Wet and Wired (3 page)

When something interrupted her view of the rippling reflections of the moon, she stood straight. There, in the waves was a body flickering in and out of the water. She watched the golden creature dance with the waves, and she smiled. Altion was definitely in his element. His tail was bigger than she thought it would be as well. She wasn’t going to tell him that. Leda was pretty sure it was rude in some way.

He flicked his tail through the gentle waves, splashing and frolicking as if it was the first time he had been able to cut loose in quite a while.

She watched him for what must have been an hour. Her body was cold, and she was shivering when she went inside and crept between the sheets.

She whispered for the lights to dim, and they did, leaving her with the moonlight and a sliver of the view of the open, magical sea.

* * * *

Altion stilled his play in the water. Leda had retired, so he had lost his audience. A merwoman would have joined him in the water, but that wasn’t what he was dealing with. He had fixated on a female, and she was a beaver who wasn’t thinking about taking on a mate. He just couldn’t find someone who could blend with his life easily. Of course not.

He chuckled, dove deep and headed for the wet entrance below the tower. He needed some rest of his own, and Derix had assured him that his room was next to Leda’s. If he was up early, he would hear it when she rose.

Calling himself seven types of fool, he headed into the building and moved his tail strongly to propel him out of the water. He landed on his feet and took one of the hip wraps from the stack next to the entryway. Decently attired, he headed up the steps and to his room. A burst of warm air as he passed into the hall dried the moisture on his hair and skin.

He smiled at the nice touch. It would keep him from slipping on the stone steps.

They really had thought of nearly everything.

* * * *

The sky was blue and the sun was bright when Leda woke and stretched. Her clothing was on the bench at the foot of the bed, and she was well rested and ready for whatever was going to happen that day.

She brushed her teeth, drank some water and got dressed. Wearing her work clothes, she sighed with regret and stroked the silk with her hand she had placed on the bed. “I will miss you.”

With a grunt, she put on her tool belt, and then, she stuck a sliver of lemongrass between her teeth before leaving the guestroom.

Altion was outside her room, and he straightened when she appeared.

“How long have you been out there, Altion?”

“About ten minutes. I wanted to make sure that you didn’t eat anything before we try to use the portal.”

“We?”

“Sure. It has to be usable for fey and shifters.”

She nodded. “Right. Well, let’s go.”

He offered her his hand, and she hesitated for a moment before taking it. The jolt that ran through her was like touching a live wire, but it rapidly turned from shock into something a lot warmer.

She looked from their hands to his face and saw the same surprise in his expression. “Um, we should go.”

He nodded. “Right. Of course.”

Leda took a few steps and pulled him toward the steps. He eventually followed when she got close to pulling away from his grasp. He came after her to maintain the contact.

They walked in silence for a few seconds before he quietly asked, “Do you feel that?”

“The feeling that I just grabbed a live wire and now my beast magic is trying to crawl down my arm to investigate? Maybe.”

Altion smiled. “Good. I thought it was just me.”

She chuckled and kept going until they were in the beautifully designed lobby. The archway around the portal had gone from utilitarian to graceful and exotic. It looked amazing, the edges covered with stone vines.

“Wow. The tower really went all out.” She smiled.

“It is very impressive.”

“It is. So, what do we need to do?”

Altion smiled. “I will power up the coil and then walk through the portal. If you can wait two minutes and then follow me, that will be perfect.”

She pulled her hand free of his, took out her phone and set a timer. “Ready when you are.”

Altion looked at her hopefully. “A kiss for luck?”

She smirked. “I thought you were a merman, not a leprechaun.”

“It is always a good idea to keep luck on your side if it is an option.”

Leda smiled and crooked her finger. “You come down here, and I will pass on what I can.”

He bent his head, and she met him with a sweet kiss that exchanged the lightest touch of breath in a whisper of magic that passed in a spark.

He smiled slowly. “A bit more chaste than what I was dreaming of, but it definitely made me feel lucky.”

She blushed and waved at him. “Go on. Do your thing.”

