Spike's Day Out Read online

  He was surprised. “Is that encouraged?”

  “It is acknowledged. They get their lectures on safe sex and dealing with babies, as well as the costs involved. Their position in the community means that they would need to support their families. Sex is sex but breeding is something else entirely. We make that quite clear.”

  “Are there ever issues?”

  “Of course. There are always a teen or two that thinks they can make it on their own. They are bound to their breeding partner until the youngest child is six years old, after which time, they can separate and form a new union. The next partnership has to stick and the children from the first need to be supported by the parent that relinquishes custody.”

  “What happens if they don’t abide by those rules?” He was genuinely curious.

  “You know what it means, it means they are out of their burrow, out of the warren and into the world on their own with all other warrens being alerted to their state. It does not happen often. We are a social people and we enjoy a calm and well-reasoned relationship to ourselves and others.”

  With the picnic over, the youngsters were shucking off their clothing and back to being bunnies. The smaller children squealed and chased them around the field.

  “Don’t they mind?”

  Sicily smiled and leaned to one side on her knees as her cousin hopped toward her to cuddle in her lap. “They enjoy being bunnies and with all that entails. Other folks worship gods and goddesses, we worship fluff.”

  Albert reached over and Scotia snapped from her position in Sicily’s lap.

  Sicily sighed. “Put your hand on my thigh, palm up, and let her sniff it. Scotia is new to the shift and her instincts are strong.”

  Albert did as instructed, and soon, Scotia was nibbling at his fingers and moving her head under his hand. He began to stroke her, and it was as if a call rippled through the gathered bunnies. He was suddenly swamped with fluffy bodies jockeying for position on his legs and lap.

  “Uh, Sicily, is this normal?”

  She shrugged. “Pretty standard. They are welcoming you to the warren as a friendly visitor.”

  “What do they do to unfriendly visitors?”

  “Chew their balls off.” Sicily said it with dry-enough delivery to cause Albert to give her a wild look.

  Her parents sniggered.

  He was sitting immobile as a writhing mass of fluffy terror rampaged over him.

  Sicily waited until his arms were trembling from tension before she whistled sharply and the bunnies dismissed themselves to resume running from the toddlers.

  The afternoon finally waned, and in eerie silence, they rose to their feet and flipped the blankets in the air before folding them. Albert just kept out of the way, as the silent gathering moved up the embankment and hugged each other in celebration of their day and they all went their separate ways.

  Sicily led him to her car and turned. “Are you coming home with me?”

  “You need to pack and I am here to keep you safe.”

  “How do I know what to pack?”

  “You don’t. Pack for anything.”

  She raised her hand and hugged her parents. “Apparently, I am going out of town for a few days. Don’t worry, I have a bodyguard.”

  Verona smiled. “I heard. You are now what we have known all along. You are one of a kind.”

  Sicily wrinkled her nose. “Thanks, Mom. I will be in touch as soon as I can.”

  “Be safe first. Everything else can come later.”

  Her dad hugged her tightly, “What Mom said.”

  She laughed and squeezed him back. “Thanks. I will be as safe as I can be.”

  “Let him take care of you. You need someone to have your back.”

  His whisper reached her ears as he pulled back. “Be safe, Spike.”

  * * * *

  Albert didn’t tell them that he would take care of their daughter. He let them have their silent moment.

  The plans of the Shifter Council went beyond his being a bodyguard. The rabbit council representative had given her over to the council as an endangered species and they had called on Albert. He didn’t know why they wanted him bonded to this little ball of energy, but he did know that if they hoped that they were to get together, there was only one place to do it. The Crossroads.

  Chapter Three

  Spike had her bag over her shoulder and was wearing her standard jeans and t-shirt when she faced the new arrival to her home.

  “Master Transporter Krisia. Welcome to my home.”

  Kris grinned at her. “You are looking well, Spike.”

  “Thank you. So, where are you sending me?”

  “Albert didn’t tell you?”

  She shook her head. “Nope. He was on the alert for cannibalistic bunnies.”

  Kris snickered. “He fell for that?”

  Albert entered the kitchen where they were speaking. “No, I did not fall for it, but I didn’t want to disturb the dozen bunnies on top of me.”

  Sicily smirked. “If you say so.”

  Krisia said, “Here you go.”

  Her hands generated a column of light that grew large enough to walk through.

  “Off you go, Spike. See you when they sound the all clear.”

  Krisia waved her on, so Spike waved back and stepped into the portal with Albert on her heels. It was off to the safe spot that the council had chosen to stash her.

  Spike stumbled a little and hands steadied her. She tugged herself free of Albert and looked around.

  “Oh, you have to be kidding me.” Spike ran her hand over her hair, and she stared at the two guardians of the Crossroads.

  “Welcome, Sicily. I am afraid that this was the safest place that the council could think of on short notice.” The woman was smiling brightly, her ivory hair down to her waist.

  Albert spoke, “Hello, Aunt Teal.”

  “Albert! How lovely to see you here. You remember Tony?”

