by Viola Grace
Teebie opened the door. “Please, let that be a metaphor.”
* * * *
Ida sat with the ladies after she had put on the underwear and sundress provided. Teebie poured the lemonade and handed out the cookies as if she practised every day.
Ida cocked her head, “So, I can go anywhere, talk to anyone, drink, dance and have a nice time while I look for Mr. Right?”
Teal nodded toward the charm that was now on Ida’s wrist. “The polished stones with the glyph on them will register your purchases. The gemstone in the charm lets the elves see you as well as the shifters.”
“Elves?” Ida’s eyes went wide. “There are elves here?”
Teal nodded. “They operate through a treaty between our peoples. It has been in place for over a year. Didn’t you know?”
“No. We only operate within our family groups. There is never a reason to leave them as the swans are fairly extensive around the world.”
Teal rubbed her hair. “I suppose that that much hasn’t changed. It was the way it was when I ran from my family.”
Ida was delighted. “You ran?”
“I did. Tony caught me, but I led him on quite the chase. Now, it is your turn to run afoul of your destiny.”
Teebie snorted. “You make it sound like so much fun. I distinctly remember some enjoyment in the process.”
Ida watched the two women compare notes on their husbands, and she nibbled at the cookie.
When the two women were immersed in their argument, Ida got up and headed down the stairs. It was time to explore her new territory and, perhaps, find a pond to swim in. Ponds always calmed her down.
The light was displaying late afternoon, and the swing of the fifties-style sundress that she was wearing was hypnotic. The rustle against her thighs was soothing, but she had the funny feeling that the severe waist made her look less like a pinup and more like an inflatable doll.
The cookies hadn’t done it for her, so she headed to the café for a burger and fries. There were a few people around, but they all seemed to have their own occupations, so Ida looked forward to a pleasant and relaxing lunch.
After the third elf came and asked to sit down, she scowled. “Is there a sign on my boobs that says I didn’t come in here to eat, please hit on me?”
The elegant man in question looked her over. “Your very presence here and the gemstone on your wrist, invites us to speak with you.”
She looked over at another elf who was trying to make eye contact. She pointed to the guy in front of her. “Sit.”
He smiled in a very pleased manner. “Thank you. My name is—”
“I don’t care. I am just using you as a block to keep someone else from parking themselves across from me.”
He blinked, his multi-coloured eyes were startling, and then, he laughed. “That is a new one.”
She shrugged and returned to work on her hamburger.
“Why did you come to the Crossroads if you don’t want to consider an elf as a mate?”
Ida shielded her mouth with her hand as she spoke. “I wasn’t intending to come. I had a family issue, and I ended up transported here because being there wasn’t good for me.”
She commenced chewing and swallowing the moment she finished speaking.
He blinked. “So, you are a runaway?”
“Yup.”
“Is it common in your kind?” He raised his brows.
She shrugged. “Not that I am aware of, though I am told it crops up now and then.”
She finished her meal, wiped her fingers and looked at her blond and rainbow-eyed companion. She stuck her hand out. “My name is Ida.”
He took her hand in his and gently raised it to his lips. “I am Roynal.”
The static between them irritated her. It wasn’t exciting like the few accidental contacts she had had with Dromer.
Magic skated along her skin, and she slowly but firmly removed her hand from his touch.
“Right. Glad to meet you, Roynal. May you find what you seek.”
“Thank you. What are your plans for the rest of the day?” He looked at her with unquenchable cheer.
“Um, I think I am going to go for a walk, and from there, I will return to the bed and breakfast before getting some sleep.”
“No dancing at the Crossed Star?”
“Nope. I have to ease into this.”
“What can I do to persuade you?” He smiled and winked at her.
“Let me leave here without shadowing me. I am not in the mood to lead a parade.”
She got up, paid for her meal and made her way out of the café. Ida could feel the gazes following her and desperately wanted to be wearing her loose coveralls or jeans and a t-shirt. Something baggy that didn’t show off her figure. Her figure had never been anything but trouble when she bothered to wear something form fitting.
Ida walked past the businesses and looked into the spa and salon. She was desperate for a manicure, but they never lasted.
The bar was getting into full swing, and music was easing out into the dimming light.
She walked past the doors and headed for the field where a few shifters were cavorting in the grasses. The scent of a pond was in the air, and her wanderings pulled her down a path that led to a brook that spilled into a large, rippling pond.
The temptation to strip off and jump into that water was all consuming, but it would be hiding. She was done hiding.
She turned on her heel and walked back toward the Open Heart. She needed time to come up with a plan.
Chapter Three
Dromer transported himself from his home to the beacon at the Crossroads.
He had contacted the seers, but they had no answer for him. His fate was already set. The mate he chose was beyond their description.
His reservations were in place, and the guardians were there to greet him.
“Greetings, Dromer. I am Tony; this is my mate, Teal. Welcome to the Crossroads.”
