She tore the image out of the book and handed it over to Liahan for examination.
She tore out the other two pictures and handed them to Tobias. “These were the mages. The girl was blonde and the male was probably as well, though he had dyed his hair brown.”
He looked at the images and he jolted. “Siblings you say?”
She nodded. “There is no mistaking it. I mean unless they changed their faces to match for some peculiar reason.”
He tapped the face of the young woman. “She is familiar. I will have to take a copy of this to run through the guild. I am not very good with faces. Power signatures, yes, but not faces.”
Ty bit her lip. “How do you identify the signatures? Colour or scent?”
Liahan was still angry but she smiled. “Tell her, Tobias. She can help jog your memory.”
“Colours. I identify energy in colours.”
Ty decided to test him. “What colours am I?”
He narrowed his gaze. “Black and white.”
He was right. She smiled and closed her eyes. “The man’s signature is green, swirls of rust, hints of smoke grey. The girl’s is the same but with blue-green, rust and grey.”
He opened his eyes wide. “Did they mention picking you because you were exotics?”
Al nodded. “Yes. She mentioned it over and over again.”
To Tyanna’s surprise, Liahan was growling. “Tubrin. Elegar Tubrin is the fey in this picture. He has a lot of money but no social standing. Collecting shifters is right up his alley, and the more exotic the better. The problem is if he is doing it, then his social circle would have been involved in the same practice.”
Tobias turned to her. “How many fey are we talking about?”
Liahan shrugged. “Nine to twenty depending on how much fun they are having.”
Tobias grunted. “Right. Eleanor and Wilfred Banks. They match the power signature that you referenced. The blue-green and green are identifier talent markers. The smoke grey is the ability to cast a shield.”
Liahan nodded. “I will help you find them, and hopefully, we will get Elegar in the process. The public may know about elves, but it doesn’t mean that we don’t have to monitor our behaviour.”
Ty smiled and then swayed. She was rather tired even after all the coffee. “Pardon me, but I need to park myself.”
She staggered over to a chair and sat down.
Al was at her side and looking at her with concern. “Is there anything I can do?”
She shook her head.
Liahan extended a goblet of cold sparkling water. “Here, cub. Drink this. I suspect I know what they used on you, and the effects can vary.”
Ty guzzled the goblet and sighed, leaning back. “Thanks, Aunty.”
Liahan smiled and took the empty cup back, sending it into the vapours from which it sprang. Solid light was her skill, and she was very good at it.
Liahan patted her shoulder. “Pixie dust can mess with shifters. It can send you into unexpected shifts or block you from shifting at all. How did you chase them off?”
Al snorted. “They put her in the crush box, and she used the power of her beast to break it to pieces before they could start. That spooked them into running and disappearing, respectively.”
Liahan tsked and stroked her hair. “Tyanna never did like the crush box. That wasn’t the first one she destroyed. It was how we met, actually. A mage with issues about her being raised by a master mage decided to have some fun at her expense.”
Ty sat up. “I don’t think that anyone needs the lecture about my destructive habits, Aunty.”
Her aunty sighed. “Right. Anyway. You were most likely dosed with pixie dust. It is a concoction of herbs, sugar and magic. The effects wear off in a few hours, but you will feel rough until they do.”
“Oh, goody.”
Tobias and the Shifter Councilmember were in conference.
Ty looked at Liahan. “I will be fine, Aunty. Go and join the conversation. Someone has to pin that weasel down.”
Tamora came over. “That reminds me. We had a tracking flicker on Jeremy Wax. He has just been transported to the Crossroads. If you two can sleep off the pixie dust, you can go after him.”
Ty looked at Al, and he looked back with wry amusement.
She asked Tamora, “We don’t have to adhere to the rules of the Crossroads, do we?”
Her dispatcher chuckled. “No. I am sure that an exception can be made. We need you to find Wax before he hooks another shifter into this mess.”
Ty nodded. “Right. Let’s go. I can rest there as easily as I can here.”
Alatas helped her to her feet. “You are not going there alone, so I agree. We can sleep there.”
Tobias stood up. “I can send you now. It will not be as smooth as a transporter’s work, but I can get you there.”
It was funny to be in a room where no conversation was private, but it did make things easier for all concerned.
Ty stood with Al’s arm around her. “I will have to buy what I need when I get there.”
Tobias smiled. “Teal and Tony will sort you out. Hold on.”
A flare of darkness and a twist of the ground under them and they were in the middle of a peacefully landscaped garden.
A woman with white hair appeared with a smile. “Hunters, welcome to the Crossroads.”
Chapter Five
The Open Heart Bed and Breakfast was delightful and the beds were soft and thick.
Teebie had delivered a simple day dress and clean underwear while she slept. She had even added a set of low-heeled shoes to the pile. After a long and exceptionally hot shower, Tyanna almost felt normal again. She got dressed and headed downstairs with her hair in its normal black braid.
The small bracelet on her wrist felt odd, but Teal assured her that it would be unusual for her to not be wearing one. Alatas had been tagged as well and he had been just as impressed. They had parted ways in the bed and breakfast and now daylight was about to reunite them.
