Page 16 of Fired Up Love

Heat crept up Zina’s neck. “It’s not?—”

“Purely professional. Yes, I know.” Artemis waved away the protest. “Though the way he’s looking at you suggests he might have other ideas.”

Despite herself, Zina glanced at Xai, who stood a few paces away, acknowledging greetings from council members. His posture remained formal, but she caught him looking back at her, his gaze lingering longer than strictly necessary.

“Stop,” she whispered to Artemis. “You’re reading too much into this.”

“Am I?” Artemis’s smile widened. “Twenty says he tries to play it cool all evening but slips up somehow. Dragons aren’t known for their subtlety when they’re interested in someone.”

Before Zina could respond, Bartek returned with two flutes of champagne. He handed one to Artemis, then leaned down to murmur something in her ear that made her laugh.

“We should find our table,” Artemis said. “Good luck tonight, Zina. With the networking, of course.”

The knowing glance she threw over her shoulder as they departed left Zina torn between embarrassment and a strange, fluttering anticipation. She rejoined Xai, who watched her approach with that same intense focus.

“Shall we?” he asked, offering his arm.

Inside, Highland Hall transformed into a wonderland of refined elegance. Crystal chandeliers cast golden light over tables draped in cream linens and adorned with centerpieces of lilies and moonblossoms. A string quartet played from a corner dais, their enchanted instruments producing sounds more lush and complex than their human counterparts could achieve.

The mingled scents of expensive perfumes, shifter pheromones, and gourmet food wafted through the air, nearly overwhelming Zina’s enhanced senses. She recognized many faces from around town—business owners, council members, old-money families whose mystical lineages stretched back centuries.

At the registration table, a poised faerie attendant with iridescent wings consulted her list. “Zina Parker and guest. Table seven, near the front.”

They wound their way through the crowd, Zina overly conscious of Xai’s presence beside her—the subtle heat he radiated, the way other guests stepped aside respectfully as they passed. When their arms brushed accidentally, a jolt of awareness shot through her, so intense she nearly gasped.

Xai glanced down at her, one eyebrow raised in silent question.

“Static electricity,” she murmured, though they both knew it was something else entirely.

Table seven offered an excellent view of the stage. Their tablemates included Matilda Honeysage from Honeycrisp Bakery and a werewolf couple who ran the town’s most prestigious law firm. Introductions were made, glasses of sparkling cider distributed, and soon they settled into conversation.

FOURTEEN

Throughout it all, Zina remained hyperaware of Xai—his knee occasionally brushing against hers beneath the table, the rich timbre of his voice as he discussed council regulations with the werewolf attorney, the way he angled his body slightly toward her even when addressing others. Each small connection sent ripples of heat through her body, distracting her to the point where she had to ask Matilda to repeat a question about potential spa-bakery collaborations.

“I suggested perhaps we could offer special pastries for your morning clients,” Matilda was saying. “Enhanced with calming herbs to complement your relaxation treatments.”

“That sounds wonderful,” Zina replied, forcing her attention away from the warmth of Xai’s thigh near hers. “Perhaps we could discuss it further next week?” She turned to Xai. “Would you like to walk around to meet more business owners?”

He nodded then offered a hand to assist her up.

As the networking portion of the evening commenced, they circulated through the room. Zina made a concerted effort to introduce Xai to business owners he hadn’t yet met, explaining each one’s specialty and connection to the supernatural community. He listened attentively, occasionally asking questions that revealed his genuine interest in the town’s economic ecosystem.

She couldn’t help noticing the curious glances, the hushed comments that followed them.

“—quite striking together?—”

“—the dragon elder and the lioness?—”

“—wonder if it’s serious?—”

Her lioness bristled at the attention, both flattered and irritated by the speculation. Xai must have sensed her discomfort because he turned slightly, placing his broad frame between her and the most obvious onlookers.

“Small towns,” he murmured close to her ear, his breath stirring the fine hairs at her temple. “Everyone becomes an amateur matchmaker.”

She looked up at him, startled by his perceptiveness. “Does it bother you? The assumptions?”

Something flickered in his golden eyes—amusement? Interest? “Should it?”

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