Butting In (4 page)

She was holding herself up using his shoulders, and he didn’t seem to mind. “You are a good dancer.”

“Thank you. I practice when I can.”

“I don’t. I am just really good at walking on tippy toes. I can walk a straight line anywhere, any time and any terrain.”

He leaned in to whisper. “I can chew my way through a two by four in under a minute.”

For some reason, she found it hilarious. She could see in his eyes that he was enjoying himself, but there was no heat to him. This was just a fun night out.

When hands pried her away from him, she frowned. “Hey. I was busy laughing.”

She was turned, and Riox held her against him. “Hello, little Gera.”

She poked him in the chest with two fingers. “You were rude to Andy. Apologize.”

He looked down at her in surprise and then over to her previous partner. “I apologize, Andy. I misread the situation.”

“She is a lightweight. Make sure you take care of her tonight.”

She frowned. “I am right here, guys. There is music, but I amn’t dancing. Is that a word? Amn’t? Am not? Yeah, am not dancing.”

She looked from one to the other. “I want to be dancing.”

Riox nodded to the other man and started to move to the music. Those that had stopped to watch their little grouping resumed their own partnerships.

Riox looked at her. “I am sorry I am late, but Drak needed some help at the Axion.”

“I danced with lots of people.” She smiled brightly. “And they danced with me. It was fun.”

“Are you in the mood for fun tonight?” He stroked one hand down her back. She grabbed it and put it back in the safe zone.

“Not that kind of fun. I just want to dance and enjoy myself without worrying about what happens next.” She smiled and swayed with him.

The next round of music had a swing-dance tempo, and Riox raised a brow. “Would you care to dance to this?”

“If not with you, then someone else.”

He stepped back, took her hands and they were off. Halfway through the jumping and spinning, she felt the electrical charge of his hands against hers.

Her skin sprang to life, tingling and registering every touch, every slide and even the wind between them as they parted and returned with energy.

Looking at the elf with the pretty eyes, her mind registered that he was the one she was looking for, but her mountain goat was on the fence. Sure, he was light on his feet, but was that enough for her?

As he twirled her and then pulled her against him, she admitted that being light on his feet was enough of a start.

She was sweating lightly when the music ended, and she held onto his shoulders as they shifted from side to side in a rhythm much slower than the one playing through the sound system.

Riox smiled at her, and his pretty eyes shifted colour faster. “You are a very good dancer.”

She smirked. “My kind are light on our feet.”

“So, what is your exact species?”

“I am a mountain goat. My mom is a normal goat, so I have her colouring, but my dad is a standard mountain goat, and I got the soul of one of those beasts.”

She smiled and swayed with him. “What are you?”

He blinked in surprise. “What?”

“There are different types of fey. What is yours?”

His cheeks coloured a little, and his blush was as charming as the rest of him. “My kind are described as love talkers. In times past, we would seduce our lovers with the sound of our voice, leaving them pining for us until they died.”

She had one reflex. “Ew.”

His shoulders shook. “Now that everyone knows of the fey, it is not necessary to seduce from the shadows anymore. I am much more direct.”

The music changed, and he raised his eyebrows. “Shall we go again?”

“If you think you have the stamina, by all means.” She grinned, and they changed their grip; she spun out and back, and they were off again.

It was a lot of fun to take her dance skills out for a spin, and as long as she had him for a partner, she wasn’t going to stop.

Sweating and getting quite a few admiring looks, Gera left the dance floor and stalked through the folk gathered at the Crossed Star.

Reality had thudded down on her when an elegant and sleek young woman had rubbed up against Riox and reminded him that he promised her a dance. Gera knew when she was outclassed in the seductive arena, and she had smiled politely before heading for the door.

Her instinct had been to shift out her horns and head butt the woman into the next week, but instead, she walked out and didn’t hurt anyone.

She hadn’t realized that fighting her instincts would make her so angry.

