Page 69 of So I Dared a Dragon

She looked at me with astonishment. “Are you Bibi le Bonnet?”

“Guilty.” I hoped she wasn’t active on the forums, because I didn’t need this moment broadcast to all our viewers. “We’re just making a pit stop here on our way back home, and silly me, I thought I hit a minute on the microwave, but it was really ten. Looks like I’ll have to order another breakfast.”

“Those buttons are sensitive,” she said, buying my story. She handed me a card. “If you need anything while you’re here, it would be my pleasure to assist you. Just call or text, this is my personal line. Enjoy your stay, and it was so great to meet you.”

“You too.” I watched as she disappeared around the corner before closing the door. A few room attendants were hard at work getting things ready for the next round of guests.

I closed the door and gasped when I looked at what she’d given me.

We’re watching you.

There was no other information on the card.

“I’m surprised she didn’t ask for a picture and autograph,” Calista said as she sipped her coffee. She was sitting cross-legged in the chair by the window, with her hands wrapped around the warm cup. The glittery nail polish did little to disguise that her nails had turned into talons. Her mouth dropped. “You look like you just saw a ghost.”

“Worse. The ghost has seen us.” I handed her the card. “Get ready as soon as you can. We need to get out of here immediately.”

twenty-five

. . .

Calista

Flames burst from my fingertips. Nothing like the faux pas a few moments ago. I crumpled the card in the palm of my hand before the flames burned out of control. “There aren’t enough curse words to adequately express how I feel about this…piece of shit.”

“Swear away.” Bibi hugged herself and shuddered. “I’m absolutely spooked right now. And I hate to tell you, I’ve got even more bad news.”

Of course she did. “Don’t hold back. This day is already off to a stellar start.”

“I called Declan,” she said.

“Youcalled him?” I had to make sure I heard her right. “Not the other way around?”

She shrugged and nodded.

“Why?” I had no idea how that wolf had become alpha, except for everyone with a higher rank in his lineage had been too stupid, too reckless to keep themselves alive and he was simply next in line.

“Because I wanted to find out what they really know about you.” She rose from the bed and paced the tiny space in theroom. She was pure wolf in her human form. Not that I could blame her. “And before you say I told you so, I didn’t have a chance to ask him any questions, but he volunteered quite a bit of information. They know what you are. Well, maybe not exactly what you are, but they’re very concerned about you. Which makes me think they know…something. He’s threatened to send the pack to come collect you.”

“And you don’t think there’s any coincidence between that revelation and this?” I held up the ruined card, and a defiant plume of smoke rose from it. “You didn’t tell him where we are, did you?”

I would gladly use my fire to incinerate Declan. The wolf was a major dick who shouldn’t have been in control of his stuffie collection, let alone an actual pack.

The problem was, he would gladly be bought and sold. The only thing Declan loved more than himself was money.

“No.” She paused and drew in a deep breath. “He’s claiming that all evidence of you on the show has vanished from the forums. Which—”

“Is entirely likely considering what happened at the library and the museum.” I picked up my phone from the table between the beds.

Good morning, sunshine. Thinking of you.My dragon had learned how to take selfies, and he had a penchant for sending me naughty pictures of himself.

My tongue felt like it had been coated with ash. As much as I absolutely loved these pictures…I had to find a way to tell him not to send them to me until we eradicated at least one threat. And make him understand the finer points of technology and not have him set the southwestern corner of the country ablaze with his rage.

I definitely needed more coffee before I answered him. Naughty pictures were an excellent reward for picking up my phone, but I came here to check the forums.

“But it doesn’t make sense,” Bibi protested.

“None of it does.”

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