Amber Dragon Trilogy: Book One

Marseille, could this town really be the answer , I know my human years are far behind me but how could I have missed it. The thought bounced around in my head as I replayed images of my youth in the hidden caves; me of all people over looking something so crucial. I swerved as my phone buzzed in the cup holder, pulling me from my thoughts. “What does that bastard want now” I hissed as I read the name that flashed across the dash of my Escalade ,I mean I wasn’t trying to talk up the devil but I swear he hears our inner thoughts. With my irritation out weighing my humor I began Releasing a frustrating growl, reaching for my phone, looking up in my rearview putting on a fake smile hoping it will help me sound polite as I answer. “What’s up Nik?” I drop my smile as Nikolai spoke, “Well don’t you just sound so cheerful,” I quickly interrupt him hoping to sound annoyed this time around. He really is a persistent little leach; the thought causing me to grin again ruefully. “This is the third time you have called me since I stepped off the plane, it cannot be that serious dude.” Nikolai sounded irritated himself when he responded growling low into the phone before saying “I know full well how many times I have called you and I also know how long it has been since you got off the plane,” a rushed sigh followed. “Now look Ambrose, I know you have been doing this a long time, but I employed a private investigator on the new majority shareholder that recently bought the rest of the shares.” He cleared his throat and the sound of papers rustling across a desk was heard before he continued. “You know I need to protect my assets,” curious as to why the young vampire would do such a thing. I respond as I hit the road going into town, taking in the nostalgia of the old water mill and the welcome to Marseille sign. “You mean your families money.” I sneered more to myself than to Nik looking up at the town hall as I drove passed, Nikolai just scuffs into the phone. Focusing back on Nik and our current topic I ask, “Why would you go and do a thing like that, as you just stated I have been doing this far longer than you have been alive.” Nikolai let out an exasperated sigh this time before he answered. “Why else would I?, Ambrose, I always go with my gut and at the meeting I felt something off about that man and let’s be real anyone who buys stocks last minute knows something and is wanting to play a dangerous game.” More papers rustle before Nikolai finished saying, “I will not put my money on an unsafe venture.” I snickered glancing out at the old shops in town thinking to myself that nothing has really changed much in town since I was last here. I cracked the window taking in the crisp country air instantly remembering Miss Anna’s bakery had the best coffee in town; and Nik was starting to drain my energy. I pull to a red light suddenly wanting to mess with the vampire, “What you think you’re the spider vampire using your Spidey senses,” I mock in a Dracula tone trying to get a rile out of Nik. I pull through the light and begin slowing as I rounded the corner of the old pet store hoping Miss Anna’s Bakery was still open. I really wanted one of her famous muffins and a hot cup of that amazing coffee before going into the office. I recently connected with an old friend who happens to be the local contractor and small-town developer that we were set to meet with that morning. I was thinking of having him clear the land for the new company project, just needed to do a background check on my sketchy old friends’ recent activities first. Nik bursts out laughing unexpectedly, pulling me back into the conversation and off of Sphinx. “No, in fact, I do not think that, I actually think as my friend & mentor it never hurts to be cautious, you taught me that and look at it this way, I found out some vital information beforehand that you might want to be aware of,” he says trailing off talking to someone in the background. “Nikolai spit it out already, this is not one of the mornings to waste my time” I snapped harder than I meant to, as I began to pull around to the side of the bakery. “Rose, he is a dragon hunter!” Nik shouted on the other end sounding more like a plea for help than a warning, I almost choked fighting back the laughter that fought to come out as I put the car in park. I roll up the window and grab my wallet off the dash stepping out of the SUV. I take a deep breath, taking in the smell of baked goods. “Am, look I am serious you can’t think this is a coincidence,” Nik continued whining as I locked the SUV and leaned on the door resting. I spoke calmly, “Nik you can’t be serious right now, two things you need to know bro: one I am old, I’ve dealt with hunters before and will continue to do so, two you are not my mate so don’t EVER call me, Rose again, and that is the only warning I’m going to give you my friend,” I said sternly. “You need to be more worried about finding out information on my old friend and what he has been up to these last few years. He is the one I am more concerned with given his past history with periods of blacking out.” I finished reminding Nik of the work orders and police reports I emailed him before I got off the plane. “Aye I am only looking out for you bud, you remember what the shaman said, and before you chew me out, I did get a chance to comb through what you sent me, it is strange, I agree, it’s as if for the last fifty years he has been a ghost,” Nikolai said meekly. “So, there you have it, I don’t want to sound like I am snapping at you, but I told you the last time you called me, asking if I knew we had a new shareholder; I was aware that the majority share seat had changed. Do you think I didn’t do my research on the old dragon turned traitor?,” I questioned through clenched teeth as I recall what that adorable P.I. of mine had found. That reminds me I need to get her a gift for her upcoming birthday. I began walking toward the front of the bakery as my stomach growled reminding me of why I was there, when the