Saffron wasn’t willing to let it go either. He turned around, narrowing his eyes at me. “Who’she?I wanna know.”
“Nobody,” I insisted. “Pass the popcorn.”
Saffron scrutinized me, as if I’d admit the truth if he stared long enough, but eventually he gave up and thrust the bowl in my hands.
I was halfway to shoving a handful of popcorn in my mouth when the screen panned to a wide shot of the forest cliffs. Was this one of the challenges? I paused, my mouth hanging open as the shot changed. All the omega contestants waited in animal form at the starting line.
“What is this?” I asked.
“Race to the top,” Aurum said, sounding bored. “Whoever’s first wins, except not really, ‘cause Crimson chooses an actual winner regardless of who was first.”
Guilt wormed in my belly. That wasn’t what happened today. Since I was absent, Gaius felt forced to choose a winner based on points... and that was Talon. I tried not to feel too bad about it. After all, Matteo’s jealousy about it ended up in a round of hot sex.
As Gaius said go, all the omegas took off. I held my breath as I searched for a golden eagle. My heart stumbled over itself when I saw him.
There!
Matteo, in all his winged glory, soared to the top of the cliff without a problem. This challenge was incredibly easy for him. For all intents and purposes,heshould’ve been the clear winner—but I sure as hell was glad he wasn’t. Thinking about Crimson picking Matteo as his date made my blood boil. Matteo wasmine.
But Crimson wasn’t after anybody’s mate but his own, and that was Taylor. The camera spent most of its time zoomed in on him and his selfless rescue effort. Seeing Taylor save Muzo from the boulder was nice and all, but I wished the camera would pan back to Matteo, who perched patiently at the top of the cliff.
After what felt like a century, the shot changed to the clifftop where all the winning omegas were gathered. I leaned in, eyes wide and heart racing as I stared at Matteo.
“Isthatwho you’re into?” Saffron asked, close to my face.
I jolted. Since when had Saffron been watching me so closely? Creep.
“What? No,” I blurted.
He flashed a rascally grin. “Don’t bother. You can’t fool me. I see that sentimental look in your eyes.”
Aurum glanced over. “What are you talking about? He looks the same as always.”
“He literally doesn’t,” Saffron argued.
“He literally does.”
Saffron made a face like his twin was delusional. “Can’t you see it?”
Aurum scoffed. “See what? His smudged eyeliner?”
Mercury must’ve been in retrograde if the twins disagreed this much about something.
“My eyeliner isnotsmudged,” I grouched. “Anyway, pipe down, I’m trying to watch the show.”
Saffron ignored me, frowning at Aurum. “Do you seriously not notice that Thystle’s brain is scrambled?”
I huffed. “My brain is not—”
Aurum cut me off. “No? Are you high or something? I can’t believe you’d do that without me...”
“I’mnothigh. Look at him,” Saffron urged, gesturing at me. “He has the same dopey expression he wore all the time as a teenager, when he was obsessed with that singer.”
I couldn’t even be annoyed at their comments. I was too surprised that the twins were in the middle of a real argument. I’d never seen them at odds like this before.
Aurum gave me a half-hearted look before shrugging. “Nope. Don’t see it. Anyway, who cares?”
“I do!” Saffron insisted. “Thystle’s obviously in love!”
