18. Mylo

Eighteen

Against all odds,we made it.

Barely.

With under a minute to spare, my alpha was sixty seconds away from being turned into a valuable dragon-skin rug.

My alpha... I couldn't even think of that word without feeling jittery and warm. My fated mate.

Aurum.

My brain still hadn't wrapped itself around this whole experience. It was too surreal. Part of me assumed I'd wake up from this fantasy at any moment and return to my old miserable life. But it never happened.

After Aurum and I got dressed, we found Saffron waiting outside the room for us. He acted as our ride, shifting and flying us to the shore. He'd flown me to the castle earlier, too, but the whole concept of flying on a dragon hadn't sunk in yet. I wondered if it would feel different to fly with Aurum. I hadn't seen his full dragon form since the opening ceremony. My heart fluttered excitedly at the idea.

Two figures awaited us at the beach. One of them was Gaius. The other was a tall figure with glasses and long hair tied up in a tidy ponytail that trailed down the front of his chest. Judging by his noble aura and the streaks of green in his hair, I figured he was the dreaded alpha brother, Jade.

"Welcome," Jade greeted us as we landed.

I had no clue how his tone managed to be both wonderfully polite and icy-cold. I thought Aurum was joking about his threats, but maybe he wasn't. Was the lurking camera crew the only deterrent to Jade biting the twins' heads off?

But the crew wasn't filming yet. Like the other alpha dragons, Jade remained off camera, but since Aurum constantly worried about his wrath, I assumed the green-haired alpha managed everything behind the scenes. Then he must've been here to instruct—or scold—the twins.

My suspicion was confirmed when Jade narrowed his eyes and they both gulped.

"You're not quite late," Jade said with a thin smile, "but you were close."

"Hey, we're here, aren't we?" Aurum offered.

Saffron nodded. "Yeah. Even though I'm not actually sure why I'm here."

Jade arched a brow at him. "You're not off the hook yet. Contractually."

"Huh?"

"This season is meant to showcase both of you. Not just Aurum. And don't think I'm unaware of your little involvement during the second challenge," Jade reproached.

Saffron and I exchanged mutually guilty looks. He did technically cheat the challenge by personally handing his item to me.

"Oh, please don't worry, Mylo, you're fine," Jade assured me with a smile. A second later, he turned a venomous glare onto the twins. "It's these two who've been naughty."

"What did I do?" Aurum complained.

"I assume that whatever nonsense you two get into, you do it together."

A beat passed, then Aurum and Saffron smirked at each other. There was an affectionate gleam in both their eyes.

Jade crossed his arms with a mischievous expression of his own. "And if you're going to engage in such horseplay, then so be it. You've forged your own fate." He smiled at me warmly. "Good news, Mylo. Your moonlit date will be an evening of horseback riding."

The twins cackled.

"Oh, no. Jade's finally lost it," Saffron said.

Aurum snorted. "In case you forgot, there are no horses on the island, bro."

Jade's evil smile didn't budge. "No, but there are two large four-legged beasts right in front of me."

The twins' faces fell.

"What?" they roared simultaneously.

The twins pleaded for answers while Jade beamed with demonic pleasure. In the background, Gaius laughed his ass off.

"It's not funny, birdbrain," Aurum snapped. "If anyone should be ridden like a horse, it's you."

Gaius wiped a tear from his eye. "Sorry, bud, wrong critter. I'm a gryphon, not a hippogriff."

"Whatever! Jade, change it. Me and Saffron aren't running around like horses."

"Um," I piped up. "That actually sounds kind of fun."

Aurum blinked at me. His expression calmed down. "You... want to ride me? Like a horse?"

"Didn't you two do enough of that earlier?" Saffron asked smugly.

Aurum whipped towards him. "Wait, you knew about that?"

"Duh. Normal people don't take hour-long showers."

"Crimson does," Aurum pointed out.

"I said normal people."

Aurum let out an exasperated sigh. "Dammit."

Jade snapped his fingers. "Let's keep this on schedule, shall we? You two, shift and go stand over there. We need a good shot of your dragon forms in the moonlight."

"Dude, I can't fucking believe this," Saffron muttered to his twin.

Aurum seemed slightly less annoyed after I expressed my interest. "Yeah, well, it could be worse."

I took Aurum's hand and squeezed it. "If it makes you feel better, I'm really excited to see your dragon again. I know I just saw Saffron's, but... you're different."

Aurum's eyes flashed. He gained a spring in his step. "Let's get this show on the road."

Satisfied with his puppeteering, Jade nodded at the camera crew to begin as he slipped towards the back lines.

"Thanks for playing along," Jade told me. "I must say, I've never seen Aurum so enthusiastic to roleplay as a horse."

I chuckled. "Maybe he'll like it?"

To my surprise, Jade lightly touched my arm. "And thank you. I've never seen him so happy, either. The love in his eyes when he looks at you is beautiful."

