The Dragon Falls for the Fairy Godmother

by Larissa Emerald

  “I’m sorry to keep you waiting.”

  He straightened and turned. “I didn’t hear you coming. Please, sit.”

  She eyed the seating arrangement and chose the chair adjacent to him, setting a pink and purple shopping bag between them. Something seemed different about her—a confidence that wasn’t there yesterday. He wondered if the coins had an effect on her, changing her aura or something. There were creatures who experienced euphoria from physical contact with certain things or possessions. Could the change in her be something like that?

  “I didn’t have anything to put the coins in, so I used this bag.” She turned her palm up to indicate the sack in front of him. He grimaced inwardly at the girly pattern. Good thing he’d driven his truck.

  “That will work,” he said, already planning the least noticeable route home with the satchel on the floorboard. He hadn’t been exaggerating about beings that could sniff out the gold. Some would even challenge a dragon.

  “Wonderful.”

  He handed her a briefcase filled with large bills. “Be careful, Erika. You may still need the services of a bank. There’s always the Nocturne Falls Credit Union.”

  Her face sobered, her eyes meeting his.

  He nodded, wanting to believe she understood the seriousness of the situation. At the same time, he guessed her feelings with regards to banks matched his, although probably for different reasons. For him, it was about trust and control. For her, he squinted, it would probably be about tradition. If memory served him, the fae squirreled their treasure, keeping it close to the heart.

  “I’m sure it will be fine once I get my own place,” she said with a stubborn glint in her eyes.

  He couldn’t suppress the groan deep in his throat at her show of spirit. “Go to dinner with me tonight,” he said, unable to resist her.

  She hesitated.

  “You have to eat.”

  A smile tugged at her lips. “Okay. I still need to get more acquainted with the town.”

  He stood, hefting the bag, his muscles bulging from its weight. “I’ll pick you up at seven.”

  She rose with her brief case. She was close enough he could feel the heat of her body, and inhale her earthy fragrance. Intoxicating.

  As he stepped from the seating arrangement, so did Erika, moving in the same direction so they almost bumped, stopping an inch apart, chest to breasts. He paused a long moment, peering down at her from his height. She came to just under his chin, and her face tipped up as she looked at him. His gaze settled on her delicate mouth. His instinct was to lean closer, to touch his lips to hers, to taste her sweet nectar. His head dipped slowly.

  Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the satchel slung over her shoulder move. A prickly ball ran over her back and peeked its pointy nose through her hair. Marshall pulled back. “What the…”

  It took a moment for both of them to figure out what was happening. The enticing spell they’d shared a moment earlier had broken. “Whitwell. I said you had to stay in the pouch.”

  She reached up, scooping the critter from her shoulder to cradle it in her arms.

  A hedgehog, Marshall realized.

  After stroking its back several times, she returned it to the sling she wore. “I’m sorry,” she said, flustered. “Whitwell doesn’t always do as he’s told.”

  “I see.” But he didn’t get it at all. He’d never known anyone with a pet hedgehog. He stepped to the side and out into the larger, open space. This fierce dragon didn’t do well with small creatures.

  “I’ll see you tonight,” Erika said.

  He nodded, then hesitated. “You’re not going to bring…it, are you?”

  “It?” Her brow furrowed. “Whitwell is a him. He’s a good friend.”

  “Okay. Duly noted. He. And he won’t be dining with us, right? I just want to…make the proper arrangements.”

  “No. I don’t take him out much. I’d hate to have anything happen to him.”

  Good. He didn’t care for the idea of eating his meal while looking over his shoulder every two seconds. He was a tough dragon who really didn’t know how to be gentle with small creatures. “Very well. I’ll see you tonight.”

  Chapter Eight

  Erika stared down the street, observing the tourists and residents interact. It was mid-day so the crowd was thin compared to what it would be tonight. Two women stopped at the fountain where they tossed coins into the water. A gargoyle turned his head to watch them walk away.

  Nocturne Falls was so crazy awesome.

  So glad I came here. Below the surface, she felt her new fairy abilities bubbling to be tried. But not yet. She needed more practice and a much clearer vision of her fairy godmother role.

