Page 21 of Hex and Scales

SEVENTEEN

Ren stalked the length of his study, each turn bringing him past the towering stone hearth where flames mirrored his restless energy. The kiss from earlier lingered on his lips, tormenting him with its phantom warmth. His dragon essence stirred at the memory of Sabine’s closeness—the subtle jasmine scent of her hair, the way her magic had reached for his, those luminous eyes gazing up at him with such trust...

“You’re wearing tracks in that antique carpetagain.” Eiji’s amused voice broke through his brooding.

Ren shot his cousin a dark look. “I’m not.”

“No?” Eiji stretched out over one of the leather chairs, grinning. “So you always pace at midnight while steam rises from your shoulders?”

Damn. Ren forced his dragon essence back under control, but the heat refused to fade completely. Everything felt... different since that kiss. Warmer. More alive. It terrified him.

“I’m concerned about the magical disturbances in town,” Ren said stiffly.

“Mm-hmm.” Eiji’s knowing smirk widened. “Nothing to do with one sweet tigress who owns?—”

A violent surge of magic cut through the air. The wards at Mystic Hollow’s boundary screamed warning. Ren’s muscles coiled as dark energy pulsed against his senses.

“Eastern perimeter.” He grabbed his coat, already moving. “Alert Kaito.”

“On it.” All traces of teasing vanished from Eiji’s voice. “Be careful, cousin.”

The bitter mountain air hit Ren’s face as he stepped onto the balcony. His dragon essence surged forward, scales rippling beneath his skin. One leap took him over the railing. He shifted mid-fall, wings unfurling to catch the wind. The valley spread below him, Mystic Hollow’s lights twinkling through wisps of fog.

He landed on the town’s edge where ancient oaks marked the boundary. Dark magic lingered in the air—oily, wrong, yet... familiar somehow. The signature tickled at his memory like a word caught on the tip of his tongue. Through the shadows, he caught a glimpse of a cloaked figure wielding power that sent chills down his spine. The magic felt primordial, forbidden—the kind that shouldn’t exist in the modern age. Before he could approach, the figure vanished.

“Interesting.” Kaito materialized beside him, examining traces of the spell. “This magic... I’ve never seen anything quite like it.”

“It feels like something forgotten,” Ren murmured, trying to grasp the elusive sense of recognition. “No one alive should know these patterns.”

“Yet someone clearly does.” Kaito knelt to study the residual energy. “I’ve been tracking similar signatures across town. They started appearing?—”

Another magical surge ripped through the night. This one came from the direction of Katz ‘n Things.

“Sabine.” Her name was barely a whisper before he launched skyward, scales already rippling across his skin. His wings cut through darkness as panic clawed his chest. The scene that greeted him drove terror through his heart.

Shadowy creatures writhed through the shredded remains of the shop’s protective wards. Through the windows, he glimpsed Sabine holding her ground, her unique blend of shifter and witch magic blazing against the darkness. Ylan stood behind the counter, hurling whatever enchanted objects she could grab.

Ren crashed through the front door in human form, Kaito right behind him, their combined magic blazing. “Get down!”

His dragon fire merged with Sabine’s power—gold and green energy swirling together in perfect sync. Kaito’s ice magic crystallized the shadows, making them brittle enough to shatter. The creatures disintegrated under their coordinated assault.

His dragon roared at the sight of Sabine’s trembling hands, her slightly unsteady stance. Without conscious thought, he moved to her side, one arm sliding around her waist to steady her. She leaned into him, and something fierce and protective unfurled in his chest at her trust.

“Are you hurt?” He kept his voice low, just for her.

“No.” She pressed closer, her pulse fluttering against his side. “Just shaken. I’ve never seen creatures like that before.”

“My poor hair may never recover,” Ylan muttered, patting down her frizzed gray curls. “I’m too old for this excitement.”

Footsteps approached. Linus appeared in the doorway, seemingly breathless with concern. “I heard the commotion. Is everyone safe?”

EIGHTEEN

Something in his tone set Ren’s teeth on edge. Linus’s gaze locked onto Sabine with unsettling intensity.

“That was remarkable magic you displayed,” Linus continued. “Such a unique combination of abilities. Perhaps we could discuss it over coffee? I’d love to learn more about your particular gifts.”

Heat radiated from Ren’s fingers as his arm tightened instinctively around Sabine. His dragon essence coiled with tension at the obvious interest in Linus’s voice.

---