He walked to the doorway and held his hands out. He muttered in an ancient language that sounded like low gargling. The coil under the floor glowed, and a column of light filled the alcove.

He straightened and softly said, “Two minutes.”

She nodded and started her timer the moment that he stepped forward and disappeared.

The chime warned her that it was her turn, so she turned off the alarm and stepped into the column of light.

Energy crackled around her with the signature of water. It was both restful and enervating.

She walked through the hall until she saw a familiar figure. “Um, Altion, I thought you were supposed to be on the other side of this portal by now.”

He looked at her. “I was. The coil is off.”

She sighed. “Where is it?”

He pointed to a strange wavering disk in front of him.

She sighed. “Easy fix.”

She knelt and pressed her hands to the coil, asking the Meditation Centre to match the coil to the one at the Isthmus. Under her hands, it shifted, rotated and settled down with an audible click.

The doorway appeared immediately.

Altion sighed in relief. “After you.”

She chuckled. “Okay. And after this, breakfast.”

“My treat.”

Leda stepped forward, walking through the doorway, and she stumbled into Tony’s arms. “Hey, Tony. What are you doing here?”

“You have been missing for days. We have been watching both sides of the portal and hoping that things were fine.”

Leda pushed at him and cleared the doorway a moment before Altion came through.

The merman stumbled, and Leda released Tony and caught her companion. “I think we got jammed between dimensions for a while, but it should be fixed now.”

Tony nodded and left them clinging to each other.

“Apparently, we have been gone for a few days. Tony and Teal were concerned.”

He rubbed his head. “I don’t know what happened. Everything lined up.”

“You made the mistake of thinking that the Crossroads is a static space. The Centre and the Isthmus will keep the portal connected. I just had to ask them.”

He frowned and leaned heavily against her. “How did you know?”

“It is the most common problem that contractors have when they come up here. They underestimate the sentience of the environment.”

“But you don’t.”

She started to walk him slowly out of the portal and made a beeline for the café. Lost time could wait. She wanted breakfast.

Altion sat and swayed slightly. “Should we have told someone that we were here?”

“Nope. My aunt let Teal know the moment we sat down.”

“How do you know that?”

“I know my family. Four other beavers spotted us, and they all scattered to tell folks that we were fine. That said, I think I should tell my dad I am okay before the gossip wave gets to him.”

She sent a quick text to her dad.

Leda sat back when Sally returned, and she ordered all of her favourites off the breakfast menu, including chicken fried steak. She felt like she hadn’t eaten in days.

She finished her order with, “And he will have two pitchers of water. He has been a little dry.”

Leda licked her cracked lips. “One for me too, please, Aunty.”

Sally turned and took Altion’s order before bustling away and returning with the three pitchers of water.

Leda grabbed at the pitcher before it was on the table, and she tipped the whole thing toward her mouth.

In the minutes since she had left the portal, she was feeling every missed moment of time, and now, she was exhausted, hungry and thirsty.

Thirsty was taken care of first.

Sally was staring at her as she set down the pitcher. “Another one, Leda?”

“Please, Aunty.” Leda looked at Altion, and he was nearly through his second pitcher. “Another for him, too. We promise to use glasses next time.”

Altion set the second empty pitcher down. “Yes, pardon my lack of manners, ma’am.”

Sally smiled. “Of course. I will be right back.”

She took the empties with her, and Leda sat back, wondering where her body had put the water. Her stomach should be sloshing, but it was quiet.

Altion ran his hand over his hair. “Thank you for coming in when you did. I had no idea how to fix that. It hasn’t happened before.”

She shelved the nineteen jokes about
getting it in and making it work
and smiled. “You have to understand the Crossroads to work here.”

“Would you teach me?”

Leda blinked. “I am going home as soon as we confirm that the portal is working.”

His shoulders slumped, and she could feel his disappointment.

She smiled. “But, we still have today, so I will do what I can.”

Teal and Tony came striding in, and they sat next to Leda and Altion without invitation.

