Free PoisonedPen by Zenina Masters Page A

you, and your accommodations will be handled on the other side of the portal. Hug your family, get your bag and I will get you on to the next phase of this process.”
    Ivy followed the directions, hugging her aunts and uncles before squeezing her parents tight. “I will see you in a month.”
    David smiled, “Or sooner.”
    “In a month, Dad. If it is sooner, you will have to accept that it is my mate for the rest of my life and I don’t know if any of us are ready to accept that.”
    He hugged her again and whispered, “I slipped in your spare reader and a charger. They are in the side pocket.”
    “Thanks, Dad. See you soon.” She kissed his cheek, hugged her mom one more time and picked up the bag before entering the kitchen.
    Krisia put her cup down and levered away from the counter. “Okay, here we go.”
    Ivy watched, expecting chanting and waving arms. Krisia merely opened her arms and a portal appeared in front of the dishwasher.
    “Hop on in. The energy is nice this time of year.” Krisia smiled and gestured for her to enter the tall, oblong gateway in the middle of the tile floor.
    Ivy took a few cautious steps, held her breath and plunged through the gateway.
    Sunset. The light of sunset was all around her. A woman stepped forward, and Ivy recognized the set of her head and the glide of her body. It was another swan.
    “Hello, Ivy. My name is Teal. Welcome to the Shifters’ Crossroads.”
    “Thank you. This is a bit of a surprise. Krisia said you would help me organize myself?”
    “Of course. Where did you want to stay, a bed and breakfast or the avian hostel?”
    “Hostel, please. My family is paying for this, so I don’t want to tax them too greatly.”
    A male who was also a bird shifter stepped forward. “If you will come this way, I will scan your tag so you can come and go immediately.”
    He showed her where to swipe the charm, and it glowed briefly. “There, now you have a room in the female avian hostel.”
    She smiled. “Thank you.”
    “Tony. Teal’s mate.”
    His movements were almost predatory, but it was the look in his eyes as her charm caught the light that made it all make sense. Raven.
    She was proud of her ability to make out the distinctions, but she had to admit that as a pair, they were the most powerful shifters she had yet encountered.
    Teal made a small sound. “This way, Ivy.”
    They walked out of a building made of honey-coloured oak and intricate carving. Ivy’s gaze caught every detail. She was good at details. It was why she was so adept at reviewing and editing books. The word on the page, the immovable pieces that everyone overlooked, those were what sprang alive to her.
    The roads were paved lightly with gravel and bordered with green, lush grass. This entire place was wildlife friendly, which was good considering the men and women who were running around.
    Teal smiled, “So, another swan is in the Crossroads. Why are you here?”
    “Family.”
    “Ah. They couldn’t find a match for you?”
    Ivy blushed. “Well…I sort of have been dodging their efforts.”
    “Ouch. How long?”
    “In total, five years.”
    Teal stopped in her tracks. “You are a swan and you have avoided being set up for five whole years? By the first feathers, that takes nerve.”
    “I don’t know if that is an insult or praise.” Ivy smiled and hoisted her bag on her shoulder.
    “Both. I ran from my match, and after I was successful, I ended up running from Tony. He caught me.” Teal grinned and pointed at the café and the restaurant. “You can get food there, day or night.”
    “How hard did you run from him?”
    Teal shrugged. “Pretty hard. It led us here.”
    “Is there a place to swim?”
    “I can show you tomorrow. There is a pond or a lake depending on your preferences. Come on, let’s get your bags stowed so that I can give you the proper tour and introduce you to a few people.”
    They walked together in silence, and once Ivy checked into the hostel with her