But then I heard it. Another thud. Not mine. I slowed, breath catching. The sound was steady, deliberate. Not the erratic rustle of a squirrel or the flutter of wings.
Footsteps.
Behind me.
Lady Goldy took off, her wings slicing through the air, sending off a warning. Or at least I thought that’s what she was doing. She circled, but didn’t land or ward off the unwelcome company.
I turned my head just enough to glance over my shoulder. Someone was there. Running. Matching my pace.
Not just any someone . . . Roman.
Chapter XI
Roman
IgroanedthemomentI saw her. Of course it was her. Demi Blake, jogging ahead of me like she was some sexy forest nymph. She shouldn’t have even been out of her cabin. Much less alone, running through the woods in shorts that showed off her shapely legs.
Did I realize my hypocrisy?
Yes.
But she was also the last person I wanted to see this morning. She was making my life a personal hell.
The headlines were asinine. Jazzy was thrilled. Free publicity. Off-the-charts buzz.Love Unscriptedhad never seen interest like this.
But the studio head had already messaged me. A not-so-subtle reminder:Cast members are off-limits. No scandals.
As if I needed the warning. As if I hadn’t already spent the last several hours trying to scrub her voice and the image of how stunning she’d looked last night from my head. Worst of all was how it appeared that I’d crumbled at her feet and come off as a lovesick puppy. For that I blamed Zeus. Not to say I wasn’t taken in by her and her story, but normally Iwould have never told her about the poster or lobbed such softball questions at her.
But here she was. Running. Intruding again. Undoing me without even trying. Or maybe she was trying.
Maybe that was her plan all along.
“You shouldn’t be out here,” I called. “It’s against the rules—and it’s dangerous.”
She turned away from me, not breaking her stride.
“Well, you shouldn’t be able to see me,” she shot back, then pointed skyward. “And I brought protection.”
I looked up.
A golden eagle circled overhead, wings stretched wide, catching the morning light. It was almost blinding.
I stopped running. It was my first time seeing one in person. Majestic didn’t even begin to cover it. I’d heard the rumors—whispers that Zeus had gifted Demi one. I hadn’t believed them. But now, watching the creature glide above her like a living sigil, I knew it had to be true.
It was a rare honor to be bonded to such a beast. A mark of divine favor, even. Zeus must have really cared for her.
If only the bastard would leave me alone.
Against my better judgment, I ran to catch up with Demi. My show was going to get canceled at this rate.
“What do you mean I shouldn’t be able to see you?”
She barely glanced my way. “Cassie,” she said, like that one single word explained everything.
I supposed it did. My blood pressure rose to unsafe levels.
“Your father assured me she wouldn’t hex me or my team.”
