Falk Clan Tales - Chapter 49: Chapter 49

Nikolai rolled over and inhaled. Fiery citrus and smoky bourbon filled his nostrils, he smiled as he reached out a hand only to come up empty. What the…?
He leapt out of bed. His Dragon grumbled unhappily. His mate was gone. Where was she?
He pulled on pants and grabbed the phone calling the concierge. It seemed his mate had left an hour ago in a nondescript cab. It would take hours to find her this way. Shit.
He had to think. Fuck. His Dragon was growling, scales sprouted along his arms and chest. The beast was furious with him. He wanted to be let out. To hunt. To seek. To claim.
Be calm. My tongue is needed not your claws, he told the beast. Nikolai scrubbed a hand over his face, his stubbly beard scratching his palms. An idea struck.
He grabbed his cell and dialed the bank only to be greeted by a recorded message. They were closed. Fucking hell. He paced back and forth, running a hand up and down his face. Then he called Randall.
The man was a computer genius, not to mention an old school hacker. He felt shitty about this for all of a second before his Dragon reminded him what was at stake. Five-hundred years in chains, one hundred without the feel of a woman, waiting for his one fated mate. And she slipped out the door.
Not for long. He’d have her info in no time at all, and then he’d have her. By his side. Where she belonged. Grrrr. Es Meus. Mate. Mine.
His heart thundered as he waited for someone to pick up his call. The word mate galvanized his actions. Okay, so he was mildly stalkerish. He had damn good reason to be.
She was about five and a half feet tall with honey-streaked hair, with a sexy citrusy scent that made his mouth water, and a body he would never get tired of sinking into for all the long years of their lives.
“Randall? Yes, it’s Nikolai, listen I need your help,” he spent the next fifteen minutes bringing his friend up to speed. Next, he called his brothers.
Surely, the family wouldn’t mind a week away from the castle on him. He needed the privacy and space to woo his mate.
Decision made, he called the family jet, had it ordered fueled and ready to go, and sent a stretched limousine to pick up his three brothers and their wives, not to mention his new niece.
“But Nik, why the rush? What is going on?” Callius bellowed over the phone. His natural dominance causing Nikolai to sway slightly.
“Look Cal, I met my mate-”
“But that’s wonderful, after all we heard you, er, had some problems, um. Look, Nik, I’m sorry I know rumors are not all they seem, but are you, you know able to-”
Nikolai groaned. Great. His brothers had heard about his little problem the last century or so. He waited for his anger to rise, but it never came.
Finding his mate had soothed his beast, as losing her had riled him. His only focus was Melody. His sweet Melody.
“Callius. The past doesn’t matter now. I found her. My one true fated mate. With her, I am whole. I just need some time and the castle free of you lot, so I may woo her without distraction. Please, Cal.”
“Okay, brother, then you shall have whatever you need. Besides, Winifred is packed already and sends many thanks for the trip. The spa package you texted really sold her on the whole thing. By the way, where are we going?”
“To Falk Island, of course.”
“What?” His brother’s shock would have, at any other time, amused him. But Nikolai had other things on his mind.
“Yes, I was saving it as a surprise, but what the heck. It is a small, uninhabited island southwest of Cuba. I’ve had dwellings built along the beach. A series of luxury cabins, an outdoor swimming pool, plumbing, and a discreet staff who will meet you there.”
“Wonderful. Many thanks, I wish you well of your mate, Nik. We are all pleased for you.”
“Yes, well I still have to convince her she is my emerald rose.”
“Just remember to be honest with her.”
“Of course, Cal, and thank you.”
“My pleasure, now I must see to my mate and young. Until later, brother.”
“Aye. Send my love to the others.”
Nikolai placed his cell phone down on the table and packed his suitcase. He left instructions with the hotel that one of his employees would come to fetch his car and bag shortly. Being a Stein Luxury Hotel, it was a supernaturally run facility, therefore, no explanations necessary.
Callius didn’t have any time to lose. He needed to ready things for his mate’s arrival. He stood naked at the open window and launched himself into the air. Calling on the strength of his EnergyDragon, he changed mid-leap and took off like a lightning bolt.
Part of his supernatural powers was being exceedingly fast. More so than any of his brothers. His enormous size did not deter him in the least. His wings pumped through the air and he let loose a stream of green fire as he flew furiously through the thickening clouds.
Snow was on the horizon, but he did not mid in the least. ‘Tis the season, after all. Dragons were not Christian, but they’d adapted to the times and had come to celebrate the holidays along with the normals.