The food arrived, and Leda dug in, waiting for the questions. To her surprise, the guardians kept their queries to themselves until she pushed her plate away and was guzzling down another glass of water.

Teal cleared her throat. “Where were you?”

Altion shrugged. “I have no idea.”

Leda smiled slightly. “In the unformed space. We were inside and beneath the Crossroads at the same time. It was trippy.”

Tony frowned at Altion. “I thought you were a master at making portals.”

“I am, but as Leda pointed out, the Crossroads isn’t a static structure. It is a fluid dynamic space, and the coils needed to be aligned accordingly. I wasn’t counting on the space to be what I needed to consult.”

Leda nodded. “He is aware of the requirements now.”

Teal sighed. “Your family wants you home. Now.”

“I guessed as much. I will make sure that the portal works, and then, I will head back.” She could see Altion slump again.

Teal winced. “It isn’t possible right now. Dira went into labour, and the power that generates the links between the Crossroads and Earth are bending and flexing. Everyone is on lockdown until she has this baby.”

Leda frowned, and she fished out her phone, typing in a message to her dad.
Stuck at the Crossroads for a while. Will keep you posted on when I will be cleared to leave. All is good. Hugs.

She got a ping back.
Okay.

Teal smiled. “The Wi-Fi still works?”

“It does. It is linked to the blended energies, not just the shifter stuff.”

She put her phone away and smiled at the faces around her. “So, who is with Dira?”

“Teebie and Al, with Spike as backup. Why, do you have any birthing experience?” Tony looked at her hopefully.

Altion raised his hand. “I do. I delivered both of my nieces.”

Leda smiled as everyone stared at him. He shrugged.

“It is a merfolk thing. We don’t have a lot of need for medics. We give birth under the water.”

Teal asked, “Would you be willing to help?”

“Certainly. Just let me get some more water and will be glad to take a look.”

He gulped down the rest of his water, emptied his pitcher and then drank the last of Leda’s.

She finished her food and grabbed her glass of water before he snagged it. “Right. Ready when you are.”

She got to her feet, and Sally came up next to her, hugging her tightly. “Glad you are safe, little bit.”

“I haven’t been little for a decade, Aunty.”

Sally smiled. “I know, but we were worried, and those are the memories that came up while we waited for you.”

“I am fine. I was just delayed. Now, we are off to go visit Dira while she brings her next generation into the world.”

Sally released her death squeeze. “Good luck and stay away from the flames.”

“Will do.” Leda smiled.

Their little group left the café and hiked to the end of the road before taking a sharp left and heading up the hill.

Teal chuckled. “You can take the dragon out of the castle, but you can’t stop them from building a new one.”

It wasn’t the fairy tale splendour of the Axion, but it was definitely a well-fortified home in the woods.

They entered the dragon’s home and followed the sounds of cursing and shouting until they found the pregnant woman on the wide bed with her niece on one side, her husband on the other and two shifters acting as midwives.

Dira glared at them. “Really? I needed an audience?”

Mak smoothed his hand over her forehead, soothing her. “Easy, love. They are here to help. You have been in labour for two days. Anything different will help.”

Altion crouched and spoke quietly with Spike and Al. They looked exhausted and frustrated.

Leda stayed back, as did Teal and Tony. “I don’t think we are really needed here.”

Altion raised his hand. “Actually, I do need you, Leda. I need your hands.”

A bowl of warm water appeared on the dresser, and Leda took the hint.

Altion came up next to her. “We need to get her into a tub to find out what is stalling the labour.”

She finished scrubbing her hands and beckoned him close. “It is Mak. He is healing her as she goes, but it isn’t letting things progress.”

Altion nodded. “I will work on the tub if you can let Mak know.”

Dira was looking at her mate with eyes desperate for comfort. This wasn’t going to be easy.

Leda flexed her hands and straightened her shoulders. As a contraction gripped the dragon on the bed, she whispered quickly to Mak. “Stop healing her. She needs to have these kids, and she can do it faster if you just let her have the babies and heal her afterward.”