I blushed. Once again, the dragon family made me feel welcome. I was so grateful.

"I guess we're doing a bad job of hiding it," I admitted with a weak laugh.

"Hiding what?" Jade asked.

I rubbed my arm. "That we're fated mates."

"Oh, that's perfectly fine," Jade said calmly. "I realize I may seem cruel at times, but it's never my intention to stifle that love. I wish to see it blossom—I only wish for the audience to witness that blossoming, too."

I nodded. That made sense.

"Go on and mount your horse," Jade teased. "The sooner we finish filming, the sooner you two can return to your illicit activities."

I stifled a squeak of surprise. Was it that obvious?

"Gaius, you take over," Jade instructed.

He saluted. "You got it, boss."

"Mylo, come on!" Aurum called from the shore.

The twins stood side by side. They were mirror images, perfect copies of each other. But even from this distance, there were still minor differences. Saffron's expression was friendly and platonic, while Aurum's eyes glittered when he looked at me.

I ran over, then caught my breath. "I'm here. Now what do we do?"

Aurum shrugged. "I guess I shift and you get on my back?"

"What about me?" Saffron asked.

"I dunno. Stand around and look hot, as usual."

His twin grinned. "Thanks, bro."

"No problem, bro."

Gaius swept into the scene with a smile brighter than the white moonlight. He waved, summoning the camera crew and launched into a charismatic speech.

"Good evening, Dragonfate Games viewers! Have we got a special treat in store tonight. As you can see, I've got three beautiful people in front of me—two alpha dragons, and our winner of the second challenge, omega contestant, Mylo!"

My cheeks flushed at being called beautiful. I'd never thought of myself as being attractive before I arrived here. Now, under Aurum's bombardment of affection, plus everyone else's nice compliments, I was finally starting to change my perspective. Maybe I could be beautiful, too.

"What a better idea for a moonlit date than horseback riding on the beach? But I hear your cries. What horses, you may ask? Well, we might not have horses, but we have something better—dragons! Let's watch our bachelors assume their four-legged forms."

Gaius was clearly having the time of his life. Meanwhile, Aurum and Saffron stared deadpan at the cameras.

Suddenly, I felt an icy glare from somewhere behind us, so cold it could freeze hell over. The twins smiled, although a bit forcibly. I didn't dare check over my shoulder, but I had a suspicion Jade lurked behind the camera crew, keeping the twins' facades in check.

Aurum sighed as he faced Saffron. "Ready?"

Replying with a sigh of his own, Saffron mumbled, "As I'll ever be."

They both closed their eyes. Recognizing the shift was about to occur, I stepped back to give them space. My heart skipped with abandon. I was wildly excited to see Aurum's dragon again.

They shifted at the same time, but my focus was utterly on my mate. The way my eyes snapped onto him was pure instinct. I physically couldn't look away, even if I wanted to.

Aurum's inner dragon broke free of his human body. He exploded upward in a magnificent display of gold scales and sharp teeth. Leathery wings unfurled, cracking in the air like a whip. As his long, elegant neck arched in the sky, gilded spikes jutted up along his spine. His black talons curved into the sand, slicing through it like a hot knife through butter.

I held my breath as the shift finally completed. He was just as gorgeous as I remembered.

No, now that I knew he was my mate, he was even more stunning.

A pleasant growl vibrated in Aurum's throat as he tilted his head down. He pressed the tip of his cool snout to my nose. My hands trembled as I stroked his scaly cheeks.

Was this really happening? Was this magnificent dragon really my fated mate?

Aurum suddenly licked my lips, making me squeal with laughter.

"Sorry. Couldn't help myself," he growled mischievously. His dragon form changed his regular voice, turning it smoky and deep. It shot a pleasurable shiver down to my core.

Aurum dropped his belly to the sand and gazed at me expectantly. He wanted me to get on his back.

"I've, erm, never ridden a horse before," I admitted.

He snorted. "Then we're in the same boat. I've never been ridden like a horse, either. Need help getting on?"

I examined the space where his neck met his back. There was a smooth dip between his shoulders that seemed reasonable to sit on. I jumped up and swung my leg over, trying not to look too silly or awkward. When I was actually seated, it felt more natural than I expected.

A happy laugh bubbled out of me. "This is already fun."

Aurum's voice was warm as he rose to all fours. "Then Jade's nonsense was worth it." He glanced at Saffron. "Ready, bro?"

Saffron was in dragon form, too. Somehow, the twins looked even more identical as dragons. But when I looked at Saffron, I didn't get that hot, tingly zap of instinct in my chest.

Saffron held up one paw, as if clutching something. "Huh? Oh, yeah. Let's go... gallop or whatever horses do."

Aurum's shoulders stiffened beneath me as he paused. He must've noticed the hidden item, too, but didn't comment on it.

