Page 65 of Silent Jay

“You’re the heaviest human I’ve ever carried,” he said, adding fake strain to his voice.

My grin turned into a smirk. I whacked him on the arm, my ‘fuck you’ coming out as a “Squeak squeak.”

“Oh, I know I’m right this time,” Tyson said. “You’re ‘thank you’ was clear as day.”

His eyes glowed, and I sank into the warmth of his chest, listening to his heart thump. I wasn’t pretending to be Betty anymore, and Tyson still teased me. His banter felt like home.

With a start, I jerked away.

No, no, no, no. This is a curse.

You don’t know that.

Even if it’s not, what if all of this is just a continuation of The Hunt? He and Rehan are still competing.

I bit my lower lip.

He doesn’t like me. He likes winning.

Stop, Jay, don’t do this.

“Wiggles, relax, baby,” Tyson said.

I shook my head. No matter how much Tyson tried, I didn’t want to play his games this time. I wanted to destroy this curse and free these two dragons before I broke my own heart.

“The TV and PlayStation were for you,” Tyson said after silence stretched between us. “I’ll make sure the priestesses treat you right. I don’t like it when you’re unhappy.”

I reached up and squeezed his shoulder. None of this was his fault. To get my magic back, I needed to make our complicated relationship worse by kissing him and probably giving him a BJ. Maybe even more.

Peachy.

Too bad this wasn’t a video game, and I could start over pretending to be a sex worker. Then, I could’ve kept emotions out of it.

Could you, though?

I spotted Rehan on the beach, pacing with his phone out.

“I’m not fecking late,” Tyson growled.

He set me down on the beach, wrapping an arm around my waist to pull me in close.

Rehan came right up to the border and growled a warning.“You have fifty-seven seconds.”

Tyson scowled. “She’s in a mood. It’s not fair.”

I narrowed my eyes and elbowed him. He must have expected it. My fleshy human elbow ran into hard scales, and I squeaked out an ouch and pursed my lips.

“I’ve talked to Tukaqu,” Tyson continued, ignoring me. “And tomorrow, she’ll have two hours to eat and decompress with me after her training. The Sisters of Fire were impressed. She’ll be ready with no delays, and we’ll see who she chooses once I’m whole.”

See, I was right.

Stop jumping to conclusions.

Rehan tore his gaze away from his phone and spat on the sandy shore. “Your time’s up.”

Tyson released me, and Rehan pulled me into his side.

“Squeak squeak, Wiggles.” Tyson winked at me. “Till tomorrow.”

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