Shifting Crossroads 8 - Ocelot of Trouble (3 page)

Teebie took her cup with an inclination of her head and a graceful lift of her hand. Cream and sugar measured themselves into her cup without being touched physically.

Mina fixed her own coffee and bit into one of the muffins. She groaned at the light and buttery taste of the blueberry muffin. “These are amazing.”

“Thank you, it is my aunt’s recipe.”

“It is wonderful. My compliments to both you and your aunt.” Mina smiled happily and munched away.

Teebie grinned, her teeth white against the vivid colouration of her skin. “I will tell her. Now, just relax and tell me about the first time you noticed a problem with the opposite sex.”

Mina thought back and reached for another muffin. “I was fifteen. I had been asked out on my second date of my entire life, and it was a complete disaster.”

“Describe it.”

“Daryll was meeting me at the library, and his bike not only had a flat tire, but the welds of his bicycle gave way and it fell apart on the way. He was a wreck when he arrived, so we went for ice cream. He developed a violent lactose intolerance that kicked in after he had the first few bites. I never went out with him again.”

Teal winced. “It sounds unfortunate.”

“At least Daryll didn’t break anything. He had had a crush on me for a while but had only just gotten up the nerve to ask me out after Thomas was bragging that he was my first date.”

Teebie’s eyes were glowing a strange gold. “Who was Thomas?”

“Thomas was a shy guy who kept to himself. We went to a movie and a dinner with a group of kids from the community centre, but the next time he asked me out, I had to say no. He was just too creepy, always staring into my eyes and telling me that I was the woman of his dreams.”

Teebie whispered, “What happened to him?”

“His family moved away halfway through the school year. I never saw him in person again, though he has appeared in my nightmares over the years.”

That got the attention of both women. As one, they said, “Really?”

“Yeah. Anytime I dream of another man, he appears and twists the dream into something painful for the male who has interest in me.”

Mina could feel a warmth spilling over her and knew that Teebie was the cause. Her memories were being gently turned over, one by one. Mina kept herself calm with pouring coffee and eating muffins.

Half an hour passed, and finally, Teebie jerked her head up and smiled. “I think I have it. It will require more research, but I should have a prescription for you sometime today.”

“A what?”

“A means to break the curse, for an actual curse is what is causing you this problem.” Teebie blinked and held up her hand. A small medallion appeared in her palm. “This will show you when the curse activates. A small glow will let you know when the effect is occurring. At least you will be aware of it until I can do some research with Teal and come up with a treatment plan.”

The small medallion had a strange glyph on it. When Mina took it, it flared brightly for a moment. “What does that symbol mean?”

Teebie smiled. “It is the djinn word for
see
. It is one of the only glyphs I could use that would not interfere or alter the magic that is wrapped around you. Can you see it yet?”

Mina looked down and her eyes widened. She was wrapped in energy from ankle to shoulder. It was on the outside of her skin in a web of light. “Is this on me all the time?”

Teebie nodded. “It activates when someone shows interest in you. The more intense the attraction, the more violent the spur of energy. Does it ever happen when you are shifted?”

Blinking, Mina shook her head. “No. When I am in my other form, I am just me. I can interact with other people’s beasts without incident.”

“So, the curse is attached to your human form. That is good. It means there is room to skim out from under it. I will try to find a cure, but…”

“What?” Teal asked it.

“It would be easier if I could see it in action. Has there been any male here with interest in you that was answered by a show of disaster?” Teebie’s expression had all the seriousness of an investigating doctor.

Mina bit her lip. “Um. There was a man last night. I didn’t really meet him, but he was the recipient of two spilled drinks that I had been holding.”

A masculine voice spoke from the doorway. “It is a good thing that I like strawberries.”

Mina froze as she watched the attractive male from the night before enter the dining room and fix himself a plate and a cup of coffee.

“Robar, I did wonder at the décor on your shirt when you returned.” Teebie smiled slyly.