"Hold on tight," he told me. "If you feel like you're gonna fall, shift to your ferret form. You'll hit the sand easier as a furry tube than a human."

I chuckled. "Understood."

The twin dragons took off. I yelped in surprise and joy as Aurum leapt into action. Cool evening air hit my face and the salty tang of sea water filled my nose. To my surprise, I didn't feel like I was going to fall off, but I clutched Aurum's thick spines for support anyway.

"This is amazing!" I cried over the whipping wind.

Aurum's deep chuckle vibrated between my thighs. "Having fun up there, cowboy?"

He pushed his muscles, running faster over the sand. It was weird to see a dragon run instead of fly, but he was much faster than I expected. Pure elation pulsed through my body. I felt like I was on a roller coaster—I'd tentatively ridden one once in my life before vowing never to do it again—but better in every single way.

"Yo, Saffron! Keep up!" Aurum called over his shoulder.

I glanced over to see Saffron falling behind. He ran on three paws, since one was occupied with whatever he held. I didn't know if it was my imagination, or if Aurum's shoulders stiffened with tension. My suspicions were confirmed a second later when he growled and thwacked Saffron's snout playfully with his tail.

"Ow!" Saffron cried.

"Whoops," Aurum replied in an angelic tone.

Saffron pushed forward, catching up to us. "Dude, I know you did that on purpose."

"Maybe," Aurum admitted. His tone was light and teasing, but there was an undercurrent of concern in it. He stared pointedly at Saffron's curled paw. "So, what's the deal? Does Billy want to chat?"

Who was Billy? I'd never heard of him before. By the sound of it, Aurum wasn't too keen on him.

The scales on Saffron's face went taut. "Yeah, actually. He does."

Aurum's shoulders tensed. "Well... I support you."

I got the vibe that wasn't quite true, but Aurum tried his best to believe it.

Saffron was quiet as he ran. Then, out of the blue, he stretched his wings and shot upwards into the sky.

Aurum's gaze snapped up. I couldn't explain it, but it felt like I understood his feelings, even without the context of their disagreement. Worry radiated off him. He wanted to be there for Saffron, even if he didn't like his actions.

"I need to talk to him," Aurum said. He tried to keep his voice steady so he didn't worry me, but I sensed his unease as if it were my own. "I'll drop you off here."

"No," I said instantly. "I'm coming, too."

Aurum blinked at me. "This is between me and Saffron," he began, sounding unconvinced. "But... maybe you can help us figure it out."

"I want to try," I insisted. "If you're my fated mate, then Saffron is my family, too."

Aurum's golden eyes wavered. "Okay. Then come here. I ain't flying with you on my back, Indiana Jones."

Before I could respond, he reached to grab me with his paw. His grasp was gentle yet firm—and a bit ticklish.

When I was secure in his paw, Aurum spread his wings and launched off the sand. Within a few hard wing beats, he soared above the sea. The air was colder in the sky, and I blinked away the stinging in my eyes.

Saffron hovered miserably, beating his wings every few seconds. He clutched a small silver object in his paw. It looked tiny compared to his dragon form. As Aurum flew closer, I recognized it as a cell phone.

The dexterity of his individual digits surprised me. I wouldn't think a dragon could use a cell phone, but I learned something new every day.

Saffron's expression was clouded. He sighed deeply as he stared at the screen.

Aurum hovered quietly beside him. Tension and concern oozed from him like a fog. I sensed that Aurum had a thousand things he wanted to say, but he held back.

Finally, Saffron spoke. "He wants to call tonight."

When neither dragon went on, I asked meekly, "Um, who does?"

"Billy. He's my... human boyfriend," Saffron replied.

I felt the minute twitch of annoyance in Aurum's paws, but he said nothing. Did he want me to speak on his behalf? Earlier, he mentioned wanting my input on whatever was going on between them.

"I didn't know you had a boyfriend," I commented.

Saffron gave a stiff nod. "I don"t talk about him often. Nobody seems to like him except me," he added, shooting Aurum a pointed glance.

The puzzle pieces came together. "Is that why you haven't been interested in any omegas during the Games? Since you already have a boyfriend?"

"Yeah."

Something felt odd. Saffron was too subdued when he spoke about Billy. He had none of the exuberance that Aurum did when he talked about me, or that Taylor and Crimson had when they interacted. Granted, those were my only experiences with fated mates, but they spoke volumes. In comparison, Saffron sounded almost dejected.

"Then why don't you call him?" I suggested, fishing for his reaction.

Saffron's fingers curled around the phone. "I don't know." He heaved a loud sigh, like a weight lifted off his chest. "At first, it was amazing. We'd talk constantly, and he was so nice to me. Everything he said made me feel special. It was the first time a guy liked me. Not us."

Aurum flinched. "What do you mean?"

