Free OwlsFair by Zenina Masters Page A

her mate picked out. They are only waiting for you to be matched first.”
    She whispered in her father’s ear. “It is an antiquated tradition.”
    He leaned back and stared into her eyes. “But it is still our tradition.”
    Ezzy blinked and sighed in resignation. “Fine. But I want to hug everyone else before I meet those guys. They don’t look like that much fun.”
    Her mother came up and gave her a birthday hug. “Give them a chance. You might be surprised.”
    Ezzy grumbled. “Fine, a chance is all they get.”
    Screwing a pleasant expression on her face, Ezzy set out to greet the guests and meet the men that her father had found for her. How bad could they be?
    Ezzy sat and held out her wine glass while Krisia filled it for the third time. Her shudders were gradually fading.
    “I am sorry those guys were so creepy. I am sure your father meant well.” Krisia sipped at her soda and tried to look encouraging.
    “I am sure he did, too—that is why this is so depressing. If these are the only guys he can find to be remotely interested in me, I am doomed, and I am taking my little sister with me to disaster.”
    Krisia looked from side to side and leaned in, trying not to be heard by the supernatural hearing surrounding her. “Have you thought of the alternative?”
    Ezzy blinked in her wine-fuddled state. “Switching teams? Sorry, you are not my type.”
    Kris waved her hand. “Don’t be stupid. No, I mean the…” she leaned in and whispered, “Crossroads.”
    Nineteen shades of blush ran through Ezzy’s body. “Isn’t that a little…extreme?”
    “More extreme than going lesbian?” Kris’s deep brown eyes were amused.
    “Fair point. The problem is that I don’t know anyone who has gone to it. I don’t want to be the first in the family.”
    Kris stood. “Stay here for a moment.”
    Ezzy watched her friend cruise through the crowd and grab a couple. With the same speed, Kris returned with Aunt Aglia and Uncle Stephano in tow.
    Kris faced the shifters with a lack of fear that Ezzy’s family found perplexing. Ezzy knew that her friend was a magic user, but few, if any, of her family shared that little secret.
    “Tell her where you met.”
    The demand made Ezzy’s favourite aunt blush and her uncle wrapped his arm around his wife. Stephano smiled down at Ezzy. “We met at the Crossroads. I was staying at the avian hostel for males, your aunt was at the one for females, and we met over coffee and pie at the café. We found a quiet place to talk, and after a few days, we showed each other our shifted forms. We came home, announced our engagement, and I moved here so your aunt could remain near her family.”
    There was a wealth of innuendo in that description, but it left an impression on Ezzy. This was the one couple she would model her own relationship on if she could.
    “Where do I go?” The words were out before she could stop them.
    Kris smiled. “I can give you the directions to the travel agent. She will brief you on the wherefores and details, as well as setting up your room in the hostel or a bed and breakfast.”
    Ezzy embraced her aunt and uncle before settling back and staring at her friend. “How do you know so much about this?”
    Kris snickered and dug in her vest pocket for a business card. “Take this to the address in the morning, and you can start making arrangements for the rest of your life.”
    Ezzy took the small card and stared at it. “Do you know the travel agent?”
    Kris smirked, “All of us human magic users know each other. We even have a newsletter.”
    Ezzy sighed and twisted her shoulders.
    “You want to fly, don’t you? So, go. I will be here when you get back.” Kris put her feet up and snickered.
    Ezzy couldn’t hold back any longer. She tucked the business card for Enchanted Travel in her pocket and gave her friend’s hand a squeeze. Her more sober family members followed her into the woods, and in a quick shuffling of clothing, they took