Chapter 48

FORTY-EIGHT

T he afternoon war council had reconvened when Talon noticed Asher’s subtle signs of fatigue. He sensed her fighting to maintain concentration.

Without drawing attention, he moved to stand behind her chair, his hand resting at the nape of her neck. Energy flowed between them, his dragon’s strength supporting her as she continued her presentation.

“The neural shields work on a quantum frequency that-” She paused, leaning almost imperceptibly into his touch. “That disrupts Dimitri’s control mechanisms while maintaining our natural abilities.”

“And you’re certain they can’t be reversed?” Elder Ross pressed, his weathered face skeptical.

“Actually,” Asher’s eyes lit with that particular spark that made Talon’s dragon purr - the one that meant she was about to demolish someone’s doubts with pure scientific brilliance. “I can demonstrate the quantum encryption method. Talon, would you mind?”

He knew that tone. “What am I about to agree to?”

“Just a small, controlled shift. For science.” Her innocent smile fooled no one.

“The last time you said that, I singed my favorite suit.”

“That was valuable data.” She turned to face him, eyes dancing. “Besides, I replaced it.”

“With one that had dragon equations embroidered on the lining.”

“Quantum formulas are very fashionable this season.”

Their banter drew chuckles from the gathered warriors, easing the room’s tension. Even Elder Ross’s lips twitched. Talon shook his head in mock resignation and stepped into the demonstration area.

“Now,” she said, all business despite the way her eyes lingered on his arms, “the shield creates a localized field that...”

She continued explaining the technical details, but Talon found himself mesmerized by her passion. Her hands moved expressively as she spoke, small sparks dancing between her fingers when she got particularly excited. His dragon preened at having such a brilliant, beautiful mate.

The demonstration proved successful, though Talon suspected he’d find scientific notes about his “shifting patterns under controlled conditions” in her research files later. The way she bit her lip while taking measurements suggested she’d collected more data than strictly necessary for the shields.

“You’re staring again,” Asher murmured without looking up from her tablet. She’d taken over one corner of his office couch, surrounded by data streams and prototype components.

“Observing,” he corrected, pausing in his review of security reports. “For science.”

That got her attention. She glanced up, amusement curving her lips. “Are you mocking my research methods, Mr. Draker?”

“Doctor Draker,” he reminded her, enjoying how she rolled her eyes. “And I would never mock science. I’m simply conducting my own study of brilliant scientists in their natural habitat.”

“Is that so?” Electricity crackled along her skin as she set aside her tablet. “And what are your findings so far?”

He moved to join her on the couch, pulling her into his lap. “Fascinating subject. Highly intelligent. Terrible at remembering to eat lunch.”

“I had coffee,” she protested, but melted against his chest.

“Coffee is not lunch.” He nuzzled her neck, inhaling her scent. “The dragon disapproves of your dietary habits.”

“The dragon is a mother hen.” But her fingers threaded through his hair, holding him closer. “I distinctly remember someone promising not to hover.”

“I promised to respect your independence.” His lips traced her pulse point, drawing a soft gasp. “Never said anything about not worrying.”

She turned to face him properly, her eyes soft with understanding. Love and reassurance flowed between them in waves. “I know you’re scared,” she said quietly. “I am too. But we can’t let fear stop us from doing what needs to be done.”

“Since when have you been such a wise woman?” He pressed his forehead to hers, their bond humming with shared emotion.

“Probably around the time I fell in love with an overprotective dragon CEO.” Her smile turned mischievous. “Though I should really run some controlled experiments to verify that hypothesis.”

He growled playfully, capturing her lips in a heated kiss. She responded immediately, electricity sparking where they touched. His dragon rumbled in satisfaction as she pressed closer, her clever fingers tracing patterns on his chest that made his scales threaten to emerge.

“This seems like questionable scientific methodology,” he murmured against her mouth.

“Repeated testing is very important,” she insisted, though her breathing had grown uneven. “For accuracy.”

A knock at the door interrupted what promised to be a thorough investigation of their chemistry. They broke apart reluctantly, though Talon kept her in his lap, his dragon refusing to let go completely.

“Come in,” he called, enjoying the flush on Asher’s cheeks as she tried to look professional while still sitting in his arms.

Levi entered, took one look at them, and grinned. “Should I come back after you’ve finished your... strategic planning?”

“We were discussing shield modifications,” Asher said primly, though sparks still danced in her hair.

“Uh, right.” Levi’s eyes danced with amusement. “Your ‘shield modifications’ left marks on Talon’s neck.”

Asher’s blush deepened even as she lifted her chin. “Experimental evidence should be thoroughly documented.”