Seeing Spots Read Free Page B

came to the Crossroads because my family pushed me into it. I was sceptical about the whole thing until I saw my first couple here and I thought, I want that. After that, I started looking in earnest, but with the link unstable, not a lot of folk were getting through. My beast got grumpy and I turned my senses off.”
    She sighed and put another pillow behind her back, tugging the bedding up under her arms.
    “I know. Turning off my senses in this situation was stupid, but as I said, I am conflicted.”
    She rolled her eyes.
    “It wasn’t until I held your clothing and really took in your scent that I realised what I had been missing. Or rather, what I nearly missed.”
    She scowled and cocked her head.
    “I would like permission to court you if I may. My beast is positively enthusiastic about it, and I would like to find out if this runs both ways.”
    She covered her eyes with her hands, peeping through her fingers. Yup, he was still there. He was waiting like all good predators could.
    She bit her lip and lowered her hands. She tried to sigh, but it came out a yowl. With a jerk, she nodded her head.
    He smiled in slow satisfaction and she ducked under her covers, waiting for the medic.
    Five minutes later, a hand touched her shoulder. “Sable, my name is Spike and I have brought some of our diagnostic toys here to sweep over you. Teebie mentioned that you got stuck in a shift?”
    Sable peeked out of the bedding and nodded at the woman from the bar. She was the one who had smacked the other woman for being a jackass.
    Spike looked relieved. “Is it only your voice?”
    Sable shrugged. She really didn’t want to look down for a nipple count.
    Spike handed her a notepad and mechanical pencil.
    She wrote. My beast has control of my voice.
    Spike winced. “That sucks. Let’s see if I have anything in my bag of tricks for that.”
    The woman sat and hummed cheerfully while she rifled through her medic kit. She held up a vial and smiled in triumph. “Got it. You are not the only one ever to get stuck at the Crossroads. A few have even been kinda gory. We got them all into fighting shape. Two even lived to seduce their mates ten minutes after healing.”
    The vial glowed with a pink liquid, and Spike shook it up. “This might get you high. I am just saying that it is an option.”
    Sable really wanted to laugh. Why is it glowing?
    “Fey magic. It clashes with the shifter magic and will reset you to original physical condition, as a human. It will be about forty-eight hours before you can shift again. Remember that or you will be in the same boat and I have no way of getting replacement doses.”
    Sable nodded and put one hand over her heart as a promise.
    “It is going to burn going down. Swallow every drop of it. Your body is going to fight it and I will have to hold you down.”
    Warren offered. “I can help.”
    Sable scowled, but when she opened her mouth, a mewl came out.
    Spike nodded. “Right, let’s get this done.”
    Warren came around and sat on the other side of her bed. “Ready when you are.”
    Sable took the vial and opened the lid, holding her nose and dumping the contents down her throat.
    Spike quickly took the empty container.
    Sable swallowed and then did it again. The taste in her mouth was rapidly going bitter and her throat tingled. She started to tell Spike that she felt fine when an invisible hand gripped her throat and squeezed.
    Sable thrashed around and clawed at her neck. Warren grabbed her wrists and held her down with his torso across hers. She bucked and twisted against him for what felt like hours.
    She was coated with sweat and gasping when the crushing of her larynx stopped.
    Sable licked her lips and said, “You can get off now, Warren.”
    He smiled and winked. “I think I did.”
    He moved away from her and tucked the sheet back over her exposed breasts.
    Spike snorted and said, “Well, if you need anything else, have Teebie come and get me.”
    Sable smiled. “Thank you.