Flaming Heart: A Brothel Thief Mystery

Chapter 1. Sandra

Theo was strolling along the riverbank when he noticed her: a young woman sitting by the flowing water, her wavy golden hair dancing in the warm breeze. With her eyes closed, she tilted her chin upwards, clearly relishing the sunshine. She was dressed in a dark blue summer dress that hugged her figure.

After taking several steps, Theo hesitated, unsure how to pass by without disturbing her tranquility. Should I approach her? He dismissed the thought, knowing he wasn't adept at impressing women, especially those he found attractive. He always became nervous in their presence, and his attempts at conversation often came across as snarky. I should leave her be, he decided.

His dragon, Rei, who had joined him on this evening stroll, stopped by his side, casting a perplexed look with his yellow eyes.

"What's on your mind, buddy?" Theo asked in a hushed voice. Talking to Rei felt more comfortable than staring at the captivating woman. Besides, it kept him occupied while he contemplated his next move.

He affectionately patted the dragon's head, feeling the roughness of Rei's blue scales that had become more pronounced as the dragon entered his teenage years. However, there were still soft spots behind his head and around his ears. Rei had grown to the size of a horse, and Theo couldn't wait to experience flying on his back. Yet, he knew he would have to wait a few more months until Rei's backbone strengthened enough.

"Is that a real dragon?" a soft female voice came from beside him, causing Theo to shift his gaze towards her. There she was again, now even closer. Her chestnut eyes locked with his. It seemed he had managed to capture her attention, making it impossible to simply pass by. Now he faced another challenge - to avoid saying something wrong and potentially scaring her away.

Theo shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "As you can see."

Rei gave her a weary look, which was understandable. Since Theo had arrived in this town, he had made a conscious decision to venture out from the farm more frequently and explore the surrounding areas with his dragon. During their recent evening walks, they had encountered several curious individuals who doubted that Rei belonged to this town.

The woman fluttered her eyelashes but hesitated to approach any closer. "How amazing! I've heard so much about the local dragon farm but have never seen them up close. Right here on the beach!"

Rei rolled his yellow eyes and plopped down on his rear, eliciting a laugh from her. Her laughter reminded Theo of the soothing sound of wind chimes.

"Yes, Rei grew up on the nearby farm," Theo confirmed. "Previously, I could only visit him while studying far away. But I'll be here this summer and want him to socialize more."

"Rei, what a beautiful name," she remarked, extending her hand to gently touch the dragon's head with her fingertips.

How brave of her, Theo thought. People rarely dared to come so close, let alone touch Rei. But it was evident that he enjoyed her attention. Rei nudged his head, encouraging her to place her entire palm on his head for a good scratch. Theo smiled at her. "He is softer than he appears."

"Looks can be deceiving."

"Indeed. By the way, I'm Theo."

"Sandra," she introduced herself, offering him her free hand, which he took to kiss. Her skin felt unusually soft and carried the scent of summer berries. This small gesture left her momentarily frozen in amazement.

"Sorry." Theo quickly withdrew his hand, hesitating. "Where I come from, such a kiss is part of a ritual when a gentleman meets a lady."

She chuckled. "No one has ever called me a lady. Are you from the last century?"