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  The row of Victorian homes was neat and tidy. Each one had an immaculate front yard and the backyard was concealed by a variety of fencing and stone walls. The Bright Heart was the first, but Teal kept walking. The Open Heart had blooming roses out front and a well-manicured pathway.

  “You will like Teebie. She has an excellent sense of style.”

  “And she’s blue.”

  “That I am. Welcome to the Open Heart,” said the woman on the porch, and she smiled warmly at them as they approached.

  Fred blinked. Blue was the correct description for her. The cheerful woman had black hair pinned up in elaborate coils that draped down until they touched her shoulders. Her skin had the texture of silk and the sheen of a sapphire.

  “Thank you for your welcome. I am—”

  “Fred. Welcome, really. You are my first guest.” Teebie extended her hand.

  Fred shook the woman’s hand and relaxed when her grip was even and warm. There was no strange feeling of magic, but the power Teebie radiated was definitely tangible.

  “Please, Fred, come inside. Teal, would you care for some muffins?” Teebie’s amber eyes twinkled.

  “Dira’s recipe?” Teal had a desperate tone.

  Fred blinked at the eagerness in the woman’s voice.

  “Of course. She provides me with her recipes in nice doses. She doesn’t want me to over-stimulate myself.” Teebie opened the door, and the smell of baked goods wafted out.

  Fred grinned. “Mm. Blueberries.”

  “Yeah, she didn’t want to part with the recipe, but it was the best way to lure new clients in with a djinn at the helm.” Teebie passed through the entry hall and into a dining room with a tea set; a platter of muffins was standing by.

  Fred gave in to her instincts and took a seat at the table while Teebie poured cups of tea for her guests.

  Teal put up her hand. “We have another arrival coming in. Thanks, but can I just steal a muffin?”

  “Of course. Take one for Tony as well.”

  Teal took two and chuckled. “Let’s see if his makes it to the centre.”

  Fred smiled and waved farewell as her escort left. Alone with the djinn, she smiled. “How long have you been here?”

  “A month. Several of the shifters who have come into the Crossroads have been less than enthusiastic about having one of my kind here. I am just happy to have somewhere to be busy.”

  Fred smiled and took a muffin. “Well, Dira did a wonderful job with my cousin and his wife, so I consider this place lucky.”

  “Dira is my great-something aunt. Since she is making her way in the normal world for a while, she asked me to keep this place running. My magic is similar enough to hers that housekeeping is done in a manner that she would find acceptable. Everything is done as she would have done it.”

  Fred almost moaned at the freshness of the berries in the muffin. “This fruit is incredible.”

  “My aunt has her own berry plots in the back, warded against interference of any local shifters. You know how some folks get around berries.”

  Fred grinned. “Yes, I know; it is how I make my living.”

  “Really?” Teebie was delighted.

  “Yeah, I own a U-Pick that caters not only to humans, but also to transformation parties for local shifters. There is nothing like being in an abundance of food when that first time comes.”

  Teebie sat back and smiled softly. “Sometimes I wish I was able to hang around with humans, but as you can see…” She extended her arm. “It wasn’t in the cards.”

  “How is it that you are a djinn with your aunt as a shifter?” Fred eased another heavenly blueberry muffin onto her plate.

  “My great-great-great grandmother was Dira’s sister and a griffin. She defended her home to the death, and Aunty Dira stepped in to take care of her children.”

  “Where did the djinn enter your mix?”

  “With Dira’s sister, Denyali. Denyali’s husband was a djinn. He disappeared around the time that she died. He might have been killed, or he might have returned home when his mate died, no one knows, but his family took in his children after Dira brought them back to the area. She kept herself firmly in their lives until this day, I am the only blue one in the current generation of my family, and I have darkened dramatically in the last few months.”

  “Suntan?”

  “Magic shift. No one knows what causes it, but sometimes, a djinn evolves as they age. It doesn’t always happen, but it kept me from being able to hide myself in plain sight.” She turned her hand from side to side. “I can’t hide this with a glamour anymore. Hence, my jumping at the chance to run the Open Heart.”

  “So, you are hoping to get more business?”

  “Well, I want it running at full capacity for the sake of my aunt’s reputation.”

  Fred nodded. “Fair enough. Well, I am happy to be your first.”

  Teebie grinned. “And my second will be here within the hour. Do you want me to show you to your room?”

  “Can I come back down and have more muffins?”

  “Of course. Come with me.” Teebie took her bag and snapped her fingers. A key with a bear-paw icon shot into her hand from a spot behind the desk.

  “You use magic freely?”

  “No sense pretending I am anything other than what I am.” Teebie grinned and headed up the stairs, carrying Fred’s bag easily with one hand.

  She opened the third door on the left, and Fred smiled at the matching paw icon on the wall next to the lock. With a bow, Teebie handed her the key. “It will unlock by proximity, so don’t worry about getting tipsy and opening the door. If you get locked out for any reason, just call for me.”

  “Okay, so what do you recommend that I do first?”

  “Change into something pretty and comfortable and have dinner if you haven’t already. Then, once you are properly attired and your belly is full, you should head over to the Crossed Star. The men will take it from there if they don’t follow you around from the Café.”

