A tangible shock ran down my spine. Gasping, I backed away from the window.
What the hell wasthat?
I allowed myself a moment to get over the tingly sensation. Thankfully, neither of my friends noticed. They were both enthralled by the suit-wearing man outside.
"I'm gonna go to my room," I mumbled, then took off before they could stop me.
Once inside, I sighed loudly and collapsed on the bed. The crisp, white bed sheets felt cottony soft and comforting beneath my skin. I took a breath to decompress after the whirlwind chaos leading up to this point.
This was my new reality. I was a contestant in the Dragonfate Games. I'd entered on a whim, thinking it was to protect my friends... but was that really true?
Would my life be the same after this?
Six
Crimson
As the staffbuzzed and bustled around, I did my best not to yawn. Filming a TV show was a lot more boring than I expected. Most of it involved waiting around while the professionals did all the work. All I had to do was stand there and look handsome. Easy enough.
But the opening ceremony was about to start, and that's when my real work began. I had to act like I truly gave a shit about the show and its contestants, if only to pave the way for future seasons.
My brothers were counting on me, so IguessedI'd give it my all.
The ceremony was being filmed on the beach with the sunset as a backdrop. A platform had been set up, and the staff gathered the rested-up contestants from their rooms.
I glanced curiously back at the hotel. I hadn't seen the omegas arrive, but I'd caught a glimpse of one through the second-floor window. The sun's glare made it hard to tell who it was, but I was oddly intrigued.
Not that it mattered. I wasn't bedding any of these omegas. I just had to be friendly with them until this was over. Maybe I'd throw in a round of flirting or two for good measure.
"You ready, bro?"
The dual voices came from behind me. Saffron and Aurum grinned expectantly. I was surprised to see them here so close to filming. Duke, the director, had told all my brothers to stay away from the set.
"Ready for this to end," I replied.
Aurum snorted. "Yeah, whatever. Once it starts, you'll change your tune."
"Doubtful."
"You're lucky," Saffron said, pouting. "We're not even allowed to watch the filming. We only get to show up at the end, after you find your mate. Duke says it'll warp our opinions on the contestants if they reappear on later seasons or something."
Duke currently barked last-minute orders on stage. He hadn't noticed them yet.
"Yeah, he put us in time-out and ordered us to stay put in the castle," Aurum grumbled.
As annoying as the twins were, I sensed their disappointment at not getting to watch.
"Think of it as delayed gratification for when youdofinally get to meet the contestants," I reminded them. "Besides, you can watch the episodes after, right?"
Aurum frowned. "Yeah, but it's not the same..."
A bright voice called out, "Trouble in paradise, dragons?"
Gaius strolled over with a pearly white grin. He was a gryphon shifter, and a long-time friend of the family. With his oozing charisma and picture-perfect smile, he was the perfect host for the Games.
His cyan-blue Hawaiian shirt, on the other hand, was my least favorite thing about him. It was an eye-searing abomination.
"Must you really wear that?" I asked with a sigh, pointing to the fashion atrocity.
