Page 2 of So I Dared a Dragon (The Mating Game #6)

two

. . .

Calista

“Get your hands off of me!” I demanded when two burly security guards hooked their arms under mine and led me from the stage.

“Just following orders, ma’am,” one of them grunted.

“Whose orders?” If I had to guess, I’d bet large amounts of money I didn’t have on Hugo. I’d tangled with him before. He might not have his security game under control when it came to the show, but he’d been pretty damn good at keeping me away from Bibi.

That was, until now. I finally managed to get close to her. But I’d barely had a chance to talk to her, barely had a chance to tell my side of the story before she appeared in all her sparkling glory.

Ugh. It was so hard to be absolutely furious with the wolf who owned my heart.

I wriggled and fought, but these beasts were strong. I fully expected them to dump me on the street without so much as an apology. I was no stranger to a burned bridge.

But instead, they took me to a trailer.

One of them opened the door and motioned for me to go up the stairs. “Wait here.”

“Or what?” I asked, smoothing my dress.

“You won’t talk to Bibi,” the other grunted. He positioned himself beside the stairs and crossed his arms. His partner mirrored him on the other side.

“Am I under trailer arrest?” I wasn’t usually this dramatic—okay, yes, I was—but this was getting ridiculous.

No answer.

“Fine.” I marched up the stairs. If this was trailer arrest, it wasn’t that bad. The inside was decorated in all light wood and white furniture. A bottle of Pinot Noir chilled in a bucket of ice, and a plate of fruit and cheese sat on the coffee table.

Bibi wouldn’t go through all this trouble if she didn’t plan on giving me another chance, right?

I kicked off my heels and tucked my legs under me on the couch. My phone had been vibrating like crazy in the pocket of my chub-rub shorts. The screen was full of notifications, some from my pack, some from the alert I’d put on Bibi’s name.

The words weren’t making sense right now, and I couldn’t tell if I was the hero or the villain of my own story.

Oh, that bottle of wine was tempting. Just as I reached for it, there was a knock on the door.

My mouth went dry. “Come in.”

I fully expected to see one of the producers who had tried and failed to keep me at bay before I decided to get the party started with my own impromptu press conference. I braced myself for another excuse, more disappointment. It wasn’t like my heart could be broken any more.

“I have to admit, that was quite impressive,” Bibi said as she closed the door. Her presence filled the tiny trailer, and light bounced off the sequins on her dress like a disco ball. Her lips curled into a smile, but the corners quivered, unsure if she was actually happy to see me.

“What part did you like the best?” I asked, motioning for her to take a seat beside me on the couch like nothing had changed. But everything was different, and I needed to know that my best friend was still in there.

To my surprise, she accepted the invitation, but she perched at the edge of the cushion, on point, like she might shift at any moment.

Might even the playing field , my she-wolf said.

“Making it past all the security, the producers, and camera people to come out on stage in the middle of filming was pretty impressive,” she said. “But having the audacity to host your own press conference was next level.”

“I didn’t think I’d have a chance to talk to you.” I pushed my shoulders back, begging my own she-wolf not to make an appearance. She wasn’t threatened by this unfamiliar version of Bibi, but she knew better than to relax. “I hate that it had to be like this. I’ve tried calling, texting, and emailing. No answer. You say you’ve been right here, but it’s not like I could just knock on your door. Believe me, I tried. You’re famous, and you have security detail. And the minute I told them who I was, I got escorted off the premises.”

Her eyebrows rose and her glossy lips parted. “Were you in danger? I was convinced those dire wolves had taken you hostage—and I did absolutely everything in my power to find you.”

“You wouldn’t believe some of the places I’ve been.” I shook my head and chuckled sadly. I’d been all over the country, following any lead I could find on her. Defying my pack at every turn when they ordered me to come back to Montana. I almost caved when the person I’d been looking for ceased to exist, emerging from their cocoon like the most beautiful butterfly in the world in the middle of a heavy metal tour. “I want to believe you, but I’m not sure if this is still an act for your audience.”

Her glossy lips parted in a perfect O.

“Absolutely nothing on the show is scripted. And nothing about this” —she swept her arm in front of her— “is an act. My offer stands. I would be over the moon to help you find your mate, Calista. I won’t say it will be like old times, because that’s not my life anymore. But that wouldn’t stop us from having a lot of fun with your episode.”

