until the pink-cheeked cherub fell asleep.
She put Tora down in her room and opened her computer. It was time to get some work done, and since she was currently the goose that was laying the golden eggs, she needed to keep her family wealthy and on top of their social ladder.
It sucked that only one family member per generation got the knack for making money out of anything. They called it the Rumplestiltskin gene.
Her aunt Hadra had the knack before Tyla, and she had lived her life alone and surrounded by her family. Tyla was determined that that was not going to happen to her.
The holidays meant that she was surrounded at all times, but there was a way out. The moment that Tora was back with her mother, Tyla was going to make a call.
She fished the card out of her bra and looked at it. There was a name and a number, and Tyla was really hoping that it wasn’t a joke.
She put it back in the only thing that her family didn’t search when she wasn’t in her room. Being under lock and key was her life, and she was tired of it.
The moment that she decided to do it, it was like something clicked. She checked on Tora and closed the door to her room.
Drunk geese shed feathers, and she was going to be able to get all the familial samples that she needed from the main living room.
As she guessed, her family was mostly passed out, and there were feathers by the dozens. She picked up the samples she needed and left the room as quietly as she came. She saw a few pairs of open eyes, but she moved quickly, hiding the feathers behind her back. To sell her reason for being there, she put her sister into the recovery position and brought in a six-pack of water for her family’s waking moments.
It was only half of what they would need, but she was counting on them to wake in stages.
She took the feathers and added one of her own; the gold gleamed against the white and grey. She tucked the bundle of feathers under her thick blonde braid and checked on Tora. The little one was asleep with her chubby fist against her cheek. Tyla wanted a kid; she wanted a family that didn’t constantly ask her about the bottom line. She wanted to love someone who looked at her and didn’t see dollar signs. The Crossroads might just help her do that.
She would have gone that night, but with Tora depending on her for meals and supervision, there was nowhere she could go until her niece’s parents were sober and awake.
The envy she felt every time she looked at her niece was gut wrenching. It would eat her up inside after more time passed, and she didn’t want to turn into the bitter woman her aunt had been. Even the chance at normal was worth the risk.
Tyla worked through the night, keeping up with the overseas’ markets until she heard movement in the house. She scooped up Tora and went through her morning cleanup. When Tora was wearing her favourite pink jumper and little white shoes, Tyla took her to the kitchen for breakfast, breaking out the highchair and making up some oatmeal.
Feeding Tora would be faster, but it was so much more fun to watch her shove the fruity grain into the general vicinity of her mouth. The spoon got in there eventually, but usually after the oatmeal had been smeared on Tora’s chubby cheeks.
Tyla stepped in occasionally and wiped off the build-up, but Tora was having a grand time.
When breakfast was over and Tyla had had her ninth cup of coffee in three hours, she cleaned Tora up and returned to her bedroom. She pulled Tora’s toys out and watched her niece play deposit and withdrawal. A sad wave went through Tyla. Tora was going to develop the same skills that Tyla had. Their hair colour was a giveaway.
The gold hair was obvious to other shifters, but it was something that humans didn’t normally see. The dark metallic waves were a signal to everyone around her as to what she was.
Tora played happily on the floor, and Tyla waited for the groans and retching to subside. She heard showers start up, and she sighed with relief. She closed her eyes and picked up her phone. Keeping an eye on Tora, she backed into the bathroom and dialled the number on the card.
“Tyla Orwell, I have been waiting for your call. I know you don’t have much privacy, but what time is good for you?”
“Noon? Everyone expects me to be asleep, but can you meet me here? I mean exactly here? No one can know that you are coming.”
“I can meet you right where you are standing. Can you get me five minutes of privacy?”
“I can.”
“Good. See you at noon.”
Tyla hung up and pressed the phone to her forehead. She had done it. She had put the wheels in motion to get herself out of her gilded cage. Now, it was just a matter of time.
At noon, Tora was with her hung-over mother, and Tyla was sitting in her bathroom with a duffle bag and her door locked, bolted and blocked with a dresser that she had moved as quietly as possible.
The light dazzled her and a human woman walked through the large arc of power.
