Page 13

THIRTEEN

H ighland 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.”

Heat crept up Zina’s neck. “It’s not?—”

“Purely professional. Yes, I know.” Artemis waved away the protest. “Though the way he’s looking at you suggests he might have other ideas.”

Despite herself, Zina glanced at Xai, who stood a few paces away, acknowledging greetings from council members. His posture remained formal, but she caught him looking back at her, his gaze lingering longer than strictly necessary.

“Stop,” she whispered to Artemis. “You’re reading too much into this.”

“Am I?” Artemis’s smile widened. “Twenty says he tries to play it cool all evening but slips up somehow. Dragons aren’t known for their subtlety when they’re interested in someone.”

Before Zina could respond, Bartek returned with two flutes of champagne. He handed one to Artemis, then leaned down to murmur something in her ear that made her laugh.

“We should find our table,” Artemis said. “Good luck tonight, Zina. With the networking, of course.”

The knowing glance she threw over her shoulder as they departed left Zina torn between embarrassment and a strange, fluttering anticipation. She rejoined Xai, who watched her approach with that same intense focus.

“Shall we?” he asked, offering his arm.

Inside, Highland Hall transformed into a wonderland of refined elegance. Crystal chandeliers cast golden light over tables draped in cream linens and adorned with centerpieces of lilies and moonblossoms. A string quartet played from a corner dais, their enchanted instruments producing sounds more lush and complex than their human counterparts could achieve.

The mingled scents of expensive perfumes, shifter pheromones, and gourmet food wafted through the air, nearly overwhelming Zina’s enhanced senses. She recognized many faces from around town—business owners, council members, old-money families whose mystical lineages stretched back centuries.

At the registration table, a poised faerie attendant with iridescent wings consulted her list. “Zina Parker and guest. Table seven, near the front.”

They wound their way through the crowd, Zina overly conscious of Xai’s presence beside her—the subtle heat he radiated, the way other guests stepped aside respectfully as they passed. When their arms brushed accidentally, a jolt of awareness shot through her, so intense she nearly gasped.

Xai glanced down at her, one eyebrow raised in silent question.

“Static electricity,” she murmured, though they both knew it was something else entirely.

Table seven offered an excellent view of the stage. Their tablemates included Matilda Honeysage from Honeycrisp Bakery and a werewolf couple who ran the town’s most prestigious law firm. Introductions were made, glasses of sparkling cider distributed, and soon they settled into conversation.