Page 15

TWELVE

ASHER

A sher woke up with sunshine streaming across his face, but the true warmth came from the woman nestled against his chest. Danica's naked body fit perfectly against his, her soft curves molding to his hard planes. He traced his finger along her spine, savoring the silky texture of her skin.

His dragon stirred inside him, possessive and satisfied. She was his – not officially marked yet, but claimed in every other way that mattered.

"Screw the festival," he muttered under his breath, burying his nose in her hair and inhaling her intoxicating scent.

Duty. The word echoed annoyingly in his mind. As Alpha and mayor, he had responsibilities. People counting on him. A town waiting for his leadership. But his body ached to stay entwined with Danica's, and to savor every inch of her again.

She stirred against him, her brown eyes blinking open. She gave him a soft smile that sent heat straight to his groin.

"Morning," she whispered, her voice husky with sleep.

"I want to keep you here all day," he growled, pulling her tighter against him. "Lock the doors. Turn off the phones."

Danica laughed, the sound vibrating against his chest. "Tempting, but I believe someone has a festival to start, Mr. Mayor."

"Being responsible is highly overrated." He captured her soft lips in a kiss that quickly deepened, his hand sliding down to cup her ass.

She pulled back, her eyes dancing with mischief. "Later. You promised your town a festival, and I promised them the best damn festival they've ever seen."

Asher sighed dramatically. "You're killing me."

"Consider it delayed gratification." She slipped from his grasp with surprising agility, wrapping herself in his discarded button-down shirt. "I need to grab my things from the guest room."

He watched her go, admiring the way his shirt barely covered her ass.

Last night replayed in his mind – her writhing beneath him then straddling him, taking control with a confidence that had driven him wild.

Then the shower afterward, her back against the cold tile as he claimed her again, her legs wrapped around his waist as he drove into her.

"Christ," he muttered, forcing himself out of bed. Duty called, much as he wished to ignore it.

He showered quickly, memories of Danica's wet body pressed against his making the task more difficult than it should have been.

The light gray suit waited on its hanger – his mayoral uniform for official functions.

He dressed methodically, each button and cufflink a step further from the primal man who had claimed his mate last night and closer to the leader his people needed today.

As he fastened his watch, he stared at his reflection – composed, professional, and controlled. But his eyes betrayed him, burning with an intensity he couldn't disguise.

She had awakened something in him – not just desire, but a connection he hadn't known he was missing. Their connection transcended the physical, though God knows that aspect had exceeded his wildest expectations.

He descended the stairs, pausing at the sight that greeted him in the foyer.

Danica stood bathed in the morning light, a vision in a yellow sundress that hugged every curve he'd explored with his hands and mouth just hours before. The color made her skin glow and set off the rich brown of her hair. The hemline showed just enough leg to make his mouth go dry.

"You're staring, Alpha." Her lips curled in a knowing smile.

"Can you really blame me?" He crossed to her in a few long strides, his hands finding her waist. "You look good enough to eat."

"You already did that yesterday," she quipped, her eyes sparkling with humor. "Twice."

Asher laughed. "And I'm already hungry again."

He bent to kiss her, intending a quick peck, but her lips parted beneath his and he was lost. His hands slid down to her hips, pulling her flush against his chest.

"We're going to be late," she murmured against his mouth, even as her fingers tightened on his lapels.

"I'm the Alpha," he breathed against her sweet lips.

"That's exactly why we can't be late." She pulled back, straightening his tie. "Come on, your town is waiting for you."

Asher steered his Porsche through the streets of Ectorius, the powerful engine humming as they approached the transformed town square.

He couldn't stop himself from stealing glances at Danica beside him, her profile lit by morning sunlight and a small smile on her lips as she surveyed their handiwork through the windshield.

"It looks pretty incredible," he admitted, pulling into his reserved parking spot.

The town square had metamorphosed from a half-planned disaster two days ago into something truly magical.

Jewel-toned tents mingled with traditional white ones, LED fairy lights were strung between trees and inside the tents ready to glow at dusk, and there was a perfect balance of modern flair and dragon heritage displays and booths.

The food trucks were stationed at one end of the square near the side stage, and the main stage was on the other end draped with the beautiful color-changing cloth alternating between red and gold.

Danica hopped out, already scanning the area with a critical eye. "There are still a few things that need adjustment before the official opening. The lighting configuration near the main stage needs tweaking, and that banner over the east entrance is slightly crooked."

"Let me help," Asher offered, falling into step beside her. "I'm the one responsible for this last-minute rush. If I hadn't procrastinated until Gerri had to rescue me..."

"You mean rescue us both," Danica laughed, her clipboard already in hand. "I never would have met you otherwise."

That comment sent a surge of possessiveness through Asher. The idea of never finding her, his fated mate, made his dragon stir uncomfortably.

"Split up to cover more ground?" she suggested, already mentally dividing tasks. "I'll take the east side and generator setup, you handle the west entrance and food vendors?"

"Perfect." He nodded, but hesitated before letting her go. "You've created something amazing here, Danica. In two days, you've pulled off what I couldn't manage in months."

She flashed him that confident smile that made his blood heat. "That's why they call me the best. Meet back here in an hour?"

They parted and Asher moved efficiently through his tasks, his authority evident as vendors and volunteers snapped to attention when he approached. But even as he directed, approved, and solved minor crises, his eyes constantly found their way back to Danica across the square.

She moved with purpose, clipboard in one hand, gesturing with the other, her yellow sundress making her easy to spot among the crowd.

Even from this distance, he could see her laughing as she charmed volunteers into following her vision.

The sight of her taking command, being so completely in her element, stirred something primal in him.

Before long, he noticed her beside the large portable generator, trying to help three male volunteers lift it onto a wooden platform.

