“Ah. Lovely, isn’t it?” Jade remarked, taking a sip of his drink. “A nice quiet morning.”
Alaric frowned, glancing at Crimson. “What happened to that omelette I was promised?”
Crimson raised a brow. “I don’t recall promising anything. If you want it that badly, why don’t you ask your mate to make it?”
Alaric sighed dramatically. “No, it’s all right. I’d rather him sit where I can see him.”
Jade’s reply was a sly smile.
Their love was beautiful. I could practically see a tangible connection between them, vibrating in the air. They were obviously meant for each other. I felt grateful that fate had brought them together.
Thinking back, I remembered Alaric’s distress on his winning season, and each season leading up to it. He wasfrazzled and stressed he’d never find his fated mate. When it finally happened, it was a huge relief for both of us. I was so happy for him.
I felt the same way with Taylor on the very first season. Although I was nervous when Muzo signed us up for the show, it ended up being for the best. Taylor found his mate in Crimson, and a whole new world opened up for all of us. Muzo eventually matched with Cobalt, whose calm demeanour was a great match for his sprightly energy.
One by one, I’d watched my friends—new and old—discover their fated mates. I watched their love blossom in real time, and supported them every step of the way. I didn’t do it out of any obligation, or secret purpose. I really did just want them to be happy.
I’d always insisted that one day, I’d find my fated mate, too. That was the reason I kept returning to the island, season after season. But the truth was more complicated than that.
My gaze drifted to Viol, sitting across from me. He felt at once so familiar, and so distant. He was close enough that I could reach out and touch him—but if I did, would he pull away? I couldn’t gauge his feelings, and that frightened me. I stood at the precipice of our relationship, frozen with uncertainty, terrified of being rejected.
“Here.”
Viol’s curt comment pulled me out of my thoughts. Before I could refuse, he’d plopped half an uneaten pancake on my plate. It was cut down the middle.
“Now we’re even,” he said.
Something wavered in his eyes. It was cautiously optimistic. Almost warm. A compromise.
He didn’t return half the pancake because he was rejecting it. He returned it because he wanted to share with me. A perfect fifty-fifty split.
I smiled at Viol. Even in his crankiest moments, he was kind. I’d always admired that about him.
“Thank you,” I said.
His eyes flashed before he stared down into his mug. The forgotten coffee must’ve been lukewarm by now. “It’s nothing,” he muttered.
We all continued to eat until not a single crumb or drop of syrup remained on our plates. The atmosphere in the kitchen was uplifting. It was a far cry from my mornings spent alone in my apartment, chewing on plain toast while raucous street noise floated up to my window. Even though I was technically surrounded by people, it was always lonely.
But here, in a kitchen full of familiar shifters, my heart swelled with gratitude and peace. They’d welcomed me into their home, fed me, and most importantly, gave me an opportunity to connect with Viol. They had no idea how much that meant to me.
“Oh man, what smells amazing?”
I perked up at the sound of Muzo’s voice. He bounced into the kitchen like a wound-up toy, followed by his huge mate Cobalt. Their daughter Lazuli was balanced on Cobalt’s shoulder in dragonet form.
“You guys ate already?” Muzo complained. “Are there any leftover—POPPY!”
He gasped and launched himself at me, nearly knocking me off the bar stool. I laughed at my fellow canine’s over-the-top display of affection. I imagined his jackal tail wagging a mile a minute.
“What are you doing here?” Muzo asked. After I explained that Taylor and Alaric invited me for breakfast, he grinned. “That’s an awesome idea. Heck, I didn’t even know you were on the island!” He stopped abruptly, then tapped his chin thoughtfully. “Wait a sec. Does that mean the Dragonfate Games are back on?”
“No,” Viol stated bluntly.
Muzo wasn’t fazed by his sour reaction. “Really? Then why’s Pops here?”
“I asked him to come,” Jade explained, stirring a silver spoon into a fresh mug of tea.
“Just Poppy? Nobody else?”
