Thystle stood across from Talon. I could see Talon’s face, but not Thystle’s since his back was to me. The other omega continued to wear that smug grin. He thought he’d won.
Maybe he had. I wouldn’t know until Thystle said something.
Thystle raised his arm, silently asking for Talon’s phone. Talon handed it over as proof of my crime. He reminded me of a snitching child, eager to be praised.
Thystle glanced down to read the screen. The longer he stayed silent, the more stressed I became.
As awful as Talon’s disruption felt, his declaration wasn’t technically false. Would Thystle ever forgive me for being the reason TalonStorm disbanded? All I could do was wait and see.
“Gaius,” Thystle finally said without lifting his head.
The gryphon shifter popped up behind me. He leapt over the stage, standing next to Thystle. “Yes?”
Thystle handed him the phone. “Add this to the safe of confiscated items. He can have it back when he’s packed to leave on the flight home—which I want arranged for later tonight.”
Talon’s jaw dropped. “What?” he sputtered.
“Maybe I wasn’t clear,” Thystle said, his voice dripping venom. “You’re out. Not only did you break the rules, you harassed and physically assaulted another contestant.”
Pure disbelief spread over Talon’s face. “You’re not serious. I barely touched him!”
“So, youdidtouch him,” Thystle growled. “Go back to the hotel and pack your shit. I’ve wasted enough time entertaining you.”
My heart experienced whiplash. The terror I’d felt seconds ago melted away into desperate relief. I sank into the chair as the tension evaporated from my body.
Talon didn’t move. He looked torn between anger and shock. “That’s it? You don’t carehewas the reason your favorite band broke up?”
A draconic edge slithered into Thystle’s voice. “What part ofgo back to the hoteldon’t you understand? Don’t push me, Talon. If you say one more thing about Matteo, you might regret it.”
“Erm, Thystle,” Gaius said under his breath. “You shouldn’t really threaten the contestants...”
“It’s not a threat,” Thystle growled. “It’s a promise.”
Gaius sighed in defeat. Clearly, there was no arguing with an enraged dragon.
“Fine. I’ll leave. Give me back my phone,” Talon snapped. He snatched it from Gaius, who didn’t bother keeping it away from him. “Just know this. You’re making a huge mistake, Thystle. Matteo is nothing but trouble!”
My heart turned to lead, sinking into the pit of my stomach. I didn’t know what was said in the article, but I doubted it was far from the truth. Vani and Keaux, my former friends and band members, telling their version of what happened the day TalonStorm broke up.
Because of me.
Thystle was dead silent. The security and camera crew stayed frozen to the spot, waiting for his reaction. I didn’t dare breathe.
All of a sudden, Thystle shoved Gaius backwards. I barely had a second to wonder why—in a flash of twisting bones and magic, Thystle’s form changed. His dragon self exploded out of his human flesh. The handsome man disappeared, swallowed up by a massive, lithe dragon with glittering amethyst scales. Spikes of darker purple rose up along his spine, and black talons jutted out from his scaly paws.
When the shift completed, Thystle reared his head and punched out a terrifying roar that I felt in my bones.
Talon swore and stumbled back, falling on his ass in the sand. Meanwhile, the camera crew crowded closer, getting the best shots of Thystle’s dragon transformation.
During the chaos, Gaius ended up beside me, chuckling. “There he goes. That’s how you know a dragonreallylikes you.”
A fluttery sensation wrapped around my ribs. Did Thystle want to protect me so badly he couldn’t control his transformation? That was the sweetest thing anyone had ever done for me.
“Stand up,” Thystle ordered Talon, his voice distorted in his dragon form.
Talon staggered to his feet, clearing his throat and dusting the sand off his rump as he tried to recoup his dignity. “Well, what do you think about what I’ve told you?”
Smoke trailed from Thystle’s nostrils as he snorted. “I think you can shove it up your ass.”
