Blue Skies on Fire (4 page)

Andor looked in the direction where Teebie had disappeared. “You are certain?”

Dira snorted. “Quite certain. I made the rules, and there was no way that I would deny someone a match.”

Mak nodded. “She isn’t lying. It was how I got her to say yes.”

Andor chuckled as Dira smacked her mate. For such a picture of style and grace, she turned playful and mildly violent when she dealt with her mate. It was a nice view of what Teebie expected from a relationship.

He froze. He had been here less than a day and already he considered Teebie as his only choice.

Mak grinned. “Oh, man. I know that stunned look. Who have you locked on to?”

Andor recovered his composure. “It is of no matter. I have been here less than a day. I am sure that it will all be ratified eventually.”

Dira nodded with a sly smile. “That is what this place is built on. If the possibility of love exists, and she is here, you will find her.”

Andor grinned. “I am sure that I will. I just have to make sure that it is what I think it is.”

Dira nodded and patted Mak on the shoulder. “I am going to go and see how Teebie is doing. You know where to find me.”

Andor watched as the dragon master of the Crossroads walked off with a distinct swing in her hips that was probably meant for her husband, but it didn’t stop him from appreciating it.

“Yes, she is quite something. You can stop staring now.” Mak’s voice grew harsh at the end.

Andor looked to him and shrugged helplessly. “It is impossible not to look.”

Mak nodded. “I know. I am an exceptionally lucky man. My brother still asks if there are any other dragons around for him to try his luck with.”

Andor grinned. “I am guessing that you broke the news to him?”

“That all other dragons are male? Yeah. He shrugged and said he might try his luck anyway.”

Andor cackled. “It is good to know he is keeping his options open.”

“There are always the same number of unicorns in the world, just as there is always one phoenix. I have never heard of a male phoenix before. You are new.”

“I should have known. Unicorns have visions of truth.”

“Now and then. I needed a hint to figure out Dira. She is more than meets the eye.” Mak cocked his golden head. “Would you care to go for a drink?”

Andor inclined his head. “I have been meaning to check out the Crossed Star.”

“Come on. Chuck has some truly amazing liquors stored away. If he isn’t there, perhaps we can convince Spike that she needs to check to make sure they are still drinkable.”

They left the celebration and headed to the bar. It was time to have a conversation, mythical being to mythical being.

* * * *

Teebie set the housekeeping into motion and sat at her desk, looking into the arriving guests and their requirements.

She felt it the moment that her aunt crossed the threshold. “Auntie! I am delighted to see you.”

“Are you? You seem to be hiding.” Dira picked an apple out of the bowl on Teebie’s desk and perched on the edge with a sly look down at her niece.

“I am not hiding. How could you think that? I am attending to business.”

“The loveliest male I have ever seen is wandering around the Crossroads, and you aren’t even interested in trying to put yourself in his path?” Dira arched one dark brow.

“I thought Mak was taken.” Teebie smiled.

“Mak and I are honest enough to acknowledge beauty when we see it. It doesn’t mean we love each other any less.”

Teebie sighed. “Andor is out there and looking for a mate. All I can offer him is a life in the shadows. He needs more than that.”

“How do you know? And what do you mean, in the shadows? You are the bright spark of the Crossroads. You confirm for the shifters here that there are other types of magic in the world. You are a beacon of energy.”

“Who wants to marry a beacon?”

Dira put the apple down and leaned in to cup Teebie’s chin. “You are here because you are powerful and you could do the job of a dragon without thinking about it. There is strength in you, Teebie. You need to see it.”

Teebie touched her aunt’s hand. “I know my strengths. I also know my weaknesses. I can’t go out and live in the human world. This is the most social I have been in decades and I love it, but I can’t ask someone to share this life. Life in the Crossroads is a little restrictive.”

“It is a world of magic where you can do what you like and use the power that you were given when you need to. This world gives you space to stretch your wings—so to speak—and it needs you.”

Teebie got up and rounded the desk, hugging her aunt. “And I need it, so I am not going to foist myself on a man who needs the human world. The Crossroads is a blessing and a burden, and I bear it gladly.”

