Page 54 of Hot for the Dragon

"I've seen what Carmen's attacks do firsthand," Daphne's voice rang clear through the silence. "I watched my flower shop burn. But more importantly, I watched families lose their homes, children cry in fear, and people I care about get hurt."

She paced the concrete floor. A small vine curled around her wrist, responding to her heightened emotions. "But I also saw something else. I saw this town come together. I saw witches healing the wounded, shifters helping put out fires, and humans offering shelter to those who lost their homes."

Archer tensed as she moved closer to the gathered dragons but kept his position. His muscles coiled, ready to spring if any of them so much as twitched wrong in her direction. But they remained still, caught in her spell of words.

"You have a choice now," she continued. "Carmen might be physically stronger, but true strength isn't about who can hit hardest. It's about standing up for what's right, even when it's difficult. Especially when it's difficult."

The warehouse's shadows danced across her face as she gestured passionately. "This town needs your help. Not because we're weak, but because we're stronger together. You can choose to be part of something bigger than just following the strongest fighter. You can choose to protect instead of destroy."

Archer's chest swelled as he watched her. His little witch, facing down a warehouse full of dragon shifters without a trace of fear. Making them question everything they'd been taught, just as she'd done to him. His dragon purred with satisfaction at how far she'd come from that first meeting in his mansion.

The gathered shifters remained silent, but Archer could smell their uncertainty, their consideration. Daphne had planted the seed of doubt in their minds, just as she'd done with him. Now they just had to wait and see if it would take root.

His little witch had done what he'd thought impossible - made dragon shifters actually consider change.

"But what about our traditions?" A younger dragon asked, his tone respectful where minutes ago it had been sneering. "We've always followed strength."

Daphne's eyes lit up at the genuine question. "Sometimes the bravest thing is choosing to forge new traditions."

Archer's dragon preened as she handled each concern with grace and wisdom. She'd grown so much from their first encounter yet maintained that pure heart that had first caught his attention. His chest tightened as she gestured animatedly, her enthusiasm infectious even to these hardened warriors.

"What if Carmen retaliates against our families?" Another dragon questioned.

"That's why we need to stand together," Daphne replied. "United, we're stronger than any single leader."

The warehouse hummed with contemplative energy. Archer crossed his arms, maintaining his intimidating presence while letting Daphne work her magic. Damn, he loved how she could command a room without a hint of force or fear. Every day she surprised him, challenged him, made him want to be worthy of her brilliance.

A smile tugged at his lips as he caught several dragons nodding along with her words. His fierce little flower had done it again - turned enemies into allies with nothing but truth and compassion.

"Well," he thought, "I never stood a chance against her, did I?"

25

DAPHNE

The wind whipped through Daphne's hair as she clung to Archer's scaled back, her heart still racing from their successful meeting. The moonlight glinted off his crimson scales as they soared over the darkened town. Her fingers traced the warm ridges of his back, marveling at how natural it felt to fly with him now.

When they landed in his sprawling backyard, Archer shifted back to his human form in a fluid motion. Daphne's feet had barely touched the ground when she spun to face him, her eyes bright with excitement.

"Did you see how many of them were nodding? At least half seemed ready to turn against Carmen!" The words tumbled out as she bounced on her toes.

Archer's eyes fixed on her with that fierce intensity. "You did well. Better than well." His deep voice carried across the night air between them. "The way you spoke about strength being more than just physical power - you made them question everything they've been taught."

Heat crept into Daphne's cheeks at his praise. "They wouldn't have listened to a word I said if you hadn't stepped in." She wrapped her arms around herself, still feeling the lingering chill from their flight. "When you told them I was stronger than any of them, just in a different way... that changed everything."

"I meant every word." Archer took a step closer, his presence commanding even in the darkness. "You have more strength in your convictions than most dragons have in their entire bodies."

The sincerity in his voice made her heart skip. Daphne looked up at him, noticing how the moonlight caught the auburn highlights in his hair. Her pulse quickened as she realized how close they were standing.

"Thank you for believing in me," she said softly. "For trusting me enough to let me try this my way."

Archer's expression softened almost imperceptibly. "You've proven yourself worth trusting." His hand brushed her arm, sending tingles through her skin. "Let's get inside before you freeze."

The warmth of Archer's mansion enveloped Daphne as they stepped inside, a welcome change from the cool night air.

"Hungry?" Archer asked. "I could cook something."

"You cook?" Daphne couldn't hide her surprise.

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