Page 42 of Hot for the Dragon

"I'm a witch, remember?" She wiggled her fingers, making a small vine sprout from the centerpiece. "I can handle myself."

He looked unconvinced. "Daphne-"

"Really, I'm fine." She stood before he could argue further. "Thank you for dinner. And... for trusting me earlier."

Something softened in his expression. "Be careful."

The cobblestone streets were quiet as Daphne walked toward Hugo's house, her boots clicking against the stones. The air held that particular autumn crispness that made everything feel sharper, more alive. She hummed to herself, still warm from the wine and Archer's company.

A twig snapped behind her.

Daphne spun around, her magic tingling at her fingertips. The street looked empty, but the shadows between buildings seemed deeper than before. She quickened her pace, all too aware of how the streetlights created pools of light with dark spaces between them.

Her heart hammered as she reached for her phone. Maybe Archer had been right about walking alone. But calling him now would mean admitting he was right, and besides, she was almost to Hugo's-

She didn't dare look back, but she could feel it - someone or something watching her every move.

19

DAPHNE

Daphne's boots clicked quicker against the cobblestones, each step echoing in the quiet street. The hair on the back of her neck stood up as that sensation of being watched intensified. She wished she had taken Archer up on his offer to walk her - his solid presence would have been comforting right about now.

"Should've let your dragon boyfriend escort you."

The voice made her freeze. A figure stepped out of the shadows ahead, blocking her path. Even in the dim streetlight, she recognized Ned's sharp features and predatory smile. Her heart hammered against her ribs as she took an instinctive step back.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Daphne said, proud that her voice remained steady despite her trembling hands.

Ned's laugh held no warmth. "Oh, we've been watching. Seeing you try to turn our dragons against us. Getting cozy with Hawke." He took a step closer. "Carmen's not happy about either of those things."

Daphne's magic tingled in her fingertips, ready to call forth any plant life nearby. But would vegetation be enough against a dragon shifter? Her mind raced through possible escape routes.

"Tell me," Ned continued, "what would the mighty Archer Hawke do if something unfortunate happened to his little witch?" His eyes gleamed with malice. "Would he finally stop playing nice and show his true colors?"

"If you're trying to intimidate me, you'll have to do better than that." Daphne lifted her chin, channeling some of Archer's defiance. "I won't stop helping the town just because you make threats."

"Brave words." Ned's smile widened, showing too many teeth. "But bravery won't save you when you're alone in the dark with a dragon." He took another deliberate step forward. "And right now, little witch, you're very alone."

The street suddenly felt much darker, the distance to Hugo's house impossibly far. Daphne's fingers curled into fists as she tried to keep her rising panic at bay. She wasn't some helpless damsel - she had magic, she had training. But against a dragon shifter? Her mouth went dry as Ned's eyes began to glow with an inner fire.

Daphne's feet pounded against the pavement as she started to run, her heart thundering in her chest. "Archer!" The name tore from her throat, echoing off the empty buildings. She knew he was probably too far to hear, but she couldn't stop herself from calling out for him.

Behind her, the sound of bones cracking and flesh transforming made her stomach lurch. She didn't dare look back, but the whoosh of massive wings told her Ned had shifted.

"This is definitely not how I planned my evening going," she muttered, ducking into an alley. Her fingers traced the air, willing the ivy growing up the building walls to thicken and spread. The vines responded sluggishly - nothing like Hugo's instant botanical barriers. "Come on, come on!"

A blast of hot air hit her back as Ned's dragon form landed at the alley entrance. The impact shook the ground, making her stumble. The ivy finally sprang to life, creating a temporary wall between them. It wouldn't hold long, but it gave her precious seconds to keep running.

"Note to self," she panted, sprinting through the back streets, "ask Hugo for more combat training. If I survive this."

A deafening roar split the air as Ned burst through her makeshift barrier. Talons scraped against brick and concrete as he pursued her. Daphne's magic reached out desperately, coaxing any plant life she could find. Flower boxes erupted with sudden growth, thorny vines wrapping around Ned's legs. Tree branches bent down to block his path.

But each obstacle only slowed him for moments. Her magic wasn't meant for fighting - it was meant for nurturing life, for making things grow and bloom. Still, she refused to give up.

"Archer!" she screamed again, her voice growing hoarse. "If you can hear me, I could really use some backup right about now!"

She rounded another corner, her lungs burning. A flash of movement overhead made her leap forward just as Ned's claws swept through the space where she'd been. The wind from his wings nearly knocked her off her feet.

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