Page 5 of Hot for the Dragon

"Had," Daphne corrected. "Now he has a history of making wooden models and glaring at people who get too close to his property." Her magic reached out unconsciously, and the fern's flowers changed from blue to a worried purple.

Hugo noticed the color change and smiled. "You're concerned."

"Of course I'm concerned! Our best hope is a grumpy hermit who probably hasn't had a proper conversation in years." She crossed her arms. "Does he even know what's happening in town?"

"Hard to miss dragons setting things on fire."

"You know what I mean."

Hugo stood up. "Well, I'm heading up to his place tomorrow morning to speak with him."

Daphne watched her brother gather his papers, her mind racing. The image of her burning shop flashed through her mind again, along with Mrs. Chen's frightened face and that little boy's tears.

Daphne's magic curled through her fingers as she straightened in her chair. "Well then, I'm coming with you tomorrow."

"Absolutely not." Hugo's hand smacked against his desk. "This isn't some garden party, Daph. Archer Hawke is-"

"Dangerous? Unpredictable?" The fern's flowers darkened to a deep crimson. "So is Carmen, and she just burned down my entire livelihood."

"Which is exactly why you should stay away from this." Hugo's voice softened. "Let me handle it."

Daphne stood, her magic causing tiny vines to creep across the office floor. "I watched people running from their shops today. I bandaged burns. I held a crying child while his teddy bear smoldered." She met her brother's concerned gaze. "I'm tired of just watching, Hugo."

"This isn't your fight."

"She made it my fight when she turned my snapdragons into ash." The vines reached the desk, curling around its legs. "Besides, you need all the help you can get. What's your plan - knock on his door and ask nicely?"

Hugo pinched the bridge of his nose. "I have diplomatic experience-"

"And I have actual experience talking to people who aren't politicians." The vines retreated as Daphne took a deep breath. "Let me help."

"Daphne..." Hugo's shoulders slumped. "If anything happened to you-"

"Nothing will happen. We're just talking to a grumpy dragon who likes woodworking." She touched her brother's arm. "Please."

Hugo studied her for a long moment, then sighed. "Fine. But you stay behind me, and if he shows any sign of-"

"Thank you." Daphne hugged him tight, her magic finally settling. "What time do we leave?"

"Eight sharp. And Daph?" He pulled back to look at her. "No bringing any plants. The last thing we need is you accidentally growing a forest on his lawn."

"No promises," Daphne said, but her small smile didn't quite reach her eyes. Tomorrow, she'd face the infamous Archer Hawke. She just hoped he was more amenable to visitors than the rumors suggested.

3

ARCHER

The autumn sunlight filtered through the workshop's windows, casting shadows across Archer's workbench. Wood shavings scattered across the floor as his chisel traced delicate lines into the maple. The scent of fresh-cut wood filled his nostrils, mingling with the crisp morning air drifting in through the open window.

"Something’s missing," he muttered, turning the half-finished dragon model in his hands. The scales needed more definition, more life.

A gust of wind rustled the red and gold leaves outside, drawing his attention momentarily from his work. His workshop, separate from the main house, offered the solitude he craved. No politics. No wings. No responsibility except to his craft.

"Damn it." The chisel slipped ever so slightly, marring an otherwise flawless curve of the wing. Archer set the tool down with more force than necessary, the metal clanging against the wooden workbench.

He reached for his coffee, finding the mug empty. Again. Third time this morning, and the sun had barely cleared the trees.

"Can't even keep track of your own coffee, Hawke," he chided himself, pushing back from the bench. His boots crunched over wood shavings as he crossed to the coffee maker he'd installed specifically to avoid trips to the main house.

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