A tinge of pink bloomed on his pale cheeks. He cleared his throat and turned his face so I couldn’t see it.
“Do you think any of them notice I’m missing?” he asked, nodding at the rambunctious crowd of omegas. They’d apparently grown bored and were now chanting something about “chugging”. A couple security kobolds stood on standby, ready to defuse any drunken conduct. Since the bar staff were packing up, it was safe to assume the alcohol supply was officially cut off.
“No,” I said. “Now answermyquestion.”
“Can’t a guy evade interrogation in peace?”
“Not after I saved your life,” I teased.
He huffed. “Wow, blackmail much? Youaredark. Is that why you dress like you’re in the mafia?”
The comment blindsided me, making me choke into laughter. “What? I do not!”
“Yes, you do,” Thystle argued flatly. “White shirt. Black pants. You’re dressed like you’ve got something to hide.”
I gawked at him. How could he be so right, yet so hilariously wrong? “I can assure you I’m not in the mafia,” I said wryly. “And Taylor wore something similar back on season one. Well, before Crimson spilled soda all over his white shirt and stained it forever.”
“My brother spilled a drink on Taylor?” Thystle blurted with a laugh. “Wow, he conveniently left that out in all his stories.”
“You didn’t watch the first show?” I asked.
“It’s not my thing.” He shuffled his feet. “But now I kind of wish I had. So I could see more of you.”
Warmth suffused my chest.
“There wasn’t much to see,” I admitted. “I didn’t perform particularly well in the challenges, and I didn’t do anything memorable. Alaric was my fellow contestant, and he didn’t even recall my name.”
Thystle scowled. “Whatever. I’m gonna watch the episodes you’re in. I’ll fast-forward through all the other crap.”
I was genuinely shocked. Why would he offer to do that? Was he just being nice? “You don’t have to—”
Thystle sharply glanced at me. “I will. And that’s the end of it.”
The sudden twist of ferocity reminded me of who I was dealing with—an alpha dragon. A creature of supposed myth.
One who’d taken such a liking to me that he’d watch a full season of TV in which I was a mere background character just to see glimpses of me.
Something glinted in the corner of my eye. It was a reflection of light from the camera lens. I’d completely forgotten the Dragonfate Games were being filmed. Did the crew get our whole conversation?
Was I now a person of interest?
Paranoia surged through me. My muscles tensed. Because I was so comfortable around Thystle, I’d let my guard down. I hoped I hadn’t said anything on film I’d regret later.
“Hey.” Thystle’s quiet voice pulled me out of my racing thoughts. “Don’t worry about the cameras. Focus on me.”
To drive his point home, he glared at the camera crew until they backed off. They’d have to be content with filming from afar.
Some of the tension left my shoulders. Thystle noticed my discomfort and acted instantly. It felt good that he’d looked out for me, the same way I did for him.
Did he share the way I felt about him, too? Judging by the way he continued to lean on my shoulder, I wondered if that was the case...
The fluttering feeling in my chest could no longer be contained. It seeped throughout my limbs, making them tingly where Thystle touched me. I didn’t want him to move. I wanted him to stay there, resting on me forever.
Without thinking, I raised my arm to put it around him. The urge felt natural. It feltright.
Just before my hand landed on him, someone cleared their throat, jolting both of us. We pulled apart.
At first I bristled, thinking it was the obnoxious jock omega from earlier. But it was a contestant I hadn’t met yet. The man had slicked-back dark hair and sharp, cutting brown eyes. Unlike me, he had no issue looking flashy. His loosely buttoned shirt revealed the top half of his chest, and an expensive watch glinted on his wrist.
