Scarlet's Dilemma

by Zenina Masters

  Scarlet snapped the toothpick, keeping it inside the knot. That little bit of interference was all that she needed. It was enough to see everyone around her and appreciate the varieties of relationships that were forming.

  Sasquatch families were small; their courtships were basic. There was a female who was receptive, a male who was interested, and they changed into their human forms after mating. Details were worked out at that point. Conversation wasn’t common as few sasquatch bothered to learn how to speak while shifted. Her dad was an exception.

  Watching the interaction gave her plenty of entertainment as she ate. When the server came back, she looked hopeful, “Pie and ice cream?”

  “Sure, Sweetie, which pie?”

  “Apple, please.” Scarlet clapped her hands together happily. “Can I have a cappuccino as well?”

  The server—who’s tag read Molly—frowned. “I am sorry, but Matt is the only one who can wrangle our machine.”

  “Can I make it myself?”

  The astonishment was apparent. “Um, sure. I will hold your pie until you get your coffee then.”

  Scarlet got to her feet and headed toward the shiny coffee bar. She checked the grinder, the water line, and the milk stock in the fridge. Everything was normal, so she got to work.

  The server came up to her when she was pulling her first coffee shots. “If it wouldn’t be too much trouble, could you make a few more? It sucks to have to turn folks away, but it has been our only option. All morning it has been coffee or nothing.”

  “Sure. Line up the orders, I will get them done.” Steam shot out as the machine vented pressure, but it did make her words sound dramatic.

  The order slips and cups began to line up, and Scarlet got to work.

  As she worked, a line of people began to form, so she drew images in the foam. Leaves, swords, shields, bears, wolves, bunnies, she just kept going, doing what she loved.

  The servers came in and watched her work. She explained the machine, how it worked and how to keep from scalding themselves while her hands moved and the coffee streamed down into the little cups.

  The order came in that made her pause. Draw a red panda on the back of a tiger.

  Scarlet looked up, and Hiro was waiting, leaning on the counter. “Enjoying yourself?”

  “Oh, yeah. Are you done whatever you were doing?”

  He lifted his wrist and admired the small tag. “Yeah. All checked out and authorized.”

  She blinked slowly, and a blush crept up her cheeks. “Ah, new jewellery?”

  “Yeah. My family is very keen to meet you, so I hope that our courtship can continue on pace.”

  She grinned and got started on his coffee. “Hold that thought for two minutes.”

  She mixed coffee in with some of the milk foam, set up her blank canvas and started to pour. She drew the tiger in the foam and then put the small red panda on its back. When it was done, she handed the saucer to him and inclined her head. “What do you think?”

  He chuckled. “I think you need to work here.”

  “I get that a lot. Well, at least everyone here now knows how to work the machine.”

  Hiro frowned. “Isn’t Matt here?”

  “Nope. No one can give me an answer as to why.”

  “Huh. He must be hung over or something.”

  Molly shrugged. “He takes off now and then; I just wish it wasn’t near the peak times.”

  Hiro sipped at the coffee and raised his brows. “This is really good.”

  “Thank you. Well, I guess I can just make mine and then have some pie.”

  Molly grinned. “Coming right up. With ice cream.”

  Scarlet made herself a latte with just a drop of coffee in it. She had inhaled enough coffee over the last hour to keep her alert for quite some time.

  With the hot cup, she wandered over to the table where Hiro was waiting, and she sighed as she sat down. “That was bizarrely fun.”

  He laughed. “And now you get pie.”

  “Indeed. I am always willing to work for my treats.” She smiled at Molly as the plate of pie and ice cream was set in front of her.

  The warmth of the pie was melting the ice cream, and Scarlet wasted no time in getting into her well-deserved reward.

  “So, you spent your day making coffee?”

  “I did. Did you really knock me out and then carry me and my stuff back to the Crossroads?”

