"I know your type," Alaric spat. "You exotic apex shifters are all the same, thinking you're better than the rest of us."
As much as I wanted to ignore the bait, the hairs rose on the back of my neck. Unfortunately, Alaric was skilled at getting on my nerves.
"I've never said that," I growled back. "Don't put words in my mouth, Alaric."
He rolled his odd-colored eyes. "Wow, the great tiger even knows my name."
Why wouldn't he leave me alone?
I'd had enough of this shit. I turned to him and asked, "What's your problem?"
"You," Alaric said flatly.
"What have I ever done to you?"
Alaric glared furiously at me. "You think you're too good for Crimson. I don't even know why you're here when you're obviously not taking the Dragonfate Games seriously."
I snorted. "If anyone's taking theGamestoo seriously, it's you."
An angry caterwaul rumbled in Alaric's throat. If he was in cat form, his white pelt would be spiked.
"Unlike you, I'm here to find a mate!" he snarled. "I'll prove my worth to Crimson. I'll show him I'm better than the riff-raff."
"Did you just call me riff-raff?"
Alaric's narrowed eyes glinted like knives. "It's what you are for toying with Crimson's heart."
Out of all the insults he'd hurled at me, that one cut me the deepest. The hairs rose on the back of my neck and my hands curled into fists at my sides.
"Don't make assumptions about me,house cat," I growled in a low voice.
Even Muzo must've felt the tension in the air because he thrust himself between us before a catfight began in earnest. In one breath, he said, "Hey, would ya look at that? We're in the main lobby already! Better get going, see you!"
Alaric remained in the elevator out of spite as the three of us emptied into the lobby.
I breathed a sigh of relief. "Sorry you guys had to see that."
Muzo patted me. "No worries, Tay. That twink has a chip on his shoulder. Let's grab a snack and relax before your big date. Ooh, speaking of chips, they have salt and vinegar..."
* * *
As evening descendedupon the island, my nerves were shot. I didn't particularly want to go on my date with Crimson, but I also didn'tnotwant to... It didn't make any sense.
I'd dressed in a simple white button-up shirt and black pants. Thankfully I had a spare shirt after Crimson dumped his drink all over the other one.
An unbidden snort of soft laughter came out of me at the memory. He was an idiot, yet still managed to be charming.
As I left the lobby, my friends wished me luck. Muzo had tried scrounging for a pair of binoculars so he could watch my and Crimson's ocean-side date from his hotel room, but couldn't find any. He'd have to be satisfied using his imagination.
I wasn't alone on the way to my date, though. An entourage of cameras followed me. The short, scaly camera crew—all lizard-people called kobolds—were good at staying out of sight, but that didn't stop the feeling ofknowingI was being watched. Could I really enjoy a date while it was being filmed?
It was too late to do anything about it now. I'd sealed my fate the second I agreed to be on this foolish show.
The ocean breeze caressed my face, cool and salty. Ahead lay a sandy strip of beach with a wooden platform, the same one I'd seen in the opening ceremony. Warm lights and colored paper balls were strung around the perimeter, giving the space an inviting glow. A single table with two chairs stood in the center.
And there was Crimson.
As soon as he saw me, he stood up.