From the dining room, Al’s voice called out, “About time, sleeping beauty.”
She came around the corner and he amended his statement. “All right. That was well worth the wait.”
She gave him a smile and a flirty curtsy. “Morning.”
He had been cleaned up as well. He no longer looked like a Maori biker. He was wearing a deep blue shirt, and Ty assumed he was wearing trousers or jeans. She wasn’t going to bend to check.
Teebie came in with a pot of coffee. “That looks lovely on you. You are much improved this morning.”
Al looked her over from head to toe. “You certainly are. I don’t think I have ever seen your legs when they weren’t covered with hair.”
Teebie paused. “I beg your pardon.”
Ty laughed. “I am a furry shifter, madam. Al and I tend to run into each other after things have gone wrong for one or the other of us. We both wear fur at those times.”
Her host smiled. “Got it. Well, breakfast is on and you are here to work. Your disguise is intact, but you need fuel to get your work done. Eat.”
When a djinn offered you hospitality, you took it.
Ty settled on a chair across from Al and she filled her plate.
He gave her a sly look. “I thought you just ate bamboo.”
She nipped at the bacon. “Common misconception. I just eat things that I can catch. Bacon is easy prey.”
His dark eyes warmed to deep gold. “Good to know.”
He got to work on his own breakfast, and Ty realized that he had been waiting for her. Aww, how sweet.
They worked their way through the food with Teebie dancing attendance on them and keeping all the platters filled. The coffee was dark, rich and gave her the jolt that she needed.
Ty smiled again when she was finally full. “That was wonderful, Teebie. Thank you so much.”
Her host sighed and took a seat. “Well, I haven’t had to run that much for
two in quite a while. The exercise was welcome. There have been waves of birds coming through and they are perpetual snackers.”
Al leaned back in his chair with a smile. “I thought she only ate bamboo. This has been a revelation.”
Teebie paused and then looked at Ty. “You are kidding. I have never met a panda before.”
Ty made a face at Al. “Squealer. He is rarer than I am.” She pointed at him accusingly.
Teebie raised her dark eyebrows. “Really? I have not been able to figure him out at all.”
Ty snickered. “Bearcats have their own matchmakers.”
Teebie looked delighted. “I haven’t seen a binturong before.”
Al let out a gust of air. “Well, you have now.”
Teebie put her chin on her hands. “I don’t suppose either of you would be willing to shift for me so I could see?”
Ty shrugged. “It is the least I can do for your hospitality. Is anyone else here?”
Teebie looked hopeful and shook her head.
Ty got up and walked across the main floor to the sitting room. She closed the doors, made sure that no one could see her through the window and quickly stripped off her new clothing.
She shivered happily as she shifted into her panda fur. She could use the tremendous strength whenever she wanted, but there was nothing like wearing her beast proudly. She padded back into the dining room while her claws made ticking sounds on the tile and wood.
Teebie was stunned as Ty lumbered toward her. The joy of childhood was on her features and it made Ty’s little exertion worth it.
“Can I touch you?”
Ty sat on her wide backside and nodded.
Teebie trailed careful fingers over her head and shoulders then ran that light touch over her little, round ears.
Ty wiggled her ears and Teebie laughed excitedly.
Al disappeared and his furred form waddled in a few minutes later. His long, low body was charming, but his fluffy tail was adorable.
Teebie asked him for permission to touch, and he moseyed toward her. She touched and admired him before finally sitting back to admire them both. “This is just the best thing ever. One species I always wanted to see and one I hadn’t even seen a picture of.”
Looking down at Al, Ty was wrapped up with something she always wanted to do. It was always one of them shifted or the other. Never both at the same time. She reached down, curled her paw around him and hauled him up against her chest, cuddling a very surprised bearcat against her.
He squirmed a little, but when his nose touched hers, he huffed in surrender.
She rubbed her head against his and he made small noises in return. When he squirmed to be let down, she reluctantly let him go.
He scampered off and returned a few minutes later, tucking his shirt into the snug trousers. She rolled onto all fours and walked past him into the sitting room. Aw, how cute, he folded my clothing.
She waddled up to them and paused. She shifted into human and eyed her clothing. “And he licked them. Lovely.”
She got dressed and ignored the damp patches on the panties. Scent marking was common enough among shifters and they were in the romance capitol of all shifters. It was completely normal, but she was still going to have a little chat with him.
Back in the dining room, she glared at Alatas, but he gave her an innocent look. “If you want to lick, ask.”
Teebie looked between them and sighed, “Oh dear. Well, I guess you two have work to do, so I will be on my way.”
Teebie waved her hand and the dishes from breakfast disappeared. Teebie followed a moment later.
Al sighed and stepped toward her. “I shall ask next time, but the scent was too tempting. Apologies.”
She sighed. “So, since we are supposed to be looking for mates here, we might want to split up.”
A flicker of disappointment rippled across his face. “Right. Of course. I will head out first.”
He left immediately.
