With all the stealth of a nocturnal predator, she eased away from Buzz. Her body felt the caress of the moonlight, and with a swift move, she jerked open the window and leapt out. Her feathers wrapped her in an instant. The steady beat of her wings helped her approach the hostel in silence.
The avian hostel had a roof access, and she used it, shifting to her feet on the stairs. The urgency of wrongness surrounding thoughts of Kris didn’t cease until she was at her locker and getting dressed.
As quickly as the feeling of urgency began, it eased until there was nothing left. Wherever Kris was, she was no longer in danger. Ezzy leaned her forehead against the locker and debated her options. She could stay in tonight or try and get back to Buzz before he woke.
There was really no choice. She was heading back to the Open Heart.
The hostel was silent. She was the only avian occupant tonight, and since she had not checked in, there was no reason for the attendant to remain.
With her body still humming with fading adrenaline, she eased out the door and looked around. The streets were nearly silent.
The hair on the back of her neck rose in silent warning an instant before she was struck and thrown in a skid across the ground.
The scent of blood filled the air, but it was not Ezzy’s blood, it was Kris’s.
Ezzy got to her feet and faced her attacker. She was shocked to see Anders in a half-shift. “Anders. What did you do?”
“Your bitch Transporter should be dead by now. My pack mates have seen to it.” His teeth gnashed and his voice was garbled, but she made out his words.
“You attacked a Transporter? You really are the dumbest thing on two or four legs.” If her instincts were not telling her that Kris was alive and well, she would have been far more disturbed. Now, she was simply furious.
Her fingers turned to talons, and she charged him, drawing blood and sending him lurching backward.
A low roar sent Ezzy into overdrive, looking for the new attacker, but the enormous bear charging down the lane directly for Anders had no interest in her. The bear was as tall as she was, and it was crunching down on Anders’s arm as she watched.
A black raven landed nearby and shifted into Tony the Guardian with Teal shifting from her swan form a moment behind him.
Tony’s hand shot forward, and Anders was torn from the bear’s grip. Teal walked up to the bear and spoke quietly to him. He shifted into his normal form, and Ezzy was surprised to see Buzz staring at her.
“Why was the coyote after you?” Buzz’s voice was still a low growl as he approached her, wearing nothing but the charm on his wrist. He hadn’t been aroused until he began walking toward her, but now, his cock flared and filled until the heated length arced up to slap his belly.
“I said no. Apparently, that was enticement enough for him. He attacked Krisia.” She gave into impulse and threw herself into Buzz’s arms for comfort. He didn’t disappoint her, wrapping her tightly in his arms.
Teal came to stand next to them. “Your Transporter is fine. Well, she was attacked, and if she hadn’t called a healer, she might not have made it, but she is in the hands of the Guild Master, and I don’t think he wants to let her go any time soon.”
“Guild Master?” Krisia had never mentioned a male by that title, but Ezzy supposed that it had fallen under their silence pact.
Teal smiled. “Yeah, the equivalent of pack master for all of the Transporters and magic users. There has to be someone in charge or there would be a lot more random zapping.”
“Oh. Is it safe here now?”
Teal and Tony nodded, “Everything is fine. He was the only rampaging coyote here this evening, and you were his target. You can return to your shelter for the night. We will send him back to face charges, as well as get the pulp of his arm seen to.”
Ezzy nodded against Buzz’s chest, inhaling his increasingly wild scent. “I can go back to the hostel then?”
Buzz gave her an irritated look, wrapped an arm tightly around her waist and simply walked with her plastered against him.
She held tight to his shoulders as he walked them back to the Open Heart. “Is this a traditional bearish transport?”
He grunted, “We will discuss the details and rules of our other forms when we get back to my room. Right now, know that while the defense rage is subsiding, I was still not pleased to find you gone.”
“I felt that something was wrong with Krisia, and I needed to get to her. As soon as the feeling started, it stopped, but by that time, I had already gotten dressed and was ready to hit the Meditation Centre to get a transport home.”
