Page 4

FOUR

Z ina couldn’t help but smile. “With heated stone beds that soothe muscle tension common to predator shifters who spend extended time in animal form.”

Throughout her explanations, Xai remained largely silent, his golden-brown eyes missing nothing as he examined each room. Occasionally he would ask a precise question about safety protocols or magical containment measures, but otherwise, he simply observed, making Zina increasingly curious about what thoughts stirred behind that composed exterior.

“And this,” she continued, pushing open double doors at the end of the hallway, “is our best feature—a shifter-friendly steam room with adjustable humidity and temperature zones.”

The room gleamed with obsidian and silver tiles. Multiple benches at different heights accommodated various body types, while ceiling fixtures emitted a gentle haze of scented steam. Zina felt a surge of pride as she watched even Xai’s impassive face register mild surprise.

“The system uses both traditional heating and magical temperature regulation,” she elaborated, moving toward the control panel. “We can create microclimates for different species sharing the space simultaneously.”

“Dragons enjoy considerably higher temperatures than most,” Xai noted, studying the controls.

“Up to three hundred degrees in the dragon zone,” Zina confirmed. “Though we recommend booking private sessions for full transformations, as the size differential can be... awkward.”

Was that the ghost of a smile on his face? It disappeared so quickly she couldn’t be sure.

“The magic calibration seems advanced for a new establishment,” he observed.

“We consulted with elemental specialists,” Zina explained, unable to keep a note of pride from her voice. “The enchantments draw minimal power from the ley lines while?—”

A sharp crack interrupted her, followed by an ominous gurgling sound from behind the wall.

No. Please no. Not now.

She turned toward the noise, every muscle tensing. A pipe near the ceiling shuddered violently, its metal surface bulging outward before a jet of scalding water erupted, spraying across the pristine tiles.

“Watch out!” she shouted, lunging toward the control panel as steam billowed around them.

Noven leaped backward with an alarmed yelp. Xai remained perfectly still, observing the chaos with narrowed eyes that briefly flashed a brighter gold—a dragon’s instinctive response to potential threat.

Water pooled rapidly on the floor as Zina reached the main valve beneath the controls. She twisted it sharply, but the flow continued unabated. Frustration surged through her as she dropped to her knees and pulled a multitool from her pocket, working to access the secondary shutoff hidden behind a maintenance panel.

Her lioness growled impatiently within her, urging speed. She ignored the hot water soaking into her slacks as she twisted, adjusted, and sealed. After several tense seconds, the water slowed to a trickle, then stopped entirely.

The sudden silence felt deafening—only the soft drip of water from the damaged pipe and the hiss of dissipating steam disturbed the quiet.

Zina stood, pushing damp hair from her forehead. Mortification burned through her, hotter than the water that had just ruined her perfect inspection. She faced Xai, expecting disapproval or disappointment.

Instead, she found him watching her with an expression she couldn’t quite decipher—something between surprise and... respect?

“I apologize for that,” she said, hoping this didn’t affect his opinion of her establishment.

“You handled that exceptionally well,” he said, his deep voice resonating in the steam-filled room.

Zina blinked, momentarily thrown by the unexpected praise. “I... thank you. Not exactly how I planned to demonstrate our emergency protocols.”

“Most would have panicked,” he observed. “Your reaction was both efficient and calm.”

Her lioness practically preened at the approval while Zina struggled to reconcile her annoyance at the plumbing disaster with a bizarre pleasure at having impressed him.

“Growing up with a single-minded focus on opening a spa meant learning plumbing basics,” she replied, attempting a light laugh.

“Technical difficulties happen,” Noven offered cheerfully. “Even in establishments that have been around for centuries. Right, Xai?”

“I don’t know,” Xai said dryly. “I might have vaporized the entire pipe system out of sheer annoyance.”