Page 32 of Hex and Scales

The vision slammed into her. Sabine clutched her birthmark, which burned anew. When she looked up, she found Ren watching her with an intensity that stole her breath.

“You saw it too?” she whispered.

His hand cupped her cheek, thumb stroking gently across her skin. “Every detail.”

Sabine curled closer into Ren’s embrace, mind whirling. Her magical sensitivity increased whenever he was near. Her dreams grew more vivid. But what did it mean?

“Your thoughts are loud enough to hear,” Ren murmured, pressing a kiss to her temple.

She traced the edge of a protection charm, drawing comfort from its steady warmth. “Do you ever wonder if what we’re feeling is real? Or if it’s just the magic pushing us together?”

His expression softened as he tilted her chin up to meet his gaze. “Magic can’t create emotions that aren’t there. It can only illuminate what already exists.”

Their eyes met, and her heart recognized a truth her mind still struggled to grasp. Whatever drew them together transcended simple magic. His presence felt right in a bone-deep way she couldn’t explain.

But as air continued reacting to her presence—glowing, humming, trying to convey messages she couldn’t quite grasp—Sabine knew they’d only scratched the surface of the mysteries surrounding them. Her fingers laced with Ren’s, drawing strength from his solid presence.

“Whatever happens,” she said softly, “whatever these visions mean... I’m glad you’re here.”

His answering kiss tasted of coffee and promise, sweet enough to make her forget her worries about magical bonds. For now, this was enough—his arms around her, their magic dancing together, and the growing certainty that her heart had chosen well.

Ren pressed a lingeringkiss to Sabine’s temple before helping her up from the cottage floor. His dragon essence stirred at her presence—sunshine and magic wrapped in the subtle sweetness of jasmine. The urge to pull her closer, to wrap her in his arms and never let go, nearly overwhelmed him.

“Romi texted while we were working,” Sabine said, gathering her bag. Her fingers brushed his as she collected the protection charms they’d created. “She’s demanding I join her and Clover for lunch at the café. Something about needing to discuss wedding plans, though I suspect they really want to interrogate me about us.”

“Go.” He squeezed her hand, savoring the way her magic sparked against his skin. “I need to speak with the elders anyway.”

Her eyes lit with curiosity, golden flecks dancing in their hazel depths. A tendril of honey-blonde hair had escaped her ponytail, and he tucked it behind her ear, letting his touch linger. “About the magical surges?”

“Among other things.” He traced her cheek with his thumb, memorizing how she leaned into his touch. Even such a small gesture felt profound—like coming home after centuries ofwandering. His dragon essence unfurled with quiet joy at her responsiveness, at how naturally she fit against him.

TWENTY-SEVEN

Outside the Witch’s Brew, Sabine rose on tiptoes to kiss him good-bye. Through the window, he spotted Romi practically bouncing with excitement while Clover attempted to look busy with coffee mugs rather than watching them.

“Your fan club awaits,” he murmured against her lips.

She laughed, the sound warming him to his core. “Be nice. They’re just excited to see you acting human for once.”

“Dragon,” he corrected, stealing one last kiss before watching her disappear into the café. The bell chimed as the door closed behind her, and he caught a glimpse of Romi immediately dragging her toward their usual corner booth, questions already spilling forth.

The walk to the elders’ sanctuary gave him time to sort his thoughts, though they refused to arrange themselves into any sensible pattern. Each day brought new mysteries since that first meeting in Sabine’s shop—uncertainties that grew more pressing with each surge of her power, each shared vision that left them both shaken.

The sanctuary itself lay hidden behind a curtain of enchanted willow trees, their leaves chiming softly in an unfelt breeze.As he passed beneath them, the sounds of the town faded away, replaced by the gentle splash of fountains and whispered conversations between magical herbs.

Madame Zephyrine, Neve, and Felix waited in their private garden as if they’d anticipated his visit. Knowing them, they probably had. The twins sat at an ornate table crafted from living vines while Felix puttered among his prized flame-flowers—delicate blooms that flickered like candles in the afternoon light.

“The mighty dragon seeks answers,” Madame Zephyrine said, gesturing to a stone bench beside their table. Her violet eyes held centuries of secrets. Steam rose from three cups of tea that definitely hadn’t been there a moment ago. “Ask.”

Ren remained standing, too restless to sit. Energy crackled beneath his skin, his dragon essence agitated by the weight of unspoken truths. “What’s happening to her? A shifter shouldn’t have this much raw magical ability.”

“The universe works in mysterious ways,” Neve replied, arranging herbs with deliberate care. Each stem released sparks of magical essence as she sorted them. “Some souls simply carry... more.”

“The mate bond?—”

“Manifests differently for each pair,” Felix cut in, practically vibrating with suppressed excitement. He abandoned his flowers to join them, nearly knocking over a potted plant in his haste. “You felt it the moment she made that wish at the fountain, didn’t you? Your dragon recognized her instantly.”

“That’s not possible.” But even as Ren spoke the words, his dragon essence surged in protest, scales rippling beneath his skin. “My mate died eight hundred years ago.”

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