Desperately Seeking Starlight

by Zenina Masters

  Oksana squeezed through the portal, and her wings unfurled into huge panels that caught the light and shattered it into a thousand rays.

  Dira felt joy at the sight of her old friend. Oksana had been one of the motivating factors of the Crossroads. She had pointed out that while she could change her status from woman to mother by thinking about it. Other beings had the ability to blend their genetics, but Oksana was on her own.

  Welcome to the Crossroads, Oksana.

  Thank you for allowing me to visit, Dira.

  Dira wheeled, and they flew side by side across the sky. It is my honour to have you here. What have you brought to me?

  Oksana looked at her through one huge, smoky eye. I have brought you a living book and unending starlight.

  I accept gratefully.

  They flew in slow patterns that only other dragons would recognize. Dances of joy were hard to miss when you knew what they were. Peaceful dragons were few and far between. Female dragons who were not in competition for mates were glad for companionship with their own kind, however long it lasted.

  This was a precious moment. The power that Oksana was giving off would be enough to expand the Crossroads into the dark lands. Dira narrowed her eyes in pleasure. There might even be enough magic to bring the mages in to the Crossroads.

  The dream of moving to forward magic into the next generations was getting close to being within her grasp. If she continued the progress, her daughters would be able to live in the open, not the shadows where humans couldn’t see them.

  Bringing magic into the open was a daring escapade, but since the fey had managed it with some success, she was going to try it with the shifters. They simply didn’t know it yet. Combining the bloodlines was an excellent first step.

  If she was here, Oksana was ready to take that step as well.

  * * * *

  Oksana landed next to Dira, tucking her wings neatly against her back. She set the book down and shifted to human, picking it up before she turned to her friend.

  “I could only set it back to the previous generation, but your daughters will find the stories of your life and that of your sisters to be amusing.” Oksana extended the book to her.

  “You got it to my mother’s generation?”

  Oksana inclined her head. “It took some research, but I did have the old archives and was able to do the temporal link to the living book. They like to have names, just so you know.”

  Dira was looking at the heavy leather book in her hands. “It is Limaka. It seems right.” When Dira looked up, she blinked tears away. “Thank you, and please come in.”

  “I would be delighted to.”

  She flicked her hair over her shoulders and followed Dira into the micro-castle that used the same compression magic as the live book.

  Like many shifters, Dira had robes hanging by the door and handed one to Oksana the moment they came in.

  “Is that a tattoo?”

  Oksana laughed. “No, it is a birthmark. It developed as I got closer to breeding age. Now that I am ready to reproduce, there was no reason not to meet the jackass that the fey selected for me.”

  Dira paused after she flipped her black hair down her back. “You have met him?”

  “No, but he was part of the raid of my mother’s library on the day I was born.”

  “Oh. Are you sure it is the same fey?”

  “According to the seers, it is the same guy. I am willing to take their word on it.”

  Dira was cautious. “What are you planning to do with him?”

  “I am just going to bat him around a bit. I know the rules against violence in the Crossroads. I won’t break them.”

  Oksana watched her friend’s shoulders relax. She inclined her head. “Now, where are the babies?”

  Dira transformed from dragon lady into proud mother as she led Oksana to the rear gardens where Dira’s husband was playing with three babies who were working on rolling over and preparing to race.

  Oksana grinned. “They are adorable. You are going to be in such trouble when they are up on their own two feet.”

  She had barely said the words when the first of the three levered herself into a crawling position and bolted forward with amazing speed.

  Dira’s mate ran and caught the girl before she could reach the beckoning woods.

  Dira smiled. “Once a quadruped, always a quadruped. That is how we start if we come to the world in human form.”

  Oksana watched as Dira’s mate returned with the smiling infant under his arm and the second one took off.

  Dira sighed. “Okay, you might have been a little better off coming out fully formed.”

  Oksana watched the third child creep to the side and head back for the house. She stepped forward and scooped her up.

  “Your father only has so many arms, little one, but nice try heading for the house.”

  The baby giggled, and Oksana settled her against her hip.

  Dira was watching in amusement. “You look right at home.”

  “You can’t keep elves and humans in the house and not end up with babies. I got used to them very quickly. I think I am working with the twelfth generation by now.”

  “So, lots of diapers.”

  Oksana looked down at the little one. “Well, it goes with the territory.”

  Dira cocked her head. “So, you don’t want a baby right now?”

  She shook her head. “My body is ready, but this technological world is just too much fun to ignore. They think I am a fey, and I get by that way. A little girl in my arms who breathes fire might be a tipoff to a few questions that no one has been asking... yet.”

  “You are passing for fey?”

  Oksana chuckled. “When I go out among humans, yeah. I can’t pass for one of them, so I improvised the moment that the fey came out. I came out with them.”

  “So, you have been living in the public eye for the last three hundred years?”

  Oksana handed the baby over to her mother. “Longer than that. I just didn’t put a label on myself until there was one to be had.”

