Hot Spring Interruption

The evening was quiet, the mansion's courtyard bathed in the soft glow of moonlight. Steam rose gently from the newly constructed hot spring, the result of Colette's latest demand after her relaxing day at the pool with Kent. It was a beautiful setup—surrounded by smooth, polished stones and enchanted plants that glowed faintly in the dark.

Colette stood at the edge of the spring, a satisfied smirk playing on her lips as she admired her soldiers' handiwork. "I told you they'd finish it quickly," she said, glancing down at Kent, who stood beside her.

"Well, they wouldn't dare take their time after seeing how serious you were," Kent replied with a chuckle, earning him a playful flick of her tail.

"Exactly." Colette grinned and turned to him, towering over her husband as her wings stretched wide. Her blue-and-white scales shimmered in the moonlight, accentuating her slim yet curvy frame. The faint blush on Kent's cheeks didn't escape her sharp eyes.

"You're staring," she teased, her voice dripping with amusement.

Kent quickly averted his gaze, scratching the back of his neck. "I wasn't staring…"

"Oh, darling, you were," she purred, stepping closer. She reached for the sash of her kimono, untying it with a deliberate slowness that made his breath hitch. The fabric slipped from her shoulders, revealing her naked form in all its glory.

Kent swallowed hard, his face flushing a deep red. "C-Colette…"

She chuckled, enjoying his reaction. "What's the matter? You've seen me like this before, haven't you?"

"Yes, but—"

Before he could finish, Colette reached for him, her claws gently tugging at his shirt. "No buts, Kent. We're supposed to be relaxing, remember? Now, off with these clothes."

Her tone left no room for argument, and Kent found himself stripped down in moments, standing bare before her. Colette's sharp blue eyes roamed over him, her gaze filled with warmth and a hint of mischief.

"You're adorable when you're flustered," she said, stepping closer until their bodies were almost touching. Her tail wrapped lightly around his waist as she guided him toward the hot spring.

The warm water enveloped them as they settled in, the heat relaxing Kent almost instantly. Colette, however, had other plans. She pressed her body against his, her wings partially wrapping around them to shield them from the cool night air.

"You're so tense," she whispered, her hands gliding over his shoulders. "Let me help you relax."

Kent's cheeks burned as she rested her head on his, her large breasts pressing against his chest. "You're really close…"

"That's the point," she teased, nuzzling his neck. "I didn't drag you here just to sit on opposite sides of the spring."

He sighed, half in exasperation and half in resignation. "You're impossible."

"I'm your impossible dragon," she said with a smirk. Her tail tightened slightly around him, and she leaned in, her lips hovering just inches from his. "Now, kiss me."

Before he could respond, the door to the courtyard burst open.

"Boss!"

Both Colette and Kent turned to see Raize, her dark elf underboss, storming toward the hot spring, her usual composed demeanor replaced by urgency.

"What?" Colette snapped, her irritation flaring as she shifted to shield Kent from view.

"We've got a problem," Raize said, stopping short of the water. She was out of breath, her violet eyes wide. "Oakley just got word—there's a new group moving into our territory."

Colette growled, her mood instantly darkened. "They've got some nerve interrupting my evening."

Kent glanced between the two women, his moment of relaxation clearly over. "Colette, maybe you should—"

"I know, darling," Colette said, her voice softening slightly as she looked at him. She placed a gentle kiss on his forehead before standing, the water cascading off her shimmering scales as she rose to her full height.

Turning to Raize, her sharp eyes glinted with cold determination. "Tell Oakley to gather the details. I want to know everything about this group before I deal with them."

Raize nodded, glancing briefly at Kent before averting her gaze. "Understood, boss. I'll get the report ready."

As Raize hurried off, Colette turned back to Kent, her expression softening. "Sorry, love. Duty calls."

Kent smiled, resting a hand on hers. "It's okay. Just… don't overdo it."

Colette smirked, leaning down to kiss him one last time. "For you? I'll try."

Raize and Colette walked away. Raize explained the situation to Colette. Colette stormed into her office, her heavy footsteps echoing through the room. Raize followed close behind, her usual calm demeanor cracking slightly as she glanced nervously at her boss. The air was frigid, a sign of Colette's growing fury, and frost began to creep along the edges of the ornate furniture.

"Counterfeit weapons?" Colette hissed, slamming her clawed hand onto the desk. The force made the papers and pens on it jump, but Raize didn't flinch. "On my turf? And slandering my name? Do they have a death wish?"

Raize placed a folder on the desk, sliding it toward Colette. "It appears so. The group has been flooding the black market with cheap knockoffs of our magic weapons. It's damaging our reputation. People think we're producing faulty merchandise."

Colette flipped through the file, her sharp blue eyes scanning the surveillance photos and reports. The weapons bore her organization's signature designs—at least superficially—but the quality was abysmal. Some photos even showed buyers complaining after the weapons malfunctioned. Worse, the report revealed that the counterfeiters' boss was a dragon like her.

"A dragon," Colette muttered, her voice dangerously low. Her claws dug into the folder, leaving deep gouges in the paper. "This pretender thinks they can step into my territory, ruin my reputation, and live to tell the tale?"

Raize hesitated for a moment before speaking. "The group is mostly human, but their leader—this dragon—has been boasting about being your equal. Some of their men have been spreading rumors that you're losing control of the city."

That was the final straw. Colette's wings flared wide, her tail slamming against the floor with a resounding crack. The frost in the room thickened, and her breath came out in visible puffs of cold air.

"Enough," she growled, her voice carrying the weight of her fury. "Get the capos. We're ending this tonight. I want their operation destroyed, their leader dead, and anyone left alive crawling to me for forgiveness."

Raize nodded, already reaching for her phone to summon the capos. "Understood, boss."

As Raize stepped out to rally the troops, Oakley entered the room, his usual composed expression slightly troubled. He glanced at the frost creeping along the walls and let out a soft sigh. "Boss, I assume you're planning to deal with this personally?"

"Of course I am," Colette snapped, pacing back and forth. "They dared to insult me. They'll learn what happens when you provoke a dragon."

Oakley folded his hands behind his back. "What about Kent?"

At the mention of her husband, Colette paused. Her rage flickered for a moment, replaced by a flash of concern. She couldn't risk Kent being vulnerable while she was out dealing with this new threat.

"You'll watch over him," she ordered, her tone sharp but with a hint of softness. "I don't trust anyone else. Make sure he's safe."

Oakley nodded. "I'll keep him out of harm's way."

Colette walked up to him, her towering frame casting a long shadow. "If anything happens to him while I'm gone, I'll hold you personally responsible. Do you understand?"

Oakley met her gaze steadily. "Understood, boss. He'll be safe."

Satisfied, Colette turned and strode toward the door, her kimono swishing around her legs. Raize reappeared in the doorway, flanked by two of the capos.

"We're ready," Raize said.

"Good." Colette's eyes gleamed with icy determination. "Let's show them what happens when they mess with the wrong dragon."

As she left the mansion with Raize and her capos in tow, she cast one last glance back at Oakley. He gave her a reassuring nod before heading off to find Kent, his calm professionalism unshaken despite the storm brewing within his boss.

The convoy roared through the city streets, Colette's vehicle at the head of the formation. Her claws tapped against the armrest of her seat as she stared out the window, her mind racing with thoughts of vengeance. A rival dragon. Counterfeit weapons. Slander. It was an insult on every level, and Colette intended to respond with overwhelming force.

As the convoy neared the counterfeiters' hideout—a sprawling warehouse on the edge of the industrial district—Colette's lips curled into a predatory smile. Tonight, she would remind them all why no one dared to challenge her rule.