water.
“How is it that you are all out here in the open?” Altion whispered as they moved up the line.
“We own the lake access. When it was declared available, several beaver families got together and bought the land. If any family wants out, we buy it up.”
“And the surrounding area?”
“Belongs to ranchers who enjoy the water as well. Lots of small-shifter groups have purchased entire towns for safety.”
They moved up the line, and she grinned. “Can we go merfolk on this one?”
“Sure. This short distance won’t mess you up. Just don’t use your sonar.”
She nodded. She had tried to use it out of the water once, and the nosebleed had taught her the lesson the hard way. Sonar liked water.
He gave her a look. “Can we swing out together?”
“It is tricky, but yes.”
She felt her skin tingling at the thought of showing off her new shape to her family. Some would be appalled, but she had married a merman; this is what she was now. They had better see it now rather than be surprised later.
When it was their turn, he grinned. “Ready?”
She nodded; they grabbed the rope, backed up and ran forward. Their heavier weight swung them higher and faster. They let go, shifted to fins and tails and dove into the lake without a splash.
When they surfaced, Leda kissed him, and they swam to the dock. They had to. There was no decorous way to haul themselves out high enough to purge their gills on the shore.
She pulled herself out of the water, inhaled and shot the residue and silt out of her gills. Her rich red tail gleamed in the light, and when she looked toward her family, they were staring at her. She flicked her tail, sending an arc of water up, and a rainbow skidded across her fins.
“You are staring, folks.”
Altion heaved out of the water next to her, cleared his lungs and leaned over for a kiss. “You have a beautiful tail, love.”
She looked into his face and saw the adoration. She now had a better answer for her mother. At this moment, she was happy.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and tackled him back into the water. She heard the laughter from her relatives as they acted like any newly mated couple, chasing each other in the water and disappearing into the cool depths for privacy.
When they emerged, they were in the middle of an engagement party, and the beavers ratified their unusual mating. It was not something that most folks could say.
Epilogue
The first official wedding with guests who weren’t all residents or guests of the Crossroads was held at the Isthmus.
Leda’s dress was embroidered with gemstones in the pattern of scales, but she only had eyes for Altion in his merman miniskirt.
The ceremony was on the seaside, and the reception was on the lakeside. It was the best of both worlds and the nicest compromise that could be arranged.
Leda walked at her father’s side up to Altion, and she smiled. Four months of negotiation and they were finally here. Dira had insisted that the portal specialist and the electrician belonged to the Crossroads, and as this was their home, this was where the wedding would be.
The tower was tricked out to host the wedding guests, and the catering was suitable for all species.
Leda slipped her hand into Altion’s. “We made it.”
He laughed. “We did. Already mated but finally married.”
The judge was a fey who had the standing to file the paperwork in the human world. Altion was a registered fey, and Leda was being considered a half-breed with ancient fey blood. It wasn’t a proper legal situation, but as shifters didn’t legally exist in the human world, it was as good as it would get. Leda Amhartson would marry Altion of the Circle Sea, and they would live happily ever after.
“Thank goodness. Didn’t want the tadpole to grow up with any doubt as to its legality.”
He swayed a little and gave her a dark look. “Are you kidding?”
“Nope.” She smiled brightly and turned to the judge to begin the
“How is it that you are all out here in the open?” Altion whispered as they moved up the line.
“We own the lake access. When it was declared available, several beaver families got together and bought the land. If any family wants out, we buy it up.”
“And the surrounding area?”
“Belongs to ranchers who enjoy the water as well. Lots of small-shifter groups have purchased entire towns for safety.”
They moved up the line, and she grinned. “Can we go merfolk on this one?”
“Sure. This short distance won’t mess you up. Just don’t use your sonar.”
She nodded. She had tried to use it out of the water once, and the nosebleed had taught her the lesson the hard way. Sonar liked water.
He gave her a look. “Can we swing out together?”
“It is tricky, but yes.”
She felt her skin tingling at the thought of showing off her new shape to her family. Some would be appalled, but she had married a merman; this is what she was now. They had better see it now rather than be surprised later.
When it was their turn, he grinned. “Ready?”
She nodded; they grabbed the rope, backed up and ran forward. Their heavier weight swung them higher and faster. They let go, shifted to fins and tails and dove into the lake without a splash.
When they surfaced, Leda kissed him, and they swam to the dock. They had to. There was no decorous way to haul themselves out high enough to purge their gills on the shore.
She pulled herself out of the water, inhaled and shot the residue and silt out of her gills. Her rich red tail gleamed in the light, and when she looked toward her family, they were staring at her. She flicked her tail, sending an arc of water up, and a rainbow skidded across her fins.
“You are staring, folks.”
Altion heaved out of the water next to her, cleared his lungs and leaned over for a kiss. “You have a beautiful tail, love.”
She looked into his face and saw the adoration. She now had a better answer for her mother. At this moment, she was happy.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and tackled him back into the water. She heard the laughter from her relatives as they acted like any newly mated couple, chasing each other in the water and disappearing into the cool depths for privacy.
When they emerged, they were in the middle of an engagement party, and the beavers ratified their unusual mating. It was not something that most folks could say.
Epilogue
The first official wedding with guests who weren’t all residents or guests of the Crossroads was held at the Isthmus.
Leda’s dress was embroidered with gemstones in the pattern of scales, but she only had eyes for Altion in his merman miniskirt.
The ceremony was on the seaside, and the reception was on the lakeside. It was the best of both worlds and the nicest compromise that could be arranged.
Leda walked at her father’s side up to Altion, and she smiled. Four months of negotiation and they were finally here. Dira had insisted that the portal specialist and the electrician belonged to the Crossroads, and as this was their home, this was where the wedding would be.
The tower was tricked out to host the wedding guests, and the catering was suitable for all species.
Leda slipped her hand into Altion’s. “We made it.”
He laughed. “We did. Already mated but finally married.”
The judge was a fey who had the standing to file the paperwork in the human world. Altion was a registered fey, and Leda was being considered a half-breed with ancient fey blood. It wasn’t a proper legal situation, but as shifters didn’t legally exist in the human world, it was as good as it would get. Leda Amhartson would marry Altion of the Circle Sea, and they would live happily ever after.
“Thank goodness. Didn’t want the tadpole to grow up with any doubt as to its legality.”
He swayed a little and gave her a dark look. “Are you kidding?”
“Nope.” She smiled brightly and turned to the judge to begin the
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