“Something like that.” Lila handed him two twenties. “Keep the change.”
She grabbed her suitcase and stepped onto the sidewalk, the weight of her decision settling over her like armor. No turning back now.
Gerri approached with her characteristic click-clack of designer heels, her smile bright enough to power the facility behind her. She wore a crisp navy pantsuit that probably cost more than Lila’s car, paired with her statement diamond earrings that caught the light whenever she moved.
“Dr. Lila Reyes, right on time.” Gerri’s voice held warmth and mischief in equal measure. “Though you look like you’ve been wrestling with dragons all night. Rough sleep?”
“You could say that.” Lila managed a weak smile. “I kept dreaming about... well, exactly what I’m about to walk into, apparently.”
“Anxiety dreams are perfectly normal before a big interdimensional leap.” Gerri’s eyes—which seemed more golden than blue in the dawn light—sparkled with amusement. “Though I have to say, most people dream about falling or showing up naked to important meetings. Dragons are definitely more creative.”
“Gerri, I have to ask...” Lila set down her suitcase, needing to ground herself before taking the final step. “Are you absolutely certain I’m the right person for this? I mean, dragon shifters from another planet are probably vastly different from the Earth shifters I’ve worked with. What if I can’t help him? What if I make things worse?”
The questions tumbled out faster than she could stop them, years of professional confidence crumbling under the weight of the unknown.
Gerri stepped closer, her presence somehow both soothing and energizing. “Oh, honey.” Gerri’s voice was gentle. “You think I’d send just anyone to help the Dragon King of Nova Aurora? I’ve been in this business longer than you’ve been breathing, and I don’t make mistakes.”
That should be reassuring. So why do I still feel like I’m about to throw up?
“Nova Aurora dragons are larger than Earth dragons, yes. Stronger, more aggressive, with tempers that could melt steel.” Gerri’s description wasn’t exactly helping Lila’s nerves. “But underneath all that fire and fury, they have hearts of pure gold. You just have to be brave enough to crack through their defenses.”
“And their culture?”
“Think of it as primal traditions meets advanced technology. They’ve got flying bikes and energy weapons, but they still settle disputes with old-fashioned honor duels. Dragons love their dramatic gestures.” Gerri’s grin turned mischievous. “You’ll fit right in.”
Me? Dramatic? Clearly she’s never seen me order coffee.
“What about this mental health issue Draven suffers from?”
Gerri’s expression grew serious. “The Withering Flame, also known as fire madness, is a rare but severe psychological condition that runs in his bloodline. Unmated male dragons literally burn themselves out from the inside—intrusive thoughts, anxiety, hallucinations, loss of emotional control. It gets worse with age and stress.”
Lila’s clinical mind latched onto the familiar territory of psychological symptoms. “And traditionally, it’s cured by...?”
“Finding their fated mate and completing the mate bond. But Draven’s been avoiding that particular solution for eighteen years.” Something flickered across Gerri’s features—knowledge she wasn’t sharing. “Which is why he needs you. A different approach.”
Eighteen years of suffering because he won’t find a mate? That’s either the most stubborn or most terrified man in the universe.
The enormity of the situation crashed over her. A king suffering from a condition no one could cure with a pill, a kingdom depending on his stability, and her—a trauma psychologist from Santa Monica—expected to somehow fix it all.
“Gerri, I think I might be in over my head here.” The words came out smaller than she intended. “Maybe you should find someone with more experience with... supernatural psychology?”
Gerri’s eyes flashed pure gold for just a moment, and the air around them seemed to shimmer with possibility.
“Lila Reyes.” Her voice carried an authority that seemed to come from somewhere far deeper than her petite frame. “I didn’t choose you because you’re the most experienced supernatural therapist. I chose you because you still believe in the power of connection, even after everything you’ve been through. You see potential in broken things and refuse to give up on them.”
Heat crawled up Lila’s neck.She really has done her research.
“Besides,” Gerri continued, her tone returning to its usual playful warmth, “your clinical skills, empathy, and observation abilities are exactly what Draven needs. Trust those instincts that have guided you through five years of the most challenging cases. They won’t fail you now.”
Right. Because treating a dragon king with fire madness is just like treating PTSD patients. No pressure at all.
But as Gerri spoke, something settled in Lila’s chest. The same feeling she got when walking into a crisis intervention—the calm certainty that this was exactly where she was supposed to be.
“Okay.” The word came out stronger than she felt. “Let’s go help a dragon.”
Lila followed Gerri through the power plant’s industrial maze, her heels echoing against concrete floors that smelled of ozone and machinery. Workers in hard hats nodded respectfully at Gerri, as if a petite woman in designer suits regularly strolled through their facility at dawn.
How does she have clearance for this place?
