Page 23

EIGHTEEN

DANICA

D anica's heels clicked against the sidewalk as they quickly approached the town square, her fingers interlaced with Asher's. "We made it with three minutes to spare," she whispered, leaning into Asher's solid frame.

Asher's mouth quirked. "If we hadn't gotten so... distracted, we'd have been early."

"I think we can both agree it was well worth it." She squeezed his hand, heat rising to her cheeks at the memory of being bent over his couch just twenty minutes earlier.

The crowd parted as they approached, smiles and nods greeting them from all sides.

Danica was struck by how genuine most of the welcomes felt—a stark contrast to the whispers she'd overheard a few days ago.

She scanned the faces, looking for any sign of hostility or the person who might have left that threatening note.

"Mayor Ectorius!" An elderly woman with silver hair clasped his free hand. "What a wonderful festival. Best one in years!"

"Thank Danica for that," Asher replied, his thumb stroking the back of Danica's hand. "She's the creative genius behind it all."

Danica's chest warmed at his praise. When they reached the foot of the main stage, Asher leaned in close, his breath tickling her ear. "Ready to close this out, mate?"

The word 'mate' sent a delicious shiver through her body. "Lead the way, Alpha."

His eyes flashed with heat before he guided her up the stairs to the main stage.

Standing beside Asher as he prepared to address the crowd, Danica observed the assembled townspeople.

Their upturned faces glowed in the festival lights—mothers bouncing children on their hips, teenagers trying to look cool while clearly enjoying themselves, and elderly couples with hands clasped together.

Could any of them really have sent wolves after me? The thought chilled her despite the warmth of the night. She remembered the note's hostile words: "A true mate wouldn't destroy what he was born to protect."

Asher's voice pulled her back to the present.

"When we opened this festival yesterday, I stood here as your mayor and Alpha, talking about tradition, responsibility, and unity. But as this fantastic event comes to an end tonight, I now want us to keep something else in our hearts..."

As he continued his speech, pride bloomed in Danica's chest. The confidence in his stance and the genuine emotion in his voice—he was magnificent. When he reached for her hand, she gave it willingly, feeling the strength in his large palm.

"Danica reminded me what it means to trust, to adapt, and to lead with more than strength. She showed me how to lead with heart and courage." He raised their joined hands. "We've built something special at this year's festival. Let's carry it forward to the future. Together."

The crowd's applause washed over them like a wave, and Danica blinked back unexpected tears. Three days ago, she'd arrived in this town as an outsider—hired help to solve a crisis. Now she stood beside its Alpha as his equal and his mate. The enormity of it stole her breath.

Asher leaned down to kiss her cheek before announcing, "And now, it's time for the night shifting ceremony."

He squeezed her hand once more before descending the stage with Caleb and eight other men. Danica watched them disappear behind the clearing, knowing they were removing their formal clothes before the transformation.

"First time seeing the flight?" A woman's voice startled her.

Danica turned to find an older woman with kind eyes. "Yes. I've never seen anything like this before."

"Nothing compares," the woman smiled. "Especially when it's your mate leading the flight."

Before Danica could respond, a collective gasp rose from the crowd. She looked up.

Ten magnificent dragons soared above the town square, their scales catching the moonlight.

Asher's crimson form was unmistakable at the front—larger than the others, with emerald eyes that seemed to glow even from a distance.

Caleb's blue scales shimmered beside him like sapphires against the night sky.

They flew in perfect formation, weaving complex patterns that left trails of starlight in their wake.

The dragons twisted and turned in synchronicity, sometimes breaking apart into smaller groups before rejoining the main formation.

Occasionally, one would release a controlled burst of flame that illuminated the sky in brilliant color.

Danica stood transfixed, her hand pressed to her heart. The fairy lights strung throughout the square, combined with the glow of lanterns and the natural light of the moon and stars, created a magical backdrop for the dragons' dance.

"It's beautiful," she whispered, though no one could hear her over the crowd's appreciative murmurs.

Asher executed a particularly daring dive, plummeting toward the earth before pulling up at the last moment, his wings spread wide. The maneuver drew excited shouts from the spectators.

That's my mate, Danica thought, dizzy with pride and wonder. That powerful, magnificent creature chose me.

Tears pricked her eyes as the dragons completed their final formation—a perfect circle with Asher at its heart.

In that moment, every doubt she'd harbored about belonging faded away.

This ceremony, this town, this man in his dual forms—they were becoming part of her world now, expanding it in ways she never could have imagined.

As the dragons made their final pass over the square, Asher's gaze found hers. Even in his dragon form, she felt the connection between them—primal and electric and achingly sweet.

Mine, her heart whispered. And I am his.

Five minutes later, Asher strode through the crowd, his massive frame commanding attention without effort. Danica's heart skipped when his intense eyes locked onto hers, that predatory focus making her feel like the only woman in existence.

"That was..." Danica's voice caught in her throat as he reached her. "Asher, that was spectacular. The way you moved up there—like you owned the sky itself."

His lips curled into a satisfied smile as he closed the distance between them. "So you liked what you saw?"

"Like?" She shook her head, her eyes wide with genuine wonder. "I was mesmerized. You were simply magnificent." She reached up, her fingertips tracing his jawline. "I never imagined dragons could be so graceful and powerful at the same time."

The pride radiating from him was palpable. "Most humans never get to witness a night flight."

"Then I'm the luckiest woman alive." Danica stepped closer, her body responding instinctively to his nearness. "I'm proud of you—of who you are and what you are." Her voice lowered, intimate despite the crowd around them. "I'm happy to be your mate, Asher."

Something primal flashed across his features. In one fluid motion, his arms encircled her waist, and he pulled her flush against his body. "Say that again," he commanded softly, his breath warm against her lips.