His chest tightened. The men looked uncomfortable, clearly hesitant to let her help with the heavy equipment, but Danica was being her stubborn self, gesturing emphatically and positioning herself to lift.

"Dammit," he muttered, immediately changing direction. The generator had to weigh at least 300 pounds—nothing for a dragon shifter, but far too much for her human strength.

Asher quickened his pace as he saw the precarious angle of the generator. The wooden platform beneath it wasn't braced properly, and one corner started to dip as they attempted to position the heavy machinery.

Time slowed. The generator tilted, its weight shifting directly toward Danica.

His dragon instinct exploded through him.

In three rapid strides, he closed the distance, his enhanced speed a blur to human eyes.

He grabbed Danica by the waist, yanking her backward just as the generator slid.

Without breaking momentum, he pivoted and braced his shoulder against the heavy metal equipment, stopping its fall with raw strength.

"Brace that corner! Now!" he commanded, his voice cutting through the panicked shouts. The volunteers scrambled to comply, wedging supports under the tilted side while Asher held the full weight steady.

Once the danger passed, he turned to Danica, his hands moving over her arms and shoulders, checking for injuries. Her eyes were wide, her breath coming in short gasps.

"Are you hurt?" His voice was rough with barely contained emotion.

She gave him a shaky smile. "I guess I should've left the heavy lifting to the dragons."

Relief and frustration warred within him. The image of what could have happened—her crushed beneath hundreds of pounds of metal—made his dragon roar with protective fury. Just like with the wooden arch two days ago, she'd been seconds from serious injury.

"You were just trying to help," he said, forcing his voice to remain even despite the turmoil inside him. "Next time, don't be so damn stubborn and overdo it."

His hands were still on her shoulders, and he couldn't make himself let go. The thought of losing her—this woman he'd only known for two days but who had already become essential to him—was overwhelming. His fated mate. His Danica.

"I had it under control," she insisted, though her voice lacked its usual conviction.

"No, you didn't," he growled, pulling her slightly closer. The fabric of his light gray suit stretched across his shoulders as his grip on her tightened. "You could have been seriously hurt."

Asher fought to control the tremor in his hands. How could he protect her when she insisted on putting herself in harm's way? The fierce need to keep her safe collided with his respect for her independence.

"You're not invincible," he said more softly, his thumb brushing against her cheek. "And I can't lose you. Not now. Not ever."

Asher became acutely aware of the growing crowd surrounding them.

Dozens of eyes watched their Alpha console the human woman in the sunshine-yellow dress.

He caught fragments of whispered conversations—concern about her fragility and questions about her capability.

His dragon bristled at the implied criticism.

"Well, that was one way to make an entrance," Danica quipped, her laughter a bit forced as her heels shifted nervously on the grass. The embarrassment flickering across her face was subtle, but Asher caught it immediately.

He scanned the gathered faces—his people, his responsibility—and made a split-second decision. This wasn't just about Danica's pride or his authority. This was about establishing her place in their community.

Asher placed his steady hand on her back, his touch simultaneously reassuring and possessive. "Come on. You've done enough heavy lifting for one day."

His voice carried the unmistakable command of an Alpha, silencing the murmurs around them. He felt her hesitate near the edge of the crowd, her body tensing under his palm. The uncertainty in her stance was palpable—an outsider unsure of her welcome. His dragon hated seeing her doubt herself.

Without hesitation, Asher offered his arm formally, not as the town's mayor, but as her chosen partner.

"You belong at my side," he stated simply, his eyes holding hers. "I need my mate on that stage."

Danica's eyes widened. "But I'm not?—"

"You are exactly where you're supposed to be," he interrupted, his voice low but unwavering. "And everyone here needs to see that."

The Firebreathers finished their sound check on the main stage, the final guitar chord echoing across the square. The crowd's energy shifted, ready for the entertainment to begin and ready for their Alpha to officially open the festival that celebrated their heritage.

As they climbed the steps to the stage together, Asher felt the weight of his dual responsibilities—Mayor and Alpha—but for once, they aligned perfectly. His father's voice echoed in his memory: An Alpha stands strongest with his mate beside him.

Asher moved to the microphone, his presence commanding immediate attention from the gathered townspeople. Danica stood slightly behind him, but he reached back, taking her hand and drawing her forward to stand at his side.

"Citizens of Ectorius," he began, his voice lifting above the square, "welcome to our annual Founders Festival."

His gaze swept across familiar faces—families whose bloodlines traced back centuries, elders who had guided him after his father's passing, and younger dragons who looked to him for leadership.

"For generations, our clutch has thrived under the protection of the Ectorius name. My father carried that legacy with honor, as did his father before him." He paused, allowing the weight of tradition to settle. "Today, we honor that past while embracing our future."

He felt Danica's fingers tighten around his, a subtle squeeze of support that sent warmth coursing through him.

"Change can be uncomfortable," he continued, the words resonating with his own recent experience. "But sometimes, the most powerful transformations come when we least expect them."

His gaze returned to Danica, her yellow dress gleaming in the sunlight, making her seem to glow. His dragon stirred with pride.

"I want to publicly thank Danica Ulrich," he said, his voice softening with sincerity, "the spark that helped light this fire."

With practiced precision, Asher reached for the ceremonial torch, its handle cool against his palm. He held it aloft for a moment before lowering it to the central fire ring. Flames leapt upward, dancing in the morning air, reflecting in Danica's bright eyes.

A ripple of surprise and murmured approval spread through the crowd. Several of the town elders nodded, their expressions thoughtful. Even those who had whispered concerns now seemed curious, reassessing the human woman who had earned their Alpha's respect.

Danica's face flushed, the color highlighting her cheekbones. When she glanced at him, the connection between them was undeniable. His dragon recognized immediately what his human side was still processing—this bond was meant to be.