His arms tightened around her to the point where breathing became a bit of a chore. “How would I have found you if you had gone? I don’t even know your name.”
She whispered in his ear, “Ezmerelda Atkinson, a snowy owl within the central parliament of owls. I am a clerk at Atkinson Inc., and I work on contracts for parasailing equipment. My best friend in the world is Krisia Vehn, Transporter.”
He grunted and relaxed his grip. “Thank you. Now, why was that coyote after you?”
“He was a male brought to my birthday party by my father, one of three actually. It was the spurring point for my coming here. Destiny had to have better taste.”
Ezzy felt Buzz’s chest moving in a chuckle as they reached the lane near the Open Heart. The hard ridge of his erection slipped and slid against her belly with every step. It was exceedingly distracting.
She concentrated on the view of the surrounding area as he mounted the steps with her still clamped to him. With a soft giggle, she realized that she was the only thing he was wearing beyond his talisman.
The door to the Open Heart unlocked at their approach, and Buzz announced, “Thank you, Dira.”
“You found your owl then?” The woman’s tone was low and slow, infinitely amused.
“I did. Ezmerelda, our hostess, Dira Montrose.” He turned so that she could see the woman over his shoulder, and to her shock, she was looking into the greenest eyes she had ever seen.
“It is good to meet you, Ezmerelda. It is always nice to have a first joining under my roof, so much safer than out in the woods.” The woman winked, and a cascade of black hair swung around her, to her knees. The woman was undoubtedly a shifter, but the amount of power she was carrying in her graceful frame was more than anyone Ezzy had seen before. Whatever she turned into, it could do some major damage.
“Pleased to meet you, Dira. Pardon the method of our introduction.”
Buzz snorted.
“I have seen far worse, child. Now, get upstairs and learn your lover’s name before you lose your clothing again. I have sealed the window against escape of that nature again—it is unpleasant to watch guests jump.” The woman bowed slightly and turned her back to the couple. “Good evening to you both.”
Buzz mounted the stairs, and in under a minute, they were back in his room, and he was sliding her down his body. “I am Edgar Victor Northrup, owner-operator of the Northrup Survey and Mining Company, only son of Diane and Charles Northrup, and elder brother to Ystine. I live in Alaska.”
Ezzy widened her eyes. “Northrup Survey and Mining?”
He scowled, “Yes. We are doing very well, and it is the primary reason I came to the Crossroads. I wanted a woman who wanted me for me, not for my name or company.”
She blinked, “Well, I wanted you before I knew who you were, but I am not sure that you will be happy with me if more psychos come out of the woodwork.”
He went to work to peel her clothing until her state of undress matched his. “Show me your other shape.”
Ezzy blushed and walked to the bed, crouching in the easiest position for her shift. She stretched out her arms and let her feathers wash over her and then blinked at him from the carved wooden edge of the bed.
“You are lovely, Ezzy. You will have all the skies around my home as your own.”
He held out his arm, and she hopped onto it, fluffing her feathers as he lifted her
for a closer look. It was the shifter equivalent of playing doctor. He tapped her beak, and she snapped at him, drawing blood.
“Ouch. Well done, Ezzy. Would you stretch your wings for me?”
She watched him as she stretched her wings, tilting them for balance as she clutched his wrist for security.
She blinked her eyes as she realized he was taking in every nuance of her form, every inch of her feathers and each flick of black in her plumage. She clacked at him, and he smiled.
The dark strands of his hair slid as he turned his head this way and that. Her hunting instinct wanted to pounce on those strands, and it was then that Ezzy realized it had been far too long since she had allowed herself a hunt.
When he stroked her, her lids shuttered to half-mast. No one had stroked her feathers since she was a child and just learning her form. She had forgotten the deep pleasure and feeling of absolute trust that she had when she let someone touch her animal shape.
