Page 10 of Fired Up Love

The word reverberated through his being like a physical shock. Xai maintained his impassive expression through sheer force of will, though a faint wisp of smoke escaped his nostrils when he exhaled.

He had never experienced anything like this reaction—not in all his long life. Dragons rarely mated outside their own kind, and never with such immediate, visceral certainty. Yet here he stood, fighting an overwhelming urge to cross the room and press his face into the curve of this lioness’s neck, to mark her with his scent, to make absolutely clear to any who might approach that she belonged to?—

“Mr. Emberwylde,” she said, her voice smooth with just a hint of huskiness that did nothing to calm his inner turmoil. “We weren’t expecting an inspection quite so early.”

Her voice broke the momentary spell, allowing him to reassert control. In the split second it took her to cross the room, Xai firmly imprisoned his dragon’s impulses behind walls of logic and protocol.

When she extended her hand, Xai hesitated a fraction of a second before accepting it. The brief contact sent a surge of heat through his normally regulated body temperature. Their eyes locked for a moment too long before he deliberately released her hand, fighting the dragon’s protest at the loss of contact.

“Ms. Parker,” he acknowledged with a slight inclination of his head, relieved that his voice emerged steady. “I prefer to conduct official business before establishments open to the public.”

He inwardly winced at his formal tone. Half a millennium of life, and he still reverted to bureaucratic stiffness when thrown off balance. Noven’s sidelong glance told him his friend had noticed, though mercifully, he said nothing.

A third person entered their space—a woman with deep copper hair and bright eyes that missed nothing. “And I’m Kalyna Foxworthy,” she introduced herself. “We haven’t formally met, but my mate speaks highly of your council contributions.”

Recognition clicked. “Mrs. Leonid,” Xai replied, momentarily grateful for the distraction. The fox shifter was mated to Rust Leonid, Enchanted Falls’s mayor. Her perceptive gaze made him uncomfortably aware that she’d likely cataloged his unusual reaction to her friend.

“Elder Emberwylde,” she responded with a small smile that suggested she found something about this situation entertaining.

Before the moment could grow awkward, Noven stepped forward with his easy grin. “Sorry to interrupt,” he said, not sounding sorry at all. “Security perimeter check complete. No immediate concerns, though the magical signature around the building is interesting.”

Xai introduced his security chief, noting with mild irritation how Noven’s friendly demeanor immediately put both women at ease—a talent that had always eluded him.

“Pleasure to meet you both,” Noven said, shaking hands with significantly more warmth than Xai had managed. “I’ve heard great things about this place—especially the mud baths. Do they actually help with magical exhaustion?”

As Zina explained the volcanic mineral properties, Noven shot Xai a meaningful glance. “Like dragons?” he asked innocently. “Some of us know someone who could benefit from a little relaxation therapy.”

NINE

The temperature around Xai rose several degrees, though he kept his expression neutral. If Noven made one more comment about his supposed need for “relaxation,” he might find himself assigned to perimeter duty in the coldest, dampest corner of Enchanted Falls for the next decade.

“The council inspection,” he stated pointedly. “Shall we proceed?”

After Kalyna departed with a look that clearly promised future interrogation of her friend, Zina led them through the spa. Xai found himself abnormally attuned to her every movement—the graceful line of her neck as she turned to explain features, the confidence in her voice when discussing specialized treatments, the subtle leonine grace in her movements.

With each passing minute, he found it increasingly difficult to focus on his professional duties. Her scent—that intoxicating blend that had so powerfully affected him—seemed to intensify in the enclosed spaces of the treatment rooms. His dragon sense detected the faint undertones of her lion nature beneath her perfume, a combination that should have been unappealing to his draconic instincts but instead proved maddeningly enticing.

To maintain professional distance, he focused on asking pointed questions about safety protocols and magical containment measures. If his inquiries came across as excessively thorough or critical, it was only because he needed the distraction from his inappropriate awareness of her.

“The griffin-friendly massage tables are reinforced with ironwood and enchanted silk,” she explained as they toured a specialized treatment room. “The wing extensions can be adjusted for various anatomical configurations.”

“And the feather containment?” Xai asked, grateful for the technical discussion.

“Embedded collection charms in the ceiling.” She pointed upward. “Molted feathers are automatically gathered and later returned to the client or properly disposed of according to their preference.”

“Very thorough,” he acknowledged, fighting to keep his eyes on the equipment rather than on the curve of her cheek as she smiled at his approval.

“My mother left detailed notes on shifter-specific anatomy and comfort requirements,” she explained. “I’ve tried to honor her vision while incorporating modern innovations.”

Something in her tone—a subtle note of determination tinged with sadness—made Xai look at her more closely. She spoke of her mother with reverence, yet her voice carried the unmistakable weight of loss.

In that moment, Xai’s attraction to her shifted into something deeper—respect mingling with his already confused emotions. His dragon recognized not just her physical appeal but her strength and resilience. The combination proved even more potent than her scent alone.

“Your parents’ legacy is admirable,” he said, the words emerging more softly than he’d intended. “Few could have transformed such loss into something so constructive.”

Surprise flickered across her features, followed by a warmer expression that made his heart rate accelerate traitorously. “Thank you. That... means a lot.”

Their gazes held for a beat too long before Noven cleared his throat, reminding Xai of his presence. The knowing look in his friend’s eyes promised relentless teasing later.

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