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TWENTY

“S eriously, Elena,” Zina said as she prepared the witch’s crystal healing session, arranging rose quartz and amethyst in precise patterns. “There’s nothing romantic happening between Elder Emberwylde and me.”

Elena raised a perfectly groomed eyebrow, her expression suggesting she found Zina’s denial amusing. “Then why are Madrigal’s men photographing your building?”

Zina’s heart stuttered. She moved to the treatment room window, trying to appear casual as she peered through the gauzy curtains. Two lion shifters stood across the street, making no effort to conceal themselves. One held up a phone, openly capturing images of the spa’s foundation. The other made notes in a small book, occasionally pointing at different structural elements.

“Those aren’t—” she began, hoping against hope.

“Not your dragon’s men, no. But they are Madrigal’s.” Elena’s voice dropped to a whisper. “I’ve seen them at council meetings, always hovering near Severin like overgrown guard dogs. The magical energy here is extraordinary, Zina. No wonder you’re fighting off corporate raiders.”

As Elena spoke, one of the lion shifters looked directly at the window. His eyes flashed gold as they met Zina’s, and his lips curved in a predatory smile that made her lioness snarl.

The afternoon crawled by with agonizing slowness. Each glance out the window revealed new watchers—a rotating surveillance team cataloging the spa’s routines and vulnerabilities. They made no effort to hide their brazen presence a message in itself: We’re watching. We’re waiting. We’re coming.

Her lioness grew increasingly agitated, recognizing the predatory patterns for what they were: hunting behavior. The preliminary stalking before the kill.

“Boss, maybe you should call someone,” Jamie suggested during a brief lull between appointments. Her perpetually escaping dark curls framed a worried face. “The sheriff, or?—”

The phone rang, cutting her off. Zina grabbed it on the second ring. “Purrfect Oasis Spa, how can I help you relax today?”

“Stop using the dragon elder as a shield,” a gravelly voice growled. “The nexus belongs to those who can properly harness it.”

The line went dead with a harsh click.

Zina stood frozen, the handset still pressed to her ear as the dial tone buzzed. Her knuckles had gone white around the receiver.

“Boss?” Jamie appeared in the doorway, her brown eyes wide with concern. “You look ready to shift and shred something.”

Zina carefully replaced the handset, willing her hands not to shake. “Anonymous threat. They want... what doesn’t belong to them.”

Jamie’s usually gentle eyes hardened with unexpected steel. She stepped fully into the room, closing the door behind her. “My grandma was a hedge witch. Nothing fancy, just herb magic and weather sensing. But she taught me that power nodes choose their guardians. They recognize those who’ll protect rather than exploit.”

“Jamie—”

“The spa chose you, Ms. Parker.” Jamie moved closer, her voice fierce. “Whatever’s happening, we’re in this together. All of us—me, Bryn, even that grumpy masseuse who only works Tuesdays.”

“You don’t understand the danger?—”

“I understand loyalty.” Jamie’s chin lifted defiantly. “Want me to stay late? Safety in numbers.”

Emotion clogged Zina’s throat at her employee’s courage. These people—her people—were willing to stand against whatever came, simply because she’d given them a chance to work in a place that felt like home.

“No,” she managed finally. “I won’t risk any of you. Everyone goes home on time today. No exceptions.”

As closing time approached, Zina ushered her staff out quickly, deflecting their worried looks and increasingly creative offers to stay. She caught Bryn trying to hide in the supply closet and physically escorted her to the front door.

“You sure you don’t want backup?” Bryn lingered on the threshold, her bear shifter instincts clearly warring with Zina’s orders. “I could call Xai?—”

“No dragons.” Zina placed a hand on her friend’s shoulder. “I can handle this.”