“Here you go!” Hana called, hurrying across the patio with a can of Coke and a LaCroix. “Sorry it took me so long. I was talking to Aimee. We’re going to put theDragon Arenamovie on soon. As soon as it’s a bit darker out so we can see it properly. The last thing we need is to make that movie look even worse.”
Damn.I didn’t know we’d be watching that. I hadn’t told Daniel anything about the terrible direct-to-streaming musical that theDragon Arenagame was technically based on. The movie was a running joke among players of the game. If Daniel were really a hard-core player, he’d have at least heard of it. More likely, he’d have seen it. Even more likely, he’d have participated in a rousing sing-along with a roomful of other fans watching the movie.
“I thought we were watching the new Silverborn?” I asked.
“Oh, we will. Probably. I doubt we’ll get more than twenty minutes intoDragon Arenabefore we’ll want to gouge our eyes out.” She grinned at Daniel. “You’re not one of those purists who actually likes the movie, are you? I think that would be a deal breaker for Samaya.”
Damn it. I needed to change the subject. “Hey, Hana, what—”
Daniel put his hand on my arm, stopping me. “Ilovethe idea of watchingDragon Arenaoutside. The last time I saw it was at one of those screenings downtown, and they had people shoot water guns at the audience when the matriarch dragon started crying after the hero stole her egg. Do you have water guns?”
Wow.He reallyhaddone his research. Also, theDragon ArenaWiki was really thorough.
Hana clapped her hands. “Oh, of course I do. I’ll pass them out with the kazoos for the final battle. I’ve always wanted to go to one of those screenings. You guys went before, right?” she said, directing the question to someone behind us.
It was Omar and Carson. “Yeah, last year,” Carson said. “The theater smelled like cheese and bleach.”
Omar and Carson sat next to Cass while Hana headed away toward where Devin was sitting. Omar immediately glared at Daniel, mistrust in his eyes.
Was it possible that Omar was LostAxis, and he was glaring at Daniel now because Daniel was pretending to be him? Omar was usually a good guy, but he had been Devin’s friend first, and I’d barely spoken to him since the breakup. If Devin was at the playground build, Omar would have definitely been there, too, because Omar always did what Devin and Jayden did. He normally played an archer in the game and was quite good. I’d never seen him play a mage, so I had no idea what his game-play style would be with a magic class. I couldn’t rule him out the way I’d ruled out Jayden.
But if Omar was LostAxis, I had no idea why he would pretend to be someone else to playDragon Arenawith me. It didn’t make sense.
“How long you been playing, anyway?” Omar asked Daniel, his question sounding like some kind of accusation.Suspicious.
Daniel shrugged. “About a year. But I don’t play much anymore. Not a lot of time lately. I volunteer with Samaya at the family shelter, and I play hockey. We’ve had a lot of practices as we gear up for the season opener.”
“And you’re a Dark Mage, right?”
Daniel nodded. My hackles went up. I glanced at Cass, but they were still talking to their physics friend.
Maybe I could draw out a confession from Omar? “I met Daniel questing,” I said.
“When?” Omar asked, still looking at Daniel, and not me.
“Last March,” I replied, “we played almost daily all summer. He’s such a great player. Honestly, there are no better mages in the guild.” I narrowed my eyes, waiting for Omar to confess.
“What level Dark Mage are you?” Omar asked Daniel.
“Fifty,” Daniel said.
He scowled. “I’d like to see you play. You need to come to Jayden’s party. We’re doing the Diamond Egg quest. You ever do it?”
Omar wasdefinitelyLostAxis. It’s the only reason he would be acting so menacing to Daniel. But I didn’t know how to make him confess. Daniel shook his head. “Nope. Always wanted to. Maybe I’ll come.”
My head shot around to glare at Daniel. Why did he always agree to go to my friends’ parties without checking with me first?
Omar practically growled at him.
This was starting to worry me. Omar was pissed. Which made sense if he was LostAxis, because Daniel had basically stolen his identity. Was Omar going to cause a fight? A scene? So soon after we got here? It was of course laughable that he would consider a physical altercation with Daniel—a hockey bruiser. Omar wasn’t a small guy, but there was no way he’d win against Daniel. I’d never seen Omar look so angry.
Cass finally sensed the tension and stood. “Hey, guys,” they said. “Let’s get some food before it’s all gone. Daniel, Samaya, come on.”
Daniel looked at Cass blankly before getting up.
“Wait, Samaya,” Omar said before I could stand. “Can I talk to you for a sec? Carson, could you leave us alone?”
I frowned. He was going to confess. I didn’t like the idea of having this conversation alone. But maybe Omar wouldn’t say anything with the others here. And I wanted that confession—it was the main reason I’d come to this party: to find out who LostAxis was.