  He looked offended. “I didn’t knock you out. I just kept you under as I slipped into the window of the bed and breakfast. It is a spell specialty of my mother’s kind. I released it as soon as you were comfortable.”

  “I still slept until the afternoon. What were you up to?”

  “Oh, I brought my designs to Dira so that she can plan the move or the expansion as she likes. So, my contract here is done. I video chatted with my parents, got a guest contract, and found you here. So, here I am.”

  He lifted his hand, and the dangling charm gleamed in the light. He took her hand in his and brought it to his lips, licking a drop of coffee foam off her finger.

  The abrupt change from friend to suitor caught her off guard.

  “Um, that’s... how did your parents take it?”

  “My dad is planning a reception and already wants to call your parents, and my mother is quietly pleased.”

  Scarlet realized something. “Right. A reception. Damn. My dad is going to want it done sasquatch style.”

  “Neither of us are sasquatch.”

  She winced. “No, but the ceremony is done in the human form. Nudist ceremony. We wear nothing that isn’t provided by nature from moonrise to moonset. The whole party is done in the deep woods, no matter the temperature or season.”

  He paused and then smiled. “I think that is doable. I have nothing to hide.”

  She blushed hotly. It was so much different in the light of day when they were both dressed. In privacy, she had no issues with nudity, but discussing it was rather peculiar.

  “Would you like to go through the motions of courtship, or can we just schedule a bonding ceremony and spend a day in seclusion before dealing with family?” He cocked his head and took hold of her hand once again.

  “Intimate seclusion?”

  “It goes along with the binding ceremony. You have a limited amount of time to consummate before the magic takes over and forces you into it. It takes the heat and rut of your beasts and forces it into the human form. Things can get unpleasant if you delay.”

  “Yeah, that sounds frightening.”

  “But, if it is done under the control of the balanced couple, there is nothing more magical, to coin a phrase.” He paused, “So, do you want to do it the old-fashioned way, or just jump?”

  She blinked. “You mean the courtship, right?”

  He grinned. “Yes.”

  “Well, I think that my list is pretty full right now, and the more I get to know you, the more things I will add to it, so we had better just jump.”

  “You enjoy your coffee and pie; I will be back as soon as I make the arrangements.”

  He kissed her on the cheek and left her in the café.

  Molly came back and sat across from her. “Just like that?”

  Scarlet laughed at how it must have looked and kept eating her pie. “Well, he is very pretty.”

  Chapter Eight

  Teebie had a stack of books in her arms when she came into Scarlet’s room. “Okay, I have different classic wedding outfits from a number of eras. Do you want me to pick one or just jumble them together?”

  “Mix and match. The sasquatch tradition is naked, and my mom isn’t too attached to her genetic history, so a nod to the bright red would be good, but a lot of skin needs to be on display.”

  “Well, I can’t modify these for skin, but if you aren’t committed to a design, I am going to go Zhou dynasty. The black will look better with your hair.”

  Teebie thumbed through the pages and came up with the design. It was a design from the age before the common era.


  “I like that idea. Since none of my recent ancestors were married, I like going back to the past with the clothing. Of course, I am three-quarters North American.”

  “Oh, yeah. Right.” Teebie chuckled. “We seem to gravitate to the skin colour. I should know better.”

  Scarlet laughed. “Glad to know that humans aren’t the only ones who lock into social judgements.”

  “Oh, no. It happens everywhere. The fey are notorious for it. They layer their societies so much that it can be fatal for one level to touch another.”

  As Teebie spoke, she flicked her fingers, and a column of blue flame appeared in the room.

  “How does that work? The fatal thing?”

  “Oh, if a lesser fey dares to touch a high fey, they can be killed on sight. If the high fey touches a lesser fey, they can lose a limb. I am considered high fey in some circles but lower fey in others. It can be very confusing.”

  Teebie moved her hands, and the flame shaped itself into a dress stand, and from there, it became solid. Layers of fabric formed out of the fire and hugged the stand.