Saffron fixed a bittersweet look on him. "You know what I mean. It's always been you and me, and I love that. I always will. But I don't want to share a partner with you, bro. Imagine if me and Mylo got together."

The spines on Aurum's neck bristled, then fell flat again. "Yeah, I get it. That's fair."

I smiled at his possessive flare-up.

Saffron went on. "So, when Billy kept saying he wanted me, it felt nice. I clung to that euphoria."

There was an unspoken but at the end of his sentence.

"What happened?" I asked gently.

Saffron's voice broke as he whipped towards us and cried, "You two happened! I see how happy you are, how in love you are, and I don't feel like that." He gripped the phone tighter, squeezing it so hard I was afraid it would shatter. "All I want is to find my fated mate, and I thought I finally had him, and I..."

As he trailed off, Aurum and I exchanged a sympathetic glance. To me, it was obvious that Saffron wasn't truly in love with Billy—at least, it was not the passionate, soul-deep romance he craved. Billy was a bandage. A temporary solution to his lovesickness. But even in his doubt, Saffron still clung to him. We had to convince him to rip the bandage off.

"Saffron," I said. "Can I, um, suggest something?"

He nodded miserably.

"I have an idea to see if Billy really is your fated mate," I explained.

Saffron perked up, hope flitting across his face. "How?"

"Well, I'm the only one in the Games who can tell you and Aurum apart, right? If Billy is your fated mate, he should be able to do it, too."

Saffron looked hesitantly optimistic. "That's a good idea, Mylo."

I felt Aurum's heart rate speed up as he asked, "And if he can't...?"

Saffron took a breath. "Then I'll admit he's not the one."

"Video call him," Aurum said instantly.

"Now? But we're in dragon form," Saffron fussed. "He knows I'm a shifter, but what if that skews his perception?"

"I can easily tell you apart, no matter what form you two take," I pointed out.

Saffron's ears drooped like he already knew the answer to his dreaded question, but he had to go through with it. He punched the call button and handed the phone to Aurum with a resigned grunt. "Here. Pretend to be me, since you're apparently so good at that."

"Sorry," Aurum said genuinely, then put on his best smile. I got the feeling he detested Billy, but for a scheme like this, he was happy to act love-struck.

Aurum lowered his paws so I wasn't in the picture, but I still saw the phone from my angle. My stomach lurched as the call began and Billy's face flashed on screen. He looked like a regular guy, but my gut instinct told me he wasn't Saffron's mate. It just didn't feel right.

"Billy! I missed you so much," Aurum said. I knew he was faking it, but his tone sounded real enough.

"Oh, hey, baby," Billy said, blinking in surprise. "You look... different."

Aurum pouted. "I know, baby, I'm sorry. I had to be a dragon for a thing on the show."

Hovering on the back side of the phone, Saffron was rigid with anxiety. This must've been awful for him.

"So, you happy to see me?" Aurum asked. His airy lilt had a sensual undertone that made his acting seem shockingly real.

Billy got over his initial surprise. "Obviously," he replied, grinning at Aurum. "I missed you so much, baby. When are you gonna come see me for our special visit?"

Aurum's eye twitched for a millisecond. "Soon, I hope. It's not like I'm doing anything important... Should I come over now?"

Billy looked excited. "I'd love that, Saffy."

The nickname dropped like an icy downpour on our heads.

I saw Saffron's heart breaking in real time. His eyes burned with pain and fury. My chest ached with sympathy for him.

Rage slipped into Aurum's voice, too. "Oh, is that right, Billy?" His voice was mockingly sweet, then erupted into a dragon's roar. "You can't even tell I'm not Saffron, you fucking asshole."

Billy gawked. "What?"

"I'm his twin. And now that you've bared your ass, I'll tell you how I really feel," Aurum snarled. "Go fuck yourself, and never contact my brother again. If you do, I'll find you and rip your head off."

Billy stammered in confusion, then got defensive. "You can't talk to me like that! Put Saffron on the line!"

In a lightning-quick motion, Saffron snatched the phone. "See you never, dickhead."

Then he launched the phone into the sea.

Saffron's shoulders heaved as he caught his breath. Wordlessly, he and Aurum exchanged a long glance, then they crashed in a hug. I squeaked as the dragons' chests collided, but Aurum was careful to keep me out of the way.

"I'm sorry," Aurum said, his voice thick with emotion. "About everything."

"Me, too," Saffron murmured.

With those six words, all the tension between them evaporated. There was nothing left but their unbreakable bond. I couldn't help but smile. It was heartwarming to see them reunite.

Then Saffron pulled back with a dreadful expression. "Uh, I should find that phone before Cobalt kills me for polluting the water."

"Oh, shit. Good idea," Aurum agreed. "Mylo, you're a hunter of small stuff. Help us out here?"

I grinned. "On it."