A Ring of Warm Iron

I pushed past the heel of the leather shoe, crawling low across the cool floorboards. Ahead, a heavy brass lamp base rested against the baseboard, casting a quiet pool of amber warmth across the wood. I pressed my chin scales against the curved rim. The metal had absorbed the heat from the bulb above, holding a steady, dry temperature. I coiled my segmented spine around the perimeter until my tail met my snout, letting the warmth seep between my ridge plates. It felt solid, anchored, and safe from the draft.