Page 39 of Fired Up Love

“Sorry,” he murmured, pupils dilated to eclipse the gold of his irises. “You affect my control.”

“Don’t apologize.” She traced her fingers along his jaw, following the path where scales had momentarily appeared. “I like knowing I affect you.”

His eyes darkened to molten gold. “More than you realize.”

He pulled her closer, his arms encircling her waist as his lips found hers again. The kiss was deeper, more demanding. His hands spanned her waist, mindful of her healing wounds even in the heat of desire. She reveled in the contrast of his firm strength and gentle touch, her body responding with an answering fire of its own.

They might have lost themselves entirely in that moment had a page not caught Zina’s eye as it fluttered from her forgotten bag. She reluctantly pulled back, though she remained in the circle of his arms.

“Wait,” she said, voice husky from their heated exchange. “We should actually look at those research notes.”

Xai groaned softly, pressing his forehead against hers. “You’re right, but your sense of timing is cruel.”

She laughed, placing a quick kiss on his lips before retrieving her bag. “Priorities, dragon. Save the world first, continue this later.”

“Promise?” His voice carried a note of vulnerability that tugged at her heart.

“Promise.” She settled beside him again, closer than before, her legs tucked beneath her as she opened her mother’s journal. “Now, about this Founding Pyre...”

Xai’s arm draped comfortably around her shoulders as he opened an ancient leather journal, its pages brittle with age. The casual intimacy felt surprisingly natural as though they’d been sharing space for years rather than days.

“My family records say the Founding Pyre was created from three equal contributions,” he explained, carefully turning to an illustration. “Dragon fire for power, lion heart for courage, and panther shadow for protection.”

“Panther?” Zina frowned, leaning closer to examine the faded drawing. She nestled against his side, drawing comfort from his solid presence. “There aren’t any panther shifters in Enchanted Falls anymore.”

“Precisely.” Xai’s voice rumbled beside her ear, raising goose bumps along her neck. “The Gravemont family. They departed or died out nearly a century ago.”

THIRTY-NINE

Zina flipped to a page she’d marked. “Mom mentions a third founding family, but never by name. She wrote about a ‘three-fold binding’ that protected the town’s magical essence.”

As they compared notes, their conversation punctuated by casual touches—his fingers stroking her shoulder, her hand resting on his thigh, their heads bent together over the ancient texts. What began as research gradually incorporated elements of discovery between them as well. Xai would pause occasionally to brush a kiss against her temple or to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, small gestures that conveyed growing affection.

“Your mother knew more than she revealed,” Xai murmured, studying a diagram in her journal.

“Mom always said location matters in energy work,” Zina replied. “She insisted on building exactly there despite the architect’s concerns about foundation costs.”

She turned slightly in his arms to face him. “How much do you think our families really knew about each other?”

“Less than they should have, clearly.” His expression grew thoughtful. “Generations of partial truths, shaped by perspective and pride.”

“My parents never spoke about any connection to your family.”

“My father mentioned the Parkers only in passing—as allies in ancient times.” His thumb traced delicate patterns on her shoulder. “Perhaps they thought it safer to keep the knowledge separated.”

“Safer from what?”

“From anyone who might want to control the Pyre’s power.” His expression darkened. “Like Severin Madrigal.”

Zina nodded, turning back to the journals. A page caught her eye as she flipped through her mother’s notes—a passage she hadn’t noticed before.

“Whoa,” she said, excitement building. “Listen to this: ‘The central chamber beneath the heart pool can only be accessed when representatives of all three founding bloodlines stand together in perfect balance.’“

Xai leaned closer, reading over her shoulder. “That’s why Severin can’t access it alone.”

“He needs a Parker.” Zina turned in his embrace, eyes wide with understanding. “And an Emberwylde.”

“Which explains both his marriage clause and his attempt to eliminate you in the alley.” Xai’s arm tightened protectively around her waist. “If he couldn’t control you, he’d remove you entirely.”

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