Page 29 of So I Dared a Dragon

Instead, she swallowed.Noooooo.“What’s wrong?”

My she-wolf was on point inside me, and my heart was beating hard enough to shatter my ribs and let her out. I was afraid if I opened my mouth to speak it would trigger my shift, so instead, I handed her the note.

Her brow furrowed. Clearly she’d expected a cute message from Aarix. Same, girl, same. And then her lips formed an O as she read the actual message.

“Is this similar to the notes you’ve received in the past?” She’d just potentially eaten a poisoned strawberry and still, she managed to read a note from our anonymous enemy and keep thinking clearly.

“Almost exactly.” I paced the tiny space of the trailer. “They usually come right before room service or get left on my pillow when housekeeping takes care of my room. And they’re always plain paper, with messages that are short but not sweet. But my question is, how the hell did they get this past security and into my trailer?”

“A very good question.” Bibi pursed her lips. “We’ll check the delivery logs and all the security footage. That should provide answers.”

“Are there cameras in here?” I scanned the ceiling along the seam where it met the wall. I found a camera before Bibi had a chance to answer and climbed onto the couch cushion to examine it more closely. Fuck. Just what I feared. “The wire’s been cut.”

“No one who doesn’t work at HQ should’ve ever gotten this far.” Bibi didn’t have to stand on the couch to examine the tampered camera. A growl admitted from her throat. At least, that’s what I hoped it was and not a poisoned strawberry fighting back. “There are cameras all over the property. We’ll be able to easily distinguish a trespasser.”

“But how did they get in here?” I exclaimed as I lowered myself onto the couch cushion and buried my face in myhands—only for a second because my makeup looked freakin’ phenomenal after going through the works.

I so did not need this bullshit right now.

“We’ll put out an alert.” Bibi pulled her phone out of her purse.

“What about Hugo?” I asked.

She startled like I slapped her. “He’s not here.”

“Well, if he still considers himself the head of security, he needs to be.”

“It’s complicated.”

“No, it’s not.” I let out a frustrated sigh. “Bibi, I’m sorry I came between you and a wolf who obviously adores you. But now that we’ve established the fact that I was mistaken about you being my mate, it’s time for all of us to be adults and have a conversation about how we move forward as a part of each other’s lives.”

“You’re right.” Bibi took a seat next to me. “Hugo’s insisting that he’s on a top-secret assignment deep in the mountains. Considering Aarix’s claim about the potential missing dragons, Hugo’s work could be valid and important.”

“He should still be answering your calls. I hate that you die inside a little every time his name is mentioned.”

“Hugo was taught to hold a grunge, and apparently he’s very good at it.” Bibi attempted a smile, but the corners of her mouth twitched, fighting her. “It makes him an excellent head of security. And terrible at admitting there’s a problem.”

“We have a big security problem on our hands. These beasts are right under our noses laughing at us.” Heat rose in my body. No, I refused to shift. The only reason I’d even gotten this far was because I’d learned not to react. I only responded.

“You’re right. We should postpone tonight’s date.” She rose from the couch and headed to the door like she was about to deliver the news to everyone.

“Wait. No, I don’t want to do that.” My declaration stopped her dead in her tracks.

“It will still happen, as soon as our security team has a chance to check surveillance and call in backup. I won’t let anyone think it’s okay to threaten you.”

“That’s exactly why we need to have the date tonight.” I got up from the couch and threw my shoulders back. “Whoever’s doing this wants to see us cancel. They want to make me run. But I won’t. Let them come for us tonight. Do you think a bully who sends anonymous nastygrams really stands a chance against a fire-breathing dragon?”

This time, Bibi’s smile didn’t waver. “You make an excellent point. But I’m still investigating this.”

“Does that mean calling Hugo?”

“If calling him was enough to get him back, he’d be here already.” There was heartbreak in that sigh.

“What if I called him? Or went to see him? Someone has to know where he is. The two of us need to talk, maybe even more than you do.”

“I’m willing to try almost anything at this point.”

“Good, because I can tell you it’s a surefire way to getting what you want.” I squeezed her hand. “And I’m not sure if you’ve met my best friend, but she never gives up on anyone. Especially herself.”

---