Page 24 of So I Dared a Dragon (The Mating Game #6)

twenty-four

. . .

Bibi

Since sprouting scales, Calista had become a completely different woman. Don’t get me wrong, I was here for her confidence and curiosity, but the questions she’d given me about the Montana pack kept me up at night.

Who were these wolves that I’d considered family at one time, and what were they keeping from us?

A part of me was validated. I never felt like I belonged with those wolves. We didn’t have a reason why yet, but we were asking better questions.

Were we making good decisions? That was debatable.

Everything good? I’d lost count of how many times Hugo had texted since we left Colorado.

Calista had talked me into this road trip, which doubled a surprise visit to her friend Darcy. She’d laid firm conditions for this adventure. It was only to be the two of us—no bodyguards, no dragons, no production crew, and absolutely no cameras. She didn’t want to intimidate Darcy. And she wanted us to lay low—which was a fairly impossible request for a fabulous drag queen and her bestie who’d just become a dragon.

I wish we were in the fun part of California , I replied. We were on the edge of the desert, staying in a chain motel in a strip mall, surrounded by nothing but fast food restaurants.

It was hard to believe that whatever Darcy had run from was worse than this. The air felt thick here, eerily familiar—like we were back home in Montana, and our choices had been made for us.

Thinking of you. Can’t wait until you get back. Text me if you need anything , he said.

I can’t wait for you to welcome me back home . Oh, the things I would do to that wolf once I got him alone.

Calista was still asleep. I probably should’ve woken her, but ever since she spent the night with Aarix, she’d been exhausted. I had a strong suspicion that we’d only seen the tip of the iceberg when it came to her powers, and something more was brewing inside her. Coming here alone was risky, but I agreed it was a necessity.

Gently closing the door, I waved to the hotel staff as I sauntered down the hallway. It might have been the middle of nowhere, and I definitely wasn’t wearing my finest outfits, but I could still have a little fun as I made my way to the parking lot the hotel shared with the pancake house.

Not that I had anything against decadent breakfasts. I’d be ordering a triple stack to go the minute we got back from our mission.

But Calista wasn’t the only one with business to attend to.

Every time I called Declan, I had to close my eyes before I hit send. We’d played phone tag for several days, so he was expecting me. Didn’t make it any easier.

“We finally connect,” he said when he answered. “Seems like you’ve been keeping busy down there.”

I was thankful this wasn’t a video call, because I’d be rolling my eyes a lot during this conversation. “We’re always busy filming our show. I’m surprised you’re still alpha. That’s not a position in the Montana pack with a long shelf life.”

“We’ve made changes around here, and you would know that if you took my calls any other time than when you wanted something.” His accusation was punctuated with a grunt. “I don’t want to fight with you, Bibi. It sounds like we both have things to be concerned about.”

He wanted something, or else he would’ve never called me Bibi. “I have some questions about Calista.”

“Is she still with you? Our trackers have lost her. Like her scent has been wiped clean off the map.”

“You’ve been tracking her?” Now I was even more thankful this wasn’t a video call. If he could’ve seen the look on my face, I would’ve lost any upper hand I had in this conversation.

“Ever since she left Montana,” he said, like it was something to be proud of.

“She’s been in danger ever since she left the pack,” I managed through gritted teeth. “Why were you tracking her if you had no plans to intervene?”

This gave her theory that the pack had known what she was all along a serious backbone.

“Because it was our only way of keeping tabs on you.” He sighed. “Have you had contact with her? We’re concerned she could be in serious danger, if not dead. Last we knew she was a contestant on your show, and then she disappeared.”

Wait.

“Have you seen our online forums? They’re fan run, but our official website hosts them. It’s the place to find the most up-to-date news about our couples while they’re filming.”

Declan snickered. “Of course I know about your little chat group. I’d share my handle, but that would ruin all the fun. I’m concerned you’re not moderating them, since you just said they’re hosted by The Mating Game . All news on Calista has gone cold. The fans are concerned. So if you know where she is, you need to tell me now or we’re going to blow this story wide open.”

“She’s safe. That’s all I can say.” But my mind was reeling. I needed to get onto those forums ASAP and see what the hell he was talking about. The last things we’d posted about Calista’s episode were a photo of her and Aarix entering the museum and a fun teaser about them spending the night together in the mountains. That was a few days ago. A completely normal timeline in an episode that had been anything but.

