Free Waking Her Tiger by Zenina Masters Page B

singled out by the seers, and they have found a match for you.”
    Mary Alice watched her uncle stiffen in shock. She couldn’t decide if it was delight or confusion. Suran Yffa was a hard man to read.
    “I am not sure that is wise, Your Highness.”
    Larion snorted. “Wise or not, you have been seen in a vision, as has your mate. She is unaware of our current agreement with the shifter council and she may be resistant to the idea of mating with you. You will have to convince her to go to the Crossroads.”
    Suran laughed, and the walls of the hall shook at the sound. “You have to be kidding. I am not the most convincing of your court.”
    Mary Alice smiled. Her uncle was charming in his own way, but being subtle was not part of that way.
    “Your niece can help you to find the woman. After you meet her, it is up to you to convince her to go with you. Once in the Crossroads, you can be your normal charming self.”
    The subtext was that Suran should hide his gruff nature. Mary Alice winced. It wouldn’t be easy. Her uncle liked to share what was on his mind.
    Mary Alice cleared her throat. “I need to look her up, Uncle. When did you want to go?”
    He narrowed his eyes. “You have seen her with her family?”
    “I have. They are prairie dogs, but she is not.” Mary Alice looked into his pale-grey eyes. “She is something a little more ferocious.”
    Larion looked relieved.
    Suran looked intrigued. “Find her at work then, niece. We will use his royal highness’s tour to check security wherever she is.”
    Mary Alice nodded and bowed to both of the men. She wasn’t sure which one frightened her more, the king or her uncle. Both had hidden agendas and bristled with power. Larion’s power was that of confidence and complete possession of all around him. Suran’s power was that of the elements. When he spoke, the earth shook. After meeting Maddy and assessing her, she could only imagine it would be a surprisingly fair fight.
     

Chapter Two
     
     
    Maddy heaved the heavy luggage from one conveyor belt to the transport. The small, bright Heavy tags meant that they were for her to lift, alone.
    All shifters were stronger in their human forms, but Maddy was the strongest shifter in town. Working at the airport and handling heavy baggage with her cousins and uncles had seemed like the most logical career for her. She wasn’t cut out for secondary education. She liked reading, but her senses sought out the small sounds in a room. Concentrating wasn’t her strong suit.
    Baggage handling wasn’t a calling, but it was a job and the prairie dog town was looking at expanding soon. There was a baby boom that would need more property in a few decades, and laying the groundwork now was the best chance for the expansion. She would put her money into the family account, and the town would grow from there.
    When the cart was loaded, she hopped into the transport and drove down the carefully marked path to the plane waiting for the luggage. Her cousin Kelly was on ground crew, and he waved her into position for the loading.
    Their cousin Mike pulled up in another small transport with no carts. He would be catching the luggage inside the plane while she tossed the bags onto the belt.
    Her hardhat and ear protection let her focus on her work, and she moved the heavy bags first while the passengers were boarding. In her jumpsuit and orange vest, she was just one of the guys. She deliberately left her clothing loose to obscure her sex. Folks tended to get a little freaked out when they saw she was a girl.
    When the plane was loaded and the last-minute additions were on board, Mike sealed it up and Maddy drove her tiny train back to the sorting bay.
    It was lunchtime, and cousin Robert was going to be doing the next small commuter on his own.
    Maddy took off her safety gear and hung it up before scrubbing her hands and heading for the food court. She got her usual—two burgers and fries—before heading to a seat in the court.