“He would’ve done fine if the other contestants didn’t interfere,” I insisted.
It didn’t bother me that Aurum didn’t understand. I saw something different than everyone else that day—something only I would’ve noticed.
Aurum shrugged dismissively. “I dunno. I just think you can do better, Cobalt.”
Saffron started, his eyes widening. “Dude. You can’t say that.”
Frowning, Aurum met his twin’s shocked gaze. “Why? It’s my opinion.”
“Still,” Saffron argued, now sporting a frown of his own.
“What? I’m not saying he shouldn’t like the guy, I just said he could do better—inmyopinion,” Aurum repeated.
The sudden tension in the air gave me pause. The twins rarely argued, but they’d been doing it more often since the Dragonfate Games first started. Saffron was always the sensitive one while Aurum leaned more devil-may-care, but their differences intensified when it came to love. It was strange and uncomfortable to see them disagree.
“It’s fine, Saffron,” I said to diffuse the situation. “I’m not offended.”
Aurum took that as a win. He puffed out his chest. “See?”
“Hmph,” Saffron muttered, facing the screen again.
The awkward blip faded as the twins got absorbed in the live stream again. I didn’t care what happened on the screen unless Muzo was involved, so I laid back in my chair and shut my eyes. Jade must’ve directed the camera crew to capture more footage of the other contestants so they’d have enough diversity for the final cut.
I couldn’t have given less of a shit about the TV show. I just wanted my mate. Wasn’t that the point of all of this?
“Cobalt, you have a scary expression right now,” Saffron said hesitantly. “You okay?”
I peeked an eye open. “I do?”
“It’s just his resting alpha face,” Aurum remarked. “He’s probably pissed he’s not macking on Muzo right now.”
“I am,” I stated.
Aurum shook his head. “I don’t get that. You seriously can’t handle spending, what, an hour or two apart?”
Aside from his usual tone, his question sounded genuine. But the longer I spent in this office, the thinner my patience wore. Aurum’s comment grated on my nerves.
“When it happens to you, then you’ll understand,” I assured.
Aurum barked a derisive laugh. “Yeah, no. That won’t be happening to me.”
Saffron stared at him again. I did the same. The office went uncomfortably silent for a beat.
“What?” Aurum asked. “You guys are looking at me like I said the worst thing imaginable.”
“What do you mean, it won’t happen to you?” Saffron demanded. “Are you, like, worried that it won’t?”
“No. I just don’t care,” Aurum said bluntly. “Now can we get back to the stream?”
But Saffron looked frazzled. “What do youmeanyou don’t—”
Suddenly, a flash of black and blond hair caught my eye. Muzo was on screen.
I bolted from my chair. In my excitement, I accidentally shouldered the twins aside. They fell over like a pair of bowling pins.
“Hey!” Aurum cried.
Saffron gasped, pointing at the screen. “Look, there he is!”
