My name is Lexi Helyanwe and today had been filled with frustration and too much male testosterone, so I’d asked my Gnome to make me a safe place. That she had carved it out of the Everlasting was just a bonus. I’d asked for beach front property with a view and no men in sight, and Areth had really delivered. I so needed a reset break from my guys. Being the hope and future for the race of Dragons, was a burden I thought I was prepared for most days. But add to that the hopes and dreams for the Elfin race, and in fact all magical folk and it became a bit more demanding.
Believing I was all alone, I jumped at a strange sound behind me only to find a horse with big brown eyes staring back at me curiously. It was large and well-muscled and its body was a golden yellow color, with a long flowing mane and tail that were nearly white. All four of its feet had white stockings and there was a little snip of white at the base of its nose. It reached out and nibbled at the bodice of my dress before rubbing against my shoulder.
“Hello beautiful,” I whispered and gently stroked the soft hair on its muzzle. It poked at me a few times then wandered off a few steps to chew a tuft of grass growing along the beach. I leaned over to check and couldn’t help chuckling. Apparently Areth had taken me seriously when I said no men allowed, even the horse was female! Too funny, I thought and splashed my toes in the water while I wandered down the beach. My new friend keeping tabs on me… never letting me get more than twenty or so feet away before she would trot closer and shake her head or snort at me.
A hundred yards down the beach was a trail that led up to a white washed house with a porch. A nice wide porch from which I imagined sitting and gazing out over the water. Or maybe using the brightly colored hammock, assuming I could get into the thing without killing myself. There was a little white picket fence that ran around the front with a cute trellis gate covered in a vine with large blue flowers. Neatly trimmed grass grew up to the fence and around both sides of the house, which was probably not much more than forty feet wide. I walked up the sandy path and pushed open the gate. My new friend seemed content to munch the grass outside the fence while I moved up the two steps and onto the porch. The view was magnificent, and I promised myself I’d come back and enjoy it later. I was much too curious to sit just then.
I pulled open the screen door and passed into the main living space. To my left was the back of a couch and across from it two comfortable looking armchairs. A coffee table and several floor lamps were situated around the room. The far left wall had built in bookshelves and there were books and several large sea shells displayed. The books all had leather bindings and I suspected if I checked, I’d find they covered all things Dragon and maybe some Elfin lore too, just as I’d asked for. Always being the last to know everything wasn’t just annoying, it also left me at a distinct disadvantage. One I’d promised myself I would rectify just as soon as I had time. Well, there never seemed to be enough time, so I was just going to have to make some myself. “Do you hear that? I respectfully ask for more time while I’m here. I need time to relax, deal with my errand, and possibly learn some history…please.” I announced out loud, not really expecting a response but feeling the need to make my wishes at least heard. I would have to wait and see if my request would be granted. I had asked Areth to notify me when thirty minutes had passed back out in our den. Not certain if I’d have much time in case my message wasn’t received and the clock in here didn’t stretch out while time back in the Den went on as normal, I quickly continued my inspection.
On the wall to my left was a picture of me in Dragon form splashing about in the sea, in the background was the little island and near me appeared to be several dolphins also frolicking. The dolphins were precious looking and made me smile.
I pulled my gaze from the portrait and looked toward the full kitchen complete with marble counters and the latest in appliances. The refrigerator even had an ice and water dispenser in the door. The room was done in pastels and there was an open and airy feel to it. A ceiling fan circulated slowly above the dining table, which looked like it could seat six and was located over in the far right corner. Beside me on the left was a wall. I moved toward the kitchen and looked to my left.
I gently placed my quiver and its precious contents on the table. Leaning my black bow against the table, the only other thing I’d brought with me from our den. I ran a finger over the engraved pictures of the strange and wonderful creatures I’d helped to relocate to D2, a world the Keeper of History had roped me into helping repopulate. When I was certain it wouldn’t fall over, I continued exploring my little home away from home. The short hall led to a bedroom in the right corner and a bathroom on my immediate left. The bedroom had a nice sized bed with a puffy white comforter and throw pillows in beachy colors. Filmy white curtains rustled in the soft breeze created by the overhead fan. Floor to ceiling windows took up most of the wall space and looked out over lush vegetation on the left, and a fairly large garden complete with roses and all manner of flowers and shrubbery to the right. On the other side of the bed was a set of French doors that lead to another porch connected to the back of the cottage.