  Fred’s stomach jittered, and she dragged in a stabilizing breath. “Well, clothing first. What do I do if I find something to wear?”

  “Just tell them to send your regular clothing here. I will bring everything to your room after I do a load of laundry.”

  Fred nodded, checked her charm and made sure that it was secure on her wrist.

  “Take your time, don’t let yourself be rushed into anything and, most of all, enjoy yourself.” Teebie grinned.

  A knock at the door brought her head up. “Duty calls, but don’t hesitate to call out if you need anything. I will hear you if you speak my name.”

  With a flash, Teebie was gone and Fred heard her voice from a distance away. A masculine voice responded to the djinn’s light tone, and Fred took another deep breath. She left her bag, closed her door and headed down the stairs to go in search of her destiny.

  Chapter Three

  At the base of the stairs, a man was speaking with Teebie. Fred swallowed and straightened her shoulders, sailing past them with a pleasant grin. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she headed out the door.

  The moment she was outside the bed and breakfast, she exhaled and shuddered. It was too soon to begin courting anyone or to let herself be courted. She wasn’t properly dressed.

  She went to the General Store, picked out three nice outfits and changed into one of the dresses, wearing the deep blue-black dress with beadwork around the neckline with a certain amount of pride.

  The dress skimmed over her curves and the beads gave interest to a neckline that only hinted at her cleavage. The hem stopped just above her knees and that was close enough to sexy for her.

  The friendly—but not creepy—man behind the counter bagged up her purchases and told her that he would bring them over to the Open Heart. The new shoes were surprisingly comfortable, so she was out of excuses to delay the inevitable.

  She headed for the Crossed Star Bar, keeping her shoulders back and her head high.

 
The music was playing, loud enough to dance to but not loud enough to drown out conversation. A man with colourful tattoos stamped on his arms was tending bar, and he must have been the Chuck that Ezzy had spoken about.

  The dozen or so men, ranging around the edges of the bar, turned their heads toward her as she entered, and she swallowed but made it to the bar stools where she had a seat.

  “Good evening. What can I get for you?” Chuck smiled with encouragement.

  “A sharp blow to the head. I can’t believe I am here.” She snorted.

  “Well, I can’t provide you with that, but I can give you this.” He smiled and shook a number of berries together after muddling them with honey. He added some alcohol that whizzed by before she could identify it.

  He slid the large martini glass to her with a wicked grin. “Here you are, if you dare.”

  Unwilling to pass up the challenge, she took a sip and smiled. “It tastes like summer.”

  “That was the idea. I can smell the bear in you, and I know how much your folk like berries.” He winked one of his serpentine eyes.

  She laughed and sipped again. “I am Fred.”

  “Welcome to the Crossed Star, Fred. I am Chuck.”

  “I know. My cousin was here recently. His wife mentioned you in an effort to make me more comfortable with the process.”

  He grinned. “I do love family connections. That drink is a Berry Special. You can ask for it by name.”

  “Thank you. I will.” She spotted the silvery band on his wrist. With the tattoo, it looked like the band was in the clutches of a swan. Both the silver and the tattoo were bright. “You are recently mated?”

  He smiled happily. “I am. Ivy is sitting over in that corner, trying to punch holes in my writing.” He waved toward the woman in the corner, and out of the dimness, a pale hand waved back.

  “You are happy with your mate?”

  “Don’t let her hear you asking that. She would beat you to death with her feathers.” He winked at her. “Joking aside, I am happier than I have ever been. We don’t always get along, but we do work through our issues, occasionally in very creative ways.”

  She was left to ponder that as he attended to some new arrivals.

  Fred watched as the women who had been here longer than she had took their drinks and separated, milling around to allow the men to approach them. The men approached with self-control and pleasant expressions. Some showed signs of scenting the females and others spoke for a moment before their posture changed and they either left in search of another or asked the female to dance.

  It was not the invasive procedure that Fred had begun to imagine.

  She felt a presence to her right.

  “It seems that we are sharing the Open Heart.” The man’s voice was low, and when she turned, his amber eyes were smiling at her.

  Everything about him were shades of gold and amber, from his skin to his hair.

  She inclined her head. “It seems we are. My name is Fred.”

  She extended her hand, and he took it with an amused smile. “Hektor. Is your name really Fred?”

  “It is. Well, it’s Winifred. Fred is the least offensive nickname.” She felt the warmth of his palm against hers, and her bear came roaring to the surface. With effort, she throttled it down.

  He blinked. “Did you just grow fangs?”

  She retrieved her hand and pressed it to her lips. “Um, it is possible. Sorry about that. What is happening to your eyes?”

  He blinked as his eyes went from human to avian and back again. He smiled. “Sorry about that. Would you care to dance?”

  She took a final sip of the cocktail. “That sounds like a good way to start.”

  Gathering her nerve, she slid her hand into Hektor’s and took to the dance floor.

  The music allowed them to sway and talk at the same time. Finally, he asked, “Are you as nervous as I am?”