  “This is Mak; Mak, this is Oksana.”

  Oksana inclined her head. “Pleased to meet you.”

  The exceptionally attractive male smiled slowly. “Pleased to meet you, and welcome to the Crossroads. You are going to have fun here.”

  She grinned, flashing her canines, “That is the plan.”

  Chapter Three

  After her visit with Dira and watching the other dragon try to explain her ancestors to the drooling trio on the floor, she knew Mak was interested and that was enough.

  Oksana took her leave and walked to the Crossroads, the robe still her only clothing.

  The store had quite a bit of clothing in her size, but she grabbed some exercise pants and a long tunic. Leather ballet slippers covered her feet, and she was ready to go and meet with the guardians of Dira’s realm.

  Teal and Tony were just as pleasant as Oksana knew they would be. Dira was picky about the folks she allowed in her territory. Despite what the locals thought, this was and always would be Dira’s realm.

  Tony cleared his throat and asked, “Where would you like to stay?”

  “Andy recommended the Axion if I don’t have trouble with fey magic.”

  “Do you?”

  “I don’t. I have been around fey all my life. I am used to the crackle.”

  “Oh. Wonderful. The Axion is it for you then.” Tony sighed in relief.

  She got the charm bracelet and smirked at the tiny crystal. It was one of hers. “Yes. The Axion is for me.”

  Teal cleared her throat. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather be at the Open Heart? Dira’s niece is running it.”

  “I am sure. I am accustomed to being surrounded by fey.”

  Dira had offered to put her up, but with her intent to cause Hyther as much discomfort as possible, Oksana didn’t think it polite to remain with the family.

  �
��So, I am going to the castle next to the large Victorian?”

  Tony nodded. “You are correct. Have you been here before?”

  “No. I just saw it on my flyby. Thank you. I am sure I will see you both before I leave.”

  She turned and walked out of the Meditation Centre and into the minor foot traffic of an afternoon at the Crossroads.

  Oksana smiled at the progress that Dira had made over the decades. The first plans were still in her library at home. She and Dira had sat out in the afternoon sun, drawing places they would like to live and sharing their dreams for the future. It had been one of their rare visits but had been quite fun, despite the corsets, paniers and wide skirts.

  Inhabiting a castle sounded romantic, but Oksana was delighted that she had sprung for the upgrades to modern plumbing and electrical. The good old days were in the past for a reason. The modern era clothing was easier to move in, even if it left less to the imagination.

  She found the bundle of fey magic that was the Axion easily. Her hand was raised to knock when the door opened.

  “Lady, please be welcome.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  The elf who ran the Axion smiled. “My name is Drak. If you need anything, simply whisper it and it will be done.”

  “Thank you. So, where am I to shelter while under your roof?”

  Drak chuckled and led the way up the grand staircase. “You do not seem to have any luggage.”

  “True. I travel light.” The charm flicked against her wrist, the crystal glowed wildly.

  “I have never seen a crystal do that before.”

  She snorted. “They are under an ancient enchantment that detects and warns the fey that they are trespassing.”

  Drak paused at the top of the stairs. “You are joking.”

  “No, I am very serious. This is the ancient enchantment of my family. We cast it on a heavy vein of crystal under one specific mountain.”

  “We?”

  She smiled softly. “Yes, we. I come from a long line of ladies who play with magic.”

  “But, you are a shifter.”

  “Correct.”

  “I am going to look that up.”

  “Enjoy your research.” She wrinkled her nose and gestured for him to continue leading her.

  Drak nodded and led her up through the levels until she was situated in one of the fairy-tale towers.

  She looked around at the comfortable room, nodded and smiled at him. “This will do nicely. How many other guests are here now?”

  “I currently have eight on the books. You are the only non-fey.”

  “I will endeavour to live up to the hype.”

  He laughed. “Thank you. Did you want me to arrange some clothing for you?”

  “Nope. I am good like this. I am not here to seduce a man; I am here to catch one.”

  The shock on the metallic fey’s face was priceless. She closed the door and made note of the location. “Now, I am going to hunt.”

  “May I ask what you are hunting?”

  She chuckled as she turned her back and walked toward the stairs again. “You can ask.”

  The Crossed Star was only moderately active as the sun went down. Most shifters were only in the early stages of rising, and the fey had no reason to be out if the shifters weren’t.

  Oksana entered the bar and looked for her prey. She couldn’t spot him immediately, but then, it was too bright inside to find him easily.

  The naga at the bar was a bit of a surprise. He smiled a charming expression and asked her what she wanted.

  “Apple cider and cinnamon schnapps. I like it to taste like a cold winter day.”

  “I can do that.” He smiled and set to work, pulling the cider and pouring the shot. “You seem familiar. Have you been here before?”

  She chuckled. “No. I just have that look about me. Common features, as it were.”

  “Right. I am sure it will come to me.”

  She stuck out her hand. “Oksana.”

  “Chuck. Pleased to meet you.”

  She sipped at the tall glass of cider. “Very nice. Thanks.”