“Give me a chance to show you I’m your mate,” I said. “You have to feel something when you see me.”

She jumped back slightly, but caught herself. My she-wolf rumbled with satisfaction.

“There’s someone else.” She paused for a moment. “His name is Hugo. He’s the head of security for the show. I try to keep things professional—”

“Is keeping things professional the reason you had Marissa and Bjorn star in their own episode?” I asked. “After they’d gotten up close and personal with each other in the back of the production van in the middle of filming?”

Her face lit up. “So you have seen the show.”

“Every episode, which is how I know you have all your contestants stay in your spare boudoir while filming their episodes.” I grinned as her mouth dropped. “You wouldn’t want to treat me differently than any other contestant, would you?”

“Of course not,” she said quickly. She threw her shoulders back and brightened. “It will be so good to have a chance to get to know each other all over again.”

“I haven’t changed, Bibi. You know me.” I wanted to reach for her, put my hand on hers. But I couldn’t. “Going to these lengths to get your attention makes me feel like this crazy stalker lady, but if anyone should understand what someone will do for love, it’s the self-proclaimed fairy dragmother, who says she can help anyone find their mate. But for some reason, you’re afraid of that for yourself.”

“I never wanted to break your heart, Calista.” She sighed. “I did this to protect you.”

Little did she know I needed her protection now more than ever.

“What happens now?” I asked.

“Hannah is still staying with me until the end of her episode. I’ll have production put you up at the chalet. It’s a five-star resort that feels like you’re staying at the cutest bed and breakfast. Then—”

“I’m not talking about the show, Bibi.” I laughed. “I mean, what happens with us?”

She didn’t answer right away. “Would it be enough for you to be friends?”

She was my mate. Why else would I have gone through literal hell on earth to find her? I’d done things I wasn’t proud of, things I might not be able to fix.

But I was convinced that I could fix us .

“We’re more than that, and soon, you’ll see it too.”

“Welcome to the chalet.” Marissa’s impossibly high heels clicked on the wood floor as she led me into my suite. “This is a great room with an amazing view. You’ll have everything you need to be happy here until your episode starts.”

“Will Bibi be joining us?” I asked as I carefully dropped my raggedy duffel bag beside the overstuffed leather chair, knocking the plaid blanket that had been draped over the armrest onto the floor.

This place was way nicer than anything I was used to.

“Not today.” Marissa frowned, but only for a moment. “She’s working with Hannah and Lars. Hannah waited a long time for her episode, and she deserves Bibi’s undivided attention, which will turn to you when it’s time for your episode.”

“It doesn’t have to be all about work,” I said. I just needed a chance for her to see that I was more than collateral damage from her past. I might not have understood why she had to leave, but I wasn’t the same wolf anymore, either.

“With Bibi, it’s always all about the show. You’ll be in good company trying to get her to take a break.” Marissa laughed. “Listen, I know this isn’t working out how you thought you would. Give us a chance. Bibi wouldn’t be giving you an episode if she didn’t want you to find your mate.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to protest that Bibi was my mate, but that wouldn’t help my cause. Not that I had any plans of giving up. I was confident that my actions would prove me right. That meant I would have to be the best contestant they’d ever seen, which included being amazing to everyone on the crew. If I had a prayer of pulling this off, I needed them on my side.

“What about Hugo?” I asked, not really wanting the answer.

Marissa sighed. “He takes a lot of flak for the security issues that have plagued the show.”

I cocked a brow. “You mean I’m not the only one who’s gotten past him?”

“You’re good, but no, you’re not the only one.” Marissa chuckled nervously, like she was afraid she’d said too much. “To be fair, it’s a huge job. I don’t think anyone could do better considering what gets thrown at him.”

“You know I’m not asking about his job performance.”

“He absolutely adores Bibi,” she said the words slowly and had to be aware each word drove a dagger straight into my heart. “They’re the most unlikely couple—he’s a gruff small-town wolf, and of course, she’s sparkly and fabulous—but it works because he’s content to let her shine. But in a way, he completes her. He’s the sturdy rock she’ll never admit she needs to lean on.”

I nodded. It was clear that Bibi wasn’t the only one who loved Hugo. The entire crew was enamored with him. This was a close-knit team. Bibi had built a new family, thanks to her coworkers and the local wolf packs.

That was something I hadn’t found since I’d left our pack, and I had to admit, I was envious.