  She blinked. “I don’t know your level of nervousness, but mine didn’t let me have dinner, just in case.”

  He laughed. “May I ask what brought you here?”

  She snickered. “A transporter.”

  “Funny. Me too.”

  “Aside from that, a general lack of attraction on the part of my inner beast.”

  “Ah, they are tricky things to satisfy, are they not?” His hand was warm on her hip while the other kept her fingers in his grip.

  She looked up into his features, the strong jawline and high cheekbones. In any room, he would garner attention, but here, he was simply the eventual result of good breeding. Generations of inner beasts wanted the best mates, and he was the end result.

  “Do your parents support your choice to come to the Crossroads?” She smiled as she moved with him.

  “I left the nest years ago. They haven’t known my moves or choices for years.” He was matter of fact about it, but there was a visible pain in his eyes. “Does your family support this?”

  She was able to grin with relief. “Yes. My cousin recently returned with a mate that makes the rest of the family look at each other with envy.”

  “She made a good match?”

  “He did. His wife is a great woman and a better owl.” She didn’t explain that the pair had been given full equality for shifting. It wasn’t common knowledge that such a thing could be achieved.

  “Your family reacted favourably?”

  “They did. They were just happy that there was a woman out there ready to accept Buzz.”

  He smiled. “He was lucky.”

  “I am fairly sure that as you work your way through the women here, you will find the one for you.” She kept her voice non-committal as the music halted and couples parted.

  He inclined his head to her and smiled. “Until later, Fred. Save me a dance.”

  There was a wobble in her step and her inner bear roared in frustration, but she made it back to the bar. “Berry Special please, Chuck.”

  He nodded and started to make her drink. “He wasn’t your type?”

  She cocked her head. “It isn’t supposed to be the first person you meet, is it? I mean he only asked me to dance because we are both staying at the Open Heart.”

  “Did he? If that was his only interest, he could have spoken to you over breakfast tomorrow. He chose to introduce himself in this open environment. That shows interest; now, the key is, do you reciprocate?”

  He slid the drink in front of her, and she turned on the barstool to watch as Hektor asked an elegant blonde with a sparkly dress to take a turn on the dance floor. A low rumble became audible to her, and she realised she was growling.

  With deliberate control, she turned away from the couple as the woman plastered herself to Hektor’s chest.

  “I don’t know what I am thinking and feeling. I think I will ask the cocktail.” She nodded and sipped at the berries and honey.

  “Don’t ask too many cocktails before you ask yourself, Fred. Your inner beast knows what it wants, and it will go get it if you don’t act.” Chuck wiped the bar down and then moved off to attend to his other patrons.

  Her inner bear was pacing. It wanted to get closer to Hektor and to breathe deeply and memorize his scent. Fred rubbed at her forehead and frowned at the pain of restricting her inner animal.

  A feminine voice spoke from a few feet away. “Perhaps you need some fresh air. I would be happy to go out with you for a walk if you like.”

  Fred looked up, and a woman with the marks of a golden lioness with dark hair stood next to her. Her silver bangle marked her as mated staff of the Crossroads.

  “Do I look that rough?”

  “You are giving off waves of power, and I think you need to calm down. I can distract you and get a nice meal at the same time.” The woman smiled. “I promise that everyone will still be here after you get a snack.”

  Knowing that the woman seemed to have the voice of experience, Fred stood up and her knees buckled. The woman calmly took her arm and linked hers, appearing girly while she actually supported m
uch of Fred’s weight as they left the bar.

  Time for a little sustenance before she shifted out of her new dress and hauled Hektor out of the bar to have her way with him.

  Chapter Four

  The first bite of the cheeseburger was heavenly. “Okay, so you might have been right, Lee.”

  Lee laughed. “I usually am when it comes to matters of health. Seriously, you were furring out and back so fast, I could barely see it, and the other women were getting dangerously close to the claws that were appearing and disappearing.”

  “Ouch. I am so embarrassed.”

  “I know. I thought that it would be nice to extricate you before someone was injured.”

  There was something in her eyes that Fred could see. “Chuck called you, didn’t he?”

  She snorted. “He did. He is very protective of the ladies in the Crossed Star, and you wouldn’t like it if he had to act to calm you down.”

  “He’s venomous?”

  “Very.” Lee chuckled and ate her salad with shredded chicken. “He rarely uses his fangs though.”

  Fred finished her burger and moved on to her own salad and soda. “This is hitting the spot. I have been so nervous that I am pretty sure I skipped lunch and dinner.”

  “It explains a lot. So, you are a bear?”

  Fred winced. “I shifted that much?”

  “Yup. Well, that and I have an excellent sense of smell. Bears are distinctive.”

  Fred laughed. “That we are. Well, I am sorry that I almost beared all.”

  “Are you feeling more in control? Feeding the beast is important.” Lee looked at her intently.

  “I am definitely more in control. What next?”

  “I thought I would show you the area where you can work out as your other self. It helps to shift and run around a little.” Lee got to her feet and waited while Fred finished her soda.

  There were several men watching them leave, but Lee gave them a look and they all returned their gaze to their plates.