15. Aurum

Fifteen

"What doyou mean I can't see Mylo until our date tonight?" I roared.

Jade held his hands up to calm my fury, but it was useless. I was two seconds away from ripping them off.

"We've got to build romantic tension somehow," Jade explained. "Keeping you apart—however briefly—will excite the audience."

"I don't give a flying fuck about the audience," I snapped. "Let me see Mylo."

"Calm down," Jade said patiently. "Nobody's stopping you from seeing Mylo—"

"You are literally doing that right now."

"In the grand scheme of things," Jade finished, raising a brow. "It won't kill you to be apart for a few hours."

I scowled at him. Why did it feel like it would? My chest hurt when I couldn't be around Mylo, and it freaked me out. I growled in frustration and paced the room, wearing a hole in Jade's office floor.

Saffron stood up from his chair and put his hands on my shoulders. "Jade's right. You'll see him soon enough."

I shot him a grumpy look. "Whose side are you on?"

"Yours. Duh."

That felt good to hear. Come to think of it, Saffron seemed less agitated and argumentative than usual lately. Did something happen to chill him out?

"If you're on my side, then help me convince Mr. Producer over there," I grouched, glaring at Jade. He was unfazed.

Saffron leaned closer to my ear. "Trust me, bro."

It was only loud enough for me to hear. A secret between the two of us—just like old times. Was our relationship finally on the mend?

I nodded subtly so Jade wouldn't notice our undercover communication.

Sighing loudly, I announced, "Guess I have no choice but to wait."

If Jade was suspicious, he gave no indication of it. "Good. I'll leave you two to your devices until tonight. Just don't leave the castle, Aurum."

"I won't," I grumbled.

Despite my undyed hair, my identical twin plan fell apart since I took a shine to Mylo. Jade was the sharpest of our brothers, so once I caught feelings for an omega and Saffron didn't, he was quick to differentiate us. I doubted it'd be long before the rest of our brothers caught on, too. So much for my amazing plan.

We left Jade's office so he could jerk off to his organized pile of papers, or whatever it was he did when left alone.

"Can you believe this douchebag?" I muttered as we walked down the hall.

Saffron grinned. "Honestly? It's you I can't believe."

"Why?"

His voice was casual and airy, like he was in a better mood. "You weren't totally honest with me earlier about your feelings for Mylo."

Just hearing his name made my chest feel weird again.

"How so?" I asked.

"I talked to him today during the challenge."

My legs stopped. "What?"

Saffron paused, too. "I wanted a one-on-one conversation with him. I had to know his honest feelings about you, and how you felt about him." He smiled. "It's time for you to be honest, too, Aurum. Trust your instincts."

My cheeks flushed. I felt overwhelmed. "What are you talking about?"

"C'mon, bro. You're not that dense. Admit it. You like Mylo."

"'Course I like him. He's nice. And cute."

Saffron snorted. "That's it? You kicked two people off the show for insulting him, you cuddled him right in front of everybody during the challenge, and you just pitched a fit because Jade wouldn't let you see him for a couple hours."

My jaw dropped. "Those are all normal reactions!" I argued. "It doesn't mean I..."

I bit my lip. I couldn't say it.

Because if I said it out loud, it would be too real.

My heart fluttered like a trapped bird. I liked Mylo, yeah, but I wasn't in love with him.

Was I?

My breath caught in my throat. I'd never loved anybody before, not romantically. I didn't know what it felt like.

Did it feel like... this?

Saffron put his hand on my shoulder. He must've realized I was internally panicking. Thank Holy Drake he knew not to tease me right now. If he did, I might've fallen apart.

"It's okay," he said. "Breathe."

I sucked in a shaky inhale. My lungs felt electrified. My entire body tingled with a strange new energy. It wasn't even bad, just... different.

"I'm good," I mumbled, more to convince myself of it than anything else.

Saffron's fingers tightened on my shoulder. His firm touch brought me down to earth. I shook off the jitters.

"Phew. Thanks," I said.

"Don't worry about it. By the way..." He paused, leaning closer with a conspiratorial grin. "Remember when I told you to trust me? I've got a plan."

I grinned back. "A secret plan? With you, bro? I'm in."

Mischievous energy sparkled in Saffron's eyes. "Go sit by Crimson's room. I'll be back in twenty minutes."

"Wait, what? Crimson's room? And where the hell are you going?"

He raised a brow. "Didn't I tell you to trust me?"

"Well, yeah, but... Crimson? Really? I'm gonna catch his cooties. Shit, I might cream my pants over fabrics."

Saffron chuckled and gave me a playful nudge. "Well, don't get too close until I get back, then. I won't be long. Promise."

He held out his hand for a pinky swear. I didn't hesitate to return it.

After we broke apart and went our separate ways, I noticed my chest didn't feel tight or knotted. It felt clear, like the sun had broken through the overcast sky of my heart. Was I finally patching things up with Saffron?

There was something else, too. For a while, he hadn't touched the phone in his pocket—AKA, his lifeline to Billy the creep.

Following Saffron's instructions,I sat outside Crimson's room, but kept my distance. I didn't want to catch his clothing fetish like a cold.

"I'm back!" Saffron announced.

Even before I raised my head to greet him, I noticed his unusually chipper tone. Then I looked over and my jaw dropped.

Mylo was with him.

I leapt to my feet, running over.

"Mylo!" I cried. "What are you doing here?"

He looked both delighted and deeply confused. "Um, I don't actually know," he said with a bewildered laugh. "I was sitting in my hotel room when a dragon abducted me, and now I'm here."

I was about to rage against the imaginary kidnapper-dragon when I realized it was Saffron. He'd brought Mylo here on my behalf.

