up for a nice room at the Open Heart Bed and Breakfast. It will allow you privacy, and the host is a charming woman who will make sure you are cared for at all times.” Krisia gave her another concerned look.
“Thank you.” She turned and extended her hand to her grandmother.
Helena smiled and squeezed her hand quickly.
Nicia returned her attention to the transporter. “What else do I need to do?”
“The account is set up, you have your bag and I have samples from your grandparents and your mother. You will have plenty of time to look around and see if you are amenable to any of the men there. There is an out for those from your community. If you want to leave, just tell the guardians, and they will send you home.”
Nicia nodded. “I understand. Where would I live if I do find a mate?”
Her grandparents shared a look. Helena pressed a hand to her shoulder. “If he has a home or territory of his own, his species might expect you to move there. You will have to discuss it with him. You are always welcome here, you know that, and I want to be called the moment that you finish your time in the Crossroads. I will tell Anderson where you are, and we will make arrangements to come to you if you can’t come here.”
Nicia nodded and felt her heart lurch as she looked at the two people who had made her mother. The living blend of their features had been the most comforting thing of her life, and she was gone now. The past was the past, and it was time to seek the future.
She signed the final document and nodded to Krisia. “I am ready.”
She pulled a few strands of her hair out and folded them neatly, rolling them into a column. “My contribution to the payment.”
Krisia smiled. “Thank you. If you are ready, I will make the portal on your deck.”
Nicia nodded, got to her feet, hugged her grandparents and picked up her bag. She was ready. Outside, light flared, and she stepped into it, transporting away from her family’s home and into an agonizing light in the Crossroads.
Nicia looked around from her position on her knees. Pain radiated from her, but it was quickly dissipating.
A woman approached her carefully. “Just breathe deeply. Predators sometimes have problems with the transport.”
A glass of water was extended to her and Nicia took it. “Thank you.”
The water went down and cooled the last of the pain. She handed the glass back with a nod. “Thank you again.”
Her inner beast watched the motions of the woman, and she nodded. The woman was a swan. The cat in her could identify any bird.
“I am Teal, this is my mate Tony and we are the guardians of the Meditation Centre.”
Nicia got to her feet. “I am Nicia Mooring.”
“We have been hoping you would come. Your name was on the list of the…well, the list.”
Nicia inclined her head. “I know what list you are referring to.”
“If you will wait a moment, Lee is on her way here.”
Nicia hefted her bag. “I will wait.”
Teal looked nervous. “Do you ever smile?”
Nicia smiled briefly. “I am trying.”
Teal was about to speak, but the door opened and she gasped instead.
Nicia turned, “Yes, I am that one.”
Lee was waiting, and Nicia walked to her and gave her a hug. “Hello, Leandiir.”
“Nicia. You look amazing and your voice is so much better.”
Nicia gave her a genuine smile. “You are blooming, Lee. How pregnant are you?”
Lee hushed her and ushered her out into the sun. “I haven’t told anyone. Most folks here don’t have the best sense of smell, and my mate is usually distracted when I am around.”
Nicia linked arms with her childhood friend and walked out with her into the strange environment that smelled of shifters and magic.
“How have you enjoyed your time here?”
Lee shrugged. “Well, once I helped to stamp out an illegal drug infiltration, it has been fairly calm. I set bones and give x-rays, as well as stitch up cuts. We have a full contingent of beavers here, and they can get
“Thank you.” She turned and extended her hand to her grandmother.
Helena smiled and squeezed her hand quickly.
Nicia returned her attention to the transporter. “What else do I need to do?”
“The account is set up, you have your bag and I have samples from your grandparents and your mother. You will have plenty of time to look around and see if you are amenable to any of the men there. There is an out for those from your community. If you want to leave, just tell the guardians, and they will send you home.”
Nicia nodded. “I understand. Where would I live if I do find a mate?”
Her grandparents shared a look. Helena pressed a hand to her shoulder. “If he has a home or territory of his own, his species might expect you to move there. You will have to discuss it with him. You are always welcome here, you know that, and I want to be called the moment that you finish your time in the Crossroads. I will tell Anderson where you are, and we will make arrangements to come to you if you can’t come here.”
Nicia nodded and felt her heart lurch as she looked at the two people who had made her mother. The living blend of their features had been the most comforting thing of her life, and she was gone now. The past was the past, and it was time to seek the future.
She signed the final document and nodded to Krisia. “I am ready.”
She pulled a few strands of her hair out and folded them neatly, rolling them into a column. “My contribution to the payment.”
Krisia smiled. “Thank you. If you are ready, I will make the portal on your deck.”
Nicia nodded, got to her feet, hugged her grandparents and picked up her bag. She was ready. Outside, light flared, and she stepped into it, transporting away from her family’s home and into an agonizing light in the Crossroads.
Nicia looked around from her position on her knees. Pain radiated from her, but it was quickly dissipating.
A woman approached her carefully. “Just breathe deeply. Predators sometimes have problems with the transport.”
A glass of water was extended to her and Nicia took it. “Thank you.”
The water went down and cooled the last of the pain. She handed the glass back with a nod. “Thank you again.”
Her inner beast watched the motions of the woman, and she nodded. The woman was a swan. The cat in her could identify any bird.
“I am Teal, this is my mate Tony and we are the guardians of the Meditation Centre.”
Nicia got to her feet. “I am Nicia Mooring.”
“We have been hoping you would come. Your name was on the list of the…well, the list.”
Nicia inclined her head. “I know what list you are referring to.”
“If you will wait a moment, Lee is on her way here.”
Nicia hefted her bag. “I will wait.”
Teal looked nervous. “Do you ever smile?”
Nicia smiled briefly. “I am trying.”
Teal was about to speak, but the door opened and she gasped instead.
Nicia turned, “Yes, I am that one.”
Lee was waiting, and Nicia walked to her and gave her a hug. “Hello, Leandiir.”
“Nicia. You look amazing and your voice is so much better.”
Nicia gave her a genuine smile. “You are blooming, Lee. How pregnant are you?”
Lee hushed her and ushered her out into the sun. “I haven’t told anyone. Most folks here don’t have the best sense of smell, and my mate is usually distracted when I am around.”
Nicia linked arms with her childhood friend and walked out with her into the strange environment that smelled of shifters and magic.
“How have you enjoyed your time here?”
Lee shrugged. “Well, once I helped to stamp out an illegal drug infiltration, it has been fairly calm. I set bones and give x-rays, as well as stitch up cuts. We have a full contingent of beavers here, and they can get
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