I stepped into the bedroom and realized there was a closet. Unlike the one back in the den which only had a few items of clothing, and the miscellaneous gifts I’d acquired when I’d led my Dragons in flight off the red carpet at the Mayor’s Party last week, this closet was full of sundresses and there was one full wall covered in nothing but sandals and flip-flops. The far wall had a dresser and on the floor was a sturdy pair of hiking boots and several pair of running shoes. I pulled open the drawers and found tank tops, running and walking shorts, socks and several pairs of sturdy overalls. It looked like Areth had supplied me with the clothing to explore my new vacation spot as well as work in the garden. After which, if I wanted to then relax in the hammock out on the front porch, or the one under the trees near the water, I could do it in a lightweight dress.
Before I went out the back, I took a moment to poke my head into the bathroom and sighed. In here, like the kitchen, everything was a creamy pale marble. There was a good sized tub, separate shower, a large vanity and of course a toilet for more practical purposes. Humming under my breath I went back into the bedroom, pulled open the French doors and stepped out onto the back porch.
Climbing roses wrapped the trellis that covered the path to the garden behind the house. Steps led down to a grassy area which was about half the width of the house and lined to either side with a perfectly manicured one foot hedge. Behind the hedge were rose bushes with buds of all colors. The air smelled wonderful, sweet and spicy and heady with rose oil. I closed my eyes and pulled the scent into me, realizing that I could smell more than just roses. The scent of grass and evergreens also filled the air, along with the clean smell of the water. The grassy patch stretched several hundred feet and where it stopped there was a full sized maze. Large trees provided shade for the wooden benches set here and there which looked quite inviting. Off to the left was a little mini cottage which I suspected might hold gardening supplies.
My feet sank into the thick grass as I moved toward the little structure. I opened the door, smiled then quickly pulled a basket, gloves, and pruning shears off the work table and went to gather myself some roses. Little breaks in the hedges concealed walking paths and I wandered among the beds, moving fast while choosing just what I wanted for the bouquet I was planning. I was careful to trim each stem just above a five leaflet. I hummed as I worked and gathered a basketful of bright yellow and creamy white roses. I carried them back to the flower shed. After putting my tools away I carefully arranged the flowers into a bouquet in one of the clear crystal vases I pulled from an open shelf. I used the sink to give them water, then carried the arrangement up to the house and placed it on the kitchen table, standing back to admire my handiwork with a pleased smile.
The sight of the roses took me back to my childhood when I had spent the summer I was eleven in South Carolina. At that time my Mother had worked at a hospital near the Edisto
Gardens and Mi and I had visited the gardens almost daily. The location had been full of history and the locals were happy to share stories of how during the Civil War a small number of less than five hundred Confederate soldiers had briefly stopped the Union Army from advancing on the shore of the river there. Eventually the smaller force had to withdraw but for one brief shining moment in history, the little guys had held off the big guys. That story and the pride behind it had stuck with me through the years. By the time we lived there, the gardens had been turned into a memorial park to celebrate veterans from every war the US had fought in. The facility was more than five acres and had over fifty rose beds.
That summer I’d spent my free time playing hide and seek with the head caretaker’s daughter. The experience had caused me to develop a fondness for roses that followed me into adulthood. It was a shame that the closest I’d come to roses lately was the arrangements sent by Bodark and Alan. The head of the local Werewolf and Werejaguar packs respectfully. Well, and those from the fair citizens of San Francisco. All of which had been sent away. Now though I could have flowers whenever I wanted. Thanks to Areth, I didn’t need a man to get them for me! That made me very happy indeed.
There was a path at the back of the garden and I had something I needed to take care of. Just in case my request for more time didn’t stick and my thirty minutes really ended up being just thirty minutes. I went to my room and changed my dress for the hiking boots, a bra, tank top, and I rummaged around until I found underwear and khaki shorts. Gathering up my quiver, I put on my hat and sun glasses and went out the back, down the steps, and across the lawn. First I needed to deal with my contraband from D2. Then assuming things worked out like I wanted, maybe I’d take a swim before I settled down for some reading in the lovely hammock.