Now that his brothers were mated, Castle Falk boasted a decorated Christmas tree year-round in the center hall. It was twelve feet tall, its roots in an enormous gilt pot. The thing even had its own gardener. He roared as he thought of his home and hoped with everything in him Melody would find it acceptable.
In the time it took for him to make arrangements and pack, he’d read the file Randall had sent him on his chosen. His Melody was an only child, her parents lived in Florida and were somewhat estranged from their only daughter. Their choice, and loss, in his opinion.
She’d been married before. A fact that made him want to tear the head off her ex-husband. The Coyote was an all-around loser and braggart. Perhaps, I shall have a bonfire with his name on it. The idea held merit.
Nikolai’s oblong scales glittered a brilliant green, like spring leaves on his underbelly, darkening to pine needles on his legs and back.
The winter sky was a blinding white, but as he inhaled, he realized the snow would be hours away. Perfect. He flapped harder, pushing himself to get home. At that moment, he’d look more like a green comet than anything else.
Normals would mistake him for a trick their eyes played for staring at the sky for too long. He didn’t worry about them. All his focus was on one thing. Claiming his mate.
He landed with a thud on the roof of Castle Falk a mere fifteen minutes later. Naked as the day he was born, he allowed his subconscious to scout the home, and found it empty as promised.
Nik grunted as he headed towards the stairs. He was truly thankful for his brothers and their mates. Blessed with his family, his clan, and now her. There was nothing they would not do for each other.
Nikolai showered quickly and dressed in a pair of blue jeans with a white button-down shirt. He wore his favorite black Aquatalia boots and headed for the main floor of the castle.
His phone beeped, and he noted his car and bag were headed back. Randall loaned him one of his associates, a Shifter who’d worked for the man for years. Nikolai trusted Randall’s assessment and didn’t spare it a second thought. After all, he had work to do.
Wooing his mate was everything in that moment. He’d never expected it to be so difficult. Especially with her being a Shifter too. But clearly, he’d messed up the night before and now he had to rectify the situation.
Nikolai was used to women fawning over him, but the only one who mattered had run. He could only imagine it was because he had failed somehow. Not physically. Not with her.
Actually, the opposite was quite true. He’d been starving for her. He licked, tasted, and savored every inch of her body. She’d moaned his name and opened for him like a flower in bloom. God, how he wanted her this very moment. His cock hardened in anticipation.
His Dragon snarled. The beast had wanted, no, he had demanded he mark her last night. But Nikolai had resisted. He did not want to take her like a rutting animal.
He’d planned on speaking to her about it once he’d taken the edge off his incredible desire for her. Of course, that had taken all night long and, by morning, she was gone.
This was his only chance to clear things up, and he wasn’t about to ruin it. No, he was calling in the big guns. First, he texted Randall to see how things went on his end.
Next, he dialed Moonlight Blossoms, the best local florist around. He ordered one hundred long-stemmed, red roses, and told the proprietor, Ms. DeMarco, that he needed them to be the most romantic arrangement she’d ever created.
“For a special occasion then, Mr. Falk? Yes, of course, I can accommodate you,” she said and promised delivery within the next two hours.
Next, he got on the phone with ‘Iamo Bella, the best Italian food for twenty miles around and ordered a verifiable feast complete complimenting red and white wines and an array of artisan pastries made on the premise.
The owner, Giovanni, was more than happy to provide chaffing dishes and confirmed the delivery and set up would be handled in a timely and professional manner. Va bene.
Nikolai looked around the dining room and sighed. Flowers, dinner, wine, what was he missing? Music. He’d designed the Castle Falk’s entire inner brain to be fully functional to the brothers and their mates.
It was a verifiable smart castle. What technology couldn’t provide, Dragon magic did. As it was, the castle boasted an extremely advanced security system. But he was not concerned with their safety at the moment.
He touched a panel discreetly located behind an eighteenth-century Florentine ebony chest that his brother had acquired at auction recently. The screen lit up and he searched through his options.
From that panel, and similar ones distributed throughout the house, he had the ability to control lighting, temperature, entertainment, appliances, vehicles, phones, and many other features. The same type of system with more personal preferences and additional securities were installed in each of the brothers’ private quarters as well.
He punched in a few commands and within seconds the marble fireplace along the far wall roared to life. Next, the overhead lights dimmed and changed in color to a warm, romantic tone that would also allow them to see and enjoy their dinner. Finally, he chose the music, hoping his mate would appreciate the classical beauty of Puccini over dinner.