A delicious shiver ran through her. "I'm your mate," she whispered, the words feeling right in ways she couldn't have imagined three days ago. "And you're mine."

Asher's growl of approval vibrated through her before his mouth claimed hers in a searing kiss. His lips were dominating yet tender, possessive in a way that made her melt rather than resist. When he finally pulled back, she grabbed his lapels to steady herself.

"Do that again and we won't make it through the end of the festival," she breathed, feeling the heat in her cheeks.

Asher's low chuckle rumbled between them. "Maybe that's exactly my plan."

The Firebreathers soon launched into their signature ballad on the main stage, the lead singer's raspy voice weaving through the night air, and Asher pulled Danica onto the makeshift dance floor. Danica leaned into Asher's solid chest, his arms wrapping possessively around her waist.

"I'd say we pulled off a miracle," she murmured, watching the crowd around them with satisfaction. "Three days ago this was a disaster binder on your desk."

Asher's lips brushed against her ear, sending tingles through her body. "We're great together." His voice dropped lower, just for her. "In more ways than one."

Before she could reply with something equally suggestive, Caleb, Asher's clutch enforcer, approached with a grim expression that cut through their moment of triumph.

"Sorry to interrupt," Caleb said with a meaningful look at Asher. "Need you for five minutes. Clutch business about last night's... incident."

Asher's jaw tightened. "The wolves?"

Caleb nodded.

"Go," Danica said, giving Asher's hand a squeeze. "I'll mingle with the locals, win over a few more hearts and minds."

Asher's eyes darkened with reluctance. "Five minutes," he promised, pressing a swift kiss to her temple before following Caleb toward a quieter corner of the festival grounds.

Danica watched him go, still marveling at how quickly everything had changed in her life. Three days ago, she was just an up-and-coming event planner from New Orleans. Now she was the mate of a dragon Alpha, subject of town gossip, and apparently, target of enemy shifters.

"You two are absolutely adorable together."

Danica turned to find Joni approaching, looking absolutely stunning in an emerald dress that complemented her red hair. There was something in her smile tonight that didn't quite reach her green eyes, but Danica pushed her unease aside. Joni had been nothing but supportive the past few days.

"Thanks. Though I'm still getting used to all of this," Danica admitted.

Joni glanced over at the VIP area where several older council members were seated.

"Hey, I know you're kind of off-duty now, but the VIP table ran out of cold drinks and some of the council members are complaining.

The food trucks are slammed and won't get to it fast enough.

Think you could help me restock the table really quick?

You know how to make things look nice and get things done fast."

"Of course," Danica replied, jumping at the chance to be useful. "Lead the way."

They navigated through the crowd toward the storage area behind the main tent. Joni handed her a tray of wine glasses while retrieving bottles from the portable cooler.

"Red or white for the council members?" Danica asked, arranging the glasses in a pleasing pattern.

"Red for Garron—he won't touch anything else," Joni said, carefully pouring. "The others prefer white."

As they finished preparing the drinks, something acrid tickled Danica's nose. She wrinkled her face, looking around for the source.

"Did you smell that? Like something burned or maybe spoiled?"

"Probably just the smoke from the grills," Joni replied smoothly. "Here, for all your hard work." She handed Danica a glass of red wine.

"Thanks, but I'll wait until we're done." Danica set the glass on the tray among the others, focused on finishing the task.

They carried the refreshments to the VIP section, Danica smiling as she approached Garron first—the oldest council member, his silver hair gleaming in the festival lights.

"Fresh drinks for everyone," she announced, distributing glasses from her tray.

Garron took the glass she offered with a nod of approval. "Perhaps you're not so bad for our Alpha after all," he said with a wink, raising his glass in salute before taking a deep swallow.

His face contorted instantly. The wine glass slipped from his fingers, shattering on the ground as he clutched his throat. His eyes bulged, locked on Danica's face with shocked accusation before he collapsed, his body convulsing once before going terribly still.

For one frozen moment, no one moved. Then chaos erupted.

"Poison!" someone shouted. "She's poisoned Garron!"

Danica stood paralyzed, her mind struggling to process what had just happened. "I—I didn't—" she stammered, looking wildly around for Joni, who had vanished completely.

Two council members knelt beside Garron, checking for a pulse, but their grim expressions told the story. Another sniffed at the remnants of wine in the broken glass.

"Dragon's bane," he hissed, rising with fury in his eyes. "Dragon's bane mixed with nightshade. Deadly to any shifter."

"No," Danica whispered, backing away. "I was just helping with the drinks. Joni asked me to?—"

"Joni?" A woman frowned. "I saw you come alone with those drinks."

"That's not true! She was just here with me!"

The crowd began to gather, eyes filled with suspicion and fear. Whispers traveled like wildfire.

"Outsider..."

"Human..."

"Never trusted her..."

"Poor Asher..."

A mother standing nearby suddenly grabbed her young daughter, yanking the child behind her as though Danica was contagious. The little girl's eyes widened in fear as she peeked around her mother's legs.

That small gesture cut deeper than any accusation. Three days of work, of slowly building trust, of feeling she might belong—gone in an instant.

I've become exactly what they feared. A liability. A danger.

Murmurs grew louder around her, some defending her, others condemning. Danica felt the ground beneath her feet shifting like quicksand. Everything she and Asher had built together was crumbling before her eyes.

Where is Asher? she thought desperately, scanning the crowd for his tall frame. He'll know I didn't do this. He'll believe me.

But in that moment, Danica realized the terrible truth.

Even if Asher believed her—and she knew without question he would—it might not matter.

His position as Alpha depended on the trust of his people.

How could he lead if he stood by a woman half the town believed had murdered his most trusted advisor?

She stood frozen, caught between the instinct to run and the knowledge that flight would only confirm her guilt in everyone's eyes.