Page 28 of Ash and Burn

"I was nearby," he lied smoothly. "Heard the commotion."

Her dark eyes studied his face with the intensity of someone trained to spot deception, but she didn't challenge the explanation as they reached the smaller medical building. They hurried inside the front entrance where healers immediately took charge of Tal's care, whisking him away for treatment.

"Your turn," Arvid said, pointing at Calix's injuries. "Those need attention."

"They're superficial. You have cuts on your hands that⁠—"

"I'm fine. I've had much worse." Her tone brooked no argument. "Besides, you're the king. Your people need you healthy."

Stubborn woman.

But the protective concern in her voice made something warm unfurl in his chest. "Fine," he conceded.

She reached for his arm. "I'll come with you."

The simple statement shouldn't have meant everything to him. But as they walked toward the treatment room together, Arvid staying close to his side throughout the healing process, Calix realized it did mean everything to him.

She wasn't declaring love or making promises. She was simply refusing to leave his side. And for a man who'd spent fifteen years learning that people eventually disappeared, her presence beside him felt like the most profound gift he'd ever received.

ELEVEN

ARVID

The afternoon heat pressed against Arvid's skin as she and Calix emerged from the smaller medical building after his wounds were properly treated. Her mind churned with frustration over the ambush that had derailed her investigation plans. She'd wanted answers about the market's potential role in spreading Ash Fever, not a violent encounter that left more questions than solutions.

The memory of Calix's transformation replayed in her mind with startling clarity. One moment he'd been running toward them in human form, the next a massive red dragon had materialized with earth-shaking force. His wingspan had blocked out the sky, his scales had gleamed like molten fire in the sunlight, and those black-cored flames had erupted from his throat with devastating beauty. Something primal had stirred in her chest watching him fight those rogue dragons—not fear but recognition that felt both alien and oddly familiar.

I didn't need rescuing, she reminded herself firmly, though the lie tasted bitter.

The three dragon shifters would have overwhelmed her and Tal eventually. And seeing Calix in his true form, witnessing the lethal grace with which he'd driven off their attackers with, had done something unsettling to her equilibrium.

"We should head back to Ashspire," Calix said, his deep voice carrying that familiar note of command. "You need rest after that fight."

Arvid stopped walking, turning to face him with incredulous dark eyes. "Rest? People need me right now. And besides, the market closes soon—I need to investigate those stalls before they pack up for the evening."

His jaw tightened, authority radiating from every line of his imposing frame. "Arvid, you were just attacked by three rogues. You're not going anywhere without⁠—"

"Without what? A babysitter?" The words came out sharp, colored by years of being told what she could and couldn't handle. "I'm not some fragile woman who needs protecting."

"No, you're not. I clearly saw you can handle yourself," he agreed, surprising her with the admission. "But you're a target now. Which means I'll be your escort while Tal recovers."

The announcement sent conflicting emotions warring through her system. Irritation at being managed battled with something warmer—relief, perhaps, or anticipation she didn't want to examine too closely. Having Calix near felt both dangerous and oddly right, like her body recognized something her mind refused to acknowledge.

"Fine," she said, the word emerging more breathless than she'd intended. "That makes sense."

They began walking toward the market, and Arvid found herself falling into step beside him with startling ease. Their strides matched perfectly despite their height difference, as if they'd been walking together for years instead of days. The realization unsettled her almost as much as the way his presence seemed to calm the restless energy that had plagued her for years.

"Who would attack us like that?" she asked, glancing sideways at his profile. "Random violence doesn't fit the pattern."

Calix's expression darkened, his protective instincts clearly engaged. "I don't know, but I intend to find out. In the meantime, you don't leave my side. For any reason."

The possessive edge in his deep voice made her pulse spike even as her independence bristled. "That seems excessive⁠—"

"Those rogues weren't from Ashvorn, and they targeted you for some reason." His green eyes blazed with barely contained fury. "Until we understand why, you stay close to me."

The concern in his voice felt personal rather than professional, protective in a way that went beyond his duty as king. It should have alarmed her—powerful men who issued commands and expected compliance had destroyed her military career. Instead, something deep in her chest responded to his fierce protectiveness with dangerous satisfaction.

The market soon came into view ahead, eerily quiet compared to its usual bustling activity. Only a handful of vendors remained at their stalls, serving the few customers brave enough to venture out after the dragon battle.