“It was my own fault. I should never sneak up on a lovely lady in the crowded confines of a bar.” He raised his coffee to her. “Good morning, miss.”

Mina felt the scarlet colour flooding her cheeks. “Good morning.”

Teal made the introductions. “Mina Lancaster, I would like to introduce Robar Pickwik.”

Robar got to his feet and bowed slightly. “I am pleased to meet you, Mina.”

He exhaled on her name, and she felt a warmth run up her spine. “Nice to meet you, Robar.”

He grinned and sat back down, “Teebie, what do you need me to do?”

“Be attracted to Mina.”

“Done.” He grinned and lifted his coffee to his lips.

For the first time in her life, Mina saw the spike of energy that shot out from around her body, and she watched it strike his hand, causing a cascade of hot coffee to nearly emasculate him.

He jumped up, and the table rattled as he brushed at his trousers.

Mina’s mortification knew no bounds, but learning that it wasn’t simply proximity to her that was causing the problem gave her a sense of relief. “I am sorry about that.”

“No worries, Mina. I have plenty of clothing. Teebie, did you see what you needed to?”

Teebie grinned. “I did indeed. Thank you, Robar.”

He smiled. “Pardon me, ladies. I will return shortly.”

Mina watched him go and then asked, “Has that happened every time?”

Teebie waved her hand and a huge tome appeared in front of her. “Yes. I am guessing that Thomas was an untrained mage. It would explain why his parents moved him away instead of forcing him to remove his curse. Many magical families try to ignore the power until they are brought to heel by the guilds.”

“Were they on the run, do you think?”

Teal shrugged. “Stranger things have happened. If his first spell was a curse, he would have been from one of the darker guilds and that might have frightened his parents.”

“Don’t the children belong to the same guild as their parents?”

“Not really. They can pop randomly just like shifters do. It could be that his parents were unprepared for his talent and tried to hide it from their guild and his.”

Mina blinked. She hadn’t thought of that. Sure, it was not uncommon for a shifter family to have a member who did not match the rest of them. Mythical animals popped randomly, and ancestors chipped in their genes now and then to bring an ancient creature back into modern day. Mina’s aunt Reyna was a turtle, as were her cousins. They fit in just fine at the ocelot events. She had never thought of how it would work with magical humans.

Teebie opened the huge tome, and she slowly turned the pages, looking for something in particular.

Mina looked at Teal. “What now?”

“Go about your day. I am sure she will call you if she finds something.”

Mina got to her feet. “Thank you for your help, Teal, Teebie. Just knowing that it isn’t all me has been a tremendous help.”

Teebie looked up, winked and said, “The charm will let you know when I find something.”

Teal reached for another muffin. “I will come and find you if the charm doesn’t get your attention.”

Mina sighed. She was being dismissed. “All right. I am off to help Lee with inventory. I will see you later. Thanks again.”

She grabbed a muffin for the road and headed out of the bed and breakfast with a lightening of her heart taking hold and elevating her mood. She was getting help, and with luck, they would find a cure for the disaster that followed her everywhere.

She could hope.

Robar looked around when he returned to the dining room. “Where did she go?”

Teebie didn’t look up from the huge book she was flipping through. “She is off to engage in her normal daily activities so that she won’t go nuts while waiting for me to find a cure for her condition.”

He sighed and sat down, pulling more muffins onto his plate and carefully pouring more coffee. “What is her condition?”

Teal smiled, “She is under a curse that has an effect on any man who pursues her. They suffer a series of annoying incidences designed to drive them off.”

Robar sat back and nodded. “That would describe the effect I have experienced. The more I am interested in her, the more violent the shock of whatever happens to distract me.”

Teebie looked up and nodded. “Good. Do you feel anything else?”

“There is a feeling of hostility that washes over me. It isn’t from Mina but rather from something or someone near her.”

The djinn nodded. “That is what I am looking up. I believe that her first boyfriend was an untrained curse master. If he didn’t know what he was doing, he would not have placed an expiration on the curse. I need to find a way around it.”

