Marigold

Chapter 7 - Meira

I jerked back hitting my head against the shelf behind me, my eyes going so wide they felt like they could fall out of my head. 

"Mate?!" I screeched, "You are wrong. Elves don't have mates!" 

"Dragon's do." Desmond said, "And mine has picked you." He offered a small smile. "When you reached out to touch me was the first time I have ever been aware while in his shape." 

He started to shift forward but stopped as I tried to move backwards. He held both hands up in front of him palms facing out. "I've told you, I'm not here to hurt you. The damn dragon in me picked up your smell in the woods and led me here. There's this internal pull when we find our mate that leads us straight to you." 

"I hate to tell you, but the dragon pull must be broken. I've told you, elves don't have mates and I'm not interested in starting any type of relationships now." I pull myself to my full height, which is still several inches shorter than him, try to give a determined look. 

"Can we just talk for a moment, maybe go to one of the tables so you aren't stuck against the wall?" he turns like he expects me to follow but those days are behind me. My mother isn't here to remind me that I should always be a step behind her while she was a step behind my father and brothers. 

A growl rips out of my chest before I can process it, "I have nothing to say to you! Just go away!" 

His head drops like he's been slapped and turns back toward me. "My dragon has been searching for you for years. He seemed drawn to this place and was taking over more. We knew you were close. I'll stick around for a week or two in case you change your mind. I saw a sign for Silver Springs Bed and Breakfast so you can find me there. After that I'll be heading back to see if my clan will accept me again."  

He turns to back to the door and walks toward the door. I make it to the end of the aisle and watch as he walks. The fact that there aren't pants to block my line of sight means there's an eyeful to see. As he reaches the door something clicks in my brain. "Wait!" I call, "How long did you say you've been in Silver Springs?" 

He pauses and looks back, "I've been in the state for about a week and the town for two days."

"You motherfucker! You are the one destroying all the plants around town!" I march back to the table I'd been sitting at reading on all the creatures. "Dragon was one of the creatures I'd been researching and here you come waltzing in here claiming you were here for me, but making my work so much harder today!" I flip through the book and look at the picture of the Phoenix. "I was really hoping it was one of these. I didn't even think dragons were real." 

"I'm sorry I made you work harder. A mate should never do that. Can we please sit down and talk? I at least want you to understand how dragon mating works before you decide to say no forever." He looks so hopeful that it's hard to say no. 

"First, I'll only go with you if my friend is able to meet us somewhere. And second, you need clothes," I waved my hands to encompass all the naked glory on display in front of me. As much as I didn't want to notice, there was a glint of metal on the tip of his dick. 

"That's fine," he said, "I'm sure I can find clothes and we will see if you can make a friend appear."

I pull out my phone and shoot a text off to Ashton. While I wait for the response I grab the books and head back toward where I think I found them. Thank goodness for the numbers because it kept me from putting them in the wrong spot at the first two shelves I stopped at. I finally found the right shelf and slipped the books back into their spot, or at least close enough I don't think Violet would be too inconvenienced moving them back. 

My phone buzzes in my pocket and I dig it out. 

Ashton: I'm close to Jewel's Cafe. Meet you there in ten? 

Meria: Thanks girl! You're a lifesaver. This guy won't take no for an answer without me hearing him out. 

Ashton: You are considering talking to a male. He must be hot!

Meria: Shut up! I'm not that shallow! But yes!

Ashton: OMG! Now I'm excited. If you don't want him, can I have him?

Meira: Fine by me 

Ashton: See you soon

That girl can always put me in a good mood. I'm smiling as I exit the shelves and start through the tables. 

"It must be good news," says Desmond from the doorway. He. somehow managed to find shorts and a loose teeshirt in the time it took me to put the two books away. 

"Ashton says she'll meet me at Jewel's Cafe in ten. Can you find your own way?" I ask curtly. 

"Of course, I passed it on my way here not long ago," he nods and heads out before me.

I start to gather my bag from the table when I hear Violet call out, "Why don't you take that book with you. You might need it." 

"No thanks," I say, "It doesn't seem like my type of book." I turn to leave and find Violet moving faster than an old lady should be able to. 

"What type of books do you normally read?" she ask picking the book up from the table.

"Ummm... I don't normally read," I tell her with a shrug, "Just if I need to find something. My parents were very into having me read poetry and Shakespeare."

"Well then you might surprise yourself and like it," she places the copy of Love Blooms in my hands and shuffles away before I can respond.