Blue Skies on Fire Read Online Free

grab the apples, getting the first four without trouble and then getting stuck on the last two.
    “Would you care for some assistance?”
    Teebie huffed to the ground for the fifth time. “Please.”
    Andor looked into the branches and reached above her head to pluck the last two apples she needed with one hand.
    She held out her basket. “Thank you.”
    He slid the apples in with their brethren and smiled. “You are welcome. What is next?”
    “Cabbages, leafy greens and herbs.”
    Andor chuckled. “Excellent. One question. How are we going to get this all back to the Open Heart?”
    Teebie twisted her free hand in the air and all of the baskets levitated. “Like this.”
    He nodded. “Fair enough. It explains why you can do all of this on your own.”
    She grinned. “It hasn’t always been this hectic. In times past, it was just me and a fruit patch. This does take a bit more planning.”
    “The apples were not on the list.”
    “No, they are for me. I was getting the urge to make a pie. It is also why I needed the lemon.”
    They walked toward the greens portion of the garden, and she produced a knife for him and a set of scissors for her.
    “Why don’t you just harvest this with magic?” He raised his brows and waggled them.
    “I can’t cut living matter with magic. I can lift it, but I can’t cut it. I have to do it manually.” She could do it with her mist form, but if he hadn’t seen it while she was working, she didn’t want it to be a memory of her.
    Teebie hadn’t been this distracted by a man since... ever. She wanted to show off, she wanted to preen and she wanted him to think she was ladylike. It was a conflicting situation considering that he had been told she was off limits.
    Ten minutes later and their produce parade was on its way back to the Open Heart.
    The nervous bride was in deep discussion with Teebie’s avatar. Teebie had the avatar excuse itself, and a moment later, she came around the corner with a gown draped over her arm.
    “Here you are, Missande.”
    The bride grinned. “Thank you, Teebie. It is perfect!” The woman ran up the stairs with the gown in her arms.
    Teebie manifested an avatar just down the hall from Missande’s room, and when the woman was inside her door, it knocked and moved in to help her dress.
    “What was that?”
    Andor was smiling and watching her from the kitchen doorway.
    “It was how I act as host. When one person needs attention, it seems they all do. I send an avatar of my consciousness along to help each one out to make sure that their hair and makeup is done to perfection before they head off to their balancing ceremony.”
    “What did you do before the ceremonies?”
    She smiled. “The balance is only needed when it is a fey and shifter union. A pair of shifters need only sign a contract and go on their way.”
    “Why do the fey and shifters need the ceremony?”
    Teebie turned and walked over to him, lifting her hand to his cheek. The crackle of energy snapped between them, and she hadn’t even made contact. “Does that ring a bell?”
    “Ah, I suppose it would wear on them if it continued for an exceedingly long time.” He shrugged. “My parents had an arranged marriage, so they had their own issues to deal with.”
    “Really? I didn’t think that shifters did that kind of thing.”
    Andor smiled. “I believe it depends on the shifters.”
    Teebie grinned and shrugged, pulling her hand back. “I suppose it does.”
    Her skin tingled from the slight touch, and she closed her hand into a loose fist to keep the sensation on her palm. “If you will excuse me, I need to get the delivery to Albert and some of the tomatoes and lettuce to the café.”
    “Can I help?” He looked hopeful.
    She shook her head. A moment later, her kitchen was clear with the exception of her apples and lemon.
    He must have felt the rush of cold air behind him, because he turned to stare at the place where their harvest had been. “You excused yourself