Her mood must have communicated itself to those around her, because while folks had stared at her while she made her exit, no one had spoken to her.

Instead of heading back to the Axion, she made a direct line to the shifter’s meadow but looked for the oldest strand of trees she could find. She needed something that could take a hit.

When she found a suitable oak, she stripped to the skin and shifted into her goat. She backed up a few feet, tipped forward for momentum, got up on her hind legs and brought her body weight down on the oak via her forehead.

The crack of the wood was satisfying, so she shook her head, backed up and did it again.

It took three more impacts before the frustration she felt was gone.

She sighed and walked back to her clothing, changing back to human and getting dressed.

She hiked back to the Axion in a very calm mood. She felt more like herself again.

The Axion had taken up a new appearance since she had left. The subtlety was gone, and now, a fanciful crystalline castle was her home away from home.

Her heels clicked on the glittering steps, and Drak opened the door for her. “Gera, you look tired.”

She sighed. “It has been a very long night. I will see you tomorrow.” She smiled tiredly and headed up to bed. It had been a very long day.

The beautiful staircase lifted her spirits, floating candles lit the hallways and her bedroom had been transformed from serviceable but elegant into a fantasy come to life. Her bed was now a four-poster with an organically carved set of posts. Filmy silk curtains fluttered on all sides. It would be a beautiful place to hide, and she could not resist the safety that it promised.

After a quick shower, she crawled between the silk sheets, exhausted and back in control. She planned to stay there as long as she could.

* * * *

Drak scowled at his brother when Riox finally made his way back to the Axion.

“Riox, you mentioned that you were interested in Gera.”

Riox frowned and put his hands defensively on his hips. “I am. Why?”

“Because she arrived here two hours ago, and she was even more shut down than she had been when she left. What happened?”

Riox cocked his head. “I promised a few of the ladies a dance tonight, and I keep my promises.”

Drak winced. “Were you with Gera when the ladies came to collect?”

“Yes. She excused herself and left. Is there a problem?”

Drak pinched the bridge of his nose. “At least you came back alone.”

“Drak, I don’t see the problem. I had some fun with the other ladies, but I am still focused on Gera.”

“Riox, how would she know that?” He sighed.

Drak saw understanding dawning in his eyes. He felt it necessary to hammer the idea home. “The shifters have been coming here to find mates. If the connection is broken or interfered with, they simply seek another. They do not try to make a bad fit work. They move on.”

“And my dancing with other women?”

“If you didn’t explain that it was a previous promise, she would have taken it as rejection. She does not have the confidence in you to fight for your attentions, nor should she have to.”

Riox’s normally proud face suddenly looked unsure. “Did I completely fuck it up?”

“Thankfully, you came home alone. I would suggest you go to the library and look up the mating behaviours of her beast. That is who you must appeal to.”

Drak had high hopes for his brother. Over the centuries, he had tried to fill a well of loneliness with the women who rushed into his arms. None of them wanted him; they were beguiled by what he was. Riox needed someone who wanted him, not his magic.

Riox nodded and headed for the library.

Drak sighed. Yes, he would soon have the guests that he needed, but if he could find someone for his brother, it would prove that his skills as a matchmaker were not just his imagination. Over the centuries, he had found mates for dozens of his own people and some humans. This was a whole new playing field, and the best part was that everyone here was unattached. There would be no issue of running into existing spouses when he found the perfect match for man or woman.

Riox and Gera pulsed in a matching pattern, but they moved at different frequencies. Gera squashed the energy she produced behind social strictures and a shy demeanour. She needed someone to stand by her so she could unfurl her self-confidence and become the force of nature that lurked under the surface.

Riox needed someone who wanted him for him. If he was going to undo his blunder, work would be involved, and Drak was going to do what he could to get those two together. Having Gera as a sister-in-law would definitely be a fun thing.

Gera would be a stabilizing influence for Riox. Despite his success in every business he turned his hand to, Riox needed someone who simply wanted him for him. His soul cried out for it, but that call had never been answered.