The next few minutes were filled with signatures and authorizations, as well as a promise to abide by the decision of the prospective mate and a balance enchantment would share his lifespan with hers.
“Where is Ida?” He asked it the moment that he was finishing the tie on his wrist charm.
Teal smiled. “Oh, she is around. I hadn’t realized how foolish you fey get around full-figured women, but just a glimpse of her has been enough to set your people drooling. That is normally a behaviour we only see during full moons.”
Dromer felt his gut tighten. “They have seen her?”
“We walked from the Meditation Centre to the bed and breakfast. That was enough to set tongues and other body parts wagging.” Teal smirked and tossed her white hair over one shoulder.
Dromer suddenly wanted to punch someone. “I think I had better find her.”
Tony nodded. “This way.”
The dark-haired guardian showed him the way to the door and escorted him through the centre of town, down a side street and to the front door of a huge house with a wide porch.
The djinn proprietress smiled at him and welcomed him in. He wanted to be polite but what came out was, “Where is Ida?”
She grinned. “Right to the point. Well, she is in her room, but I think she is working up the nerve to go to the bar.”
“Can you take me to her?”
The djinn smiled brightly. “No. Rules of the Crossroads. You must meet in public spaces. You have the choice of waiting for her in the lobby or meeting her at the Crossed Star.”
He frowned. “Why can’t I see her?”
“Because you will be the only thing she sees. She has to be able to choose you because you are destined to be together, not because you cornered her or overwhelmed her. Come on. I will show you to your room, and you can get changed.” Teebie led him up to a room on the second floor. The balcony was wide and open to the sight of the swelling moon.
Dromer paced for a few minutes before changing clothes and heading downstairs.
The warm
th he felt when he was around her was missing, so he went in search of it.
* * * *
Ida fidgeted and tried to see over the wall of shoulders that surrounded her. Something about her was drawing a lot of attention, and she didn’t like it.
“Beautiful lady, would you do me the honour of a dance?”
She looked at the man with long blood-red hair, and she made a face. “Fine. If it will stop you from staring at me.”
“Nothing could stop that. You are gorgeous beyond imagining, and the honour of holding you is all mine.” He smiled.
“Shut up and let’s dance.”
She got up from her seat and followed him to the dance floor. The fawning of the elves was getting a little irritating. While dancing, she would only have to contend with one of them.
Ida winced when his palm pressed against her back. His other hand was sending out those sharp sparks to her system. This was one dance she was counting the moments through.
He pulled her in close, and she stiffened, scowling up at him. He gave her an innocent leer and let her put an inch between them again.
The moment the song was over, she moved away from him. He tightened his grip and slammed her against him again.
That was it. Ida stomped on his instep, slammed her forehead against his chin and twisted away from him in one smooth motion.
Her turn slammed her into another elf, and she looked up at her roadblock. Her heart started thudding in her chest, and a spiral of joy ripped through her. “Dromer.”
He scowled and touched her forehead. “You are bleeding.”
She waved it away and threw her arms around him. “I don’t care. You’re here.”
He held her tight, and she revelled in the familiar touch on her back and shoulders. “You might not care, but I do. Come on, we will get you some first aid.”
Ida snorted. “I have had worse just making deliveries.”
“Yes, but I don’t want you bleeding on that perfectly charming dress.”
“Fine. For the sake of the dress.”
She didn’t want to let him go, but she gradually relaxed her grip.
Her victim was being helped to his feet by a large man sporting serpentine eyes and tattoos. Gazes were focused on her, so she figured it was the best time to leave the dance floor.
Dromer kept his arm around her as he walked her to the bar.
The trickle of blood ran down her cheek, and Ida had to concede that Dromer had a point. She grabbed a bar napkin and pressed it to her face.
The bartender smiled at her. “Chuck, I have to head to the first aid centre.”
“Take this one with you, Spike.” The tall, bald man stepped forward with the battered elf.
Ida swooned, forcing Dromer to catch her. “Sorry, this ride is taken.”
Dromer laughed and lifted her in his arms, carrying her out of the bar and down the street to the med station.
“Very nicely done, Ida.”
“Well, I thought it would be nice to spend some time with you before I get the stitches.”
“Can’t you just shift and heal that way?”
“Not really. It doesn’t work for something this deep. I think I hit that guy’s tooth.” She wrinkled her nose, as her hand grew wet while she bled through her cocktail napkin.
It was not the most romantic moment she had ever imagined with Dromer, but as she sat for the two stitches that held her forehead together, he held her hand. It felt pretty damned romantic to her.
On the walk back to the bed and breakfast, she held his arm and enjoyed the feeling of their magics sparking between them. This was the sensation she had been looking for, and none of the other elves even came close.
“So, Ida, why did you run?”
She inhaled and exhaled slowly. “My parents had made a match with another swan somewhere else. I had a choice to either run or never see you again.”
“You would just have moved. It is not like you would cease to exist.”
“You would.” She brushed at the tears that the thought brought her.
“I don’t understand.” He directed her up the stairs and into the Open Heart.
