Page 4 of The Purrfect Rival

“I’ve brought the complete structural assessment along with renovation proposals,” she said, offering the stack of documents.

As Rust reached for the papers, their fingers brushed—the barest whisper of contact that should have been entirely inconsequential.

Instead, visible magic erupted between them.

Crimson and gold sparks danced where their skin touched, tiny embers spiraling upward like miniature fireworks. A jolt ofpure pleasure shot up Kalyna’s arm and radiated through her entire body, so intense it bordered on painful. Her fox magic surged to the surface of her skin, responding not with the defensive bristle she might expect when touched by a lion, but with eager, joyful recognition.

Rust’s eyes widened, pupils dilating until only a thin ring of gold remained. His fingers didn’t withdraw from the contact; instead, they seemed to press more firmly against hers as if drawn by the same magnetic pull she felt.

The sparks continued, casting tiny shifting shadows across their joined hands. Kalyna’s fox magic, vibrant crimson, mingled with his golden lion energy in a dance that felt ancient and inevitable. Not opposing forces, but complementary ones, finding unexpected harmony in their meeting.

Something wild and primal moved behind Rust’s eyes—a flash of recognition that mirrored the fox’s whisper in her mind. For an extended heartbeat, they remained frozen in that charged connection, neither willing to break it.

A soft cough from the council table finally penetrated the bubble of awareness surrounding them. Kalyna reluctantly withdrew her hand, her cheeks burning. The loss of contact left her oddly bereft as if something vital had been interrupted.

Rust looked equally affected, his composed exterior briefly cracking to reveal something raw and unguarded. He recovered quickly, straightening his already impeccable jacket with a measured movement.

“Fascinating,” murmured Selene Moonlace, the fae elder’s knowing smile suggesting she understood exactly what had transpired.

From her peripheral vision, Kalyna noticed a familiar figure slipping through a side entrance. Lucella had apparently handed off her library duties to witness the presentation. One look atKalyna’s flushed face and Rust’s intense expression, and her friend’s eyes widened with unholy delight.

Lucella caught Kalyna’s gaze and dramatically mouthed, “Fox-lion cubs!” accompanied by eyebrow wiggles so exaggerated, they could have been seen from across the town square.

Mortification crashed through Kalyna’s already overwhelmed system. She covered her reaction with a slight cough, desperately trying to reclaim her professional demeanor.

At that moment, Echo, her kid brother, seized the opportunity for mischief. A subtle flick of his wrist sent a tendril of fox magic curling across the chamber. It wrapped around Rust’s mayoral medallion, transforming the dignified symbol into what appeared to be a small mouse scampering across his chest.

The illusion lasted only seconds, but it drew shocked gasps from several council members. Jinli Leonid’s glare could have melted stone. Echo immediately dropped the illusion, attempting to look innocent and failing spectacularly.

“Perhaps we should return to the matter at hand,” Fenris Stormclaw suggested, though his lupine eyes glinted with amusement. “Ms. Foxworthy, I believe you have information about the library’s structural issues?”

Grateful for the redirection, Kalyna moved to the center of the chamber. She launched into her presentation, focusing on the technical details to ground herself. The library’s main support beams showed extensive rot, particularly in the west wing where the valuable historical archives were housed.

“Our engineers estimate the damage has progressed to a critical point,” she explained, distributing photographs that documented the deterioration. “Without immediate intervention, the wing will become structurally unsound, especially if we experience heavy snowfall this winter.”

Her voice grew more passionate as she detailed the library’s importance to Enchanted Falls. “This isn’t merely a matter of preserving a building. The library houses irreplaceable knowledge—grimoires that can’t be digitized due to their magical properties, historical accounts dating back to the town’s founding, and cultural artifacts from every clan and species represented here.”

FOUR

As she spoke, Kalyna felt Rust’s golden gaze following her movements, tracking her with leonine intensity. Each time she glanced in his direction, their eyes met with that same electric recognition, making her fox magic spark beneath her skin.

“The vault containing the most sensitive magical artifacts remains secure,” she continued, addressing a question from Alaric Nightbourne. “However, if the main structure fails, accessing the vault would become impossible.”

Rust stepped closer, examining the diagrams she’d spread across the central table. His proximity sent her senses into overdrive—his scent enveloping her, his body heat radiating like a physical touch.

“Your engineer recommends complete replacement of these support columns?” he asked, indicating specific points on the blueprint.

“Yes,” Kalyna nodded, acutely aware of how close they stood. “The rot has spread too far for partial repairs to be effective.”

“And the estimated cost?” Tygra Fangcross prompted, her tiger-shifter impatience evident.

Kalyna distributed the budget estimates, taking care to avoid direct contact with anyone—particularly Rust. “As you can see, the necessary repairs exceed our annual maintenance budget significantly. The library’s emergency fund can cover approximately thirty percent, but without additional support, we’ll need to close the west wing immediately for safety reasons.”

A somber silence fell over the chamber as the council members reviewed the figures.

“This is... substantial,” Jinli finally said, her tone carefully neutral.

“Close the wing housing the historical archives?” Lysander Foxworthy frowned. “Unacceptable. Those documents are vital to understanding our shared heritage.”

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