Ty sighed and waited a few minutes before she headed out on her own. Clothing was on the agenda as was a manicure if she could manage one. Her clawing at the wood of the crush box had left some grime under her nails that she couldn’t get out.
With her shoulders straight, she headed out into the bright light of a day at the Crossroads. Looking for Jeremy Wax was still a priority, but she didn’t want to upset any of those folks who had genuinely come in looking for a mate to be with them for the rest of their lives. She would proceed carefully.
The clothing was pretty and she selected a few more ensembles from the skin out. With her bags being delivered to the Open Heart, she headed for the newly opened beauty salon.
Monique was a shrike and excellent for finding the smallest flecks of dirt. She had Ty’s nails in factory condition within an hour.
After passing the payment chit over the icon that was rigged to her account, Ty got to her feet and left the seat to the next woman waiting.
The woman smiled, “I would wish you luck, but it seems you are well on your way.”
Ty inclined her head. “Good luck to you as well. May you find what you seek.”
As she walked out of the nail salon and into the street, she narrowed her eyes and started looking for either one of the men that she wanted to strangle, one for business, one for pleasure.
She sought out the Crossed Star Bar and went inside. It was easy enough to find Al. He was sitting at a table and surrounded by a flock of women who were leaning in to speak to him and giggling when he replied.
Ty rolled her eyes and headed for the bar. A grim man with a twinkle in his eye was putting glasses away. “Beer, please.”
He picked up a glass and pulled a beer with the ease of long practice. “Are you new here?”
“Yes. I arrived late in the night. It was the worst transport connection I have ever had.” She shuddered and took the beer he handed to her.
It was a damned good beer.
She took her beverage and headed for one of the small tables, going against her instinct and putting herself out where she could be seen.
After a few interested but hesitant overtures by some of the men, she reached behind her and unravelled her braid into a rippling black curtain down her back. It seemed to be just the bait that the men were waiting for.
She chatted with several guys, danced with a few, and eventually, she found herself in the arms of Jeremy Wax. He had the perpetually sleepy look that some women found sexy. She preferred to have a man earn it.
“So, how long have you been here?” He pressed her tight to him and turned her slowly to the music.
She moved her hips away from his erection and leaned away from him slightly. “I arrived this morning. I have been waiting for weeks to get the transport window.”
“It is just my luck then. I arrived yesterday.” He leaned in and pressed his lips to her neck. She felt him inhale and she waited.
He cleared his throat. “Apparently, I haven’t been the first to admire you.”
She shrugged. “The Crossroads is all about finding eligible prospects and weeding out the rejects as quickly as possible. I am not here to waste time.”
He looked surprised but a calculating look filled those sleepy eyes. “So, am I in the running?”
“Well, I haven’t sprinted away from you yet.” She smiled and ducked her head. Forcing a blush had never been her forte, but she looked up at him through her thick lashes and smiled again.
He gave her a dazed look. “Can I entice you to dinner and then more dancing, Anna?”
She smiled shyly. “I would like that.”
Anna was a solid alias and she answered to it, so it was safe to use.
The song finished and they parted. The cool air rushed between them, and Ty couldn’t have been more relieved. “Seven o’clock at the restaurant?”
He nodded. “See you then.”
She returned to her beer, and Jim shook his head when she glanced at hi
m. A woman with streaky hair was sitting at the bar drinking something in a glass covered with umbrellas and fruit slices. She was looking at Jeremy with a narrow-eyed look.
Oh crap. Ty got to her feet and walked over to speak to the woman. “Hello, I am Anna.”
The woman shook her hand. “Lee. This is my husband Jim. Did you know that your last dance partner put something in your drink?”
She shrugged. “I suspected as much. I am here for work. My dance partner is wanted by the Shifter Council, but I didn’t want him to kick up a fuss in here.”
Jim smirked. “You should have mentioned it to that large fellow who went out after him.”
Ty looked around, and sure enough, Al was gone. “Damn it.”
She headed out of the bar with a long stride, pulling her bear under her skin in preparation. She needn’t have hurried. Jeremy and Alatas were having a nice little fistfight in the middle of the street.
She saw the move happening before Al completed it. He wrapped his arms around Jeremy and they disappeared.
She groaned and headed for the Meditation Centre.
Tony and Teal were already aware of it. She held out her hands. “I am so sorry, but Al grabbed him and they are gone. I will get out of your hair and leave the Crossroads.”
Teal sighed and patted her arm. “I know you didn’t have control over it, but you are stuck here. That transport yanked us off course. We won’t be back in place for another twelve hours.”
Ty grimaced. “Thank you for the notice. So, in twelve hours, I can come back here and you can send me to the council?”
Tony nodded. “We can. It will be a little painful as our transports are designed for two, but we can make do.”
“I am going to turn him into the trim on my coat and boots.” She smiled pleasantly.
Teal laughed. “It will be fine. You just need to rest for the next twelve hours. Have some dinner, maybe meet someone? Just because you are here for work doesn’t mean you can’t do some shopping.”
Tyanna sighed. “Valid point. I am going back to the B and B and change into something a little more festive. Maybe I can get my flirt on.”
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