Nothing to be panicked about.

I needed to keep telling myself that.

“I want proof, Bibi,” Declan growled. “We’re coming for her. We believe she’s in danger, and she needs to be home.”

“She is perfectly safe here with me. She’s with her pack, and she is home,” I growled. I hated that this wolf was getting under my skin enough to make me lose control.

“With her real pack.” He paused to give the insult a chance to land. “Not with a traitor who runs the second things get hard. We’re coming for her. And I promise you, there’s nothing you can do to stop us.”

“I’ll be looking forward to it.” Sweet moon, did I miss the days when it was possible to end a phone call with a satisfying slam. If Declan deserved nothing else, it was that.

I leaned against the cement wall for a moment to compose myself. Calling Declan had been a dangerous move, and while I didn’t get to ask any questions, he’d given many more answers than I expected. If he’d been wavering on taking action before, he’d definitely do it now, if for no other reason than to spite me. He’d always been a mediocre fighter, too willing to put himself into danger to try to win favor. The fact that the pack had nowhere better to look for leadership than him was troubling. I might not identify as a Montana wolf anymore, but I still wanted so much better for them.

Of course, I couldn’t confirm anything, but I could deduce that the Montana pack knew beyond a shadow of a doubt Calista hadn’t been pure wolf all along. Calista never had a prominent role in the pack. She was the middle child in a family of five. A dreamer who resented her everyday reality. It was why we connected. We didn’t belong, but our pack had been determined to make us fit.

Before the phone call, I would’ve bet money Montana had been the one sending those threats. Now I wasn’t so sure.

But there was no way the forum posts should be succumbing to the same curse that had erased every piece of history Calista laid a finger on. They were constantly updating, more of a living, breathing way to document the show than ancient history.

After stopping in the lobby to get a cup of green tea and make a coffee the way Calista liked it, I headed back to our hotel room.

Calista was still in bed. My fairy dragmother instincts wanted nothing more than to let her rest.. But we didn’t have time for those kind of luxuries.

I put my hand gently on her shoulder, and barely had enough time to jump out of the way before she breathed fire.

The smoke alarm protested loudly.

“I’m so sorry,” she said as she jumped, quickly rising to stand on the mattress and wave her pillow to make the screaming stop. “I haven’t learned to control everything yet.”

“It’s okay,” I lied. It had been terrifying. “If you feel threatened, you shouldn’t hold back.”

The knock at our door was no surprise, but after three shocks in a row, it took all I had to keep my wolf from jumping out of my body. I should’ve never let Calista convince me to take this trip without at least one guard watching over us.

Darcy, as far as we knew, was a harmless human.

On paper, this was a quick, easy girls’ trip.

Maybe it was time for the fairy dragmother to become rooted in reality, no matter how ugly and inconvenient it threatened to be. I fluffed my wig and gave the hotel employee on the other side of the door the most stageworthy smile I could muster under the circumstances.

She looked at me with astonishment. “Are you Bibi le Bonnet?”

“Guilty.” I hoped she wasn’t active on the forums, because I didn’t need this moment broadcast to all our viewers. “We’re just making a pit stop here on our way back home, and silly me, I thought I hit a minute on the microwave, but it was really ten. Looks like I’ll have to order another breakfast.”

“Those buttons are sensitive,” she said, buying my story. She handed me a card. “If you need anything while you’re here, it would be my pleasure to assist you. Just call or text, this is my personal line. Enjoy your stay, and it was so great to meet you.”

“You too.” I watched as she disappeared around the corner before closing the door. A few room attendants were hard at work getting things ready for the next round of guests.

I closed the door and gasped when I looked at what she’d given me.

We’re watching you.

There was no other information on the card.

“I’m surprised she didn’t ask for a picture and autograph,” Calista said as she sipped her coffee. She was sitting cross-legged in the chair by the window, with her hands wrapped around the warm cup. The glittery nail polish did little to disguise that her nails had turned into talons. Her mouth dropped. “You look like you just saw a ghost.”

“Worse. The ghost has seen us.” I handed her the card. “Get ready as soon as you can. We need to get out of here immediately.”