Her auntie gave her a hard hug. “So much of the martyr in you. Even your grandma went down fighting. I hate that she did, but she fought for what she believed in.”

“She was a griffin.”

“And you are her descendant. Yes, there are generations between you and her, but her blood and mine is in your veins. Even our other sister’s pulse is under your skin. She was mad with power, but she was strong. She fought for what she wanted.”

Teebie straightened and looked the dragon in the eyes. “I also have a lot of djinn in me, and the djinn have survived by keeping a low profile.”

Dira tapped her on the nose. “Channel your inner griffin. My sister found a match in a djinn, and they came together over and over with their magic sparking the entire time. They had love, they had a family and they had courage.”

“And then, she passed on and he was locked into a lamp. Who won?”

“Her children and grandchildren and all the way down to you, darling. You won a chance at life. Don’t waste it.”

Teebie stared at her aunt until her eyes watered. Finally, she said, “I will try.”

“Good. Don’t cut yourself from opportunity. I tried to and Mak wedged his way into my heart anyway.”

They laughed, and Teebie felt marginally better until Dira said, “Now, it is time for a makeover.”

“So, Dira really kicked you out of the Open Heart?” Stephyn was chortling to himself as he gave her a massage.

Teebie shifted and ignored the crackling of shifter magic as it hit her own djinn energy. She had it pulled in as far as she could.

“Yes. She said she needed to take inventory and check on the gardens.”

“So, she sent you here for a full workup? Nice.” He grunted as he worked on her shoulders.

“Apparently, she keeps track of these things, and it has been a while.”

Stephyn kept working. “I never get over your skin.”

Teebie had no idea what to say to that. She lay on her belly and let Stephyn work on the knots that made up her shoulders.

An hour after he had started, Stephyn was sweating and shaking with fatigue. “It is as good as I can get it.”

Teebie chuckled. “Give me a moment and let me sit in the sauna for a while. That should help keep your work intact for a few minutes.”

“Excellent. I will have the manicure station ready by the time you come out. Take a shower and make sure you show up wearing a robe.” He stretched. “And take your time. I need to get the feeling back in my hands.”

He left her alone, and she grabbed a towel, wrapping it around her and carrying her robe down the hall to the sauna. She didn’t know why she never took advantage of the spa. Just being here for an afternoon was making her feel more relaxed.

She hung up her robe outside and entered the hot room. With a smile and a sigh, she settled onto the bench.

She was relaxed and warm for ten minutes before the door opened. She left her eyes closed as the new arrival took a seat.

The low, masculine groan and the scent of male began to emerge as he sweated.

Teebie opened her eyes from the top level of the sauna, and she was less surprised than she should have been to see Andor’s long and heavily muscled limbs only a few feet away from her. He was wearing a towel that seemed to have a lot less fabric than hers did.

She spoke low so as not to disturb his relaxed stupor. “I thought you were with Mak.”

“Your aunt came in and hauled him away by one ear. Literally. I have never laughed so hard. Spike suggested that I come here to relax, and then, I can start fresh tonight at the Crossed Star.”

Teebie chuckled. “Dira is very no-nonsense. Mak was showing you around?”

“He was. He wants me to find the woman for me. He says that now that he has found happiness, he wants everyone else to find it.”

Teebie chuckled. “Yes, he is the perfect example of love struck.”

“Why don’t you call him uncle?”

Teebie sat up straight. “He mentioned that?”

“He did.”

“The age difference is a little weird. I am twenty years older than he is.”

Andor turned to look at her. “Are you? I thought you were in your mid-twenties.”

“Flatterer. I have seen five decades, and I know that you have seen centuries. Don’t think for a moment that I don’t know it.”

He grinned. “And here I thought I blended in so well.”

“You do. It is your power signature that has the mark of age. You don’t show any unless you want to. That takes decades or more of practice.”

“Since we are alone, will you answer a question for me?”

Teebie wrinkled her nose. “It depends on the question.”

“I know that Dira is your oldest living relative, but what happened to your great-great-however many greats grandfather? He just disappears.”