  Kamdyn’s shoes clacked on the wood planks of the D&B porch as she approached and stopped next to Erika.

  Erika glanced over her shoulder. An awareness formed inside her, a call that summoned the fairy godmother. Excitement danced in her chest with tiny specks of light.

  And then her stomach clenched with a familiar sick feeling of doubt, of not being good enough, of not measuring up to expectations. Of not being ready. Here she was going through the motions with her very first subject. Is that what she should call her—a subject, a client, a Cinderella?

  Oh pumpernickel. She’d just left home for the first time. How was she to know all these new things? Her mother had been a simple fire fairy. And her aunt had told her she’d know what to do when the time came, to trust her instincts. She wasn’t ready to be someone’s Fairy Godmother.

  Kamdyn’s smile brightened.

  Erika straightened. Magic is 72 percent believing in yourself. I can do this.

  “Have you had a chance to see much of the town yet?” Erika asked.

  “No. Only a few places with my parents. I’m just glad to be free of them.” She glanced behind her warily.

  “I understand more than you know. Let’s go.”

  They strolled from the porch and down the street. “Did you eat lunch?” Erika inquired. Her stomach growled at the mention of food.

  “No.”

  “Me neither.” She’d been so shaken after her meeting with Marshall. “Where would you like to try?”

  Kamdyn snorted. “Anyplace kind of remote. I want to stay hidden. You know the saying…out-of-sight, out-of-mind. I hope it works.”

  “Do they know where you’re at?”

  “Not exactly. But I’m an adult. Just because I’m some princess descendant, they get all overbearing.”

  “A princess?”

  “Yes.”

  “But I thought you were witches.”

  “We are.”

  “Hmm. O-kay.” She’d never heard of princess witches, but then again, she had lived a sheltered life in Rhoswynn. She supposed it could happen.

  “How about lunch at Howler’s Bar & Grill?” she asked, hoping beyond hope that when it came time for her to work her magic, she would know exactly what to do.

  “Sounds great.”

  The word around town was that Howler’s had great food and offered take-out. If that proved to be true, Erika would put it on her list for meals. Until she found her own place, she’d have to grab food out.

  When they entered a tall woman with wild red hair trained her bright gold gaze on them and waved. “There are booths in the back,” she said.

  “Thanks,” Erika replied.

  For one-thirty in the afternoon, the place was pretty full. Erika faced the door as they slid into a booth and looked around. A couple played at the pool tables.

  Nearest to them, across the way, a muscular man with gorgeous blue eyes and a woman with black hair and an ivy tattoo over her shoulder occupied the booth. A sheriff’s badge pinned to his chest explained the discerning look he shot their way. She had the feeling nothing escaped his notice, especially two new girls in town. Erika smiled and gave a hesitant wave. He returned the greeting with a nod.

  Erika plucked a menu from the table rack and handed one to Kamdyn. The place offered
a wide variety of choices from lobster mac-n-cheese to prime rib and burgers. She decided on a bacon cheese-burger; Kamdyn chose the lobster mac. The waitress took their order, brought her a Cherry Coke—she’d discovered the drink at the airport and couldn’t get enough—and Kamdyn a lemonade.

  “I don’t care for carbonated drinks,” Kamdyn added, giving back the menu.

  The sheriff waited for the woman with them to exit the booth. The waitress hugged them both. They seemed to be close. On their way out, he stopped by her table.

  “I’m Sheriff Merrow, and this is my wife, Ivy. You’re Erika Tschanz, right?”

  “Yes. Pleased to meet you both.”

  “Marshall told me about the incident with the tree. He doesn’t think it was an accident. Quite scary.” He glanced between her and Kamdayn. “You’re lucky. Please don’t hesitate to stop by my office if you need anything.”

  He’d confirm precisely what she’d thought…that the tree hadn’t tumbled due to an act of nature. For some reason, that’s what Marshall thought, also. Why would anyone want to harm her?

  “Thank you. I’m sure it was nothing but coincidence.”

