Page 26 of So I Won a Werelion

“I’m not sure if you should touch it.” I pulled it into my body. That motorcycle engine-like rumbling intensified. “It’s powerful.”

“I can feel it. Can you tell me what it is?” She took a step forward but her hands were behind her back, like she didn’t trust herself not to reach for it.

“I think…it might be a sliver of the Sempiternal Scepter,” I whispered. “I shouldn’t have this. It’s dangerous.”

“How is it dangerous?” she asked.

“On my last dig, shifters ran our whole team out of the area. They said if we set foot on that land again, they’d kill us. Whatever this is, I’m afraid someone will make good on that promise to get this back.”

“No one will lay a paw on you on my watch, unless you want them to.” Bibi smiled, and for the first time since I found this thing, hell, since I’d gotten involved with the reality TV circuit, I believed things might work out. I was still me after all, so things could go sideways under the best of circumstances. “How long has Gabriel known about this?”

“He’s the one who told me the Scepter existed, but he didn’t know I had it in my possession until I called him this afternoon.”

Bibi tapped her silver-nailed finger against her lips. “Then that wouldn’t be his big secret.”

“Gabe has a secret?” Before he’d come out from behind the wall onThe Mating Gamestage, I would’ve bet a significant amount of money that I knew everything about Gabe Wylde. But ever since then, he felt like a stranger, and that hurt.

“He hasn’t said as much, I can read between the lines. And for the record, he’s thrilled that you’re giving him a second chance.” She gave one of those Bibi smiles that made me feel like I could conquer the world. “You can’t tell me the only reason you called him is because of that relic.”

“I was hoping that the incident on the dig site had happened long enough ago that shifters had—"

“You’re not answering the question.” She tipped her head and looked at the jagged piece of…pottery? Glass? Earth? Its composition was unfamiliar to me. “I can feel power radiating from it.”

Of course she could. She was a badass wolf shifter.If I could feel it, it would probably be more intense for her. “What does it feel like?”

She took a moment before she answered. “Strange. I’m used to picking up energy from all creatures. When we’re in the forest in our wolf forms, it’s said that the trees can talk to the leaders among us. But this is foreign, like it’s speaking in a forgotten language. Do you feel different since you found it?”

“A little. I’ve felt tingly all afternoon, but I also feel like I’m about to get caught with my hand in the cookie jar any minute.” I didn’t mention that Gabe looked good enough to eat.

“Whatever this thing is, it brought you back to the show, and I’m pretty sure you’d rather be here than in that lifeless office. That place had the vibe of a funeral parlor.” She grabbed a cute blue wrap top from the rack, held it in front of me, and nodded. “If the relic is making you feel bold and you finally start living your life for yourself, instead of for what everyone thinks you should do, then I’m pleased it wound up in your very capable hands.”

“Way to not sugarcoat anything.” I carefully put the Scepter back in my bag before taking the top from her. “The Scepter needs to be returned to its rightful owners. If you can feel its energy, something tells me many shifters will be able to feel it. And I have a feeling they’ll take it back by any means necessary.”

Her purple lips curled into a smile and she put a hand on my shoulder. “As long as you’re on the show, I will make sure you’re safe. Where do you think the Scepter would be safest?”

“We’re not even sure it’s the Scepter.” My head had been spinning since I spotted the first artifact. “Would it be crazy of me to want to hold onto it until I’m sure of what we’ve found?”

“No. It sounds like you are very passionate about this legend, and I feel like fate put it in your hands.”

“I’ve wanted to find the Sempiternal Scepter ever since Gabe told me about its legend. I mean, who doesn’t want to live forever? And shifters shouldn’t have lost that privilege because of a pissed-off wolf with too much power.” It was good to finally have someone I could talk about this with. I sank into the chair in front of the makeup mirror, bracing myself for a hot mess. I’d been out at a dusty hot construction site, and I’d put a motorcycle helmet on. But was I…glowing? I needed a little touchup, but otherwise, I looked damn good. “The responsiblething to do would probably be to turn it into the council. Or give it to Laura at the library. Someone’s got to put all the stories together and know what this thing can do. But I’m not sure anyone will do a better job than me.”

“Own it. You’re the Sempiternal Scepter expert and all decisions regarding this artifact should go through you.” Bibi beamed at me. “No more selling yourself short.”

The color drained out of my face. “Shifters threatened to kill me over this relic.”

“When they prove they can solve the riddle of this find without you, then they can tell you what to do with it. You’re powerful, knowledgeable, and it’s about time you start using that to your advantage.” It was amazing that Bibi believed in me. But this thing terrified me.

“Let’s change the subject,” she suggested. “Tonight, you have your first date with Gabe Wylde. They’re certainly under strange circumstances, but tell me what you hope to happen.”

I turned around to find Bjorn, but he wouldn’t come into the dressing room. “You’ve been filming this whole time?”

“You signed the contracts. It’s no secret we’re always filming our contestants.”

“I’m out of practice.” I chuckled nervously. If I’d realized I was being recorded, I might not have been so candid. Bibi was seriously underestimating the lengths the local shifters would go to take the Scepter away from me. I still had nightmares about the time they threatened me. Not to mention there had been some major security breaches during Cindy’s episode, and if Bibi had already been briefed about my history, she knew what she was up against.

I had to trust my fairy dragmother.

I took a deep breath and let myself get excited about having a date with Gabe. “I’m really looking forward to spending timewith Gabe tonight. I took him as my plus one to Cindy’s mating ceremony, but I wasn’t prepared to spend time with him there.”

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