Page 13 of Shifting the Flame

"What would you suggest?" he asked finally, surprising himself with his willingness to bend.

"Food trucks," she said immediately. "Invite vendors from surrounding areas. Pay them to drive in from New Orleans. Your people should be enjoying the festival, not working it."

Asher leaned back, studying Danica's animated features. She glowed with passion where others would have cowered. She challenged him when others would have yielded. And damn if he didn't find her absolutely magnificent for it.

His dragon purred in agreement. This was their mate—bold, brilliant, and fearless.

"Alright," he conceded, suddenly eager to see her vision come to life alongside his. "Let's try it your way, with some of my ways mixed in."

Her smile lit up her entire face. "Trust me, you won't regret it."

Asher already knew he wouldn't. Not a single moment spent with Danica could ever be regrettable.

Asher's stomach suddenly growled, the sound echoing through his home office like distant thunder. He glanced at the antique grandfather clock in the corner and realized they'd been working for over five hours straight.

"I think my body is staging a revolt," he said, leaning back in his chair. "Have you eaten today?"

Danica looked up from her tablet, blinking away the focused expression. "Food? I had... wait, did I have breakfast?"

"That settles it. We need dinner." Asher stood, stretching to his full height, feeling his dragon's restlessness beneath his skin. His protective instincts flared at the thought of her going without nourishment. "You need to eat something."

"You're right." She closed her tablet cover and gathered her notes. "Could you point me toward a good place in town? I'm sure you have other commitments tonight—clutch business or mayor stuff."

The thought of letting her wander into town alone made his dragon snarl. Ectorius was safe—for dragons. But Danica was human, and beyond that simple fact lay complicated politics. His clutch members would notice her immediately. Some might think she was his mate for helping him with the festival, stirring gossip he wasn't prepared to address yet. Others who didn't believe that might think he'd broken tradition by hiring an outsider to plan their sacred festival.

Either way, it meant everyone in his business before he'd figured things out for himself tonight.

"Stay," he said, the word coming out more command than invitation. He softened his tone. "I mean, why don't you stay here? My kitchen is fully stocked, and we can continue discussing plans over dinner."

Her eyebrows arched. "You cook?"

"I'm a dragon shifter," he replied with a smile. "Fire is kind of our specialty."

Asher led her downstairs to his kitchen, a sprawling space with gleaming copper fixtures, professional-grade appliances, and a massive island of polished black granite. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked gardens bathed in the golden glow of sunset, casting amber light across the marble floors.

"This kitchen is bigger than my entire apartment," Danica marveled, running her fingers along the stone countertop.

Asher opened his industrial refrigerator, surveying its contents with a critical eye. "How do you feel about steak? Medium rare?"

"Perfect." She perched on one of the high stools at the island, watching as he pulled out ingredients with efficient movements.

He felt her eyes on him as he rolled his sleeves higher, exposing more of his arms. The primal part of him preened under her attention, wanting to impress his mate with his ability to provide.

"So, about the festival music," she began. "I was thinking we could bring in a fusion band that blends contemporary pop with traditional sounds. Something fresh but still danceable."

Asher shook his head firmly as he laid two thick ribeye steaks on the cutting board. "The Firebreathers have played our festival since my grandfather was Alpha. They practice all year for this."

"The... Firebreathers?" Danica's lips twitched.

"A bit on the nose, I know." Asher couldn't help his answering smile as he seasoned the meat. "But they're family. Everyone looks forward to their set. It's not just music for us—it's heritage."

"Fair enough." She made a notation in her notebook. "What about the fire dancers you mentioned? That could be spectacular."

"They're confirmed. Though the real show happens after dark when we shift." His hands stilled on the knife he was using to chop herbs. He'd never discussed shifting so casually with a human before.

Danica leaned forward, her eyes bright with curiosity. "What exactly does that involve? Shifting, I mean."

"Shifting into our dragon forms is usually communal," Asher explained, measuring his words carefully. "Having regular times when we can all be in our dragon forms together strengthens our bonds as a clutch. It's not just performance—it's ritual."

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