He continued to stroke her from the tufts of her ears. A single finger trailed down her beak but did not tap it again. “Lovely, simply lovely.”
She preened, lifting her neck and fluffing her wings. Ezzy was disappointed when he set her down on the edge of the bed and stepped away. She reclaimed her human form and smiled. “I showed you mine.”
Buzz leaned forward and pressed a heated kiss to her lips, moving down her throat. With a groan, he backed away. “You certainly did. My turn.”
She watched breathlessly as he went from man to beast in a swirl of power. “Oh my.”
Chapter Nine
Her first glance of him outside the hostel had not driven home his impressive size. He was freaking huge.
Ezzy walked up to him cautiously, letting his other form scent her. His nose was wet and very insistent, so she parted her thighs to allow him access. The contact made her jump, and he huffed in complaint.
She placed her hands on his head for balance as he rubbed and snuffled his way up to her neck where he gave her a long lick. She giggled and shoved his head aside, digging her fingers into his thick fur.
It was brown, black and gold and suited him very well. She moved out of range of his head and stroked her fingers through his fur, massaging the muscles beneath.
He let out a low groan and flopped onto the floor.
Chuckling, Ezzy moved to straddle him and stroked her hands down his shoulders, ignoring the feel of his fur between her thighs. With an evil grin, she transformed her fingers to claws and ran them along his skin.
The bear beneath her let out a low moan and his eyes closed.
She felt like moaning, herself. The position she was in with her breasts pressed into his slightly rough fur probably looked, but thankfully, there was no one to see her splayed… “Is that a mirror?”
He buried his head in his paws and moaned as if injured.
Huffing in indignation and a lot of embarrassment, she crawled off him, gave his hindquarters a kick with her bare foot and crawled onto the bed and under the sheets. “That was exceedingly sneaky.”
He shifted from bear to man and crossed to her. “I apologize for the subterfuge, but my head doesn’t turn almost all the way around. I had to cheat to see you.”
Buzz crept into the opposite side of the bed and pulled him to her as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Ezzy sighed and had to admit that it felt like they had done it forever.
His hand caressed her hip, and she closed her eyes as her body warmed to his touch.
“So, what do you think of me?” Buzz’s voice held a note of worry.
She chuckled and opened her eyes, letting her owl eyes take over from her human ones. “I think you are huge, warm, comfortable, and if I hadn’t seen the mirror, you would have seen exactly how much I liked the feel of your fur on me.”
He shuddered and kissed her. “Just the words I needed to hear.”
Buzz rolled her to her back and held her hands next to her head while he covered her body completely. He shuddered again, and fur covered him from head to toe, only his eyes remaining visibly human. His cock remained un-furred as well, and for that, she was grateful as he parted her thighs and slid into her.
Instead of simply thrusting with his hips, he rocked his entire body against hers in a stroke that made her shudder as every inch of her came alive under him.
Ezzy wrapped her legs around his hips and enjoyed the different feel of his half-form fur. Silky and springy at the same time, it sent tickles of shock through the skin of her belly and the sensitive peaks of her nipples. She shuddered as she grew closer to climax, her moans taking on her avian voice while her fingertips grew talons to try to grip his shoulders. His hands on her wrists kept her from him quite neatly.
She thrust up, craving more of the deep slide within her. Her hips arched, twisted, and he growled and grunted as he fought to subdue her thrashing body.
Ezzy drew her legs up as high as she could and smiled with what she knew was a wicked grin. If he wouldn’t let her have her hands, she would simply use her feet. She shifted her feet into talons and dug them into his buttocks, holding him fast inside her.
He roared and his hips jerked against her.
She felt a pulse inside her and laughed as his body shuddered.
He collapsed on her, and she released his body from her grip. She chuckled again.
“Why are you laughing?” His voice was hoarse but satisfied.
“I win.”
Her chuckles grew until she was laughing and clutching him tightly, her entire body back in human shape.
