Falk Clan Tales - Chapter 31: Chapter 31

Joselyn had been fidgeting with her napkin ever since he’d walked into the dining room. She recognized him immediately and judging from the looks he’d been giving her from across the table, he sensed something too.
Frigging Dragons. It had to be Dragons. Why couldn’t Noelle fall in love with a banker, or a teacher, or hell, even a Werewolf? This was Maccon City after all, and the damn beasts were everywhere. But a Dragon.
Now that was something different. Ancient and powerful, why, she could feel the magic pulsating through his veins from across the table. The rhythm was hypnotic. A deep throbbing ache welled up in the pit of her stomach. Was this what she had been waiting for all her life?
“Joss?”
“Huh?” She looked up into the startled blue eyes of her best friend and sat up straight. Her dark, curly hair was pulled back in a ponytail, but still, she smoothed the sides as if righting some imaginary out of place strand.
“Sorry, Noe, what did you say?”
“I said let me introduce you to the best man and your partner for the weekend,” Noelle nodded her head towards the man with the intense eyes and Joselyn felt the urge to run from the table. Noelle spoke his name, and Joss knew before the last syllable left her tongue that she was a goner.
“Edric Falk, this is my best friend and maid of honor, Joselyn Coracao. Joss, this is my soon to be brother-in-law and your partner for this weekends’ festivities.”
Joselyn gave a half smile as the man seemed to measure her up. His dark jewel toned eyes glowed brightly as he inhaled. Recognition flared in the depths of his eyes and curiosity too. She knew he’d scented her anima magicae, the heart of her powers, so to speak.
Supernaturals could usually tell one from another, though not always. She’d encountered his brother Sander a few months ago, right there in the castle, during a Christmas event, Noelle had catered. Joselyn hadn’t recognized his scent. Now she knew it as soon as she inhaled the smoky pine scent of her partner for the wedding festivities. She felt her own powers stir in response. Dragon.
Each brother’s scent was different of course, as it pertained to their gifts. Callius’ scent had a deep, Applewood smoke quality to it. Sander’s, the groom-to-be, smelled like winter frost and snow. The one with the flaming red hair reminded Joselyn of books for some reason. Nikolai, she recalled since she’d been introduced to him earlier. It was a pleasant odor, familiar, but nothing like this brother’s scent. It reached her nostrils and sent shivers through her entire body, pine and smoke yes, but there was more. His scent was like lightning if such a thing had an odor.
She wondered which fragrance he attributed to her. His nostrils flared, and his eyes seemed to consume her from across the table. Joselyn saw the growl build up in his chest. It was a bright, glowing thing, a magical force, as it were. She knew what it would say though she’d never heard the language of Dragons spoken before. Her senses were confirmed as she heard the strange words echo from his mind’s eye to hers. Es meus.
His lips hadn’t moved, but Joselyn suddenly knew what they meant. Furthermore, she knew that he knew. Goosebumps popped out all over her bare arms. She felt naked under his stare. Noelle said something to break the tension, but Joselyn couldn’t concentrate on her friend’s words.
Her mind was racing. Why the hell did she wear a sleeveless shirt anyway? It was twenty degrees outside. Joselyn usually felt warm indoors, but suddenly she was shivering. She felt too exposed under his weighted stare.
There was simply too much of her visible in the sleeveless black cocktail dress she wore. The skirt flared out around her hips in a fun and flirty way that made her feel feminine despite being larger than was deemed popular these days. She wore her favorite knee-high, black velvet, high-heeled boots with it.
They usually made her feel confident, but not while he watched her so closely. Joselyn was a woman with a healthy appetite, and she’d make no apologies for her size. The way he seemed to growl at her as if he disapproved of her very existence put her back up.
In fact, he seemed barely in control of himself. His eyes roamed all over every bit of her that was visible from behind the table. Noelle tried again to make a joke, but neither she nor the Dragon responded. Oh no, she thought, he wouldn’t say something disparaging in front of everyone, would he? Her last boyfriend had no problem teasing her about her body and telling her to slow down when they’d gone out to eat with friends of his.
She’d been embarrassed and humiliated beyond words. This was Noelle’s and Sander’s dinner party. Surely, he wouldn’t cause a scene here. He stood up suddenly, startling her out of her thoughts.
“We need to talk, now, minha bruxa.”