  Albert bowed. “Uncle Tony. You are looking well.”

  Sicily turned with something akin to horror. “You’re related to the guardians of the Crossroads?”

  “Well, two generations back. Aunt and uncle is just simpler. They have agreed to hide us here at the Crossroads, in plain sight.”

  Sicily blinked. “What?”

  “We have been offered positions here until things are settled.”

  “Doing what?”

  Teal smiled. “Housekeeping at the hostels or working at the bar and restaurant.”

  Spike nodded. “I call the bar.”

  Tony grinned. “Albert?”

  “I suppose that leaves me with the restaurant. Do you have the bands?”

  Tony went to a side table and lifted a box. “This is the strangest part of the arrangement, Albert.”

  He sighed. “I know, but it is necessary.”

  Tony removed a silver band from the box and slipped it on Albert’s wrist. It hung like a bangle.

  “Miss, your wrist please.”

  Spike extended her wrist and the cool silver slipped against her skin. To her surprise, it tightened until it was snug against her skin with no space between metal and flesh.

  Albert’s band was behaving in the same way.

  Tony and Teal shared a surprised look.

  Teal said, “Interesting. Right, well, I suppose that you should see your quarters and then get introduced to your bosses.”

  Albert touched the band. “What is interesting?”

  Teal patted his arm. “I will tell you at another time.”

  Spike asked, “What are the bands for?”

  Teal gestured for them to follow as she headed for the door. “They serve two purposes. The first is to hide your identity from those who meet you and cover your scent. The second is to mark you as half of a mated pair that works at the Crossroads. I am afraid that even if you meet someone here, they won’t be attracted to you.”

  Albert nodded. “The bands shift with us, correct?”

  “Correct, nephew
. They will also alert Tony or myself if anything happens to either of you. They are biometric sensors.”

  Spike looked at the band with new appreciation. “Wow. Nice.”

  Teal walked them through the streets until they reached a series of modest houses with small yards. “These are the mated quarters. When those who live here pair up, they need starter homes. You will be living here and pretending to be newly mated.”

  Albert moved to Spike’s side, and he put his arm around her shoulders.

  She fought the urge to elbow him in the ribs, and instead, she smiled up at him and handed him her bag. “Be a lamb, would you?”

  He gave her a narrow-eyed look. “Of course, pet.”

  Albert flipped her bag over his shoulder and they followed Teal to the home they would be sharing.

  She squeaked when he lifted her with one arm to carry her over the threshold. She would have preferred that he didn’t have her tucked under his arm like a sack of potatoes.

  Teal had her hand over her mouth, and when he set Sicily down, she cleared her throat. “That is the spirit. Just set your bags in the bedroom and we can be on our way.”

  Spike gave her a surprised look. “Was that…bedroom…singular?”

  Teal coloured a little. “Yes. These are newlywed quarters. Anyone having a guest puts them up in the bed and breakfasts.”

  Spike looked into the bedroom and nodded. “Right. Couch for me then.”

  Albert smiled. “I don’t mind sharing.”

  She scowled. “I do.”

  Teal chuckled from the hall. “Right. Come along. I will introduce you around.”

  Spike bussed the tables at the bar, cleaning the seats and making each booth as pristine as she could. James was manning the bar and Chuck would be in later, after he and Ivy had wrestled a plot point, and probably each other if the look in his eyes was any indication.

  She brought the glasses to the bar and set them into the cleaning rack.

  James grinned, “You seem to know what you are doing, Addy.”

  She was going by her middle name just in case anyone was looking for Spike or Sicily. Adrea was nice and safe.

  “I worked at a bar when I was just out of high school. I was informing on the underage drinkers to the warren master so he could keep the little buggers from drinking and driving.”

  She slipped back out to get another load of glassware. He was under the impression that she was a rabbit and it was close enough that she wouldn’t have to work too hard to use the mannerisms.

  Albert was two doors over at the restaurant and probably doing the same thing that she was, getting familiar with his environment.

  She didn’t care what he was up to; she was here to work until it was safe for her to go home again. Working in a semi-familiar job was as good as it could get until she could go home.

  James’s wife came in. His attitude changed into gentle and cuddly, far more kitten than tiger the moment that she walked up to the bar.

  Addy smiled and watched the woman touch his arm lightly, the sparks between them obvious to all and sundry.

  James stared at her for a moment and then he blinked. “Lee, I would like to introduce you to Addy. She is our new barmaid.”

  Addy finished loading the tray and sent it through the washer. She wiped her hands and extended one to Lee. “Pleased to meet you.”

  Lee blinked and her dark and tawny hair gave her the look of a lion, but the gaze was pure tiger. Addy stifled her gasp as she realized that this was one of the blends that Krisia had mentioned a few months ago.

  Lee smiled slowly. “Welcome to the Crossroads. I have already met Albert. He is taking over evening chef’s duties at the restaurant.”

  Addy fought her surprise but Lee saw it. She didn’t comment.

  “I am the first aid here at the Crossroads. If you slice yourself on a glass or there is a bar fight, I am at your disposal. Just head to the aid station and ring the bell. I will be there in minutes if the door isn’t already open.”