He groaned and rolled to his back, taking her with him but tucking her in so that the cooler air of the room did not give her a chill.
“I think you should meet my parents and a formal bonding should be arranged.” His words penetrated the soft noises of their breathing.
Ezzy blinked and idly traced designs on his chest, swirling the soft curls of hair around his nipple. “I suppose that that was the point of this, wasn’t it?” She let out a soft laugh. “Funny, I have never thought beyond the finding of my mate. The happily-ever-after part never entered my mind.”
He started to laugh, a low, deep laugh that caused her to hang onto him or be tipped to the bed.
She leaned up and stared down into his face. “Why are you laughing?”
“I never knew where my mate would come from, but I have planned for that moment all my adult life. For you, I have thought and planned.” He pressed a kiss to her temple.
She smiled at the sentiment, and then, her eyes widened. “You are misquoting Persuasion. You are a Jane Austen fan?”
He blushed and grinned, “My sister encouraged me to learn about being a romantic. Apparently, my practical approach to finding a mate was a little too direct. She gave me a collection of classic romances and told me to read and learn, so I did.”
“When was that?”
“Two months ago. It was after that that I contacted the Transporter and waited for the window to the Crossroads.” He stroked his hand down her spine, cupping her buttock before trailing upward again.
“The what? Kris never mentioned a window.”
He paused his caress. “A window of power lines up with any particular Transporter, and they can move folk from our normal world to the Crossroads only at that time. For some, it is months, for others, days. It depends on the Transporter.”
She shrugged, “Since I told my family I was going camping for the weekend, I think meeting your family first might be the way to go. Mine didn’t know I was going to the Crossroads.”
He chuckled and stroked her back again. “They will figure it out when you come to live with me.”
She sighed and pressed her forehead to his chest. “I haven’t gotten that far in my plotting and scheming. It is tradition, I know. But, oh, damn. I wish I could talk this out with Krisia.”
“Why can’t you?”
“Because I am here, and she is with the Guild Master, whatever that is.”
He sighed and sat up. “W
ell, dawn is here, so let’s have a shower, get some breakfast and ask the Raven and Swan to send us home. Or, to the Guild Master’s residence. If you will not settle until you have spoken with Krisia, you will speak with her.”
Ezzy liked the idea, and when she stood in front of the mirror, she snickered. “Okay, the fur is fun, but I think we are going to have to keep it to the minimum.”
He laughed and turned, so she could see the marks she had made on his muscular ass. “Fair enough. No fur, no claws.”
She hissed in sympathy and approached him, running her hands down the slabs of muscle of his shoulders, kneeling behind him and kissing each puncture and gouge left by her talons.
When she had apologized to each one in turn, she got to her feet and winked at him. “Shower?”
He growled, lifted her against him and carried her into the bathroom. He set her in the shower and blocked the water until steam curled around them. “If I kiss each inch that was abraded, I am not sure that we would leave the Crossroads.”
Ezzy smiled up at him, memorizing the expression of lust and happiness on his face. They would fight in time—all couples did—but this was a moment she wanted to remember.
Once the sticky remains of sex were obliterated, he tenderly washed her hair, and she scrubbed his back in turn. When they were clean and vibrating with sensual tension, they towelled off and returned to the bedroom.
Ezzy picked up the clothing she’d first arrived in as well as the clean underwear from a few hours earlier. In three minutes, she was ready for breakfast, and two minutes later, Buzz was packed and ready to leave.
Chapter Ten
“Oh my god, what is in these biscuits?” Ezzy groaned happily.
Dira was sitting at their table at their invitation. She grinned proudly. “It is an old family recipe. The secret ingredient is butter.”
Buzz didn’t bother asking about ingredients, he just snarfed down one after another covered in honey. How he could eat that much honey and still appear fit was beyond her, but his nickname was now becoming clear.
Bears liked honey, bees made honey, so buzzing was a side effect.
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