Chapter 15

FIFTEEN

“ W e’re not flirting!” Quinn’s cheeks burned as she realized how close she was standing to Kai. She could feel the heat radiating from his body, see the rapid rise and fall of his chest. Was it her imagination, or did his nostrils flare slightly as he caught her scent?

“I can handle myself,” she insisted, forcing herself to step back. “I’ve been doing field research since before you were-” She paused, remembering he was centuries old. “Well, for a long time.”

“And I’ve been protecting this kingdom for centuries,” Kai replied, his voice dropping to a low rumble that seemed to resonate in her bones. “I won’t risk your safety because of stubborn pride.”

“My safety isn’t your concern,” she shot back, though something warm unfurled in her chest at his obvious protectiveness. “I’m here to do a job, not to be coddled.”

“Everything in my kingdom is my concern.” His eyes flashed gold for a moment, dragon fire burning in their depths. “Including brilliant, stubborn scientists who insist on taking unnecessary risks.”

Quinn’s breath caught at the compliment hidden in his reprimand. She told herself the flutter in her stomach was irritation, not attraction. Definitely not attraction...

“Oh my god, you two,” Lydia drawled from the sidelines. “Should I start a betting pool on who’s gonna blink first in this intense staring contest? Or maybe measure the local temperature increase? Because things are getting pretty hot over here.”

“Don’t you have samples to catalog?” Quinn snapped, mortified to realize they’d been locked in another heated stare.

“And miss this quality entertainment? Not a chance.” Lydia grinned. “Besides, someone needs to document these fascinating interactions for scientific purposes.”

Quinn busied herself with reorganizing her sample containers, trying to ignore how her hands trembled slightly. She could still feel Kai’s presence behind her, massive and magnetic. Even the crystals seemed to pulse more intensely when he was near, their glow synchronizing with what she imagined was his heartbeat.

“If you’re so determined,” he said after a moment, his tone gentler but still firm, “then I’ll respect your work. But at least allow the guards to stay at a distance. I won’t risk your safety.”

She watched him from the corner of her eye, noting how his massive frame seemed to radiate tension. His concern appeared genuine, even if his methods were infuriating. She gave a sharp nod, knowing this was the best compromise she’d get.

“Fine. But they stay back far enough that I can actually work.” She gestured to her equipment. “And no hovering. These readings are sensitive enough without dragon energy interfering with the results.”

Relief flickered across Kai’s features before his expression smoothed back to regal neutrality. He inclined his head in acknowledgment before turning to leave, his ceremonial cape sweeping dramatically in the icy wind.

“You know,” Lydia mused as they watched him go, “for someone who claims to be focused purely on science, you sure spend a lot of time watching his... royal progress.”

“I do not,” Quinn protested, though she couldn’t quite tear her eyes away from the powerful grace of his movements. The way the leather armor emphasized his broad shoulders and narrow waist really was criminally unfair...

“Right,” Lydia snorted. “Just like you weren’t mentally cataloging his assets earlier. Come on, Quinn. I know that look. You’re attracted to him.”

“I’m attracted to the geological mysteries of this planet,” Quinn corrected primly, turning back to her work. “Nothing else.”

“Uh-huh. And I’m sure all that blushing and heated staring was purely scientific observation. Just like I’m sure you weren’t sketching his profile in your notebook yesterday.”

“That was a rock formation!”

“A very chiseled, jaw-like rock formation?”

“I’m not having this conversation.” Quinn picked up her sampling tools with perhaps more force than necessary. “Help me catalog these specimens or go back to the palace.”

But as the violet sun sank toward the horizon, casting long shadows across the crystalline landscape, she couldn’t quite shake the memory of how it felt to stand toe to toe with Kai. The way his eyes had softened when he looked at her, even as his words remained stern. The raw power she could sense beneath his controlled exterior. The genuine concern in his voice when he spoke of her safety...

Her scanner beeped, pulling her attention. The readings showed another spike in the crystal’s energy signature, correlating perfectly with the moment Kai had stood nearest to her research site. She frowned, adjusting the settings to compensate for what she assumed must be interference.

“Interesting,” Lydia said, peering over her shoulder. “The crystals seem to respond to his presence. Almost like they recognize him somehow.”