Page 67 of So I Dared a Dragon

My scales stood at attention, like a wolf’s hackles.

“I gave Lars a call on the way to your cabin,” Bibi continued. “It was an intriguing conversation. While he seems sure there were dragons in this mountain range, he can’t recall any details about them. And that’s not like Lars. His memory and attention to detail are normally unparalleled.”

“Whatever is wiping this history away also got to the big guy. That’s terrifying.” But we were getting off track, so it was possible that entity was playing with my thoughts too. “It still doesn’t explain what a fairly insignificant wolf pack from Montana would have to do with powerful ancient creatures in Colorado.” Our pack didn’t have much reverence for history, and we certainly missed the memo onlove thy neighbor. “Why did they try to push us together when we definitely weren’t mates, and I might not even be a wolf?”

“It’s an excellent question,” Bibi said with a sigh. “When I left, I felt so selfish for wanting something else. But no matter what they told me, I was a wolf in the wrong body, forced to fight, and no one cared that I was full of love.”

“Did you ever stop to think why?” I asked. “I’ll be honest, I didn’t—not about that. My questions were very different before now.”

She shrugged. “I took it all at face value. I only knew that version of the world until I created my own. That was the way it was, and I never thought I could change our pack.”

Oh, interesting. “But that’s literally what you do. It’s your passion. You’re a fairy dragmother—you give people total life makeovers—why would you not even consider doing that for your own blood?”

She startled like I’d slapped her. “I think you’re onto something.”

twenty-four

. . .

Bibi

Since sprouting scales, Calista had become a completely different woman. Don’t get me wrong, I was here for her confidence and curiosity, but the questions she’d given me about the Montana pack kept me up at night.

Who were these wolves that I’d considered family at one time, and what were they keeping from us?

A part of me was validated. I never felt like I belonged with those wolves. We didn’t have a reason why yet, but we were asking better questions.

Were we making good decisions? That was debatable.

Everything good?I’d lost count of how many times Hugo had texted since we left Colorado.

Calista had talked me into this road trip, which doubled a surprise visit to her friend Darcy. She’d laid firm conditions for this adventure. It was only to be the two of us—no bodyguards, no dragons, no production crew, and absolutely no cameras. She didn’t want to intimidate Darcy. And she wanted us to lay low—which was a fairly impossible request for a fabulous drag queen and her bestie who’d just become a dragon.

I wish we were in the fun part of California, I replied. We were on the edge of the desert, staying in a chain motel in a strip mall, surrounded by nothing but fast food restaurants.

It was hard to believe that whatever Darcy had run from was worse than this. The air felt thick here, eerily familiar—like we were back home in Montana, and our choices had been made for us.

Thinking of you. Can’t wait until you get back. Text me if you need anything, he said.

I can’t wait for you to welcome me back home. Oh, the things I would do to that wolf once I got him alone.

Calista was still asleep. I probably should’ve woken her, but ever since she spent the night with Aarix, she’d been exhausted. I had a strong suspicion that we’d only seen the tip of the iceberg when it came to her powers, and something more was brewing inside her. Coming here alone was risky, but I agreed it was a necessity.

Gently closing the door, I waved to the hotel staff as I sauntered down the hallway. It might have been the middle of nowhere, and I definitely wasn’t wearing my finest outfits, but I could still have a little fun as I made my way to the parking lot the hotel shared with the pancake house.

Not that I had anything against decadent breakfasts. I’d be ordering a triple stack to go the minute we got back from our mission.

But Calista wasn’t the only one with business to attend to.

Every time I called Declan, I had to close my eyes before I hit send. We’d played phone tag for several days, so he was expecting me. Didn’t make it any easier.

“We finally connect,” he said when he answered. “Seems like you’ve been keeping busy down there.”

I was thankful this wasn’t a video call, because I’d be rolling my eyes a lot during this conversation. “We’re always busyfilming our show. I’m surprised you’re still alpha. That’s not a position in the Montana pack with a long shelf life.”

“We’ve made changes around here, and you would know that if you took my calls any other time than when you wanted something.” His accusation was punctuated with a grunt. “I don’t want to fight with you, Bibi. It sounds like we both have things to be concerned about.”

He wanted something, or else he would’ve never called me Bibi. “I have some questions about Calista.”

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