Robar smiled. “Good. Whatever you need to effect a cure, I will do it.”

Teal grinned, “I thought you were here to get out easily with a woman you could dismiss as soon as you were back in the human world?”

He blushed. “I apologize for my attitude. I underestimated the effect of the Crossroads. None of the women I invited here are suitable mates, and I know that now.”

Teal pressed her query. “And how do you feel about Mina?”

“She is definitely attractive to my beast, and my instincts are to get as close to her as I can. I never understood how my parents could have been content with just each other, but after being in the Crossroads, where shifters can be shifters, it makes sense that our instincts guide us.”

Teebie smiled and kept reading. “The human world confuses shifters. You end up wanting what you see in the media and that is not what your kind needs. Even the families who force matings forget that your inner beast guides you, protects you and supports you. When you seek a mate, you need to offer it a companion for life.”

He had to ask, “How do you know so much about it?”

“Ah, my grandmother and my great aunts were shifters. My mother married a djinn because she knew he was the one. My great aunt waited until her inner beast had its true mate and that is why I am here. She is learning to live in the human world with him right now, so I have taken over her bed and breakfast.”

The immense age that she seemed to be referencing was surprising. “How old is your aunt?”

“Old enough. My grandmother was a gryphon who died defending her town and her children.”

“A mythical beast?”

“Unless you know of a different kind of gryphon. All the women on my grandmother’s side were mythical. And in case you wonder, no, most of my cousins are not blue. I am a throwback.”

She looked up at him and winked before she resumed her studies.

Robar watched her as she muttered under her breath and stroked the pages. She was using more than just her eyes as she rifled through the book. There was the gleam of energy in her eyes.

Teal sighed. “Well, I am glad that you are enjoying the process at last.”

He tilted his head. “Enjoy is a strong term. I have surrendered to it. My preconceptions have been shattered and I am ready to do it properly.”

“Excellent. I am going to be collecting ten bucks from Tony. I told him you would not be stubborn enough to make it over a week without coming around.”

He snorted. “You bet on me?”

“You were very obnoxiously intent that you would be able to make your selection and return to your family unchanged by finding a mate. Even Tony knew that you would change, we just didn’t know when.”

Ruefully, he poured another cup of coffee. “Do the women change?”

“Of course, but they usually pick up on it sooner. Their beasts rise the moment that eligible mates are nearby, and they slap the inner human around to their way of thinking.”

A basket floated in from the kitchen and settled next to Teal. The Crossroads guardian chuckled. “And on that note, I am on my way. Teebie, call me if you can’t get a hold of Mina.”

The proprietor waved her off and kept flipping through the pages of the book.

Teal patted Robar on the shoulder as she left with her basket.

He sat and watched as Teebie moved through the book but didn’t seem to get any further into the tome. She flipped a page every ten seconds but the book remained divided down the centre.

He got a little dizzy and stood up. “Please pardon me. I believe that a walk is on my agenda.”

She grinned and waved him off. “Have a nice time. The shifter’s meadow is not usually occupied this time of day.”

Taking the hint, he left and headed to the shifter’s meadow where he could shift during daylight hours and no one would think anything of it.

* * * *

Mina crouched down in the field full of daisies and watched bees and butterflies go about their daily routines. The inventory had taken five minutes, so Mina had the rest of the time until lunch to enjoy being out and about as her other self.

Her tail twitched and her nose picked up on every subtle scent that wafted through the meadow. When she smelled musk and blueberries, she lifted her head and sat up slightly, watching the male fox as he chased a butterfly through the meadow. That fluffy tail of his was far too tempting.

She crouched low with her tail lashing until he was within a few feet of her, and then, she pounced, rolling him over until he yelped in surprise.

Unsure of how he would take her overtures to play, she stepped away and sat primly, her tail thudding rhythmically on the grass behind her.

He sat down, mimicking her. His head tilted from side to side, and he slowly got to his feet, coming toward her. His feet were placed carefully, daintily in the grass and flower stalks that her tumble had flattened.