  “Oh, wow. My mom would love this.”

  Teebie grinned and kept working. “There are a lot of layers to this.”

  “Yeah, but it looks so lovely.”

  It took the better part of half an hour, but the layers were finally complete.

  Scarlet blinked. “It is going to take forever to put that on.”

  Teebie grinned. “Not at all. Take off your clothing, and I will do the transfer.”

  “What?”

  “I have learned that many brides don’t like standing still long enough to get the fit right. So, I have started to make a matching dressmaker’s dummy, and then, I dress the bride later.”

  Scarlet looked at the elegant formal robes, and she smiled. It was the polar opposite of the family wedding her father had always planned. She loved her father, but the fleeting feeling of being important and the centre of attention was something she wanted, and she hadn’t realized it until then.

  “Are you ready?” Teebie cocked her head.

  “I think so.” She stood up and slid the bathrobe from her shoulders.

  There was a rush of flame that felt strangely cool on her skin, and a moment later, she was dressed in layers of silk.

  Teebie consulted the book, and another wave of fire wrapped around her and applied her makeup while twisting her hair into position.

  “Oh, that is lovely. May I take an image to put in my collection?”

  “Sure. Can I take a look first?”

  “Oh, of course.” Teebie waved her hands, and a mirror appeared in front of Scarlet.

  “Oh, oh, wow.” Scarlet looked at the black robes with the red embroidery of a dragon and phoenix.

  There were other traditional animals marching in the border, but she couldn’t make them out as her eyes watered with tears. “Oh, Teebie, I don’t know how to thank you. I just wish my mom could see me.”

  “Some things can’t be helped.” Teebie brought out a cell phone and took a picture.

  “Somehow, seeing the fey with a camera is a little weird.”

  “I am bound to a shifter. Think of it that way.”

  “Right. That does make it less peculiar. So, when does the balance ceremony start?”

  “As soon as you get there. I went for a more foot-friendly shoe, so if you lift the hem an inch, you will be able to move fairly comfortably. This is a very wearer-friendly design for a formal gown.”

  Scarlet smiled and nodded. “Right, we had better get started then. My steps are going to be small.”

  “As is appropriate. Everyone waits for the bride.”

  Teebie offered her arm, and Scarlet settled her left hand on the blue skin. “Thank you, Teebie.”

  “You are welcome. This is the best part of my job.”

  They walked out of the Open Heart and down the lane with slow, measured paces. The sun was setting; the guests were stirring. The gazes turned into soft exclamations, and soon, there was an audience following at a respectful distance.

  The Meditation Centre doors were wide, and as she walked through to the rear gardens, she fought tears once again.

  Two familiar figures left the gathered folk, and they came toward her. “Mom, Dad.” She didn’t, couldn’t say anything else.

  Arthur Wilson came to her and gave her a careful hug. “Congratulations, darlin’. He seems an eloquent and charming fellow.”

  She whispered, “You met him?”

  “He came to introduce himself, and his parents are very charming. We met with Apniainu and Liam this afternoon, and Hiro explained what was going on. Of course, we were eager to attend. Our family celebrations can be left for later.”

  She nodded, and he stepped back. Her mother rushed forward and looked at her clothing. “Zhou dynasty. My favourite. Baby, you look lovely.”

  “Thank you, Mom. Teebie made it.”

  Her mother’s eyes looked to her companion and grew wide. “A fey?”

  “A djinn. Mother, this is Teebie, Teebie, this is my mother, Biyu.”

  Her mother slowly extended her hand, and Teebie took it. To Scarlet’s shock, there was no spark, no flinch. It was almost as if both were fey or shifter.

  Arthur cleared his throat. “Well, before Scarlet gets more confused, why don’t we let her get to her mate?”

  Biyu blinked and stepped back. “Of course. This is your day, dearest one. Head high and go to your mate.”

