Firefighter Dragon: BBW Dragon Shifter Paranormal Romance by Zoe Chant

trinkets, and he flat-out stole the rest from archaeological sites. It shouldn't give him any power over you, Dai."
    "Unfortunately, by dragon law, it does," Ash said quietly. He considered Dai in silence for a moment, his expression unreadable. "You know that my freedom to intervene is tightly constrained."
    "Bertram attacked a mundane and committed arson in the process," Dai said. "Doesn't that put him into your domain?"
    Ash steepled his fingers. "In the heat of the moment, yes," he said. Dai couldn't tell whether the pun was deliberate. He'd never quite been able to decide whether or not the Commander had a sense of humor. "But the event has passed, and there does not appear to be immediate threat. I cannot trespass into the jurisdiction of the dragons."
    Virginia was looking from Dai to Ash, trying to follow what was going on. "So you can't do anything about Bertram?"
    Ash shook his head slowly. "Not while he keeps the peace. If he physically attacks you again, however, it will be a different matter. Let us hope it does not come to that." He looked at Dai. "But it if does, I shall be there."
    "We all will," rumbled John, to general murmurs of assent.
    "Is there anything in particular you need of me?" Hugh asked Dai.
    Dai shook his head. "Not at the moment."
    "Wait, yes there is!" Virginia interrupted, sitting up straighter. She poked Dai in the arm, glowering at him. "Or have you forgotten the enormous hole in your shoulder?"
    "It's nothing," Dai said hastily, as Commander Ash raised an eyebrow in his direction. "She's exaggerating. I'm fine, honestly."
    Hugh sighed. "One day," he said, addressing the ceiling, "one, just one of my colleagues might finally grasp the subtle distinction between stoicism and stupidity." He rose gracefully from his chair, taking a sealed packet out of his inside jacket pocket. Ripping it open, he extracted a pair of surgical gloves, pulling them onto his hands. "Let me see it, then."
    Dai pulled his T-shirt over his head, and was more than a little pleased by Virginia's soft, involuntary intake of breath. He turned his back on Hugh so that the paramedic could peel back the bandages.
    "Mm," Hugh said. Dai winced as the paramedic's gloved fingers lightly probed the wound. "For your future reference, Dai, 'fine' is an appropriate descriptor when one does not have a severe puncture in the supraspinatus muscle." There was a rustle as Hugh pulled off one of his gloves. "Now hold still."
    Dai felt the paramedic's palm brush his skin—but only for the briefest moment. Hugh snatched his hand back with a bitten-off curse.
    "Something wrong?" Dai asked, twisting round in concern. Hugh had shown discomfort when healing him before, but never as vehemently.
    "Just caught by surprise," Hugh said through gritted teeth. He was gripping his wrist as if he'd put his hand down on a hot stove. His pained gaze flicked briefly to Virginia. "Though I should have guessed." Clenching his jaw, he placed his palm back over Dai's wound. "Now hold still. "
    A familiar warmth spread through Dai's muscles as Hugh did...whatever it was he did. Despite their years working together, Dai still had no idea how Hugh's talent worked, or even what type of shifter he was. Still, however mysterious it was, it was certainly effective. In less than a minute, the dull, painful throb of the fresh wound had faded to nothing more than a slight twinge.
    "That will have to do," Hugh said, sounding dissatisfied. He stepped back, taking out a small packet of disinfectant wipes and starting to clean his hands. "Please try not to injure yourself more seriously, for my sake."
    Virginia touched Dai's shoulder herself, sending a very different sort of warmth spreading through his body. "It's almost completely healed." She turned to Hugh, her eyes wide with wonder. "What are —"
    "Gentlemen, you have your tasks," Ash interrupted, rising. Chairs scraped as the rest of the team reflexively stood up as well, Dai included. "Let us all be about them."