Page 87 of Rejected By the Shifter King

“That’s...understandable.”

“But he also told me he has another reason, and it’s because at that time...he was in love with someone else.”

Anastasia blinks. “Oh.”

Oh, indeed.

My roommate props her elbow on the table between us, her features turning somber as she settles her chin on her palm. “Like I said, no one really knows much about the snow leopards in general. And I’ve certainly never heard anything about any girl—shifter, human, or otherwise—linked to him. Just like no one also knows why Alphonse stepped down as alpha shortly afterThat Day.”

So that’s why it’s Hexius who’s the King now...

“But what we can reasonably conjecture iswhyhe wants you as a mate.”

Her words startle me into looking at her. “You mean that?”

“Preter science and technology has advanced by leaps and bounds sinceThat Day,thanks mostly to Caro efforts. To start with, there’s the bit aboutsangferia.”

Both of us end up turning red as tomatoes as Anastasia explains, coherently but awkwardly, about how a preter’s strength can exponentially increase if he were to consume the virgin blood of a perfectly matched mate.

“But isn’t that just for Caros, though?”

“Shifters can also benefit from this if they were to consume the essence of their mate’s, um, initial...release.”

Both our faces are now on fire, and we start fanning our cheeks at the same time.

“Anyway...” Anastasia hurriedly changes the subject. “The second recent advancement was developed by the Concord Agency. They’re using a patented system that can calculate the compatibility rate of two individuals.”

Phew.

Now this sounds more like something Hexius would be involved in rather than the other...method.

“Calys and Alejandro are friends with the Celestinis. I can give them a call—”

I quickly shake my head. “Please don’t.” One of the first things she confessed to me about her old life was how hercurrentlife is a bid for independence, and how she’s painstakingly done her best not to rely on the Panthera’s royal family for anything. “What you’ve told me is more than—”

“Ms. Hondros?”

We both turn to see the second unit director approaching, clipboard in hand and looking harried. “The EPs want you in Conference Room B.”

“Are you sure they want me?” Shouldn’t they be talking to Anastasia, who’s one of the writers—

The second director shows me the text message sent by one of our executive producers.

Oh.

They really did want to talk tome,but why though?

I’m not even the stunt director for this show, and I’m only freelancing, too.

“I’m sure it’s nothing,” Anastasia says.

The second director nods in agreement. “Maybe they just have some random thing to ask about the fight scene.”

That does make sense, and I feel a little bit more at ease as I make my way to the conference room. By the time I knock on the door, I’ve already reviewed everything about my work—

“Come in, please.”

Why does that voice sound familiar?