Page 21 of Hot for the Dragon

"That's why I'm going in first." He shrugged off her grip. "You can either back me up or stay here and watch for trouble."

She crossed her arms. "I’m not staying here alone."

"Then keep up."

They crouched behind a neighboring unit until Ned emerged empty-handed and walked away. Once he was out of sight, Archer moved toward unit 247, Daphne close behind.

"This is a terrible idea," she whispered.

"Most of my ideas are." He flashed her a grin. "That's what makes them work."

"That makes zero sense."

"It doesn't have to make sense. It just has to work."

Daphne rolled her eyes but stayed by his side as they approached the storage unit. The metal door loomed before them, its contents a mystery that Archer was more than ready to unravel.

Archer made quick work of the lock on the storage unit, his enhanced strength snapping it with a satisfying crack. The door rolled up to reveal stacks of crates, boxes, and what looked like military-grade equipment.

"Jackpot," he said, stepping inside. The unit smelled of metal and gunpowder, with an underlying scent of dragon - multiple dragons had been here recently.

"We need to move fast." He grabbed a heavy crate. "I'll take the-"

"Don't even think about it." Daphne was already hefting a box that had to weigh at least fifty pounds. "I'm not some delicate flower."

"Could've fooled me, given your occupation." But he had to admit, she handled the weight well. Her determined expression as she carried the box outside made him smile despite himself.

They worked in companionable silence, establishing a rhythm. Every time he tried to take the heavier items, she'd shoot him a look that brooked no argument. The woman was infuriatingly stubborn.

"You know," he said, hauling out another crate, "most people would let the dragon shifter do the heavy lifting."

"Most people aren't me." Sweat gleamed on her forehead as she lifted another box. "Besides, you're not as intimidating as you think you are."

"I'm plenty intimidating."

"Sure you are." She patted his arm as she passed. "Keep telling yourself that."

The casual touch sent an unexpected surge through him. He covered his reaction by focusing on the task at hand. They'd cleared about half the unit when he decided it was time.

"Stand back," he warned, moving to an open space. The shift rippled through him, familiar and powerful. His body elongated, scales erupting across his skin as wings unfurled from his back. In seconds, he towered over Daphne in his true form, red scales glinting in the fading light.

"You know," Daphne said, tilting her head back to look at him, "you're much more manageable when you can't talk back."

He snorted, a puff of smoke curling from his nostrils. If she only knew the comebacks he was holding in. She began securing the supplies to his back, her touch gentle but efficient. The sooner they got this done, the sooner they could figure out Carmen's next move.

Suddenly, the flash of a security guard's flashlight beam caught Archer's attention. His enhanced dragon vision picked out the guard's uniform as the man rounded the corner, heading straight for their storage unit. Archer's muscles tensed, ready for action, but with the supplies strapped to his dragon back, any sudden movement would send their evidence scattering across the pavement.

"Don't move," Daphne whispered, her hands already weaving through the air. The ground around them erupted in a surge of green growth. Thick vines spiraled upward, creating a dense canopy that blocked them from view. The rapid plant growth surrounded them in a cocoon of foliage, complete with blooming night flowers that masked Archer's distinctive dragon scent.

"Evening!" The guard called out, his boots crunching on gravel. "Anyone there?"

Archer held perfectly still, fighting his natural instinct to take flight. The supplies were too vital to risk dropping. Besides, he refused to admit it made him nervous being trapped in such close quarters with Daphne. Her shoulder pressed against his scaled foreleg as she maintained her magical shield of vegetation.

The guard's footsteps drew closer. The beam of his flashlight played across the vines, but the dense growth prevented it from penetrating their hiding spot. Archer's keen hearing picked up the guard's radio crackling.

"Unit 7 checking in. All clear in section D. Just some overgrown landscaping by unit 247. Maintenance should really trim these plants back."

"Copy that," crackled the reply.

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