Birds sang in the trees over my head as I slipped into the lush vegetation and followed the path away from the house. Small rustlings in the underbrush let me know I wasn’t alone and when a pair of round black eyes stared back at me from under a large leaf I stopped abruptly and stared back.
“Hello…” I breathed softly while the eyes blinked up at me.
“Goodness, you startled me,” the little animal informed me, surprising and delighting me.
“I’m sorry, I did not mean to. My name is Lexi,” I told the little critter, who was making a soft chittering noise and eying me cautiously. “And who might you be?”
“Antoon,” She replied and took several steps toward me. “You smell odd.”
“That’s because I’m a girl,” I told her with a smile, while she tipped her head sideways and considered me.
“No… it’s because you’re a Dragon and… something else.”
My eyes widened and I chuckled. “Why yes I am, both Dragon and Elf.”
“Yes, yes. I can smell the Elf parts but… you smell spicy, too.” she replied and muttered to herself.
“That would be the Demon in me,” I told her and she shook her little head as if to disagree.
“No, that’s not it, though I can smell that on you too. It will come to me shortly I suspect,” she replied while I stared down at her in surprise.
“Well do let me know if you figure it out. I’d be interested to know.”
“Certainly, what are you doing in the forest?” Antoon asked and then she waddled the rest of her body out from under the leaves. She was about two feet long, half of which was tail. Her body was covered in a light brown fur with grey markings on the end of her nose, above his eyes, and down the underside of her chin and chest. She looked like a cross between a badger and a raccoon only there wasn’t a mask and her nose was much more pointed. She had long claws, likely for digging or climbing, and her tail had faint rings around it, like a raccoon.
“I am just out for a walk to explore the area. Is there anything around here I should be on the lookout for?” I asked.
She made a cuffing noise in her throat and sat up on hind legs, then scratched at her belly. “Not much out here to worry a Dragon, if that’s your concern. Mostly just javili, sloths, capis and some painted cats. Else I wouldn’t be down here on the ground now would I?”
“No you seem much too intelligent to put yourself in needless danger. Thank you sharing your wisdom with me, it makes me feel better,” I replied and bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. Antoon was cute.
“Might wander over to see the falls, they are worth a look if you like that sort of thing. Just stay on the path to the fork and take a left,” she offered then turned and disappeared back into the vegetation and was quickly gone from sight. Follow the path to the fork and go left, I repeated and stared back down the trail. Yes, the falls were exactly what I was looking for.
I wandered along for several minutes and soon realized I was being followed. I stopped in the middle of the trail and tipped my head back and found myself staring up at a large black bird. It had a bright yellow beak, little beady black eyes and a swath of yellow and bronze feathers that started behind its eyes and formed an oblong shape down across its chest. It tilted its head and looked at me, and in a clear voice repeated, “Demon in me.”
“Really and who are you?” I remarked as it leaned down and rubbed its large beak on the branch then said.
“Dragon and Elf.” I shook my head and turned down the path. The bird continued to follow me but didn’t say anything else, so I ignored it. When I came to the fork in the road I headed off to the left as I’d been directed. The vegetation thinned out a bit and I glanced around realizing I could see several hills, or perhaps they were actually small mountains, in the distance. Areth had really outdone herself. It looked like I could get lost in here for days. The thought made me smile. Now that would be a vacation indeed, assuming time actually cooperated. Because the best part was, my men wouldn’t even know I was gone.
Author’s Note
Thanks so much for reading! I hate deadlines so if you want to know when the next book will be released you can follow me on Facebook (kellyarmenta) or Twitter (@KellyArmenta). Or you can check out my website at www.kellyarmenta.com for some of my favorite art.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Editing was handled by me. So if you see something you believe needs changing, feel free to contact me. As always thanks to my family for their support and my readers without who I likely wouldn’t bother to transfer to print the funny thoughts in my head.
Other novels by Kelly Armenta
Dragonfire Series
Dragon Lust
Dragon Rage
Dragon Envy
Western Romance
Willful Deception
Golden Dream
The Right Man
Coming Soon
Dragon Pride
Dragon Greed Page 29