  Addy couldn’t help herself, she asked, “Is it good for the baby?”

  “The baby doesn’t keep a regular schedule, so I don’t either. I sleep when I have to, and so far, everything is proceeding according to plan.”

  James smiled, but there was a dazed look in his expression that told Addy he still wasn’t used to the idea of being a father. She had seen that look many times in the warren.

  Addy nodded, “Just tell me if you need anything. If I can help you, I will.”

  “Thank you. May I ask what your species is?”

  Addy sighed, “I would prefer that you didn’t, but I was raised in a warren. That much I can tell you.”

  James blinked. “You are a rabbit, are you not?”

  Addy ran her hand over her hair. “Not exactly, but I am here for my safety, so I am going to ask that you not inquire further.”

  James nodded. “Right. Fair enough.”

  Lee inclined her head. “I will respect your hint. Rabbit it is.”

  With the lines of information drawn, Addy resumed her tidying of the Crossed Star Bar.

  It was going to be a big evening. It was spring and that was when most species headed for the Crossroads. Addy was going to have to hit the ground running. It was a good thing that she kept up on her cardio.

  Chapter Four

  Teal was right, with the band on her wrist, none of the men looked twice at her. She was able to keep the drinks flowing and the tables turning over without any trouble.

  Some of the ladies needed coaxing to go and face the men; it was like an awkward junior high school dance. The main difference was that sex was the goal. These ladies were here to find a man that they were compatible with in all aspects of life because there was no other option for them.

  Addy took in some situations that nearly made her weep. Female wolves who were painfully shy, a lioness who didn’t have social skills, a lamb who was being eyed by a wolf and shaking with terror; it was all a collection of women who needed to find very specific men to meet their needs.

  Once she had taken the measure of the women, she began to walk through the men’s grouping as she took the glasses and bottles away. She tapped the back of one mountain lion’s hand and she pointed out the shyest of the wolves. “She won’t come to you.”

  He blinked and looked at her. “You think she might be interested?”

  “I think you are here to find out and drinking until you can knock her over with your breath is not a good idea.”

  He smiled and got to his feet. He was huge, but there was a good heart in his smile. He moved lightly over to the shyest wolf and he extended his hand. When the woman extended her own hand and they walked to the dance floor, Addy wanted to do a little dance of triumph. Instead of dancing, she kept working and kept her eyes out for a likely man for the ladies she was taking an interest in.

  The lamb needed the ram that was busy with deer across the way. She waited until their dancing and groping exploration had run its course and they parted. When the ram was on his own, she tapped his hand and pointed toward the fearful young sheep.

  His chest swelled and a calm compassion entered his features. She watched as he walked across the room to sit next to the lamb until she put her hand in his and they went for a dance on the dance floor.

  The young sheep needed a knight in shining armour and the ram needed something to protect. Some men did. She hoped that they made a connection. She had merely gotten them to the eye-contact state. The rest was up to them.

  As the night went on, her arms ached from hauling so much glassware, but her little projects all managed to at least make it off the bench. It was a start.

  Chuck appeared during the rush and James disappeared. Chuck had a different work pattern than James did, but Addy soon managed to work around him without any issues.

  When there was a lull, Chuck asked her, “Do I make you nervous?”

  “You mean the whole predator-prey thing? Nope. Any snake trying to consume me would get mor
e than he bargained for.”

  “I am guessing that. You don’t fear much.”

  “Eagles freak me out but that is about it.” Addy shrugged and started to put away the freshly washed glasses.

  “Interesting. I have been told that your actual species is in the forbidden zone.”

  “Consider me a lady of mystery.” She winked.

  “I might get Ivy to ask you how you manage that. We are struggling with a character and she needs more spine.”

  “I would be delighted to talk to your wife.” She cleared the rack and set it back on the stack, and then, she headed back into the bar to harvest more used glasses.

  It was a cycle that was only marred when someone ordered drinks for their table and she headed to the bar with her little notepad. Chuck got the drinks ready while she kept doing her thing, and she picked them up on the way back, taking the payment stone with her. A slight swipe against the stone to the charm that all seekers at the Crossroads wore and the funds had been logged to his account.

  The night went on in a pattern of joining and separating, talking and dancing, finally culminating with them walking out into the night with either disappointment or a potential mate.

  Watching a procedure that Addy had been considering herself, she couldn’t quite manage to get her mind around how she would feel about throwing herself at strangers and hoping for the best. Hope was important to her, but it wasn’t something that she thought of when the idea of having a mate crept into her mind. She wanted someone she could fight with, who would fight for her.

  At the end of the night, the men who had not found female partners began to get aggressive toward each other. Addy broke up small squabbles with ease, but the last one continued, and she had to lift her target into the air and bring him down on the barstool.

  The blood was copious.

  Addy sighed. “I think I need Lee.”

  Chuck shook his head. “Down the street, building with the Red Cross on it. Hold this bar towel to his head until she can get the stitches in.”