Page 9

NINE

T he temperature around Xai rose several degrees, though he kept his expression neutral. If Noven made one more comment about his supposed need for “relaxation,” he might find himself assigned to perimeter duty in the coldest, dampest corner of Enchanted Falls for the next decade.

“The council inspection,” he stated pointedly. “Shall we proceed?”

After Kalyna departed with a look that clearly promised future interrogation of her friend, Zina led them through the spa. Xai found himself abnormally attuned to her every movement—the graceful line of her neck as she turned to explain features, the confidence in her voice when discussing specialized treatments, the subtle leonine grace in her movements.

With each passing minute, he found it increasingly difficult to focus on his professional duties. Her scent—that intoxicating blend that had so powerfully affected him—seemed to intensify in the enclosed spaces of the treatment rooms. His dragon sense detected the faint undertones of her lion nature beneath her perfume, a combination that should have been unappealing to his draconic instincts but instead proved maddeningly enticing.

To maintain professional distance, he focused on asking pointed questions about safety protocols and magical containment measures. If his inquiries came across as excessively thorough or critical, it was only because he needed the distraction from his inappropriate awareness of her.

“The griffin-friendly massage tables are reinforced with ironwood and enchanted silk,” she explained as they toured a specialized treatment room. “The wing extensions can be adjusted for various anatomical configurations.”

“And the feather containment?” Xai asked, grateful for the technical discussion.

“Embedded collection charms in the ceiling.” She pointed upward. “Molted feathers are automatically gathered and later returned to the client or properly disposed of according to their preference.”

“Very thorough,” he acknowledged, fighting to keep his eyes on the equipment rather than on the curve of her cheek as she smiled at his approval.

“My mother left detailed notes on shifter-specific anatomy and comfort requirements,” she explained. “I’ve tried to honor her vision while incorporating modern innovations.”

Something in her tone—a subtle note of determination tinged with sadness—made Xai look at her more closely. She spoke of her mother with reverence, yet her voice carried the unmistakable weight of loss.

In that moment, Xai’s attraction to her shifted into something deeper—respect mingling with his already confused emotions. His dragon recognized not just her physical appeal but her strength and resilience. The combination proved even more potent than her scent alone.

“Your parents’ legacy is admirable,” he said, the words emerging more softly than he’d intended. “Few could have transformed such loss into something so constructive.”

Surprise flickered across her features, followed by a warmer expression that made his heart rate accelerate traitorously. “Thank you. That... means a lot.”

Their gazes held for a beat too long before Noven cleared his throat, reminding Xai of his presence. The knowing look in his friend’s eyes promised relentless teasing later.

They continued the tour, finally reaching what Zina described as the spa’s crown jewel—a specialized steam room with adjustable humidity and temperature zones.

“The system uses both traditional heating and magical temperature regulation,” she explained, 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 with genuine interest.

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

The mental image of his full dragon form attempting to use a standard steam room almost made him smile. The magical calibration impressed him—far more advanced than he expected from a new establishment. For the first time since entering the spa, he found himself fully engaged in the technical aspects of the inspection rather than distracted by his inexplicable attraction to its owner.

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

“We consulted with elemental specialists,” she 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. One of the pipes shuddered violently before erupting, spraying scalding water across the pristine tiles.

“Watch out!” Zina shouted, lunging toward the control panel.

Xai’s first instinct, surprisingly, wasn’t self-preservation but concern for her safety. His eyes flashed gold as his dragon rose close to the surface, ready to shield her with his naturally heat-resistant body. The realization of this protective impulse toward someone he barely knew startled him into stillness. Dragons weren’t known for their selflessness, particularly when it came to beings outside their own kind.

Instead, he watched with newfound respect as she efficiently handled the crisis, dropping to her knees to access a secondary shutoff valve hidden behind a maintenance panel. Her competence under pressure appealed to both his dragon nature which valued strength and his elder position which valued responsibility.