“Nice bathroom. Do you have the samples?” The transporter smiled and spoke in low tones.
Tyla held up the bouquet of feathers.
“All from me and my family.”
The transporter took the feathers reverently. “Thank you. Sign the documents and you are on your way.”
The pen was a blur as Tyla filled out the forms in record time. Rhythmic thumping warned them both that the family had felt the rush of magic that came with the transporter’s arrival.
She signed the contract with a flourish and handed it over. “They will be in in three minutes.”
The transporter smiled and waved her hand. “There is a makeover planned for you when you arrive to hide the more obvious aspects of your nature.”
“Really?” She touched her hair and grimaced. “I have yet to find a dye that will cover this.”
“They are not using dye. They will use a charm that has…charm.”
The thudding picked up ferocity. The transporter opened another gateway. “Now or never, Tyla.”
“I was never a fan of never.” She clutched her bag in her arms and stepped through the gateway. She heard the transporter laugh behind her, and Tyla realised that she had never asked for a name.
Chapter Two
She stumbled a little as she landed and righted herself as quickly as she could. Hands caught her and someone let out a low whistle.
A sharp hiss stopped the whistle. “Are you all right, Tyla?”
“I am fine.”
“You are the first one of your kind to have come to the Crossroads.” The swan with the white hair smiled.
“The first goose?”
“Um, no. The first one of your kind.” The man on the other side of the room smiled and inclined his head.
She touched her hair. “Oh, this? This will wash out in a day or two.”
The woman laughed. “Right. Well, we have something to hide it until then.”
She was led over to the table and was given the bracelet that she was to wear. She pulled her hair around, and it was a non-descript blonde. “How is it doing that?”
“It is an enchantment. It cost quite a bit, but Krisia was able to obtain it without any qualms. Apparently, your feather is in high demand.”
Tyla chuckled. “Yeah, I can see that. It was my family’s first income stream centuries ago. The first golden goose was bald by age thirty.”
“Ouch. Oh, I am Teal by the way. This is my mate, Tony.” The woman smiled.
“Pleased to meet you.”
“Now, did you want to drop your bags or take a tour?”
“Can I do the first and then the second?” She was unsure but she had made it this far. She was going to keep going.
Teal escorted her out of the building she had landed in. “This is the Meditation Centre. I have no idea why it is called that because Tony and I are the only ones who meditate in it.”
Tyla smiled and nodded. “You are the first person not in my family that I have spoken to face to face in two years.”
“Wow. You don’t get out much.”
“That is why I am here. I need to get out, and I need to stay out, but I don’t want a man who wants me for my money.”
“We understand. Freedom is something that many folks seek here. We provide an even playing field for the most part.” Teal smiled.
“Um, where will I be staying? I didn’t really have a chance to hash it out.”
“I am aware of the time constraints of your arrival. I don’t think that Krisia has ever done a portal in a bathroom before.”
Tyla chuckled. “I am glad to be memorable.”
Teal laughed. “Well, with your account, you are staying at our best facility. The Open Heart Bed and Breakfast.”
“I heard about that in one of the shifter chat rooms. There is currently a djinn running it.”
“Do you have a problem with that?”
Tyla laughed. “No. I am eager to meet any other species that I can. I haven’t been able to move around without an escort for years.”
“Good. Here we are.”
The house was modest by Orwell standards, but when the door opened and the smiling blue woman gestured for them to enter, it felt like a home away from home.
“Hello, Tyla. Welcome to the Open Heart. Your room is the second door at the top of the stairs. Would you like some coffee before you head out and explore?”
Tyla looked to Teal, “Can I do that?”
Teal laughed at her. “Of course. I will be only too happy to wait with Teebie and enjoy some of her excellent coffee.”
Tyla smiled and took the key from her hostess. “I will be right down.”
She darted up the stairs, nervous, terrified and very excited. This was definitely going in her personal list of favourite memories.
* * * *
Teebie poured a cup of coffee for Teal and slid the tray of cookies toward her. “So, that is a golden goose. I thought she would be more sparkly.”
Teal laughed. “She is. She is wearing that camouflage charm you developed for the partially shifted.”
