I’m going to post another short scene from BLOOD IS THICKER today.
Since this is not the beginning, here’s a little background. As you might have gathered from the previous scene, dragons aren’t limited to a single form. They can, for example, appear human–an ability they use heavily when spending time in our world, for obvious reasons.
Valeriah has never been here when she wasn’t working as a bodyguard. To her, Christmas just means more crowds, noises, and smells to make her job harder. Rolf, on the other hand, has had more recreational time here. This leaves them with different views of the season.
Kamara is Rolf’s younger sister, here for the very first time.
As soon as she saw the decorations on the light standards in the parking lot, Valeriah groaned. “Christmas. Perfect. Busiest shopping time of the year.”
“Well, we left here six months ago and it was June, then,” Rolf said.
“I know. It’s just easy to lose track of the dates over here when you spend a lot of time in Chimeria.”
“What’s Christmas?” Kamara asked from the back seat.
“A big holiday in the main religion over here. They all go out and buy each other gifts they can’t afford and don’t need.”
Rolf laughed. “Scrooge! Christmas can be fun. Singing. Parties. Decorations.”
“Dragging a dead tree into the house.”
“The piney smell of the forest drifting through the house.”
Valeriah made a rude noise.
“Eggnog.”
Valeriah made a face. “Yuck.”
“Hot cocoa with peppermint schnapps, then.” As the look on Valeriah’s face changed, Rolf continued, pressing his advantage. “Peppermint bark, candy canes, fudge, Christmas cookies.”
“It sounds like fun. Are we going to celebrate Christmas?” Kamara asked, interrupting Rolf and Valeriah.
“I believe a Christmas party for the employees of Goldings Bank is traditional,” Rolf said.
“Oh, good!” Kamara said, bouncing in her seat
Meredith Mansfield, Author 
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