Andrew finalized things at the site and once he was sure everyone was back at work and progress was smooth, he prepared to leave. Alexa wanted to go and debrief with her wolf pack and train some more at the training ground.
‘Andrew, I want to go with Alexa,’ said Raya.
‘really?’ asked Andrew surprised. He had not been separated from Raya and the medallion since they first bonded.
‘She is unique, and I can help encourage her training. It will further enhance the wolf pack.’
Andrew was hesitant to release such a powerful relic and was not sure after so many years what it would be like to be distant from the constant mental presents of Raya.
‘Get over yourself you big sop. Surely you can be along for an afternoon. But seriously do try to stay out of trouble!’ said Raya.
Apparently, Alexa had been able to hear the conversation even from a few steps away for she said aloud, “don’t worry Andrew, Dìonaidh mi gu math i.” (I will guard her well
After Andrew left, Liam collapsed into his desk chair. While he had acted calm while Andrew was here, he was quaking the whole time. Not long ago he had watched the men Andrew had trained destroy Maahess men, then both Alexa and Andrew personally destroyed the tiger themselves. The power to break bone like that was one thing, but doing it to someone like Maahes and not even flinching about the consequences was amazing. Durres would continue to be flipped on its end by this young dragon as he opened his wings. Andrew rode through town and parked his bike outside the Durres Medical Group. This pharmaceutical company had a small natural remedies clinic that it operated but its main focus was on the manufacture of various remedies and drugs. They had come to fame for a healing salve that helped prevent infection and reduced healing time from weeks to just a few days for minor cuts with far less scar tissue. Andrew strode in and introduced himself to the receptionis
Melissa was taken aback. Just hand over their secret formulation? “seriously? What could you want with the formula and why should I show you?” she demanded. Andrew sighed. “Dr. Zolan, I technically now own the formulation along with all intellectual property rights associated with this company. There are no secrets between us. While I am not a scientist, I do have medical training. Please?” Melissa hesitated for a moment before turning to a safe behind her desk and typing in a code. She withdrew a pile of paper with complex scripts on it and handed it to Andrew. “I don’t know what you hope to achieve with that. It took us years to work out that much.” She said. Andrew read through the documents for several minutes. Then he asked. “Do you have a sample?” “Ummm, yea I think…” Melissa was totally confused by this man. What was he playing at? She rummaged through her desk and found a sleeve of the powder used as samples and handed it to Andrew. Wh
After Andrew left Melissa, he headed to meet up with Roisin and Arya who should be at the Dragon Lair. As Andrew rode toward the outskirts of town, the mountains framed the background, and the rolling hill that was the Dragon Lair community came into view. The sprawling countryside was breathtaking with large canopy crimson leaf trees offsetting the standard greens. From this distance, the layout of the community made the hill side almost look like a huge dragon head was growing out of the side of the mountains, with the central road as the nose, and the lakes at the center of each of the lower sections looking like blue eyes ringed by crimson. The rooftops played in the afternoon sun like scales. There, right at the top was a ring of eight mansions, their roof tops just visible over a sea of trees that separated them from the other homes. The mansions almost looked like a crown of horns atop the dragon's head. From this angle, the Dragon Domain, the 50-acre mansion that cla
“I am Celeana Devos, Heir of House Devos of Ashai. While he may not be worth much, this man here, you should know is my husband of eight years! So, keep your distance” declared Celeana glaring at each of the women. Both Arya and Roisin gasped. Eight years? Wasn’t Andrew only in his mid to late twenties? That would put this marriage very early in his life. Andrew just groaned. What had he gotten himself into with this one? “Celeana, I have business to deal with. How about this. After I am done, I will take you for a meal and we can discuss things privately. Deal?” “I can wait. Besides I want to see what kind of decorations are being decided on.” Celeana insisted. Andrew groaned again rolling his eyes. He turned back to Arya and Roisin who both had awkward looks on their faces. Neither knew what to do with Celeana who hovered next to Andrew as if she had belonged there all along. Andrew finally turned to Roisin and gestured for her to begi
Melissa Zolan had left the Durres Medical Center after her encounter with Sun Wyrn and went to visit her father. Brian Zolan was now in his sixties with poor health. Despite having founded a state-of-the-art medical group, he had never managed to find a cure for his own ailments. He now spent much of his time in his garden, trying to enjoy as much of life’s beauty as he could. As Melissa walked into the small backyard, she found her father in his usual chair working at a raised garden bed clipping several herbs for replanting. He had an amazing talent for growing several rare medical grade plants that he had managed to propagate and even created a few hybrid species that proved to be very potent. However, getting them to grow in enough scale to be useful to the general public had always proven difficult to impossible. Looking up Brian said “Ah Melissa! You are home early!” “Hi daddy. It was a rough morning.” She took a seat near her dad and he rotated to look
Her father chuckled again. “gods, how would I know. I have never met him if he has. All I know for sure is the dragon corporation approached me and offered a sizeable sum, well over the value of my company, and offered to continue to pay me a monthly dividend. As I stated early I was already at a point where research was not going to get me any farther, and the dragon corporation seemed as close to fulfilling my promise to that monk as I was likely to come.” Melissa pondered this. “Did the monk say anything about how to recognize the dragon lord when he came?” “Why?” asked her father “You think the young lord of dragons has appeared in Durres?” “No, well…, No. but still… did he give any clues?” asked Melissa. Her father gave her an odd look and thought hard for a minute. “There was a point when he was using his needles that he said, “there is one greater than I with silver needles of midnight black, wrapped in gold and tipped with vermilion.”
Back near the Dragon’s Lair, Andrew dragged Celeana outside and was followed by her entourage. He was honestly a bit surprised the two guards had not stepped in when he grabbed her arm so roughly. “you two are not the best of guards are you?” he said. “We are instructed to not get involved in marital disputes.” One of them responded, with a wink to Andrew. Clearly, they did not mind seeing this child get handled by someone not afraid of her family. “Hmm, is that so.” Said Andrew slyly. Celeana just glowered. “So, HUSBAND, you mentioned food. I am hungry. where is there a good place to eat around here?” “I suppose we could find something. Though I will have to meet you there,” said Andrew. “O no you don’t.” said Celeana hotly Andrew was a bit flustered but just pointed at his bike as an explanation. “you don’t even have a decent car? Gah! To think you plan to live in the Dragon Lair and don’t even have a freaking car! Re
When they sat down, Andrew’s phone rang. Anika. “Hey there handsome. You miss me yet?” purred the sweet voice from the other end of the line. Andrew could see Celeana’s eyes narrow as she tried to listen in. “Of course. When will you be arriving? I will send Alexa or Roisin to pick you up,” said Andrew. “No, don’t bother, I will ride in. the weather is supposed to be nice,” replied Anika. “Well, be sure to talk to Alexa. She is currently with Raya and will have word for you.” “Well, that is new. Something I need to know?” asked Anika, weariness creeping in. “Miss Devos has come to visit,” was all Andrew said. “Devos?! As in Celeana? What is she doing in Placida?” demanded Anika. “Eating lunch with me apparently.” Said Andrew, doing his best to make it clear he was not alone. “What? She is there with you now? O, you poor soul. But seriously, why is she there?” “Apparently eight years makes the heart grow