He kneeled on the rocky outcrop and nodded in greeting. “Sorry. Did I scare you?”
“N-no,” I lied.
He eyed the shirt held tightly in my paws and grinned. “You found that, huh? Guess I shouldn’t be surprised.”
I fidgeted with the fabric. I’d never been alone with Saffron before, and it made me feel awkward. It wasn’t anything like being alone with Aurum. They were incredibly different. Why was I the only one who noticed it?
“So, we didn’t quite get off on the right foot,” he said. “I’m Saffron. But you already know that, don’t you?”
I nodded meekly.
He let out a one-note laugh. “I dunno how you figured it out. No one’s ever been able to do that. Not even our own brothers.”
I tilted my head. “Really? But it’s so... obvious.”
Saffron regarded me curiously. “First I’ve ever heard that. You’re something special, Mylo. I can see why Aurum likes you.”
My face felt aflame.
Saffron scratched his head, then glanced around. “I’m only saying this because it’s you, okay?” He let out a deep sigh. “It’s cheesy as hell, but I thought we’d find our fated mates at the same time. Twin connection and all. I told him I didn’t want to share a season with him, but that was because he pissed me off.” He flashed a lopsided grin, but it fell away into a frown as he fiddled with something in his pocket. “I mean, I like someone too, but...”
After he dropped the phrase ‘fated mates’, I could barely concentrate on his words. I thought I was going to faint. Not just Alaric, but Saffron too? How could all these people make the same mistake?
“That can’t be it,” I interrupted. “Ican’tbe Aurum’s fated mate.”
Saffron leveled a sharp look at me. “Why?”
I swallowed. “Um...”
He didn’t wait for me to bumble around. “Let me tell you something about Aurum. Hehatesromance. He insisted he’d never find his fated mate because he said he didn’t have one.” Saffron’s eyes softened. “But I see the way he looks at you. Theway he talks about you. He’s so fucking head over heels, he doesn’t even realize it.”
I couldn’t wrap my mind around this. Was Saffron telling the truth?
Was Aurum really in love with me?
My ribs shrank around my pounding heart. I felt dizzy with emotion. If I pinched myself hard enough, would I wake from this dream?
“Tell me something, Mylo,” Saffron said gravely. “Do you love my brother?”
My body froze. I met his gaze, unblinking. His amber eyes were knives carving past my shield of shyness. I couldn’t lie or be humble anymore. Saffron wanted the truth from me, and he was going to get it.
“I...” My voice broke. “I do.”
As the words left my mouth, a weight lifted off my shoulders. I’d suppressed my emotions so hard, I didn’t realize how good it felt to embrace them.
I sucked in a shaky breath. “Yeah,” I said, nodding slowly. “I do. I love Aurum.”
A genuine smile broke over Saffron’s face. His eyes were warm and happy, but I thought I saw a bittersweet flicker, too.
“Glad to hear it.” Saffron fished in his other pocket, pulled out a yellow bandana, and tossed it to me. “There. That’s my hidden item.”
I blinked. Saffron’s scent was on it, but it wasn’t as strong—or alluring—as Aurum’s scent.
“I thought this was hidden in the forest,” I said.
Saffron shrugged. “I dug mine out since I didn’t want randos finding it. Seriously, I can’t stomach another dinner with strangers.”
“Then... you wantmeto win the challenge?” I asked in disbelief.
