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Much like you, he thought, as her delicate fingers slid into his palm.

"I'd love that," Danica replied, setting her napkin beside her empty plate.

The stone pathways wound through precisely manicured hedges and wild, untamed flower beds—a contradiction that pleased his dragon sense of order balanced with freedom. Moonlight spilled across the grounds, casting elongated shadows and turning Danica's blue sundress nearly silver in its glow.

"I designed these gardens myself," he admitted, guiding her around a corner where a marble fountain bubbled quietly. "Something about creating beauty from chaos appealed to me."

"Like ruling a town of dragon shifters?" Her question was perceptive, cutting straight through to a truth he rarely acknowledged.

Asher's laugh was low and appreciative. "Exactly like that. The past five years as Alpha have been..." He paused, searching for words that wouldn't sound like complaint. Leaders didn't complain. "Challenging. Running a town, protecting my clutch—there's a weight to it I wasn't prepared for."

His thumb traced circles on the back of her hand as they strolled beneath a moonlit arbor covered in climbing roses.

"Doing it alone has been the hardest part," he continued, the words emerging with surprising ease. "An Alpha traditionally rules with his mate at his side. The elders have been patient, but there's been... pressure."

Danica slowed her steps, her expression thoughtful in the dappled moonlight. "I'm not sure I'm what they had in mind." Her voice had lost some of its usual confidence. "I heard somepeople talking today when you were at town hall. They said I wasn't strong enough to be your mate. That I couldn't possibly have the instincts to support an Alpha. That I don't belong here."

The instant surge of protective rage nearly overpowered him. His dragon clawed beneath his skin, demanding he find those who had upset her.

"Who said that?" The question emerged as a growl, his free hand clenching into a fist.

"It doesn't matter." She shook her head. "But they're right, aren't they? I'm human. I'll never breathe fire or have super strength. I'm an imposter as your fated mate."

Asher stopped abruptly, turning to face her fully. He caught her chin between his thumb and forefinger, tilting her face up to meet his gaze. The intensity of his eyes locked on hers, unwavering.

"Those people are idiots," he stated flatly. "You're the strongest person I've ever met. You walked into a town of strangers, faced down a stubborn, territorial Alpha—who, I might add, was being a complete ass—and managed to put me properly in my place."

Her lips quirked at that, encouraging him to continue.

"You transformed our festival from a disaster into something magnificent in two days. You did that without claws or fire. You did it with sheer force of will and brilliance." His voice dropped lower, rumbling from his chest. "That's the kind of strength an Alpha needs at his side."

Danica's shoulders relaxed slightly. "You really think so?"

"I know so." Asher stepped closer, the heat of his body radiating toward her in the cool night air. "What we pulled off together these past two days proves we're worthy of each other. We work very well together."

"We do, don't we?" Her smile returned, tentative but genuine. "Though I still can't help feeling scared. I've never felt so... needed before. It's terrifying."

Asher's hand slid to cradle her cheek. "You think I'm not scared? Being responsible for an entire town, making decisions that affect everyone—the weight of it is crushing sometimes."

"You make it look easy," she countered.

"It's not. But having you here..." He paused, the vulnerability uncomfortable but necessary. "You make the burden lighter. For the first time in years, I feel like I can breathe."

Danica's hand came up to cover his. "You make me feel seen. Valued. Beyond what I can do or create."

The moonlight caught the moisture gathering in her eyes, and Asher couldn't wait another moment. He leaned down, capturing her lips with his in a kiss that started gentle but quickly kindled into something fierce and hungry. His arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her flush against his body as his mouth claimed hers completely.

The dragon inside him roared with satisfaction as she melted against him, her fingers threading through his short dark hair. He backed her against the stone pillar of the arbor, his body caging her smaller frame as his kiss deepened further. The taste of her—sweet wine and spices—inflamed his senses until rational thought retreated beneath primal need.

"I want you," he growled against her lips, hardly recognizing his own voice. "All of you. Now."

ELEVEN

DANICA

Asher's kiss was a wildfire that consumed her completely. Danica's fingers tangled further in his dark hair, pulling him closer as if she could fuse their bodies together. His strong arm around her waist was unyielding, his strength both thrilling and grounding. When he broke the kiss to lift her into his arms, she let out a breathless laugh, her heart pounding in her chest.

"You're not exactly subtle, are you?" she teased, her voice trembling with anticipation.