The arrow lodged in my ribs shifted.
I clutched my chest absentmindedly, running my fingers over the low ache. It was an antithetical feeling. It had settled, yet also intensified—like it was muted, yet put on full volume at the same time.
Was Viol right? Was my fated mate here in this crowd?
I scanned the faces again. The men varied in everything—age, height, weight, skin color. Some were so tall that they blocked the omegas behind them. There was one in particular I couldn’t quite see...
“You all right, big boss?”
Gaius looped his arm around my shoulder—or at least, he tried to. Like most people, he wasn’t quite tall enough to reach, so he patted my shoulder blades instead.
“Sorry?” I said.
Gaius noticed my splintered attention. He wriggled his brows. “Ah, seduced by the crowd already?”
“No.”
Gaius sighed, shaking his head. “I’m waiting for one of you dragons to beexcitedabout being a bachelor. Aren’t you all about hoarding?” He mimed collecting an armful of invisible objects. “What’s more fun than omegas on each arm?”
I frowned. “We only hoard what we love. That includes our mate.”
“Yes, yes, I know. Besides, I can’t see you as the playboy type.” Flashing a devilish grin, Gaius added under his breath, “Unless you have a naughty side I don’t know about.”
“I don’t,” I said bluntly.
He nodded. “Ah well. You’re as honest as a brick wall.”
I suddenly remembered the omegas. I turned around, but they were gone. The staff had already escorted them back to their hotel rooms. The ache in my chest flared.
“I have to go,” I said, stepping off the platform.
Gaius leapt off behind me. “Er, Cobalt, you’re not heading for the hotel, are you?” he stage-whispered.
I nodded brusquely.
“Well,Ihave no problem with a little harmless rule-breaking, but technically you’re notsupposedto visit the omegas in their hotel rooms, especially not in broad daylight—”
The show. I’d forgotten.
But it didn’t matter. Not when he was so close.
Nothing was getting in my way now.
I ripped the mic attachment from my shirt and handed it to a baffled Gaius.
“Cobalt?” he squawked. “What are you—”
“Give it back to me later,” I instructed.
Then I walked straight into the hotel.
* * *
I had never beeninside the building before. When we first discussed the concept of the Games, I agreed to build a lavish modern hotel for our omega guests, but Jade and the staff took care of the rest. It never crossed my mind. Until this moment, it had been just another building on our territory.
Now it was an extravagant labyrinth that stood between me and my mate.
People scurried about around me—various shifter omegas and scaly little kobolds. Some were hotel staff, some were camera crew. I took extra care not to bump into the kobolds. They were so short that I only noticed them when I looked down.