Not that I could go home again...

“Take advantage of your time here while you wait for your episode to begin. As a contestant, you get a generous per diem. The chalet has a world-class chef, an award-winning spa, a fitness area, and a saltwater pool. The day club is next level. The concierge is at your service to take you to all the local attractions. There should be a book inside the desk with the most popular ones, but you’re definitely not limited to the tourist destinations. It’s our hope that you fall in love with Sunset Springs as much as we have.”

“Thank you. It all sounds amazing.” Maybe too amazing. I definitely wasn’t used to anything this nice, but sweet moon, was I ever grateful to be here. It had been a long time since I’d been able to relax.

Don’t let your guard down yet …my she-wolf warned.

“We’re close to Hannah and Lars’s mating ceremony, but there will be some post-production wrap-up before we can start our Calista era, as Bibi would say.” Marissa grinned. “But that means we’ll be able to take our time with the preproduction of your episode. We’ll be getting to know each other really well. Whatever you want, Bibi can make it happen for you.”

Marissa’s smile disappeared as she realized I probably wasn’t going to get what I wanted.

“Seriously, make yourself at home,” she added quickly. “I’ll be in touch.”

As soon as the door clicked closed behind her, I threw myself on the bed. No need to be dramatic without an audience, and it didn’t do anything to alleviate the tension that threatened to turn my limbs to cement. The mattress was next level. There were so many pillows and a thick, velvety blanket. I forced myself to get off the bed and take another look around. A fireplace was the focal point of the sitting area, with those leather chairs and a giant TV. The windows provided a breathtaking view of the mountains.

I shut the shades—mountains held too many memories for me.

The bathroom had a giant tub and the biggest selection of bubble bath I’d ever seen. I couldn’t be mad about that. I’d be taking full advantage.

Don’t fuck this up, I warned myself as I climbed back onto the bed and hugged a pillow to my chest. You’ll never have it this good again.

There was a tablet on the nightstand. I picked it up and hit the button for room service. Moments later a turkey club, French fries, and a hot fudge sundae were on their way.

Sure, it was basic, but I needed to eat my feelings. It sounded like I’d have plenty of time to see what that chef could do.

The food would be here soon, but I wasn’t good at relaxing. I forced myself off the bed and started to unpack. Not that I had much, but I’d lived out of this bag for long enough. As I pulled my worn belongings out and put them on hangers, the idea of a total life makeover gave me tingles. I pictured my tired tops getting a designer upgrade. Clothes that no one had owned before me.

The afternoon sun hit the ruby pendant on my necklace. I put my hand over the stone and tucked the necklace into the drawer with my socks and underwear. A wave of guilt rolled over me. It was too nice for that kind of treatment, but I couldn’t risk anyone knowing where it came from.

The knock at the door shouldn’t have startled me. My belly rumbled in confirmation.

It’s just room service, I reminded myself as I went to answer it. Things are different here.

“Hi,” I said as I opened the door. But instead of a waiter in a branded polo shirt, I found thick, thuggy-dude in a turtleneck and suit jacket. “I think you might have the wrong room?”

Was it another charmer from The Mating Game security team?

“I’m never wrong,” he grunted as he handed me an envelope.

He turned and walked away before I picked my jaw up off the floor.

“Hey,” I called after him. “Who are you?”

Dude didn’t even turn around. No answer. He disappeared around the corner, and the waiter appeared with my dinner under a cloche.

I let him bring the food into my room, and as I willed my heartbeat to slow down, he set up an adorable little tray beside one of the chairs.

Who was that man?

“I’ll put your sundae in the refrigerator so it doesn’t melt while you enjoy your sandwich,” the waiter said.

I nodded, but I was too numb to speak. My prior visitor had been one ominous dude, and I was not looking forward to opening that envelope. The chances of it containing good news seemed to be hovering somewhere around zero.

Once the waiter left, I sank into the chair. My stomach rumbled again at the sight of the food. The sandwich was thick and the fries were overflowing off the plate. They’d even given me a flight of dipping sauces. I wanted to love it here, but I had a bad feeling I’d soon be on the run yet again.

You don’t know that , I told myself. Just read the damn message and enjoy your dinner. And book a massage too. You deserve it.

Grabbing a fry and dipping it into the garlic aioli, I slipped my finger under the envelope flap and pulled out the paper inside.

We’re watching you, and we’ll make you pay.