"Is this allowed?" Mylo asked hesitantly.

"Yes," Saffron and I said at the same time, which made it sound even more like a lie. And it kinda was.

"So, why'd you tell me to wait out here?" I asked Saffron, gesturing to Crimson's door behind me.

Before my brother responded, I realized Mylo was wearing more awful, ill-fitting clothes. I should've burned his entire wardrobe, dammit. Then he wouldn't have to wear those fugly outfits, and I'd get to see him naked. It was a win-win.

Then I had a twin brain connection moment. That's exactly why we stood outside Crimson's room.

"Ah," I said, nodding. "I got it."

Mylo blinked. "Got what?"

The door slammed open. My pompous older brother peered outside, glaring at us.

"I heard a pair of brats sneaking around," Crimson muttered. Then he noticed Mylo and his expression flipped like a light switch. "Ah, hello! And who might you be?"

"Mylo. Uh, sir."

"It's Crimson. No need for formalities." His gaze flickered over Mylo's outfit. If I thought it was bad, Crimson must've been having an internal meltdown. "I see... Let me guess. You want my expertise in the clothing department."

Mylo blushed, tugging on the end of his overly long shirt. "Are they really that bad?"

"Atrocious," Crimson agreed with a solemn nod.

Mylo's face fell. "Oh..."

My heart clenched. I hated seeing him upset. I put my arm around him reassuringly. "Hey, he's not saying you're atrocious. Just the rags covering your hot body."

The color in Mylo's cheeks deepened. His reactions to compliments were adorable.

Saffron nodded. "If anyone can help you, it's Crimson. He's the clothing freak of the family."

Crimson sniffed but didn't deny it. "It's true, I have a taste for fine clothing."

"One might even call it a fetish," I added, smirking.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Crimson uttered in a single breath. "Come inside, quickly. Kitten, we've got a fashion emergency!" he called over his shoulder.

Mylo gawked as the three of us followed him inside. "This is his room?" he asked. "This is like a whole condo! Are all of your rooms this big?"

Saffron and I exchanged a glance, shrugging. We'd grown up in the castle, so it wasn't unusual to us.

"I guess?" he said.

Mylo stared in silent disbelief, like his brain had glitched out.

Then a tall, broad-shouldered figure approached us. "It's a dragon thing. You get used to the excess after a while." Taylor smiled and held out a hand for Mylo. "I'm Taylor, Crimson's mate."

Mylo shook his hand. "Mylo. I'm..." He stopped, blushed harder, and stammered, "A contestant. Omega. Ferret. I'm Aurum's—friend."

Fuck, he was so cute when he couldn't string a sentence together.

Taylor grinned wryly. "Nice to meet you, Aurum's friend." Thank Holy Drake he changed the subject before Mylo exploded. "I hear we've got a fashion emergency. Is the culprit what you're wearing?"

Mylo shuffled his feet. "Apparently."

"Don't feel bad," Taylor said. "When it comes to clothing, Crimson seems like an arrogant jerk, but he just wants to help."

"I heard that, darling," Crimson called from the closet.

"I said it loud enough that you could, dear," Taylor shot back with a smile.

Saffron glanced around the room eagerly. "Where's Ruby? I'll babysit while you guys do your thing. Ah! Never mind, I see him chewing on Taylor's sewing machine cables."

Taylor blanched, horrified for multiple reasons, until Saffron cackled and said, "Just joking, Tay."

The tiger shifter released a growl so deep it shook my bones. "Joke about my child or my sewing machine again and I'll unmake your dragon plushie," he warned.

Now it was Saffron's turn to blanch. He nodded, saluted Taylor, then darted off to play with Ruby—who was safely sitting in a pen surrounded by toys.

Mylo peered curiously at the pen. The sight of Saffron playing with the dragonet distracted him from the imminent clothes fiasco.

"Do you like kids, Mylo?" I asked.

The smile that bubbled up on his face was too precious. "Oh, definitely. I love kids."

Butterflies fluttered in my chest. I liked kids, sure, but I'd never thought of having my own—not until this very moment. The sudden thought came on like a tidal wave, swamping my misgivings and doubts. Children had never been in the cards for me... but what if they were?

Crimson clapped his hands, disengaging my train of thought. "All right, everyone. It's time to begin. Taylor, the tools, if you please."

The tiger omega snorted. "What am I, a nurse?"

"If you want me to get on my hands and knees, I have no problem doing so," Crimson teased.

As the two made googly eyes at each other, I gagged.

"Can you guys do this later? Preferably without unwilling witnesses?" I begged.

Taylor fetched his tools and Crimson helped him carry the fabrics. Thankfully, their PDA was over. For now.

"They're cute," Mylo murmured as he watched the pair work together.

"Ugh. You think so?" I asked.

"Taylor said he's Crimson's mate. Are they..." Mylo glanced up at me. "Fated mates?"

The way his eyes shimmered made a lump form in my throat. I swallowed it and tried to act natural.

"Yeah, they are," I confirmed. "They got together on the first season of the Dragonfate Games, and then had Ruby."

Mylo shot a wistful glance in their direction and released a soft sigh.

Claws of emotion gripped my ribs. Saffron's words echoed in my head, pounding on my skull like a locked door. He told me to be honest about my feelings. But fuck, it was hard.

I'd really screwed things up. In a twist of irony, my plan to sabotage Saffron's time on the Games ended up with me catching feelings for an omega instead.

Dammit.

My eyes were glued to Mylo. As he watched Taylor and Crimson, I couldn't help noticing the dreamy desire on his face. Did he want what other fated mates had?

And if I got over myself and my stupid pride, could I give him what he wanted?