  “So, what are you looking for?”

  Oksana snickered. “A nice butt to kick. I am here for revenge.”

  “Well, whatever you like, I am sure there is a fey out there who is into it.”

  Oksana grinned and took her glass to a booth to watch for her prey. She was old, she was patient, she would wait.

  Four ciders down and her prey finally came through the door. He was tall for a scavenging worm.

  Hyther was gorgeous in a shallow and pretty kind of way. His white hair was braided in the way a standard academics was. Two narrow braids on either side of his face kept his pale and silken locks away from his eyes, but the subtle waves reached his hips. His tunic was simple with subtle embroidery. The trousers were a comfortable cotton, and his boots had practical laces. If his skin hadn’t had a discernable glow, she would have thought he was a normal highborn elf.

  She sat and watched him through slightly hazed vision. His eyes were purple. He was purple and light and ivory, and he had taken her mother’s books.

  Bastard.

  That memory sobered her slightly.

  She switched to drinking soda and watched him chat calmly with Chuck, as well as Spike.

  The shifter women were watching him with hunger and fascination. She didn’t blame them. His clear features were lovely to look at.

  He spoke to a few ladies as the other men and women drifted in.

  Oksana flexed her hands on the table and watched her prey chat and charm his way through the crowd. There didn’t seem to be a good time to interrupt him.

  She sighed and got to her feet, wobbling slightly. A hand supported her elbow, and she smiled absently as she looked up. “Thank you.”

  The words should have frozen in her throat because he had come to her.

  He smiled, and his pale face glowed with the cold brightness of starlight. “You are welcome. We haven’t met. My name is Hyther.”

  She blinked at the opportunity that she now had, but instead she nodded. “I know.”

  “You do?”

  “Of course. My name is Oksana.”

  His grip tightened. “Oksana of the Weeping Stars?”

  “The very same.”

  He blinked. “May I speak with you?”

  She nodded toward her booth. “Sure.”

  He sat across from her, looking odd in the casual surroundings. “I did not know she had an heir when we went to retrieve the books. I thought she was the end of her line.”

  “Oh, I know. I kept a member of your party as a companion. That is how I knew your name.”

  Hyther cleared his voice. “We didn’t know.”

  “You didn’t ask. The fey librarians watched for my mother to pass, and the moment she was gone, you broke in before I could put up the wards.”

  He was giving her a direct look, and she gave him one in response.

  “I want everything that was taken returned to me.”

  He blinked his riveting eyes. “What?”

  “Every book, every portrait, every notebook, sketchbook and tapestry that you and the other fey took. I want it all back.”

  Hyther looked shocked. “We don’t have it. Many of the items have been dispersed among the nobles.”

  Oksana inclined her head. “I know it. I am saying that it is mine, and either I get it back or I will take it out on your hide.”

  She gave him her brightest smile.

  “I haven’t been in that archive for centuries.”

  “Well, since the seers came knocking on my door and promised me my lost collection... my inheritance if you will... you had better find out where they are.”

  She rose to her feet, and he jumped to his, a confused scowl on his lovely features. He wasn’t used to women rejecting him. It was obvious.

  She waved to Chuck and made her slightly unste
ady way out of the Crossed Star with the Axion as her intended destination.

  An arm wrapped around her, and she was pulled against a masculine body. “Dearest lady, you glow in the moonlight.”

  She looked up at the elegant fey that was risking life and limb by grabbing her. “Dear sir, you are not my chosen mate. Release me or I will do it for you.”

  He smiled slowly. “How do you know I am not your mate if you haven’t kissed me?”

  She heated her body rapidly and smiled tightly. “I can get hot without your help.”

  He yelped and let go of her.

  She sighed, muttered about young idiots and made her way to the hotel. She was in desperate need of a nightcap and a cookie.

  Where were your fey servants when you needed them?

  Chapter Four

  The Axion was warm and inviting. Drak was sitting near the fire, and he smiled and rose to his feet when she came in.

  “Care to join me for a night cap?”

  She smiled and looked past him. “Are those cookies?”

  “They are. Dira dropped them off this afternoon.”

  “Then, yes. I will have a drink with you.”

  He smiled and gestured for her to settle in the cozy room with the wide fireplace.

  He lifted his hand, and a narrow mug approached her, hovering calmly in the air. “It is winter in your home, so I thought something to warm you up.”

  She twitched her lips. “You actually did do research.”

  “I did. It is a point of pride that I have an extensive library here, and I look up my shifter clients’ needs and wants.”

  “You have a lot of us?”

  “I am getting more every week. The clash of magic is the hard part. Once folks get used to the feeling of being covered in static electricity, they settle in.”

  She smiled and sipped at the hot cider. “So, do you have questions?”

  He nodded. “A few. For example, how many dragons have you met in your lifetime?”

  “Seventeen. I have a record of each and every one.” She quirked her lips. “Most are dead by now.”

  That appeared to shock him. “Dead? Why?”