Drak closed his eyes at the image of the frustrated Gera slamming her head against an oak. The sound had echoed over the meadow, and he had watched, concerned, as she continued to fight against her impulses over and over.

It was not information that Riox needed. Guilt would not be the way into Gera’s heart. He had to win her trust and go from there. There were some things that Drak could not do for his brother. Betraying a private moment was one of those things.

* * * *

Hiding in her room wasn’t an option. She wanted to, she really did, but she needed to get out and do something.

Gera got up, brushed her hair out and got dressed. Her wardrobe had expanded exponentially, but she stuck with one of the dresses she had chosen for herself.

She slipped on her shoes, put on some lip gloss and headed down for breakfast.

There was just something about walking down that staircase that lifted her spirits.

Drak was in the dining room, and he rose to his feet with a smile. “Good morning, Gera. You are looking well.”

“Thank you, Drak.”

“Coffee?”

“Please.” She settled at the table, and a cup of coffee poured itself in front of her with the additions she had put in the day before.

“Did you eat yesterday?” Drak flicked his fingers toward the sideboard, and a plate did the round of all the dishes that uncovered themselves at its approach.

“After breakfast? Sort of.” She grinned. “Do milkshakes count?”

“No.” He shook his head. “So, you went to the bar on an empty stomach?”

She blushed. That would explain some of her behaviour. “I suppose I did.”

“While not wise, it was not the worst outcome that could have happened. Did you drink water, at least?”

“Yes, Spike and Chuck kept me hydrated.”

“Good. They do take care of their guests here. I am lucky to be part of it.” Drak settled back as her plate landed in front of her.

“How did you get chosen? I mean, there had to have been all kinds of complications to moving to the Crossroads.”

“Ah, well, I am one of the older fey that still has access to most of my magic; I come from a long line of fey that have love as part of their talents, and I was available.”

She looked at the food on her plate and smiled. It was a repeat of yesterday’s meal.

“What is your talent?”

He winked. “I can see the possible connections between people. It means I might help speed the progress of meetings and matings along.”

She smiled. “So, if they gathered everyone together here at the Crossroads, you could see those that were matchable?”

“In theory.” He sighed. “Being a stranger and a fey, it will take a while before they trust my judgment.”

Gera couldn’t argue with that. “Trust comes slowly, and it is easy to break.”

“I am aware. How did you enjoy your time at the Crossed Star?”

She smiled. “It was surprisingly fun. I met some people; I danced a lot and had a nice time.”

“Yet, you came back here alone.”

Gera blinked. “Of course I did. I would never haul a guy back to my room on the first night that I met him. Even the trampiest of my sisters wouldn’t do that.”

He laughed. “Well, that is something, at least.”

She shook her head and ate her breakfast.

When she was nearly done, he asked her, “What do you do when your beast goes into heat?”

“I think I told you, mine doesn’t.”

“If you were in heat, what would the signs be?” He sipped at his coffee.

“Aggression toward the other females... and the males for that matter. There are usually several concussions involved.”

“It sounds violent.”

“That is all pre-mating. We don’t tear each other up like some other shifters do.”

Drak smirked. “I will make a note to make repairs every morning.”

“It is a good idea. By the way, I love the staircase.”

“Thank you. It seemed like a good first start.”

“It makes me feel like I am having a Cinderella moment every time I come down the stairs.” She smiled and sipped at her coffee.

More coffee and a glass of water were served to her.

Riox joined them, and after smiling a hello to him, she turned back to Drak. “Anything else you want to know about shifters?”

Drak’s eyes were lit with amusement. “Yes. What happens when your beast is thwarted on the hunt for their mate?”

She sipped at her water. “It depends. If it is in the early stages of attachment, the beast simply clears the person as disinterested.”

“What happens then?”

“Nothing. The beast continues looking at the other party as dismissed. Beasts are practical; they move on. The humans are obliged to listen.”