  “Perhaps you’re right. Good luck finding an apartment. Welcome to Nocturne Falls.” The couple spoke to a few more people on the way out the door, including the red-head at the bar.

  Gee, he knew more than she’d expected him to. It seemed the sheriff kept a finger on what was happening in town.

  Kamdyn watched them go. “They seem nice.”

  “Yeah,” she said absently, not quite knowing what to think about Marshall sharing the accident with the law. He’d obviously told the sheriff everything he knew, including her name. What else had he said? She expelled an aggravated sigh.

  She wished he hadn’t done that.

  “Sounds like some of the guardians my parents have hired to watch over me.”

  Erika snapped her head around. “What?”

  “My dad. Sometimes, he insists on bodyguards. It depends where we’re at. Evidently, Nocturne Falls isn’t one of those places.”

  “Good grief.” She couldn’t imagine not being able to walk around safely. She’d never given a thought about her well-being in Rhoswynn. For a heartbeat, home didn’t seem so bad.

  The waitress delivered their food. The bacon cheeseburger was the best she’d ever tasted, plump and juicy. She moaned, closing her eyes with the second bite. When she opened them, Marshall was standing beside their table. She jerked, startled.

  “Sorry. I didn’t mean to surprise you.” His lopsided grin sent flutters through her tummy.

  His huge shoulders loomed over her. For the size of him, he had a quiet tread.

  “What are you doing here?” The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. Like it was any of her business.

  “I was passing by and saw you,” he said in a baritone voice that made her nervous.

  Was he following her? How could he have seen her in the back of Howler’s? She stared at him and forgot to breathe—which wasn’t good because she grew light-headed. A gasping fairy was not a pretty sight. Any minute now, she’d float off her seat.

  “Is the food okay? You don’t look well,” he asked, tilting forward, concern on his face.

  “I’m fine.” It wasn’t the food. It was him. He stood really close, leaned down, and whispered in her ear. “You have very pretty wings.”

  She gulped. A flush rushed into her cheeks. She’d let her guard down and inadvertently revealed her fairy side. She didn’t know what to say. “Hey, I’m new at this,” or “You make me so nervous I can hardly breathe and forget myself.”

  He patted her arm. “You look adorable.”

  She stared into his dusky brown eyes and felt like she had to kiss him or her blood would pump so hard she might faint. His touch on her arm had sent delicious shivers from her elbow to shoulder.

  For several heartbeats, her gaze locked with his, lost in each other.

  A throat clearing came from across the table. “Hey, the place is dripping with hormones here,” Kamdyn said flippantly.

  Her charge had ruined the moment. Marshall stepped back, shoved his hands into his pockets, and glanced between her and Kamdyn. It seemed as if he’d forgotten the blonde shared the table.

  “Oh. This is Kamdyn. She’s also staying at The Black Rose.”

  “Pleased to meet you,” he nodded.

  An awkward silence fell between them. The longer the pause, the more flustered she felt. Kamdyn was her subject and he was…the dragon shifter who’d saved her. My how her life had changed since leaving home.

  She drew in a deep breath and let it out quietly so Kamdyn and Marshall hopefully wouldn’t notice her anxiety.

  “Well, I just thought I’d check in with you. See you tonight,” he said in a low voice, then turned and left.

  Kamdyn giggled and attacked her lobster mac, taking a huge fork-full.

  “It’s not funny,” Erika complained.

  “He likes you.”

  “I don’t want him to like me. I just need to find a place to live and get on with my life.” She had not left Rhoswynn to fall for a guy somewhere else.

  “I hear ya. I feel the same way. All the pressure from my parents to find a husband. No way.”

  “Right.”

  “I don’t want to be like my parents.”

  “Exactly. A wife is more like a servant than a companion.”

  Kamdyn held up her glass for a toast. “Single girls rule.”

  Erika chinked her Cherry Coke to the lemonade. But even as she did, her head turned to glance out the doorway where Marshall had gone.

  “I’m stuffed,” Erika said, exiting Howler’s. “What do you say we walk off lunch?”