sweetest smell of orchids and pineapple hit me by surprise, Dominic, my dragon begins letting off a soft growl, “calm down buddy,” I whisper inward soothing trying to calm him, “what?” Nik questions, reminding me again that I was still on the phone. “Nothing” I state as I follow my nose to the door of the bakery, the scent started getting stronger, and Dominic snarled with a ferocity I have never heard, “must have” at the smell assaulting our nose. I swing the door open whistling my agreement to Dom, hoping to buy whatever that alluring scent was, causing him to stir. “What else did you find Nik or is that all?” I say rushed as I look up at a new sign on the window before stepping inside. “Chumara’s Sweet Dreams Bakery,” what happened to Miss Anna’s, I wondered for a moment. When suddenly “no that isn’t all” comes over the other end of the phone, “the reason the hunter bought up those shares was because, it is rumored that he is hunting in the area. I think he has his eyes set on you.” Nikolai warns, his words laced with concern as I stand around the doorway of the bakery. Dominic voiced again almost a roar this time registering that fruity floral scent, preventing any chance of me hearing what Nikolai was just trying to finish saying. As I began going toward the display case looking to put a pastry to the smell, Dominic pulled my attention toward the counter. “I’ll call you later, Nik, don’t worry about the hunter” I say interrupting him & hanging up quickly, I will have plenty of time to talk with Nikolai more later about that disgrace of a dragon hunter. Placing my phone in my pocket, I lifted my nose searching behind the counter for the luscious scent that didn’t fit the sweet apple cinnamon aroma of the bakery. I froze, halted by the vision behind the counter as I tried to follow the enticing smell with my nose. I shake my head moving closer to where she was helping a customer when Dominic hollered, “Mine”, at the amber curvy creature standing on the other side of the counter. “What’s mine?” I ask inward fighting to keep control of Dom, but also fighting my own excitement as I have never smelled anything like this before or even felt this way. I became curious and more cautious listening to Dom’s coos as I close in on the scent which was rolling off the redhead in waves with every move she made. She turns to give a latte to the little old lady in front of me, suddenly the most endearing sound I have ever heard, rang out from the beauty when she spoke saying “Thank you for coming to Chumara’s where you find your sweetest dreams, I am Chumara, please come again. I bit the inside of my lip, stifling a moan, as Dominic hummed, “yes ma’am, I definitely found my dream,” filling my head with images of her and silk sheets. My knees almost buckle when she looked my way, in that split second, we locked eyes, I saw images of the bluest sea flash in my mind before she said, “One moment sir we will be right with you,” looking away saving me from drowning. She spins away so fast that her hair flies over her shoulder giving me a fresh whiff of her sweet, floral, pineapple scent. I was loving that scent more and more. I thought taking a deep breath while watching her backside sway as she walks to the back, it kind of looked like it was waving at me, I grin almost waving back forgetting where I was. I barely noticed the spunky brunette coming to the counter saying, “Hello sir, how can I help you today?” her voice was lyrical, cute even, but not as enchanting as the redhead’s. I suddenly start saying her name over and over in my head wondering if Chumara is her real name. “Well Good morning pretty,” I say clearing my throat. The brunette gives me a small smile in response. “I will have a muffin & dark coffee, if you please,” I tell her leaning on the counter, smiling deeply, “also if you could, I’m sure that was your sister by your scent,” the brunette stiffens looking me over, I could see flight in her eyes, I readily put my hand up in a gesture of peace, “I would simply like her phone number if you don’t mind.” I give her a little wink which causes her to smile deeply, the fear replaced with a glint of mischief as she replies saying “Sure thing handsome, I’m going to get that order started for you right away, but my sister might be a little longer of a wait.” I almost thought I heard her wrong till I watched her eyes glow for a split second almost as if she were communicating with someone or something. She then simply giggles as she walks away to get my muffin from the display case. Just then Dominic growled, “Mine”, making his presence known again as I caught that amazing scent that was starting to make my mouth water. “Mine as in mate?,” I ask suddenly understanding what Dom was feeling,” I look toward the back, in the direction the redhead had scurried off to. Seeing that gorgeous creature peeking out from her office, I gave her a flirty wave and she retreated inside the office doorway. “Yes, mate, now chase, she ran,” Dominic hissed violently. I growl patience at him, “Here is your order sir,” the brunette says, as she bounces back up to the counter handing me the coffee cup & muffin box pulling my attention back to the present. I thank her as she then shyly slides a napkin in my hand with a phone number on it. I look at her with a questioning smile as she sweetly says,” I am Trilla & that’s my sister Chumara, don’t tell her I gave you that, you look like a resourceful man who can come up with a good reason as to how you got it.” I instantly found her adorable, I wanted to protect her like a little sister. “I can do that,” I say chuckling as I turn to leave. “Mine,” snaps Dominic suddenly halting me at the door, reminding me of Chumara. I could feel her eyes on me, as I place my hand on the door pushing it open. “Be calm Dom,” I say under my breath, “in time we will have her, but first we need to know her, and we also need to handle the hunter tracking us right now because he can never know about her.” I say calmly inward to Dominic leaving the bakery & going back to my Escalade.