“That explains why I feel my magic on her. Thanks. That was bugging me.” Teebie grinned and set out a second cup when she heard Tyla approaching.
“The room is lovely, thank you.” Her guest smiled brightly and fell on the coffee as if seeking her life’s blood.
Tyla gulped down the cup and extended it again. “More please.”
The lack of glamour on Tyla suddenly made sense. “When did you last rest, Tyla?”
“Um, yesterday morning, perhaps the afternoon. I am not sure. I have been up for thirty-six hours or more. For some reason, I couldn’t sleep.”
Teal grinned. “A quick tour and then it is to bed with you, young lady. If your true mate is here, he will still be here when you are rested.”
Tyla extended her cup to Teebie with a pleading gaze. “One more and I am at your disposal.”
Teebie looked into those deep brown eyes and poured another cup. There was a guilessness to Tyla that she liked. She wasn’t going to be able to refuse her anything. Those deep brown eyes begged for help.
The poor men of the Crossroads had no idea what was coming their way tomorrow morning. That perky goose with the big brown eyes was going to break hearts.
* * * *
Tyla woke in a strange bed, her heart pounding and adrenaline surging through her system. She put a hand to her hair and the charm on her wrist swung in her vision. The little goose on the bronze plaque caused her to sigh in relief as she remembered where she was and why she was there.
The shower helped clear the cobwebs, and three glasses of water helped her with her dehydration. She picked out a nice sundress and high-heeled sandals. Her hair was brushed and left to wave around her shoulders. It fell to the middle of her back and swayed when she walked. She liked leaving it loose, but her brothers used to clip it when she was little, and they sold it to the jeweller down the street. She had learned to tuck it up and wear a cap until she could defend herself against them.
The only time she donated her hair was when a family member needed a wedding band. If they tried to take it at any other time, she simply stopped making money for them until the hair grew back. They learned not to tick off the goose that made the gold.
With a spring in her step, she headed down the stairs. She could smell freshly made muffins and more of that delightful coffee.
“Good morning, Teebie.”
“Tyla, you are up early.”
Tyla took the seat that she was directed to. “I normally stay up nights for the foreign markets to close. My schedule is a little whacky.”
“So, one early night and you pop up like a daisy? I have to say that you look markedly better this morning.”
Teebie poured her coffee and set out the cream and sugar along with a pile of muffins and a heap of bacon.
“Interesting choices.” Tyla snagged a muffin.
“I tried doing full breakfasts, but these were the only two items that people went after. The herbivore shifters like the muffins and everybody else likes the muffins and honey and bacon. It makes things easy for me.”
Tyla ate one
of the muffins, and her mind began to find ways to make money from it. She sighed and thought about poking her brain with a fork. It needed to shut off, just for a little while.
“So, you have lived a life behind bars?” Teebie asked the question bluntly.
“Not bars, not per se. I merely lived within reach of my family once it became obvious that I was the active creature that I was thought to be.”
“So, you lay golden eggs?”
She laughed. “Not quite. I just make money, always make money. There is nothing that can stop me. I just create money hand over fist, and my family is so used to having it that they spend it as fast as it comes in.”
“What will they do without you?”
“Find their own fate or wait until my niece Tora is of age. She has all the hallmarks of a golden goose, but they can fade when she is nine or ten. No one knows why they do, but some just don’t retain the talents or the power when the time comes.”
“Are you worried for her?”
Tyla breathed in and said with absolute conviction. “No, because if they try and keep her in, I will get her out.”
Teebie smiled, “I do believe you will.”
Chapter Three
Her first steps out alone sent her pulse thudding through her. She could remember clearly the last time she had slipped her family’s watch, and when they caught her at the park, she had been confined to her room until she brought in two hundred thousand dollars to the family coffers.
It had been a boring two days, but she had been released from her rooms.
Spending time alone was her punishment. She was a woman who craved company and enjoyed being with others. Being alone was her personal nightmare.
Tyla walked to the bar and stepped cautiously inside. She could see quite well in the dim interior. A lifetime of creeping around a house at three in the morning was finally paying off.
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