Page 15 of So I Dared a Dragon

“Wait, who’s the third person?” the bear shifter, also known as contestant fourteen, asked.

“Guilty,” I said, feeling every bit of the word as jaws dropped around me. I’d lost count of how many times I reached out to Hugo and tried to get him to talk. It would be much easier if he wasn’t letting all my calls go straight to voicemail. I’d even tried going to his house, but he wasn’t answering the door, either.

He was still heading our security team, but according to Tina, he claimed there was a top-secret matter that demanded his attention deep in the mountains.

I had no need to cause drama because moon knew we had enough to deal with already, but if I had to create an emergency to get his attention, I wouldn’t hesitate to do so.

“I’m so leaking this,” one of the contestants who didn’t get chosen muttered under their breath. “I’ll ruin you.”

Two security guards appeared, letting him know his time on the show was over.

“I’m about to step on stage in front of thousands of people who adore this show. It won’t be a secret for long,” I reminded him before he was escorted out.

But as I headed toward the steps, I was doubting everything. This plan could backfire.

I had a mate and this was my very unorthodox way of proving it.

Tina pulled me aside before I climbed the stairs. “Are you sure about this? As your best friend and your coworker, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I didn’t tell you the truth. This is a terrible idea, Bibi. Everyone’s still here. I can put someone else in your seat and no one will ever know the difference.”

I exhaled, but it didn’t clear any of the doubt. “I need to know the answer as much as Calista and Hugo.”

Tina nodded. Eventually, she’d understand. She met her mate working onThe Real Werewives. Sterling kept choosing the wrong woman until he realized Tina was the common denominator among all of them. It was her. Calista deserved to know that when she chose her mate, it was definitely, beyond a shadow of a doubt, not me.

“I’m getting word we have two of the three contestants ready to go.” Hannah’s voice boomed from the other side of the stage. I was so proud of her for stepping up to the plate and absolutely slaying her first hosting job.

Tina gave me another concerned look, but I waved her off, and before I could talk myself out of it, I headed toward the stage.

The crowd went absolutely wild when they saw me and realized what it meant. I waved to them and brought my gloved finger up to my lips, asking them to keep the secret for just a little while longer.

“Everyone’s there, great. Let’s get started.” Hannah sounded relieved. “You’re in for a treat with this episode ofThe Mating Game. If you’re new here, let me get you caught up to speed. Calista is here to choose her mate, sight unseen. On the other side of that stage, there are three shifters. She’ll ask them three questions, and then choose one of them to take her on three dates before she decides if this is forever. Cameras will follow her every move every step of the way. Tell everyone how you’re feeling, Calista.”

“Excited. I’ve spent a long time searching for my mate and it’s surreal to know they’re waiting for me on the other side of this stage,” she said.

The crowd oohed, and I brought my finger up to my lips once again, this time adding a playful wink for the camera.

“Ready to choose the shifter you’ll spend forever with?” Hannah asked.

“So ready,” Calista said, and I didn’t need to see her to know how her eyes had brightened at the opportunity. She’d most likely thrown her shoulders back with the declaration. I wondered what she’d decided to wear. Marissa and Tina insisted that I couldn’t be a contestant and a producer on the same episode. These rules were so maddening when they applied to me. Still, I’d picked out an outfit for her and left it with the wardrobe department. I couldn’t wait to see if she wore it.

“Question one. Why will you make a good mate?”

The first contestant, the male bear, grinned as he brought his microphone to his lips. Thanks to the magic of technology, all our voices would be altered. “I protect what belongs to me, and I know how to provide.”

“I’m looking to for someone to share my life with,” the she-wolf next to me said. She was dark-skinned, very fit, and on vibes alone, I had a feeling she’d make a compelling contestant. “I think of life as an adventure, and how better to celebrate it than with your fated mate?”

Silence fell over the stage and the other two contestants turned to me.

Right, my turn.

I’d automatically defaulted to fairy dragmother mode, thinking about their answers, which meant I didn’t have one ready to go.

If I was really a good mate, I’d leave this stage immediately and find Hugo at whatever remote outpost he insisted needed his protection. But then we’d always have doubts.

“I’m a good mate because…” Sweet moon, this was much harder than I’d anticipated. All my time on stage, performances, improv, hosting, nothing compared to this. “I care deeply about people and love seeing them happy.”

“Those were all great answers,” Hannah said, but I didn’t miss the confusion in her voice. Usually, there were two seriouscontenders and a foil. Not this time. “I can’t wait to hear their answers to question two.”

“It’s a two-parter, if that’s okay,” Calista said. “Contestants, describe your perfect night outandyour perfect night in.”

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