Page 58 of Hot for the Dragon

She pressed a kiss to his jaw. Tomorrow would bring its own challenges, but right now, in this perfect moment, she was exactly where she wanted to be.

27

ARCHER

Archer stood at the edge of town. The morning air carried a crisp bite that did nothing to cool the fire in his blood. His gaze swept across the horizon where Carmen's forces would soon appear.

Daphne's presence beside him sparked something deep within him. The need to protect her warred with his pride in her strength. Her dark hair danced in the wind, and those green eyes held their usual determination despite the coming battle.

"I need to tell you something," he said, turning to face her fully. The words he'd held back now demanded release. "I love you, Daphne."

A smile bloomed across her face, bright as the sunrise. "I love you too, Archer."

He pulled her close as their lips met. The kiss held everything he couldn't say - his fears, his hopes, his fierce devotion. Her fingers gripped his shirt as she pressed closer.

When they broke apart, Archer rested his forehead against hers. "Stay safe today."

The warning bells rang out across town - Carmen's forces had been spotted. Already people were moving according to their evacuation plans, heading to designated safe zones while those who would fight took their positions.

"There they come," Archer growled, spotting the dark shapes approaching through the clouds. His enhanced vision picked out Carmen's distinctive blue scales among the others.

Daphne squeezed his hand. "Remember, some of them are on our side."

"I remember." He kissed her once more, quick and fierce. "Time to show Carmen why I was the best fighter in my wing."

The evacuation continued smoothly below as dragons filled the sky above.

The dragons that had agreed to help them burst from the clouds, catching Carmen's forces off guard. Archer's chest swelled with pride - Daphne's words had moved them to action after all. His enhanced vision tracked the aerial battle as former wing-mates turned on each other, scales flashing in the morning light.

Terry led the charge, his bronze scales gleaming as he slammed into one of Carmen's most loyal fighters. The impact sent both dragons spinning through the air. More of their allies engaged Carmen's forces, creating a barrier of wings and claws between her army and the town.

"It's working," Daphne breathed beside him.

Archer tensed as he spotted Carmen's dark blue form weaving through the chaos. She seemed to be bigger than he remembered, her movements precise despite the mayhem around her. Three of their allied dragons tried to block her path, but she tore through their formation with brutal efficiency.

"She's breaking through," he growled, muscles coiling in preparation to shift. A handful of her most devoted followers managed to slip past the defensive line behind her.

Carmen's roar echoed across the battlefield as she led her small group toward the town's outskirts. They hadn't reached the main area yet, but they were too close for comfort. Every instinct screamed at Archer to pursue her, to end this now, but he held his ground. Timing would be crucial.

He glanced at Daphne, noting how her hands were already weaving patterns in the air, preparing her plant magic. The sight of her ready to fight alongside him stirred something primal in his chest.

"Stay behind me when I shift," he ordered, his voice rough with protective instinct.

"I can handle myself," she countered, though she stepped closer to him anyway.

Above them, Terry and the other allied dragons continued to hold back the bulk of Carmen's forces, but the sky had become a maze of flame and shifting alliances. Archer tracked Carmen's position as she circled just beyond the town's edge, clearly plotting her next move.

The moment to strike wasn't quite right - but it would come soon enough. Archer's blood sang with anticipation of the coming fight, even as his heart clenched at the thought of Daphne in danger. He'd spent years avoiding attachments, and now his greatest strength and weakness stood beside him in the form of a stubborn green witch.

This was the moment. He shifted into his dragon form, his massive red scales gleaming in the morning light. The transformation sent a rush of power through his body, awakening ancient instincts that made him want to roar his dominance to the sky.

Daphne's hands moved in intricate patterns beside him, and thick vines erupted from the ground to ensnare one of Carmen's followers. The dragon thrashed against the vegetation, but Daphne's magic held firm. Pride swelled in Archer's chest - his mate was fierce.

Three more hostile dragons dove toward the town center. Archer launched himself into the air, his powerful wings carrying him to intercept their path. He slammed into the nearest one, sending them both tumbling through the air before he gained the upper hand and threw his opponent into a nearby building.

Below, the townspeople had mobilized. Nina Youngblood's protection spells deflected dragon fire while other magic users launched their own attacks. Hugo's defensive magic created barriers that forced the dragons to alter their flight paths, making them vulnerable to counterattacks.

Archer caught glimpses of Daphne between battles, her plant magic growing more creative with each passing moment. She'd created a network of thorny vines that acted like a net, catching dragons that flew too low and holding them until other defenders could subdue them.

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