Page 17 of Valentine's Day Treasure

But not find it?

I dinnae think they would, but the chance isnae worth it. Thefoxenin Serenity are especially cunning.

There’re caves up Morning Bluff also.

Aye, but what I really want is a waterfall, I think.

Heather thought about it. She’d grown up in Serenity and knew all the good spots.

There’s a waterfall near Trevor’s place—Serenity Falls. It’s super popular when the weather is warm, though.

Isnae problem,Graeme said.Direct me.

Go to Trevor’s and head due east. Once you pass the old highway, look for a dip in the land. The water falls over the furthest south portion of Blue Island Gorge.

Whose land?

Government land. It’s a city park.

Braw.

Heather knew that meant ‘good’. They made it there in a few minutes, and Graeme flew low, banking left and right, until he found the waterfall. It was frozen solid, and they landed right in front of it.

Heather threw a leg over and slid off Graeme’s back, landing in deep snow. She raised her temperature and it melted, water gushing away from her, melting snow as it rushed into the gorge.

Graeme transformed smoothly into a man, looking sexy as hell in his uniform. He gave her a smile and took her hand and they walked under the waterfall together. Behind it was only a small area, and then solid rock.

“Not too much room,” Heather said.

“This is perfect,” Graeme said, looking at the wall of solid rock.

Heather understood then. “You’re going to hide it in the rock?

“Aye.”

He heated his hand until it glowed red-hot and then touched the rock with his fist. The rock shuddered and groaned as a hole melted around his fist, and rock tried to flow down the wall like lava. Graeme spun his hand slightly, and the melted rock vortexed back up on itself, while he pushed his arm in deep, until he was up to his elbow in rock. He pulled his hand back out, and let the molten rock drip to the ground, increasing his heat until the last bits flaked off him. Graeme pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped his hand.

“That’ll dae fine,” he said. “Next is Scotland, but we have one more errand to run first.”

Heather looked at him, waiting for him to explain. Instead, he grasped her hand and took her back out into the gorge, then he transformed into his beautiful red and yellow dragon. He brought his wings forward, positioning them around her. She knew what he wanted. They’d traveled like this before, through worlds and between worlds. She stepped close to him and he wrapped his strong leathery wings firmly around her, then pulled her against his chest.

sidestep

Intense heat and pressure assailed her, but it was over quickly. She expected to be let go, but Graeme walked forward twenty or so paces instead, still holding her in his wings, and then

sidestep

The heat and pressure were back, and then gone again.

Speak onlyruhi, Graeme said, and then he released her from his wings. Heather’s mouth dropped open. She was in what was obviously another world, like one she’d never seen even in movies. There were no houses, roads, or signs of civilization, and not even one tree. The ground she was standing on was a bare, dull red, almost like the surface of Mars. The sky was a deep purple and filled with wispy yellow clouds.

This way,Graeme said.

Heather turned around and saw a purple ocean, a colorful beach, and three large moons glowing silver off the horizon. She was too stunned to say a word. Graeme took her hand and got her moving. She felt light-headed, and squeezed his hand, leaning against him.

The oxygen mixture here is different than what yer used to. Nae bother, our business will be quick.

Heather focused on breathing deeply and felt better right away. As they got closer to the beach, it became clear that what she’d first thought were smooth stones, like river rocks, were not actually rocks. They were smooth and they were round, but they were also vibrantly colored, and some were transparent. Past the rocks, purple water lapped gently at the shore, and the familiar sound of the waves put Heather at ease.

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