Page 15 of Fired Up Love

“My mother believed strongly in it.” The words slipped out before she could censor them. “She volunteered as a control coach for young lion shifters.”

Xai glanced at her, his golden eyes thoughtful. “You must miss her greatly.”

The simple acknowledgment of her loss—delivered without pity or awkward platitudes—loosened something in her chest. “Every day,” she admitted. “Opening the spa was her dream. I inherited her notes, her plans... everything except her confidence that it would succeed.”

She hadn’t intended to share something so personal. What was it about him that bypassed her carefully constructed defenses?

“The success I witnessed during my inspection suggests you inherited more than you realize,” he said quietly.

The compliment, simply stated yet profound, warmed her more than effusive praise would have. She studied his profile, struck by the contradiction he embodied—ancient power contained in modern packaging, formal manners masking what she sensed was a deeply passionate nature.

Her lioness growled appreciatively at the thought, sending a flush of heat through her body that had nothing to do with the car’s temperature.

THIRTEEN

Highland Hall glowed like a fairy tale castle against the deepening twilight. Fairy lights twined through the surrounding trees, casting a magical glow over arriving guests in their finery. Even in Enchanted Falls where the extraordinary was commonplace, the annual charity dinner stood out as an event of particular splendor.

Xai pulled the car to a smooth stop beneath the grand portico. A valet approached, then faltered slightly upon recognizing the dragon elder before resuming his professional demeanor.

“Good evening, Mr. Emberwylde, Ms. Parker,” he said, accepting the keys Xai handed him.

As Xai came around to open her door, Zina’s enhanced hearing picked up the first whispers.

“—the dragon elder brought the spa owner?—”

“—quite the unexpected pairing?—”

A familiar flutter of anxiety tightened her chest. She’d experienced this before—the hushed comments, the quick glances, the community’s endless fascination with who aligned with whom. As a business owner, she’d learned to ignore it. As a woman who’d lost her parents and found herself suddenly the focus of local gossip, she still struggled.

Xai’s hand appeared before her, palm up in silent invitation. She placed her fingers in his, marveling at the heat that radiated from his skin—noticeably warmer than a human’s or even another shifter’s. As she stepped from the car, their eyes met briefly over their joined hands, and the noise of the gathering faded to background static.

She nearly stumbled on the curb, distracted by the intensity of his gaze, but his grip tightened, steadying her.

“Careful,” he murmured, his breath warm against her ear.

They hadn’t even reached the entrance when she became aware of the stir their arrival caused. Conversations paused. Heads turned. Speculation rippled through the assembled supernaturals like wind through tall grass.

Her spine stiffened, but Xai seemed either oblivious or unconcerned. His hand settled on the small of her back again, the gesture both protective and possessive in a way that made her lioness purr with satisfaction.

Near the entrance, Artemis Blu stood in animated conversation with Bartek Arbor. Artemis’s golden waves cascaded over the shoulders of her pale pink gown, while Bartek loomed beside her, his tiger-shifter frame powerful even in formal attire. When they spotted Zina with Xai, the conversation halted abruptly.

Artemis’s eyes widened before a knowing smile spread across her face. She nudged Bartek, who raised an eyebrow in response.

“Zina!” Artemis called, waving them over. “And Mr. Emberwylde. What a delightful surprise.”

Zina forced a polite smile, though her enhanced hearing had already caught Artemis’s whispered comment to Bartek moments earlier: “The tension between those two could power the town for a week.”

“Artemis, Bartek,” she greeted them. “You both remember Mr. Emberwylde from the council.”

“Of course.” Artemis’s smile turned impish. “Though I believe we’re all on a first-name basis at social events. Isn’t that right, Xai?”

The dragon elder inclined his head slightly. “As you wish, Artemis.”

“Wonderful.” She turned to Bartek. “Darling, would you mind fetching me a drink? I’m absolutely parched.”

Bartek’s lips twitched, clearly recognizing the transparent attempt to separate them. “Of course.” He nodded to Zina and Xai. “Good to see you both.”

The moment he stepped away, Artemis leaned closer. “Well, well. When you said you needed a replacement plus-one, I didn’t realize you’d aim quite so... high.”

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