Aurum’s jaw dropped. “Crimson? Thanking me? Wow, Taylor. You’ve really changed him in a short amount of time.”
“I try,” Taylor said, shooting me an impish glance.
“Yes, yes, Crimson is a big, bad salty dragon,” I grumbled. “Now can you get the hell out of my room?”
I took a playful swipe at Aurum, which he dodged thanks to his lanky body. “Don’t forget to shower before filming!”
Twenty-One
Taylor
After a joint showerin Crimson’s luxurious, private-spa-like bathroom, we headed back to the beach where the closing ceremonies were being held. Unlike any other Games-related event, I wasn’t anxious about this one. I felt calm and peaceful, but it was also kind of bittersweet that it was over. I’d looked forward to the end the whole time, and now that it was finally here, it felt surreal.
Crimson landed in his dragon form away from the crowd, then shifted so we could walk over to the main stage together. But Duke, the gruff kobold director, seemed silently pissed that Crimson had been mysteriously absent for so long. Every camera was shoved in our faces, soaking up as much of our hand-holding as possible. Knowing it would be over soon made it bearable, so I just attempted to smile and wave.
Crimson took the whole thing in stride. He flashed grins to every camera lens and made a big show of holding my hand and affectionately bumping my shoulder. I’d never been on the receiving end of PDA before, so this experience was a crash course.
We leapt onto the platform where Gaius waited for us. His shirt-du-jour was a bright pink button-up with red hibiscus flowers printed all over it, as if to highlight the romantic mood. Unlike Duke, who glowered behind his camera, Gaius was genuinely excited to see us. He hugged both of us. Before pulling away, he whispered to Crimson, “Nice catch.” Then he winked at me and resumed his role of host.
“Well, folks, it’s been a whirlwind, thrilling journey, but we’ve finally reached the conclusion of the Dragonfate Games!” Gaius strode across the stage, commanding the attention of the crowd—and the audience who would eventually watch this at home. “Before we begin, I’d like to thankallthe contestants for joining us on this incredible ride.”
As he spoke, I glanced at the people on the beach. All the omegas from the Games were there, including the ones who’d lost earlier challenges. Among the familiar faces were my friends—Poppy, Muzo, Matteo, and I guess that included Alaric now, too. Poppy and Matteo smiled, Muzo waved, and Alaric shot me a knowing glance, like he was ready for Gaius to embarrass me on stage by gushing about my love for Crimson.
Gaius gestured to the small crowd of contestants. “You may not have won the dragon’s heart, but you gave it your all. Any alpha would be pleased to have you.”
He sounded so genuine that it was hard to believe he was a reality TV host. A sudden thought hit me. Gaius was an alpha, too, wasn’t he? He’d never mentioned having a mate. Was there a possibility he was interested in one of the contestants?
“As a reward for taking a chance on the Dragonfate Games, you all have an open invitation to return again next season!” Gaius announced.
A good chunk of the crowd exploded into excited murmurs.
“Next season?” Alaric asked, eyes widening.
Gaius nodded. “That’s right. In fact... come on out here, everyone!”
I looked around, confused. I’d met Aurum earlier, but I didn’t see him anywhere, or anyone else who looked like he might be Crimson’s brother. Where could Gaius hide six alpha dragons?
When I glanced at Crimson for answers, he shrugged. Apparently, he didn’t know either.
But then Iheardthem.
The leathery snap of wings—many pairs of wings—alerted me to their arrival. I stared up at the sky, mouth agape at the sight. Five dragons of various sizes and shades descended from the air. Their scales glittered with every color of the rainbow. The two smallest ones were gold and yellow. Two medium-sized dragons followed, one a lush green and the other pale indigo. The dragon furthest back was the largest. He was deep blue, like a living creature made up of the ocean itself.
Awed sounds came from the crowd. The camera crew swivelled around, getting perfect shots of the dragons’ descent.
It all only lasted a few seconds. The dragons were fast. It felt like I blinked and then the huge, scaly beasts had shifted mid-air, landing on the stage beside us as handsome alpha men.
“Talk about an overly dramatic entrance,” Crimson mumbled to me.
I noticed one was missing. Judging by their hair colors, it must’ve been Viol, the mysterious brother Crimson wasn’t keen on talking about. I assumed he wasn’t participating in the future Games.
“Welcome, dragons, and thank you for that delightful display,” Gaius said.
Since he always talked in a playful tone, I couldn’t tell if he was teasing them or not. Judging by the looks on some of the brothers’ faces, it didn’t seem the grand entrance was their idea. I wondered if production had put them up to it to stir up hype for the next season.
And it worked. The omegas stared up at the alpha brothers with great interest—some of them more than others. For one, Alaric looked ready to jump someone's bones. As I glanced back and forth between my friends and Crimson’s brothers, I wondered if they would find love here on this island, too, just like I did.
I tightened my grip on Crimson’s hand. He squeezed me back gently.