Laughter spilled out of the sitting room and conversation out of the dining room.
“I will explain it up in my room. This is not an invitation to spend the night, but we need to get some stuff out in the open.” Ida looked up at him.
Dromer nodded. “Of course. Now that we can actually have a conversation, I am all ears.”
She grinned. “And charmingly pointy ones they are as well.”
She directed him to her room and held her hand over the doorplate as it clicked at the proximity of the charm. She led him into her room, and she was a little taken aback that there was a decanter of wine and two cups on her table.
“Okay, that wasn’t there earlier.”
Dromer chuckled. “Teebie has skills as a hostess. She anticipates what you need before you know it yourself.”
He held her chair out for her, and she settled at the table. She fought her grin when he poured two glasses of wine and served her first.
“I am guessing that is a hard habit to break.”
Dromer smiled and sat down. “Serving you has always been a pleasure.”
Ida took the cup and sipped. “Right. Well, things that need to be spoken.”
“Tell me about what would happen if you would have been sent away.” He leaned back and smiled brightly as he sipped his wine.
“Swans mate for life.”
“I have heard that. Is it the same for the shifters as well?”
Ida sighed and kicked off her shoes. She bent her knee and pulled her foot up to her right side. She rubbed the heel and massaged her toes with one hand. “Yes, only in our case, our family has involved an element of magic.”
“How so?”
“The moment that the mating has been formalized, the male and female forget anyone who has come before. They remember the attachment, but they cannot remember the person. The stronger the original feeling was, the more is removed from their memories.”
“That is appalling. How can you move forward if you don’t know what happened in the past?”
She shrugged. “The absolute devotion is not only in our genes, it is bound with magic. We don’t see anyone else or think of anyone else. The arrangement my parents entered into was done with the acknowledgement on both sides that I would agree to the magic.”
“So, some folks avoid it?”
“Yes. When the match is considered sound, there isn’t any need for it.” Ida chuckled. “Of course, some do it anyway as an insurance possibility.”
He nodded and sat back with his wine cup back on the table. “So, when you said you wouldn’t remember me...”
“I really wouldn’t. The memory would be extracted and your face forever blurred.” Ida bit her lip. “I wouldn’t like that.”
“So, you left.”
She rubbed her other foot. “I jumped out a window.”
“How did you end up here?”
Ida looked at him and smiled. “Apparently, Teal is the swan prime. She heard the call of her bloodline and sent a portal to catch me. Then, she caught me.”
Dromer chuckled and leaned forward, making her yelp as he pulled her bare feet into his lap. “Gotcha.”
“How did you happen to pick now to come here?”
“Your father came to the diner and asked me where you were. I made some calls, found out you were here and I got someone to cover the diner for a week so I could find you.”
“Please tell me you didn’t hand it over to Yinfor again. He is a little too enthusiastic.”
He rubbed her arches with his thumbs. “He has matured in the last decade.”
She shifted in her chair until she was slumped forward and her skirt was covering her to the knees. “He would have to. He was like a hyper fifteen-year-old the last time.”
“He is over three hundred. My cousin may be a little enthusiastic, but he will keep the Night St
ar clean, and the regulars will appreciate me more when I return.” He winked.
“So, my father came to you, and you came running?” She bit her lip.
He shrugged. “It has been a long time since I rescued a damsel in distress. I jumped at the chance.”
She blushed. “I am hardly in distress—oooh!” She arched as he ran his thumb against a spot on her foot that sent a laser of sensation up to her groin.
“Too hard?”
Ida could swear that his shoulders were quivering with amusement.
“No, I could take it a little harder. Faster circles, too.”
Dromer chuckled and did as she asked. She flexed her hands in her skirt. He had always been excellent at customer service.
Chapter Four
When her feet and other bits were throbbing, she pulled her legs back and wiggled her toes against the floor. “Thanks for that. I am not really used to wearing heels.”
“Yes, about that. I had no idea that you had such a figure.”
Ida blinked. “You are kidding. It seems to be all that the other elves see.”
He nodded. “Right. Fey-bait. It is what we call your particular kind of figure. When it occurs in humans, there isn’t a fey male alive who won’t be tempted. I am imagining you have quite the following around here.”
“What?” She could hear the flat tone in her own voice.
Dromer chuckled. “The extreme difference between the waist and hips is an ancient indicator of fertility. As we are an ancient race, we are attracted by that obvious signal.”
“You never made any moves before.”
“It was forbidden by your culture and my own. While I was aware of the recent inclusion of my kind to the Crossroads, you didn’t seem inclined to ask me, so I simply went on with my daily business.”
“I didn’t know. I didn’t even consider the Crossroads as an option. When I asked my parents about it, they always said that if it came down to that, they would take care of it.”
“And they did.” He sighed. “What kind of repercussions will you face when you get home?”
She shrugged. “None. I might have to write a letter to the family of the man that my parents wanted to link me to, but that should do it.”