Page 31 of Blazing Reactions

He turned to her, his expression softening. “Will you stand with me?” The question carried layers of meaning beyond just this battle.

Her eyes met his unflinchingly. “Always.” The single word held the weight of a vow.

“Get a room, you two,” Levi muttered, then quickly held up his hands at Talon’s glare. “After we save the sanctuary, of course.”

“Be cautious,” Mom interjected, though her eyes sparkled with approval as she watched them. “The sanctuary’s ancient magic can be unpredictable.”

As the others moved to execute their assignments, he drew her close, uncaring of any audience. His hands framed her faceas he pressed his forehead to hers. “The sanctuary is more than just a location. If something happened to you there...”

“Hey.” She cut him off with a quick kiss. “Together, remember? Besides, I have some theories about using my electrical abilities to disrupt their tracking systems.”

“Of course, you do,” he murmured fondly. “Already plotting to science your way through this.”

“You love it when I talk data to you,” she teased, then grew serious. “We’ve got this.”

They moved to the building’s secured roof deck for transformation. The shift came naturally now, their dragons emerging in perfect sync. His massive form dwarfed hers, but her sleeker build promised speed and agility. Lightning crackled along her scales as she spread her wings, the sight making his heart swell with pride and possession.

He couldn’t resist nuzzling her neck before they took flight, inhaling their mingled scents. She butted her head against his chin affectionately, a small chirp of happiness escaping her.

They soared toward the remote mountain range together, wings beating in natural rhythm. He found himself constantly aware of her position, though he forced himself not to hover too protectively. She was his equal partner in this, not something fragile to be coddled.

The sanctuary came into view, ancient stone structures rising organically from the rugged landscape. They landed in a protected clearing, shifting back to human form. He steadied her with hands on her waist as she regained her balance, using it as an excuse to pull her close for a moment.

“It’s beautiful,” she breathed, reaching out to trace a particularly complex glyph. Her other hand remained intertwined with his, maintaining their connection.

TWENTY-EIGHT

“Stay alert,” Talon warned softly, though he couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm. “Revon’s forces could be near.”

Levi’s voice crackled through their earpieces. “Multiple hostiles approaching from east and south. They’re trying to triangulate your location.”

Her eyes lit up with that familiar spark of inspiration. “The tracking devices they’re using must emit some kind of power signature. If I can isolate the frequency...” She turned to him with an excited grin. “Want to watch me short-circuit their tech?”

“Have I mentioned how attractive you are when you’re plotting?” He pulled her behind a stone outcropping, using the moment of cover to steal a quick kiss.

“Timing,” she mumbled against his lips, though she was smiling. “I’ll fry their systems, you create chaos with the fire.”

“Perfect.” He reluctantly released her, moving into position. “Stay within sight.”

“Yes, dear,” she teased, then shifted. The air crackled with controlled bursts of electromagnetic interference. The effect wasimmediate - confused shouts erupted from Revon’s approaching forces as their equipment failed.

Talon seized the advantage, unleashing precisely targeted flames that created barriers and forced the attackers into chaos. He and Asher moved in natural synchronization, their powers complementing each other as if they’d trained together for centuries. Her lightning herded enemies into his fire while his flames drove them into range of her electrical strikes.

“Boast much?” she called as he executed a particularly impressive fire maneuver.

“You like it,” he shot back, his dragon strutting at her admiring glance.

They worked their way closer to each other, instinctively seeking proximity as they fought. When a mercenary got too close to her, Talon’s snarl of rage echoed across the sky. The small dragon rolled back in terror, right into Asher’s electrical field.

“I had that handled,” she said.

“I know.” He brushed her wing in passing. “But he was breathing too close to what’s mine.”

A commanding voice cut through their moment. “How disgustingly domestic.” Revon Keres emerged from the smoke, his cold eyes fixed on them. “Talon Draker, consorting with a half-breed. How the mighty have fallen.”

The couple landed and shifted into their human forms.

Talon’s growl vibrated the air between them. Asher laid a calming hand on his arm, electricity sparking between them. “Funny,” she said to Revon, “I was just thinking how sad it must be to be so threatened by happiness.”

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