Page 23 of Hot for the Dragon (Saltwater Grove #3)

23

DAPHNE

T he scent of fresh wood shavings filled her nose as Daphne followed Archer into his workshop. Half-finished carvings dotted the surfaces. Through the window, she spotted Terry still waiting outside near the edge of Archer’s property.

"Three days," Archer growled, pacing the length of his workbench. "Carmen's never been one for patience, but this is reckless even for her."

"Maybe that's why Terry came to us." Daphne perched on a stool, watching Archer move back and forth. "He sees she's getting desperate."

"Or it's a total set-up to eliminate me and you." Archer's shoulders tensed as he glanced out the window again. "Dragons don't just switch sides."

"You did."

He spun to face her. "That was different."

"Was it?" Daphne raised an eyebrow. "You saw something wrong and chose to stand against it. Why can't Terry do the same?"

"His body language does read honest," Archer admitted grudgingly. "His scent doesn't carry deception. Even his expression..." He trailed off, jaw clenching.

"Then why not trust him?"

"Because if we're wrong, everyone pays the price."

The worry in his eyes caught Daphne off guard. Behind his usual mask of confidence, she glimpsed real fear - not for himself, but for her and everyone else. Her heart squeezed at the sight.

"We've been making progress," she reminded him. "The town's more prepared now than ever before."

"Against Carmen's full force? In three days?" He shook his head. "We're not ready. And you-" He cut himself off.

"I what?" Daphne stepped closer. "Still need work on my plant magic fighting skills?"

"You're not prepared for a full-scale dragon attack."

"Neither is anyone else in town." She touched his arm. "But that's exactly why we need allies like Terry. Maybe he can help us."

"Or lead us right into his trap." His eyes softened as they met hers. "I won't risk you getting hurt."

"That's not your decision to make." Daphne squared her shoulders.

Archer's gaze drifted back to the window. "Well, I still don't trust him."

Daphne watched the tension ripple across Archer's shoulders as he stared out the window at Terry. She found herself wanting to reach out and smooth the worry lines from his forehead. Instead, she took a deep breath and changed tactics.

"What if we checked out Max Stone's bakery first?" The words tumbled out as the idea formed. "If Terry's telling the truth about Max being an informant, it could help us verify everything else."

Archer's dark eyes snapped to her face, consideration replacing some of the suspicion. "The bakery on Fifth Street?"

"Right." Daphne nodded, warming to the plan. "If Max really is passing Council information to Carmen, we should be able to find proof. And if Terry's intel checks out..."

"Then maybe - maybe - he's being honest about the rest." Archer's jaw unclenched slightly. "Fine. We'll investigate the baker first."

The victory felt small but significant. Daphne pressed on, "But eventually I'll need to meet with those dragons if there's a chance to prevent bloodshed. We're running out of options here."

"Absolutely not." His voice carried the kind of authority that probably worked wonders on his old wing.

"Archer." She stepped closer, close enough to catch the woodsy scent that always seemed to cling to him. "I know you want to protect me, but you have to trust that I know what I'm doing. If I was able to convince Terry to go against Carmen, then maybe…"

His expression darkened. "You're asking me to risk your safety on a hunch."

"I'm asking you to trust me." The words came out softer than she intended, but she held his gaze. The workshop suddenly felt smaller, the air heavy with unspoken things between them.

Daphne waited for his response, her heart beating a little faster than usual. She could practically see him weighing options in his mind, that tactical brain of his working through scenarios. His eyes darted between her and the window where Terry waited, his jaw clenching and unclenching.

Finally, his shoulders dropped slightly. "If - and only if - Terry's information about Max Stone checks out, we'll meet with the other dragons." His voice carried a deep rumble of reluctance. "But we do this my way. No rushing in unprepared."

Relief flooded through Daphne. She nodded, knowing better than to push her luck when he used that authoritative tone.

They stepped back outside into the crisp autumn air. Terry straightened from where he'd been leaning against a tall oak tree, his expression hopeful but guarded.

"We'll check your intel about Max Stone first," Archer announced, positioning himself slightly in front of Daphne. "If it proves accurate, we'll consider meeting these other dragons."

Terry's face brightened. "You won't regret this. When should we-"

"Tomorrow morning," Archer cut him off, his muscles tensing beneath his shirt. "Early, before the bakery opens. You'll come with us. Any objection?"

Daphne recognized the challenge in Archer's tone. If Terry was setting a trap, going together would force him to spring it himself rather than lead them into an ambush.

"None at all," Terry agreed quickly. "I want to prove I'm telling the truth."