  They strolled along the street, window shopping as they went. At Delaney’s Delectables, Kamdyn bought some chocolate fudge. “I have a thing about buying fudge everywhere I go. Always hoping to find that perfect taste.”

  With a shake of her head, Erika crinkled her nose. “I don’t care for chocolate.”

  “Really?”

  “Nope.” Her issue was more about the memory than the palate. A little pang of guilt nudged her. Funny how something so small and incidental could stick with her all these years.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who didn’t like chocolate.”

  “You have now.”

  Kamdyn pulled a piece from the bag and sunk her teeth into the soft, sweet treat as they headed to the door. Erika reached for the handle, but it swung open, and a guy came in, bumping straight into Kamdyn and causing a clash of sparks—Erica had to briefly look away. What the heck?

  When she peered at Kamdyn, the blonde stood transfixed for a long second, staring at the tall, powerful man with a tattoo on his neck. The guy appeared star-struck as he gazed into Kamdyn’s eyes, mesmerized. Erika could sense his immediate attraction to Kamdyn—a case of love at first sight if she’d ever seen one. Which she hadn’t. Until now.

  However, Kamdyn didn’t seem to accept the interaction. She kept walking out through the threshold and down the sidewalk.

  “Didn’t you see that guy?” Erika asked.

  Kamdyn shrugged. “No. Why?” She plopped the last bit of fudge into her mouth. “I was into my chocolate.” She gave a wicked smile. “Mmm, the best!”

  Erika couldn’t believe her client had missed the karma flowing between them. It was so strong she would have expected a reaction from twenty feet away, and they had been within reach-out-and-touch-me distance, heck, sparks had flashed. She narrowed her eyes at Kamdyn. The young witch had put up a major barrier around herself. So much so, nothing seemed to move her.

  Erika slowed. Her gaze slid back to Delaney’s Delectables. The man walked after them, a white wolf loping at his thigh. “He’s heading this way. I think he’s following us.”

  Kamdyn halted and spun around as the guy approached. “What are you doing?”

  The guy stopped short. He seemed unfazed by Kamdyn’s direct question and defen
sive attitude. His eyes searched Kamdyn’s face. “I’m pursuing my future wife,” he said in a rolling Irish lilt, his intonation rising at the end of the sentence.

  Kamdyn blinked and glanced at Erika. “Can you believe this guy?” she said dryly.

  Part of Erika thought he was cracked and irrational, another part saw his instant single-minded devotion as the most enchanting thing she’d ever witnessed.

  “Not on your life,” Kamdyn told him.

  He merely smiled, not offended in the least, and shrugged, lifting muscular shoulders. “You’ll come around.”

  He sounded so certain.

  Holy quartz, had the new Fairy Godmother role softened her stance on love? She suddenly wanted to see these two together, which totally wasn’t right, considering how she felt about maintaining her own autonomy. What the heck?

  The dude was handsome as all get out with a flair for the dramatic. Intriguing enough if you went for that type…which she didn’t.

  But her fingers itched to toss fairy dust over the two of them. She crossed her arms and tucked her hands in tightly against her ribs. No. The choice to fall for someone—or not—had to come from Kamdyn.

  She supposed a love interest could be overlooked because of the person’s personal baggage, so she hoped Kamdyn would open her eyes and see the man in front of her. No other would make her happy.

  Erika recognized happiness and love were evidently at the center of the fairy godmother’s job.

  Chapter Nine

  From a shadowed alcove near Illusions, Marshall watched the threesome across the street. The man extended his hand in greeting to Erika. She let her arms fall and accepted it with a warm smile.

  He clenched his jaw as a pang of jealousy sliced through him, making him more suspicious.

  Kamdyn seemed to reject the guy with a flick of her wrist. Why couldn’t Erika have done the same thing? Instead, his red-headed sprite stretched her hand out for the guy’s wolf to sniff. The man and Erika were talking when Kamdyn turned, leaving the two behind.

  Marshall fisted his hands. He had no right to feel the way he did. He’d only met her yesterday, but that didn’t stop his gut from tightening with a desire to make her his. He drew on his years of training in Special Forces in order to stay put and simply observe them.