“Mmm... See? Epic,” I said.
He smiled shyly. That seemed to calm his anxiety.
“Um, how was your shift?” he asked.
I shrugged as I took another bite. “Fine. Same as usual.”
The words felt gross as they slipped out of me. Lying to Poppy was like pouring a bucket of water on a rain-soaked kitten.
“That’s good,” Poppy replied.
“Yup,” I agreed.
I kept chewing. Poppy didn’t make a move to leave. Now what?
I bounced on the balls of my feet. “Well... I better head home. Big day and all. Thanks for the grub, Pops.”
“Sure.” Poppy paused, then suddenly sniffed the air. “Um...”
I froze. Crap.
Poppy was a wolf shifter. His nose was infinitely better than a human’s. There was no doubt he noticed my heightened I-haven’t-had-a-real-shower-for-two-days smell. Would he ask why?
But Poppy also had debilitating anxiety. Maybe he’d be too nervous to bring it up for fear of offending me.
Poppy bit his lip. “Um... Muzo—”
My phone suddenly rang.
Poppy yelped, nearly jumping out of his skin. I was grateful for the interruption. It saved me from a gnarly game of trying not to lie to my best friend.
I picked up the call without checking the caller ID. “Yo!”
“Hi Muzo!” Winnie’s familiar voice replied.
Excitement bloomed in my chest. Winnie was the dragons’ secretary. She only ever called about the Dragonfate Games.
“I bet you’ve already guessed what this call is about,” Winnie remarked.
“The Games?” I asked eagerly.
Beside me, Poppy gasped, his brown eyes widening.
“Oh, I recognize that little baby voice. Is Poppy with you?” Winnie asked.
“Sure is,” I confirmed.
“Great! That saves me another phone call.” Winnie cleared her throat. “Pack your bags, boys! Dragonfate Games season three! Be there or be square! No, but seriously, your flights are booked for next Friday. We’ll send the cabs to your addresses as usual. See you soon!”
Four
Cobalt
Voices surroundedme as Jade and Duke hashed out details of the upcoming television season. I was present for the discussion, but only physically. I wasn’t really here. My mind was elsewhere.
I stared out into the horizon from the bay window in Jade’s office. It was in a separate room from the personal library that was his hoard, the architectural equivalent of a mudroom separating us from his precious books. I had more leeway to be close to Jade’s hoard, since I was his eldest brother, but Duke had no such privilege.
Though I couldn’t say I afforded my brothers the same courtesy. None of them had ever seen my hoard—or even knew its contents. That was a secret I held close to my chest.
