Maple followed directions that shouldn't have existed, navigating roads that weren't on any map, until they passed a series of signs that made her stomach clench with recognition.
NO TRESPASSING. AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY. TRIGG CORPORATION.
Her hands tightened on the steering wheel. "I can't be here. They'll arrest me when they find out I trespassed yesterday and excavated an ancient artifact. My career will be ruined."
Gerri's laugh held layers of amusement that seemed entirely inappropriate for their situation. "Oh honey, the only thing getting ruined today is my afternoon schedule. I'll handle this situation. Just trust me."
Trust her.
The woman who claimed dragons existed and somehow knew exactly where to find them.
But something in Gerri's tone—the absolute certainty, the complete lack of concern—made Maple's panic settle into resignation. She'd already crossed so many lines that one more hardly mattered.
The hidden entrance soon appeared like something from a dream—a gap between towering rock formations that shouldn't have been wide enough for a car but somehow accommodated her sedan perfectly. As they passed through, the world beyond defied every assumption Maple had built about geography and civilization.
A functioning town spread across the canyon floor, complete with paved streets, modern buildings, and what appeared to be a thriving community nestled in a landscape that should have been uninhabitable wilderness. The architecture blended seamlessly with the natural rock formations, as if the settlement had grown from the canyon itself.
Who lives here?
The question burned in her throat, but the sight of people moving through the streets—normal-looking people conducting what appeared to be perfectly ordinary business—left her speechless.
"Main street," Gerri directed, pointing toward a building that radiated official authority despite its understated design.
Maple parked with hands that trembled, the treasure chest feeling heavier as she lifted it from Gerri's lap. The artifact's energy seemed to intensify the moment they stepped outside, heat flooding her system in waves that left her dizzy.
"You're sure I'm not about to get arrested?"
Gerri's eyes flashed with something that might have been gold in the canyon sunlight. "Positive, dear."
Within minutes, the building's interior felt like stepping into a law office designed by someone with exquisite taste and unlimited resources. Polished wood, understated luxury,and the kind of quiet authority that suggested serious business conducted by serious people. They navigated corridors that felt both modern and timeless until they reached an office marked with a gold nameplate: BRAM VALEX.
Maple clutched the treasure chest tighter, the artifact's energy making her skin feel too tight for her body. Every instinct screamed that she was walking into something far beyond her understanding, but the alternative—running away from the one discovery that had consumed her entire life—felt impossible.
Gerri knocked with the confidence of someone expected.
"Enter," came a deep voice that carried centuries of authority.
The man behind the desk looked like he'd stepped from the pages of a distinguished gentleman's magazine—silver-haired, weathered in the way that suggested experience rather than age, with eyes that seemed to see far more than they revealed. When he spotted Gerri, his entire demeanor shifted into something approaching delight.
"Gerri Wilder. I didn't expect the legendary matchmaker to grace me with her presence. I've called you a few times to help me with our stubborn Alpha's mate issues, but you always said to let fate handle this one."
"Hello, Bram." Gerri settled into a chair with familiar ease.
Matchmaker? Alpha? Mate issues?
The words swirled in Maple's head like pieces of a puzzle she couldn't begin to assemble.
Bram's attention shifted to her, and she felt the weight of assessment from someone accustomed to making decisions that mattered. "What brings you here today?"
"Maple discovered something yesterday," Gerri began, her tone carrying the satisfaction of someone whose plans were unfolding exactly as intended. "While she takes fullaccountability for her trespassing, I think this situation warrants overlooking legal complications."
He raised an eyebrow. "What's in the box?"
Maple's hands moved without conscious decision, placing the treasure chest on Bram's desk with reverence that felt both protective and surrendering. When he opened the lid and pulled back the layers of cloth, his expression transformed into something she'd never seen on an adult face—pure, childlike wonder mixed with the kind of joy that came from receiving exactly what you'd wished for but never expected to get.
"What is it exactly?" The question escaped before she could stop it.
"Something I thought was destroyed forever." Bram's voice carried the weight of centuries. "But you found one that survived."
