Archer spent hours with Gia, who told him everything she'd been thinking, but soon had to get back to work thanks to all the eggs hatching at once. The older woman moved toward him after standing up and wrapped her arms around his shoulder, pressing a kiss against his cheek with a big smile.
Her blush flared at his words, lips parting in a startled little oh before she bolted, bare feet pattering across the wooden floor. Archer's laugh chased her out the door. Archer vanished in a swirl of violet sparks and reappeared at the mountain's base, boots crunching on frost-rimed stone.
The Venomwing colony thrummed like a kicked hive: tunnels exhaled warm, sulfurous breath, and the air vibrated with the leathery snap of wings. Dozens of the creatures arrowed toward him, obsidian scales glinting, stingers raised; then froze mid-dive, wings flaring wide as recognition hit.