  Scarlet squeezed Teebie’s hand in hers before walking to the stairs that lead to the podium where she would wait for all the magic in her body to be drained and filled with a mix of her energy and Hiro’s.

  Her mate was standing on another arm of the platform. He was wearing calf-length trousers appliqued with Ainu designs that were mirrored on the kimono-style robe that wrapped his torso. It was closed with a sash, and an appliqued vest finished the look. He was wearing images of tigers in his clothing, and Scarlet was pretty sure that his mother had created his wedding clothing for him.

  He bowed to her, and she did the same to him. Their balancer arrived, knelt, and got to it.

  The walk back to the bed and breakfast was bittersweet. Their families had left the Crossroads after witnessing the balance ceremony, and Scarlet had been touched by their emotional display when the transfer was complete.

  “So, are you content to stay here for our bonding night?”

  She held his hand as they made their way back to the Open Heart. “I am content. Weirdly, bizarrely content.”

  “Good. I have another surprise for you.”

  Teebie’s mate, Andor, met them at the front door. “Hiro, everything is ready.”

  “Ready?” Scarlet raised her brows.

  Hiro nodded, his hair swinging loose. “It was a surprise that I sat on in case it wasn’t ready. Andor, I don’t believe you have met Scarlet.”

  Scarlet extended her hand. “Pleased to meet you. I have heard you, but this is our first time meeting face to face.”

  He lifted her hand to his lips. “You are as stunning as Hiro stated, but I expected no less of him. He does not exaggerate.”

  “Thank you, but normally, I am a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl. I spare my ancient clothing for the Chinese buffets.”

  Andor grinned. “I am beginning to see what attracted him.”

  “Good. I think he thinks you are pretty, too.”

  Hiro wrapped his arms around her and smiled at what was obviously his friend. “Can you send us through the gate now?”

  “Of course. This way.”

  They followed him to the end of the main hall and down another corridor. After the last turn, they were in front of a huge, round door.

  “If we find Hobbits, I am going to be pissed,” Scarlet muttered it as she and Hiro stepped past the opening door.

  The scent of wood and beeswax filled the air. The tang of moisture surrounded them, and she instinctively knew where they had come. “We are in the cave.”

&n
bsp; “Well, the hot springs have been moved closer to the Crossroads, and we are in the building I designed. Dira began shaping it the morning I brought you back to the Crossroads. This morning, I suppose.”

  She smiled, “Can we go exploring?”

  “I can take you on a tour, but the clock is ticking.”

  “You are so romantic.”

  He grinned and took her hand, kicking off his shoes and leading her out of the reception hall.

  She barely had time to let her embroidered slippers go flying before he led her through the heated chambers, the springs, the dining area and the bedroom, which was set up for two.

  “If you are planning on getting me naked, it is going to take some doing. These clothes were magicked into place.”

  He grinned. “May I try?”

  She put her hands on his shoulders and went up on her toes. “You can if you think you can.”

  He smiled, but his smile faded as their kiss burned thought and wit out of their heads.

  Scarlet shivered as he opened the sash at her waist, and he peeled the layers off her, one by one.

  The tie of his vest and the band that held his robe together opened, and she was able to caress his chest as she slid the fabric off and away.

  His trousers fought her fingers, but he still had three layers of thin silk to go when she managed to loosen the knot and ease the fabric from his hips.

  Her blood rushed through her veins, her sex slicked, and she moved toward him to feel skin on skin. The sound of tearing fabric echoed in the air, and she didn’t care. The inner layers could be fixed.

  When nothing covered her back but air, he lifted her and wrapped her legs around his hips. She laughed and held on as he twirled her around. She held tightly to him as he knelt, and when he went to lower her to her back, she reached up with one hand and unpinned her hair. It tumbled down her back, and she heard a definite growl.

  “Really? You have seen my hair loose several times.”

  He nuzzled her cheek. “But this is the first time you have taken it down for me.”