Page 42 of Fired Up Love

“Oh, I’m full of thoughtfulness.” Artemis winked again, not remotely subtle. “I’ll even pack you snacks for the road. Dragon-friendly and lion-approved.”

Zina pressed her fingers to her temples, but couldn’t suppress a laugh at their transparent manipulation. These friends—this chosen family she’d built since her parents’ death—reminded her that life continued despite threats and danger. Their easy acceptance of Xai into this circle touched something deep inside her.

She studied him, standing relaxed amidst her friends’ teasing. The reserved council elder had shifted subtly since their first meeting—less rigid, more present. When he caught her watching, something unguarded flashed in his golden eyes.

“Fine,” she conceded, ignoring Bryn’s delighted squeal. “For research purposes. But I need thirty minutes to get ready.”

“Of course.” Xai nodded, the hint of a smile playing on his lips. “Nothing more than professional research.”

FORTY-TWO

Thirty minutes stretched to forty-five as Zina debated outfits, finally settling on comfortable jeans and a soft emerald sweater. She applied minimal makeup, ran a brush through her dark waves, and grabbed a small overnight bag—just in case.

Returning downstairs, she found Xai engaged in earnest conversation with Bryn about security protocols. He looked up at her approach, his words trailing off mid-sentence. The appreciative glance he gave her didn’t escape Bryn’s notice, judging by her smirk.

“Ready?” he asked, voice slightly rougher than usual.

“As I’ll ever be.” Zina accepted the travel mug Artemis pressed into her hands.

“The basket in the backseat has sustenance,” Artemis informed her, patting her shoulder. “Text us updates. Lots of details. Especially the juicy ones.”

“There won’t be juicy details,” Zina protested, cheeks warming. “It’s a research trip.”

“Sure it is.” Bryn grinned, making shooing motions. “Now go research the heck out of those mountain hot springs.”

Outside, Zina paused to admire the Aston Martin in daylight. The vintage beauty gleamed in the morning sun, its midnight-blue paint deep enough to swim in.

“She’s gorgeous,” she commented, running appreciative fingers along the polished door.

“A five-hundredth birthday gift to myself.” Xai opened the passenger door. “One should mark significant milestones appropriately.”

The leather seats embraced her in butter-soft comfort. The interior smelled of fine leather and Xai’s distinctive scent—a combination her lioness found embarrassingly appealing.

As they pulled away from the curb, Zina caught Bryn and Artemis watching from the window, giving exaggerated thumbs-up. She slid down in her seat, mortified.

“Your friends care about you,” Xai observed, navigating through Enchanted Falls’s quiet streets.

“They’re incorrigible,” she muttered.

“That too.” His smile—small but genuine—transformed his usually serious features. “You’re fortunate to have them.”

“I know.” She relaxed into the seat, surprising herself with her next admission. “After my parents died, I pushed everyone away. Bryn and Artemis refused to stay pushed.”

“Stubborn loyalty is underrated.” He guided the car onto the mountain road leading out of town, handling the powerful vehicle with effortless precision. “Noven shares that quality. He’s been my right hand for centuries despite my best efforts to drive him away.”

“He seems the opposite of you,” Zina observed. “All jokes and energy.”

“Balance.” Xai’s expression softened. “He reminds me not to take myself too seriously. Several centuries of responsibility can make one... rigid.”

“And send inappropriate GIFs, apparently.”

A genuine laugh escaped him—a rich, rumbling sound she’d rarely heard. “His communication style defies his age. I’ve given up asking why he texts like a teenager.”

The powerful car purred along the mountain roads, eating up miles as they climbed higher into the pristine wilderness surrounding Enchanted Falls. Ancient trees created dappled shadows across the winding road, and the scent of pine and wildflowers drifted through the cracked window.

“Your car suits you,” she observed, running her fingers along the polished dashboard.

“How so?”

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