"We'll see." Archer's expression remained stern. "Meet us here at dawn."

Terry nodded and shifted into his dragon form, taking off into the afternoon sky. Daphne watched him go, hope blooming in her chest despite the gravity of their situation. If they could win over even a few of Carmen's followers, maybe they could prevent the coming bloodshed.

She felt Archer's eyes on her and turned to face him. "I hope you know what you're doing," he said quietly.

"So do I," she admitted. The weight of what was at stake pressed down on her shoulders. Three days until Carmen's attack. Three days to try and change the tide.

The pre-dawn air nipped at Daphne's skin as she waited with Archer outside his mansion. Terry landed precisely on time, shifting smoothly from dragon to human form.

"Ready?" Terry asked, rubbing his hands together against the morning chill.

Archer's only response was a grunt as they shifted into dragon form and took to the sky.

The bakery sat dark and quiet when they arrived, though the scent of fresh bread already wafted through the air. Daphne's stomach growled, reminding her she'd skipped breakfast in her nervousness.

"Back entrance," Archer commanded in a low voice, leading them around the building.

The lock proved no match for Terry's pick set. Inside, the warmth of the ovens wrapped around them like a blanket.

"There." Terry pointed to a shelf of invoices. "Max keeps Carmen's records disguised as supply orders."

Archer rifled through the papers while Daphne kept watch. Her heart jumped at approaching footsteps.

"Someone's coming," she whispered.

Archer shoved the papers back and pulled Daphne behind a rack of cooling bread. Terry ducked behind some flour sacks just as Max Stone himself walked in, humming off-key.

The baker froze when he spotted them. "What-"

Archer moved like lightning, pinning Max against the wall. "Let's talk about your special orders for Carmen Kane."

"I don't know what you're-" Max's protest cut off as Archer's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"The invoices are coded," Terry called out. "Every 'dozen chocolate chips' means information about Council movements."

Max's face went pale. "How did you-"

"Doesn't matter," Archer growled. "What matters is what happens next."

Daphne stepped forward, touching Archer's arm. "Mr. Stone, we know Carmen's forcing many people to help her. If you cooperate now, we can protect you."

The baker's shoulders slumped. "She threatened my family."

Within minutes, they had Max's full confession and copies of all Carmen's coded orders. Terry's information had been completely accurate.

Outside in the growing dawn light, Archer finally relaxed his guard stance slightly. "Alright," he admitted grudgingly to Terry. "You were telling the truth."

Terry's face broke into a relieved grin. "Does this mean you'll meet with the others?"

"Tonight," Archer decided.

Watching the two dragon shifters discuss the meeting specifics, Daphne felt like maybe they had a chance against Carmen after all.

The marble floors of City Hall echoed with their footsteps as Daphne hurried to keep up with Archer's long strides. His protective hovering had only intensified since this morning's revelation at the bakery, and she caught him scanning every corner they passed.

Hugo's office door stood open, sunlight streaming through the tall windows behind his desk. Her brother's face lit up at seeing her, then immediately turned serious when he spotted Archer.

"Three days," Daphne announced before Hugo could speak. "Carmen's moving up her timeline."

Hugo's pen clattered to his desk. "What? How do you know?"

"We have a new source," Daphne explained, perching on the edge of his desk. "A dragon shifter named Terry who wants to help us. He's already proved reliable - we caught one of Carmen's informants this morning."

"And now your sister wants to meet with more potential turncoats tonight," Archer growled from where he leaned against the doorframe.

Hugo's chair scraped back as he stood. "Absolutely not."

"Here we go again." Daphne rolled her eyes. "I'm not asking permission from either of you."

"It's too dangerous," Hugo insisted.

"More dangerous than letting Carmen attack with her full force in three days?" Daphne challenged. "We need allies, Hugo. These dragons want to help us."

"Or they want to eliminate you," Archer cut in. "I still don't like this plan."

"You've made that abundantly clear." Daphne fixed them both with her best determined stare. "But I'm going. This could be our chance to prevent a bloodbath."

Hugo ran a hand through his hair. "Daph-"

"No." She hopped off the desk. "I love you both for wanting to protect me, but I'm doing this. End of discussion."

A muscle twitched in Archer's jaw as he watched her, and Daphne felt a flutter in her stomach at the intensity of his gaze. But she refused to back down.

Hugo sighed. "At least tell me Archer's going with you?"

"Try and stop me," Archer rumbled.

"See?" Daphne grinned. "I'll have my very own grumpy dragon bodyguard. What could possibly go wrong?"