Flying Fur by Zenina Masters Page A

to date. There will be therapy and recovery options given to you.” She nodded and smiled helpfully.
    “You do this for a living?” He seemed appalled.
    She held out her hand and wobbled it. “My family owes the Council, so we offer the services of one of our family at any given time. This is my rotation.”
    He chuckled and leaned back. His eyes closed and he fell into the evenness of sleep.
    She crept away and spoke with some of the hunters who were emerging from the house with elves in bindings.
    “I am going to head back to base. Do you need anything else?”
    The elf was staring at her with a dark look. His gaze almost scraped her as it went from toe to her bloody torso and up to her wild mass of tawny and black hair. “What are you?”
    She shrugged. “Nothing that you need to concern yourself with.”
    Misty Cliff stepped back and pressed the embedded crystal in her hand, transporting her back to the base where she could get a shower and some pants.
     
    Roland, her guild master, asked her, “How did it go?”
    “Same as usual. No one ever looks up. He did sense me on the first pass, so I think I need a stronger concealment charm, but the torpor mode kept him from thinking I was anything more than a dead rat.”
    “You think you can use that technique again?”
    “It has worked well so far. I will keep doing it until folks stop falling for it.” Misty was dressed again in a lovely floral sundress that floated around her when she walked.
    “When is your rotation over?”
    She looked at her watch. “Two hours ago. Jenner is your next Cliff to work with. He’s pretty good, but he tends to focus on the pretty things. You will have to remind him to stay on mission.”
    Roland grumped, “I don’t see why we can’t keep you.”
    She smiled beatifically at him. “Because I have an appointment at the Crossroads. I leave tomorrow and will be back when I am back. My mom said that sugar gliders are hard to match.”
    “Then why are you going to the Crossroads?”
    She snorted. “Because sugar gliders are hard to match. I have been looking for a mate out here, but I tend to hop into an area and hop out again. This isn’t a solid means for finding a guy or at least having a second date. I am ready to try something else.”
    “Would you go out with me?” Roland tried to look casual.
    She smiled and shook her head. “I have thought about it, but you are married to the job for now and I am ready to find a mate and settle down. I have a hefty nest egg to start a life with a lucky fella, but now, I need to find him.”
    He frowned. “You really think I work too much?”
    “How many days out of the last ten have you been at work?”
    “Uh, ten.”
    “Then there is your answer. I was jumping into a pit full of teeth and claws and I still took a day off to get my nails done.”
    Roland nodded. “I can see your point. Well, good luck on your mate hunt. I am sure he won’t know what hit him.”
    Misty got to her feet, gave him a short salute and walked out of the boardroom with a sassy swing to her step. Tomorrow, she would be at the Crossroads and she could finally find the man who was meant for her and her alone.
    Was that too much to hope for?
     

Chapter Two
     
     
    “Misty, what the hell are you doing?” Spike’s tone was amused.
    Cross-eyed, Misty looked at her friend. “I am balancing a peanut on my nose. I thought that since I was stuck here, I could go home with a new skill.”
    Spike wiped the counter of the bar and chuckled. “You should at least shoot for Brazil nut or higher. Make it impressive.”
    Misty sighed and removed the peanut from the tip of her nose. “No one ever said that waiting for a mate would be so boring. It is also depressing. I get the feeling that everyone is getting together at the transporter offices and falling in love before I even get a crack at them.”
    “This is just a slow time. Relax. There will be more men here for you to flirt with in a few days. In the