Page 4 of Hot for the Dragon

She crashed into him, throwing her arms around his middle like she used to do when they were kids. He smelled like his usual mix of herbs and old books, not smoke or fire or worse things she didn't want to imagine.

"You're okay," she mumbled into his shirt.

"Of course I'm okay." He squeezed her tight. "But your shop - I heard about Main Street."

Daphne pulled back from Hugo's embrace, her eyes stinging with more than just smoke. "My singing snapdragons, Hugo. My dancing daisies. Everything I built, just... gone." Her magic stirred restlessly, causing the potted fern in Hugo's office to stretch toward her in sympathy.

"The insurance-"

"It's not about the money." Daphne sank into one of his leather chairs, absently picking ash from her hair. "Those were living things. My creations. And that dragon, she just..." Her hands clenched in her lap.

Hugo perched on the edge of his desk. "Tell me everything."

"This massive dark blue dragon - I mean, huge, like a house - she torched the whole block. Then she shifted right there in the street." Daphne's voice shook. "She had this look in her eyes, Hugo. Like she was enjoying it."

"What exactly did she say?"

"That the Council was weak. Couldn't protect anyone." Daphne watched her brother's face darken. "She said she and her wing would be back to take over. Who is she?"

Hugo ran his hand through his brown hair. "Carmen Kane. She's been causing trouble up and down the coast, absorbing smaller dragon wings into her own. Those who refuse..." He trailed off meaningfully.

"Sounds like a charming lady." Daphne's green magic flared, and the fern grew another foot. "Sorry."

"Don't be. Better the plant than my paperwork." Hugo attempted to smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "She believes dragons should rule, and through strength alone. No compromise, no cooperation with other magical beings or humans."

"Because that's worked so well historically," Daphne muttered.

Daphne straightened in her chair, her magic causing the fern's leaves to rustle. "So, what's the Council planning to do? We have other shifters, vampires, witches - surely we can mount some kind of defense?"

Hugo shuffled papers on his desk, avoiding her gaze. "That would be... our last resort."

"Last resort? She burned down half of Main Street!"

"Think about it, Daph. Carmen showed up with what, a dozen dragons?"

"Something like that." The memory of massive wings blocking out the sun made her shiver.

"That's nothing. It was a warning shot." Hugo leaned forward, his expression grave. "Dragon shifters are the most dangerous of all supernatural beings. They're practically living weapons. A full-scale war would devastate the town."

Daphne's fingers traced the arm of her chair. "But we can't just do nothing."

"We're not." Hugo straightened his tie. "The Council's voting to open negotiations first."

"Negotiations? With someone who thinks burning shops is a reasonable opening statement?"

Hugo cleared his throat. "We have to at least try. We figure dragon shifters typically only respect other dragons. It's a cultural thing. That's why we're reaching out to Archer Hawke to assist us."

"Archer Hawke?" Daphne's magic spiked, causing Hugo's fern to sprout tiny blue flowers. "The same Archer Hawke who hasn't been seen in town for what, three years?"

"Two and a half," Hugo corrected, plucking one of the unexpected blooms. "And yes."

Daphne slumped back in her chair, memories of whispered rumors floating through her mind. "The one who lives in that creepy mansion on the hill like some kind of..." She waved her hand, searching for the right words. "Dragon Batman?"

"He's not that bad."

"What makes you think he'll help? From what I understand, he's not exactly the friendly neighborhood dragon type."

"He's still one of the most powerful dragon shifters alive," Hugo said. "And he has a history of standing against wings that abuse their power."

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