Melwiss has used every opportunity to get Andy over to her house for repairs and renovations. She has also used each chance to get him to take his shirt off. She might be consigned to the single life by the mages, but she can still look.
Andy has had his eye on Melwiss since the day she arrived at the Crossroads. Her job as balance mage means she is under a lot of stresses and when they spill over, he is only too happy to help.
The moment Mel gets her notice that she can find a mate at the Crossroads, Andy is at her door, and she has to deal with the sudden change from solidly single to desirable date.
More From Shifting Crossroads
Melwiss giggled and ran toward the house, her arms loaded with flowers. The door opened as she approached, and she squealed and ran in, heading for the kitchen and the vases.
“Mel, what did you bring?” Her sister, Morwiss, was looking at the blooms with puzzlement.
Melwiss climbed up and got a fat vase that her five-year-old fingers could manage and brought it to the sink by walking on the counter. When it was full and on the edge of the counter, she jumped down and grabbed it again.
Morwiss helped her catch it.
“Seriously, Mel. What are those flowers?”
“I made them for Mom.”
“What do you mean, you made them?” Morwiss looked at the flowers carefully.
Mel cheerfully stuffed the flowers into the vase and then wrapped her arms around it, standing straight and heading toward her mother’s location in the morning room.
She hummed happily as she brought the flowers to her mother. “Mama! I made these for you.”
Deehlia turned in her chair, away from her book. “You did what, baby?”
Mel waited until she took the flowers and set them on her desk. “I made them for you.”
Morwiss was standing near her, frowning. “How?”
Mel grinned. “Mommy said that she liked irises and daisies, so I asked them to come together, and they did.”
Her mom looked at her and gave her a small smile. “Come on up here, Melly, and show me what you did.”
Proud of what she had learned, Mel grasped the flower and asked it to become the two separate blooms again. In a moment, she was holding an iris and a daisy.
Morwiss fidgeted. “That isn’t right. She shouldn’t be able to do that, Mom.”
Mel’s mom stroked her hair, and she let out the low humming noise she did when she was talking to their dad.
A few minutes later and Mel’s dad materialized in the study. He looked at the flowers and hugged Morwiss hello.
After she had been suitably greeted, he turned his attention to Mel. “So, bug. You have been busy.”
She wiggled on her mom’s lap. “The flowers have colours that my eyes can’t see.”
Her mom gave her a hug.
“You don’t say. Well, I need to take you and some of the flowers you made for Mom to a nice lady who will tell us what you did.”
Mel’s excitement was off the charts. “I get to transport?”
“Yes, you do. Come on, Melly, time to fly.”
She squirmed off her mom’s lap and jumped down, running to her daddy’s arms.
He held her tight, took some of the flowers, and there was a flash of light that took on a thousand colours that she didn’t have names for. When they landed, she looked around.
“Where are we?”
“Well, little bit, we are at the guild hall. There is a nice lady here who will take a look at the flowers and tell us what kind of school you need to go to.”
“Oh.” She suddenly began to realize that the flowers might not just be a fun thing. “Did I do it wrong?”
“No, Mel, you did what came naturally. This will all be fine.”
Mel looked at her dad, and she could see his worried face. He was lying so she wouldn’t feel bad. This wasn’t good.
“Her talent is going to be restricted until she is of age. She can’t be allowed to use this mix of magic.” The old woman scowled at the flower and prodded it with her finger.
Melwiss glared at her. “No.”
The elder blinked. “What did you say?”
“No. I don’t want to have my magic locked up. Mom and Dad say that I have to use it to learn. If I can’t use it, I won’t learn. That just means that all the learning will have to happen later. Give me a rule. I am good with rules.”
The old lady blinked at her. “How old are you?”
Mel cocked her head and held up five fingers. “I just turned this many.”
The light around the elder was powerful, but the edges were fuzzy. Mel knew that fuzziness. Her rabbit had had that fuzziness right before it died. He was really old. Mocha had been Mor’s bunny first.
“What are you looking at, child?”
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