Teebie wiggled her toes. “From what Dira told me, he was captured by the mages who helped to kill his wife and forced into servitude. One thousand wishes had to be granted, and when they were, he crumbled to dust.”

“Wow. That is harsh.”

“That is why djinn hate to be bound. Our natural forms are between solid and vapour, so to be tied to one or the other causes degradation. The moment he was free, there was nothing holding him together anymore, and the magic tore him apart. It is not a nice way to go.”

Andor blinked. “I had no idea.”

“People don’t ask. The humans buy into the djinn as fairy beings that are more like the fey, but we are something else, and with the right spells, our death comes quickly.”

“So, hiding in the human world is important to you.”

She shrugged and rubbed her slick neck. “No, it is important to my survival. There are still mages around that want to capture us, but since there is no way I can pass as fey, I am a target. Dira brought me here to keep me safe.”

“So, you need to remain here.”

“That or I need to spend my life in a glamour when I am visible to others. The human world doesn’t hold much promise for me.”

She realized that relaxation was no longer an option. She swung her feet around and made her way down the tiers. “With that said, I need a shower and a mani-pedi.”

Andor reached out and caught her arm as she passed. “I am sorry for prying, but I find myself with an uncontrollable interest in you.”

“Try and control yourself. My life is not up for public discussion anymore.”

He nodded. “Understood. Would you care to know about me?”

“Not at the present. I am sure you will have plenty of women knocking down your personal privacy walls this evening. I plan on getting a well-deserved manicure.”

Andor let her go. “I will see you at the Open Heart.”

Teebie grinned. “Tomorrow. Tonight, I have the night off.”

She left the sauna and part of her felt lighter. She felt giddy. The smile didn’t leave her face for three hours.

Andy had picked out an amazing scarlet dress for her. The silk panels clung to her and swung out when she moved. Teebie stepped into the Crossed Star as a patron for the first time, and it felt weird.

She brushed her hair nervously behind her ear and walked up to the bar.

Spike stared. “Wow, You look amazing.”

Teebie felt her skin heat. “Thanks. Dira treated me to a day of beauty and a night off.”

“Well, the beauty you already had, but you look relaxed and cheerful. I think that is actually a real smile.”

Teebie laughed. “I think it is.”

“The newbie is over there. He is quite popular.” Spike grabbed a set of bottles and began pouring with expert precision. When she was done, there was a rainbow in a tall glass. “I call this the drunken unicorn. I named it after Mak. He can’t get drunk for long, but when he does, it is hilarious.”

Teebie grinned and sipped it. “Well, I am tasting the rainbow. That is certain.”

Spike hooted and laughed, pulling a second beverage out from behind the counter a moment before she lit it on fire. “I call it the fiery djinn.”

Teebie giggled and looked at the blue goblet with the crimson layer that was burning with blue flame.

“That is something.”

“With all the fey in here, I have had to up the alcohol content. This is one of my efforts. It knocks the shifters silly.”

Teebie waved her hand over it to quell the fire and stuck in a straw. The blue layer had the taste of lemons and oranges; the crimson layer was raspberry.

“You are focusing rather intently on that drink, Teebie.” Spike’s tone was amused.

“Am I?”

“Yes. There is a complete spectacle on the dance floor, and you aren’t even peeking at it.”

Teebie sighed and turned her head toward the dance floor. It was a spectacle all right. Andor was fending off three women who were fighting to be next to him.

Teebie watched the jostling with amusement, and before she knew it, the drink was gone.

Spike cleared her throat. “Can you go and rescue him before he drowns in estrogen or the other males decide to fight for their dance partners?”

“What makes you think I can break it up?”

Spike gave her a long look.

Teebie sighed and headed to the dance floor, moving in between some of the women and men who were watching the slow-motion fight.

She didn’t say a word to anyone, merely walked up to Andor and plastered her body against his, pulling his head down to hers for a kiss.

He jolted in surprise for a moment, and then, he recovered and wrapped her in his arms. The music pulsed around them, and he slowly swayed with her.