Page 24 of So I Dared a Dragon

I glanced at Marcus and Luca, recognizing the shock on their faces. “Yes, that was a very important relic in our time. There were festivals and ceremonies dedicated to it.”

“Oh, how fascinating.” Bibi’s face lit up. “I’m thrilled to hear that our modern research is accurate. But our experience with the relic hasn’t always been positive. We believe it might have been used to summon those awful ancient beasts. I’ll have to put you in touch with Lars, as well as Wendy and Laura. They’re my local historians, specializing in shifters.”

“We’d love to speak with them,” Luca said eagerly.

“Luca was my scribe before we were led into the mountain. He’s been working closely with our modern thunder to make sure all records are correct.”

“So the Night God would have used the Hudaknocker too?” Bibi asked. “Do you think we could use it to find these missing dragons?”

“It was an important part of our traditions, yes,” I said. “If the dragons are trapped inside these mountains, it won’t be as easy as luring them away. If they had the freedom to leave, they would have. If they were able to shift, you’d see them flying in the sky. If they’re in there, it’s because they’re being held there.”

Calista put her hand on mine. “Are you sure you’re ready to go through this all over again?”

“Every dragon deserves to see sunshine.” The answer was much more complicated than that. We couldn’t guarantee we could use our recent liberation as a playbook. “But we have no idea what happened to the Rocky Mountain dragons.”

“We won’t let them rot in darkness,” Magnus seethed, smoke billowing out his nostrils. His copper scales shined in the studio lights. He was a fantastic sight, and the cameras turned to catch it.

Someone or something is threatening my mate,” I reminded them. “It could all be related.”

Calista frowned and drew her hand away from mine. “I’ve pissed off more than my fair share of shifters. The Night God is an easy explanation. But I hate to say, it could be anyone.”

“Let us rule out potential threats.” I reached for her hand again and brought it to my lips. The feel of her soft skin sent a shiver down my spine. “I promise no one will ever think of you as an easy target again.”

Bibi cleared her throat, drawing attention back to her. “Production will support this mission any way we can. But we also have an episode ofThe Mating Gameto deliver. You saw the fans in the audience, and that’s just a fraction of our show’s viewership. They expected to see Calista choose a mate. The two of you…” She tipped her head and smiled. “Definitely have some chemistry. And the most compelling backstory the show has ever seen. Usually, Calista would have chosen you in front of all those people. She can still choose you now. Then we could start setting up the dates. Pending a more extensive background check, of course. Not that we don’t trust you! But our head of security…” She steeled herself. “We want to make everyone is safe and we don’t have any more surprises.”

I turned to Calista. “Are you ready to show me your world, sunshine?”

“You think you can handle me on this side of the mountain?” Her lips curled into a playful smile. “Danger follows me everywhere I go.”

“Not if I have anything to say about it.”

nine

. . .

Calista

Well, hot damn. That didn’t go as I expected.

Once I returned to the chalet, I flopped down on the bed and stared at the ceiling. I wasn’t the same woman who left this room this morning. I wasn’t convinced the whole thing wasn’t a dream.

Aarix was free. I could hardly believe my eyes when he landed on stage. I never thought I’d see him again. It was so surreal. He used to ask me to tell him about the world, orthe outside, as he called it, and he’d listen wide-eyed, marveling at everything I told him like it was a fairy tale, nothing more than pure fiction. For him, it was. I’d recalled every historical lesson I learned in school, and then it was his turn to astonish me with his first-person account of the event, or even more bizarre, no knowledge of it at all.

He’d dreamed of liberation, and the day everyone stuck in that mountain, mining minerals to feed their vengeful god, would once again see the sun. There was so much I’d been afraid to tell him, afraid the power of that knowledge could lead to trouble with the Night God. That he would punish Aarix to humble him.

But my dragon had downplayed his power. How important he’d been before his imprisonment. It made him a target all over again.

I worried whoever was leaving me these little love letters was one step ahead of him. I couldn’t let him get hurt because of me.

A knock on the door sent me straight into the air. My heart pounded as I headed to answer. I was pretty sure I was seeing things when I looked through the peephole.

“Bibi?” I gave my hair a quick smoothing before I stuck my head into the hallway, expecting to find an entourage. At the very least someone with a camera. “Are you by yourself?”

“I am. May I come in?” She was no longer dressed in her stage clothes. Instead she wore a purple velour running suit with her name in sequins across the chest, and she’d replaced her purple wig with a sleek blonde bob.

Her makeup was still over the top, which made me think this visit was unplanned.

Not a good sign. Maybe that background check had uncovered something that was a deal breaker. Or something even worse.

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