Page 74 of So I Dared a Dragon

“Yes, all of that is true.” Calista shook her head, dropping her gaze. “But life in the pack was miserable without you. I thought it was just because I didn’t like the direction our new leaders were taking, then I realized it was because I missed you. I love you. Doesn’t matter who you are on the outside, I know who you are on the inside.”

I wanted to rationalize this. That Calista had been miserable because she’d been kept from her true nature. Bibi represented freedom to her. But what if…she said yes?

Someone in the audience started chanting “Give her a chance!”

I growled.

“What are these two up to?” Magnus crossed his arms. “She’d already promised herself to you.”

“There has to be an explanation for this,” I said.

“She had no idea you would ever be free,” Luca added.

I waved them both off. “Let me see how this ends. If Bibi had agreed to be Calista’s mate, then she wouldn’t have been on stage to choose a mate.”

I went back to the screen, finding Calista with her arms crossed, staring down Bibi. They looked much more like enemies than lovers. “Do you have any idea what I’ve gone through to find you?”

“I’ve been right here the whole time.”

“It’s not easy to get to you. You have security now. They’ve dragged me away on many occasions. I resorted to trusting shifters who said they could help, but they wanted somethingin return. They were the only ones who believed you were my mate.”

“I’m not your mate.” Bibi’s declaration earned another round of boos. “I love you, but not like that. I can help you find your mate though, if you’d be interested in having your own episode ofThe Mating Game.”

“I’ll do it,” Calista said. “But I promise my episode will have an ending you don’t expect.”

“Do you think it’s true?” Luca asked, his eyes wide with astonishment. “Why would Calista say she was in love with Bibi? What if she had accepted her claim?”

Magnus snatched his phone. “They think we’re fools, and we trusted them blindly. They have our stone. We can’t trust them, Aarix. You have to stop listening to your heart and act like a leader.”

“This video could’ve been altered,” I said. “Just like those artifacts disappeared. We don’t know what we’re dealing with.”

Luca shook his head sadly. “I’m afraid that’s the most accurate statement any of us has made in a while.”

“Calista could be working for the Night God,” Magnus said.

“If she is, then I need to set her free,” I said. “Someone kept her from being a dragon, but I won’t let anyone keep me from claiming my mate.”

twenty-seven

. . .

Calista

“I’m surprised something so boxy and beige can move so fast,” Bibi remarked as we sped through the California desert. “Are you trying to hook Darcy up with a handsome police officer? If you keep driving this fast, we’ll probably be able to manifest that for her.”

I let up on the gas, but only a little. It wasn’t the first time my speed had reached the triple digits on this trip. “It feels like we’re not even moving if I slow down.”

“I’m surprised you rented a minivan,” Darcy said. “I see Bibi in a sleek, sparkly sports car.”

“Once we get back to Sunset Springs, I’ll take you for a spin in my vintage Firebird.” Bibi turned to smile at our passenger, and cautioned a glare at me. “As long as we’re not wanted for any moving violations.”

“Since when did you become allergic to a little speed?” I said. “And Darcy, did you see the luggage back there? There’s no way to road trip with Bibi in anything compact.”

“I wouldn’t worry about a ticket. This car is next to invisible.” Darcy laughed. “This road is perfect for crimes. We used to makethis trip to Vegas all the time when we were in the mood for a wild weekend.”

Bibi lit up. “Tell us more about these wild weekends.”

“Well, now I’m in a twelve-step program to quit my addiction to dangerous men,” Darcy said with much less enthusiasm than she’d told us about her road trips.

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