Chapter 1
ONE
CASSIA
Honey & Hex Bakery smelled like heaven and looked like chaos.
Her dark hair was escaping its bun in wisps that framed her face, and she had that soft, contented look she’d worn ever since Cal had claimed her.
Speaking of Cal. The massive bear shifter leaned against the display case beside his mate, taking up approximately half the available space in the bakery. He watched Dahlia work with an expression that probably should have been illegal this early in the morning. Utterly besotted. Completely gone.
They were leaving for Paris in a few weeks. Dahlia’s dream residency at Patisserie Lumière. Cal was going with her because, apparently, the big grumpy bear had learned that rest wasn’t weakness after all.
Cassia was happy for them. Really. Even if watching their easy affection made something twist in her chest.
Assuming you don’t destroy the town before they leave. Assuming you don’t prove everyone right about being too dangerous to function.
She shoved the thought away and pushed through the bakery door.
“You look terrible.” Junie appeared at Cassia’s elbow before the bell above the door had finished chiming. Red curls bouncing, sharp grin in place, a steaming mug in each hand. She thrust one at Cassia. “Drink this. It’s not poisoned.”
“That’s not reassuring coming from you.”
“It’s coffee, you dramatic disaster.” Junie’s grin widened, showing teeth. “Though I could make you something more interesting if you want. I’ve been experimenting with a new alertness potion. Only minor side effects so far. Leo barely noticed the third eye.”
“Pass.” Cassia took the coffee and drank deeply, not caring that it scalded her tongue. Sleep deprivation and magical exhaustion made for poor decision-making, but at least the caffeine might keep her upright. “The last time I drank something you made, I couldn’t taste salt for a week.”
“That was a feature, not a bug.”
“I ate an entire bag of pretzels and couldn’t tell they were salted.”
“Sounds like a you problem.”
Avine sat at their usual table in the corner, a cup of tea cooling before her.
Narla was beside her, dark hair streaked with silver, her expression serene in that way that always made Cassia feel like she was being gently X-rayed.
Both of them watched Cassia with expressions that made her stomach clench.
Concern. The kind of concern that preceded interventions.
“What?” Cassia dropped into an empty chair, the wood creaking under her graceless landing. “Whatever you’re about to say, just get it over with.”
“Elder Sue summoned you,” Avine said gently. Her hand found Cassia’s across the table, warm and grounding. “This morning. The Council chambers.”
“For what? Did someone finally file a formal complaint about the weather?” Cassia pulled her hand back, wrapping both around her mug instead. “Because I have a list of witnesses who can confirm that last week’s waterspout was at least partially natural—”
“A dragon elder arrived yesterday.” Narla’s voice was calm, as it always was.
The candle witch saw too much and said too little, and right now, something flickered in her dark eyes that made Cassia’s pulse skip.
“From the Continental Shifter Council. He’s here to study the mating surge, and he needs someone with weather magic to assist his research. ”
“A dragon.”
“A dragon,” Junie confirmed, sliding into the seat across from her with entirely too much enthusiasm.
Her mug clattered against the table. “Ancient as dirt. Storm subspecies—super rare, apparently, even for dragons. And from what I’ve heard?
” She leaned forward conspiratorially. “He makes frozen tundra look warm and fuzzy by comparison. No one’s ever seen him smile. Not once.”
“Ancient as—” Cassia pinched the bridge of her nose. The headache was definitely getting worse. Pounding behind her eyes in rhythm with her heartbeat. “So Sue wants to shackle me to some insufferable lizard for research purposes. Wonderful. Exactly how I wanted to spend my time.”
“He’s not a lizard.” Dahlia appeared with a plate of pastries, setting them on the table with a soft clink of ceramic. Cal trailed behind her, silent and watchful, his dark eyes missing nothing. “Dragons are—”
“I know what dragons are.” Cassia grabbed a pain au chocolat and bit into it with more aggression than the pastry deserved.
Buttery flakes scattered across her lap.
“Ancient. Arrogant. Think they’re better than everyone else because they can breathe fire and fly.
Probably looks at mortals and sees bugs. ”
“This one breathes lightning,” Junie said cheerfully. “Storm dragon, remember? Same subspecies as your magic. What a coincidence.”
“Even better.” Cassia washed down the pastry with more coffee. The bitterness matched her mood. “A condescending lizard who can electrocute me if I annoy him. Can’t wait.”
“Dragons aren’t like other shifters. They don’t integrate. Don’t join packs or prides or sleuths.” Cal met Cassia’s gaze, and something in his expression looked almost like a warning. “This one coming here, asking to work with locals—it’s unusual.”
“You think it means something?” Avine asked.
“I think it means watch your back.” Cal’s hand found Dahlia’s hip, settling there with an easy possessiveness. “Dragons always have their own agenda.”
“Great. An agenda older than most civilizations. Just what Haven Shores needs.” Cassia finished her coffee in three long swallows and stood. “I should probably go. Get this over with.”
“We’ll come with you—” Junie started.
“No.” Cassia softened the refusal with a tired smile.
“I’d rather face one dragon than give Sue the satisfaction of thinking I need backup.
Besides,” she brushed croissant flakes from her shirt, “when this turns into a disaster—and it will—I want it on record that I handled the initial meeting myself.”
“Noted.” Narla’s lips twitched, the closest she ever came to an outright smile. “Though I have a feeling this particular disaster might surprise you.”
Cassia didn’t ask what that meant. With Narla, it was usually better not to.