Page 40 of The Purrfect Rival (Enchanted Falls #1)

FORTY

“ S o I heard the mayor went all ‘lion king’ defending his queen last night.”

The next morning, Lucella burst into Kalyna’s office, waving the Enchanted Falls Gazette. The headline splashed across the front page in dramatic typography: Mayor’s Midnight Rescue – Heroism or Something More?

Kalyna snatched the paper. “Give me that!”

Her eyes skimmed the florid account describing how Rust “transformed into a majestic golden lion to rescue the beloved head librarian from mysterious forces.” The article quoted no fewer than six “witnesses” to this spectacular event, including Mrs. Plumthorn, who claimed to have seen golden light emanating from the mayor’s skin.

“The library isn’t even mentioned until paragraph seven,” Kalyna muttered, torn between exasperation and secret pleasure.

“Half the town swears they witnessed it,” Lucella continued, perching on the desk edge. “Though considering Mrs. Plumthorn also claims she once spotted a unicorn in her garden, I’m reserving judgment.”

“It absolutely did not happen like that.” Kalyna tossed the paper aside, trying to ignore how her heart fluttered at the memory of Rust’s protective fury. “He partially shifted—claws, eyes, teeth. That’s it. And it wasn’t midnight, for crying out loud. It was barely past six.”

“So you admit the rescue part?” Lucella’s grin widened.

“It’s a security matter.” Kalyna straightened papers on her desk, striving for professional composure.

Without warning, the stack rose three inches in the air, suspended by wisps of crimson magic responding to her inner turmoil. The sight of her uncontrolled magic—something that hadn’t happened since she first discovered her powers as a kit—made her cheeks burn.

Lucella plucked the floating documents from midair, eyebrows raised. “Security matter? Honey, when a lion shifts to protect someone, it’s never just security. It’s primal, it’s possessive, it’s?—”

“It’s going to make the festival preparations awkward if you keep talking,” Kalyna interrupted, though she couldn’t suppress a smile.

The truth danced behind her protest—the memory of Rust’s golden eyes blazing with something that looked remarkably like ownership. How that look had sent a thrill through her, awakening parts of herself she’d kept carefully controlled for decades. Her fox had practically preened under his attention, eager for more.

“Fine, change the subject.” Lucella hopped off the desk. “But the town’s betting pool on when you two announce your courtship has tripled overnight.”

“Let them bet,” Kalyna replied, surprised by her own boldness.

The thought of Rust—proper, controlled Mayor Leonid—publicly acknowledging whatever simmered between them sent delicious tremors through her belly. Her fox, typically content with solitude and independence, now craved his touch with embarrassing desperation.

Two centuries of cautious dating had never produced this stomach-flipping, magic-disrupting reaction. She’d read enough novels to recognize the symptoms, but experiencing them firsthand left her breathless.

Not that she’d admit any of this to Lucella. Her friend would never let her hear the end of it.