Page 34 of So I Won a Werelion

Wendy

We’d found something that freaked out the glittery goddess herself.

The last thing I wanted to do was end the date. Maybe we wouldn’t have to.

Was I actually thinking about…

Absolutely not.

Gabe was simply intoxicating tonight. Maybe the bubbly had gone straight to my head because I hadn’t had a chance to eat more than a few bites of my sandwich, and that was bound to encourage me to make dangerous decisions.

“Follow us back to HQ, Gabriel?” Bibi asked.I’d never seen her flustered before, even in the heat of a fight.

He cocked a brow. “Shouldn’t I bring Wendy home so she can get her research together?”

Maybe I could invite him in…

Sweet moon, no.

“Yes, eventually, but I’d like everyone to know the Scepter is safe and sound. It’s better if we all know where it is.” Bibi picked up the basket and the blanket and headed to the van.

It was just me and Gabe in the clearing, and he was still looking way too gorgeous for his own good.

“That was some shit, huh?” he said.

“I’ve never seen Bibi scared of anything before,” I whispered. Shifters had been blessed with far better hearing than humans. Bibi’s senses would be in overdrive. “You didn’t really get a chance to fight with her at the mating ceremony, but I’ve seen her in action. No one can beat her. She’s fast, she’s fierce, and she’ll fuck you up if you make a mistake.”

“She should be wary of it,” Gabe said. “It has some serious power.”

“That doesn’t make me feel better.” A chill went down my spine. “I don’t love the idea of the Scepter going toThe Mating GameHeadquarters. Even if there are cameras. Too many people in and out of there. Strange shifters that don’t—”

Bibi appeared in the clearing. “I thought the two of you went on a side quest.”

“She wants to get out of here,” Gabe rumbled softly. “Let’s make her happy, and then we can do our own research.”

This time, it felt way too good to wrap my arms around Gabe when I got on the bike. Today had been a whirlwind, and I couldn’t have gotten through this without him.

It was really good that we had a chance to talk about things. Start over.

But these crazy feelings that made me want to rip his clothes off needed to be dealt with immediately.

Focus on the Scepter.

Bibi wasn’t the only one who was freaked out over Gabe’s reaction to the Sempiternal Scepter. He’d looked possessed. I couldn’t wait to ask him more about what he saw.

Marissa hugged the Scepter under her sweater and didn’t wait for the rest of the crew before she hurried into the building. We followed quietly behind her. The hallways wereonly illuminated by emergency lights, and all the shifters in the contingent moved slowly, cautiously, like they sensed something that I couldn’t.

We decided to lock the Scepter into Bibi’s desk.

“I’ll talk to Hugo and make sure the Scepter stays safe,” Bibi said.

I grabbed Gabe’s arm and gave him a look. I’d fill him in on the security gaffes that had happened on Hugo’s watch once we were alone. Bibi had feelings for the wolf, and I hoped she wasn’t giving him one chance too many.

“Make sure you get your beauty rest tonight. I’ll be interviewing you both tomorrow. The subject will be makeovers since you’re both in the middle of a life change. And start thinking about date ideas. Each of you gets to choose a date, and it’s my hope you really try to wow each other.” Our fairy dragmother was back to business as usual.

Gabe and I headed to the parking lot. This was the first time I’d been alone with him since high school. And that feeling that I wanted to do something outrageous had yet to fade.

Dangerous.

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