soon, the two girls were soaking with two very cheerful fey.
Berry leaned on the edge with her elbows up and her breasts barely covered by churning water. “Aw, you found us.”
Ashko grinned. “The building made a glowing path when Derix asked. We simply followed it to you.”
“Wow. One point down on your hunting skills.” She shook her head.
He smiled. “I can take it.”
Berry looked at the couple who were sitting as close as only lovers would. One of Juno’s thighs was pressed against Derix’s, and he had his arm around her, his hand under her breast.
Berry snorted. “Sorry to leave, but I think I would rather have those two on their own. I am heading for the sea.”
Juno smirked. “Coward.”
“Vixen.” Berry grinned and got out of the water with a whoosh.
Naked, she walked the short distance to the wet entry, and she hopped into the water, thanking her thick fur and fat for the insulation as she shifted.
She swam deep, playing with plankton and rolling on her back to see the fish from an odd vantage point. Her beast laughed in delight as it played with the magical inhabitants of the artificial sea.
Playing tag with the fish lasted for hours until she was extremely hungry. She swam back to the tower and sped up, shooting out of the water and shifting in midair. She skidded to a halt on her human feet and wished that there was someone around to applaud. She also wished for a shower, and to her amusement, a shower slowly wavered into view.
She rinsed the saltwater off her skin and pattered into the hot tub area where she left her robe.
Ashko was sitting on a wooden bench, one leg bent and braced while he read a book on an eReader. He was only wearing a towel, and his pose left little to the imagination. He smiled as she returned. “Now, up for dinner?”
She laughed and retrieved her robe. “Yes. I will just need to change.”
“If I may assist you with that?”
She shrugged and pulled her robe on. “Sure.”
He got to his feet and dressed in a black tunic and matching pants with boots before he reached her.
He looked at her and smiled. “This should be right.”
He touched the edge of her robe, and the fabric shifted and moved across her skin.
She didn’t move. The blue cotton of her robe altered into a fabric so light that it moved in the air currents caused by the hot tub.
The dress was simple and would fit into any time period in history. While it felt like a puff of air against her skin, she could see the blue-green fabric was opaque enough to be comforting.
“There isn’t enough material to make shoes. Would you mind riding me to the restaurant at the Crossroads?”
Berry gave him a narrow-eyed look. “Straight there and back?”
“Only slow wanders. I promise. You might like riding me after a while.”
He offered her his arm.
She sighed. “Fine. There and back I will ride you, but in deference to this skirt, I am doing it side-saddle so to speak. I want to be able to walk with dignity when I dismount.”
His smile was brilliant and showed disturbingly sharp teeth for a horse shifter. She linked her arm with his, and they walked up the steps to the main level. She was going to ride her companion to dinner. She was glad it was the first time.
Out in the front entryway, Derix was waiting to assist her. When Ashko changed shape, Derix held out his hands, and she stepped into his grip, letting him lift her up and onto the back of her would-be boyfriend.
“I thought kelpies were shorter.”
Ashko snorted and tossed his head, stepping carefully with a smooth gait as he carried her to the Crossroads.
They got their fair share of attention as they rode through the pathways. When he stopped outside the restaurant, she slid to her feet and only wobbled a little. Her right leg didn’t like being cramped up like that.
He shifted to his fey form with his head high and shoulders back. It was a proud look if she ever saw one.
“Made it and didn’t tip you off.”
She
Marina Dyachenko, Sergey Dyachenko