Chapter 11

11

I didn't see Kade later. Nor Poppy or Alistair. It wasn't all bad. Rory and I had a solo dinner together, which we hadn't done since our first days in the Upper Peninsula. The cantina, a large neon pink circus-style tent, had a buffet set up that reminded me of my high school salad bar, and long cafeteria style tables sat in neat rows. Hours were posted on a makeshift sign and, so everyone trickled through at some point. Tonight, we'd come late. The food was picked over, the tent only half full. Jabril had breezed in with a bottle of wine and his pan flute, then grabbed a to-go burger and an enormous pile of grapes and hurried out into the evening. He was . . . odd, to say the least.

Even odder, everywhere Jabril went, the distinct sound of hooves followed. One day last week I'd finally asked the others what that was about, and they'd all looked at me like I had two heads. Kade and Alistair had way better hearing than any human, so I couldn't figure out why they didn't notice it. At first, I'd suspected they were fucking with me, but no, they really didn't have any idea. With no answers forthcoming, I dismissed Jabril from my mind—I spent enough of my days around the guy.

I pushed my tray away after I finished eating. I'd drop it in the bin when we left but wanted to spend more time with Rory first.

"'Kay. Bestie talk. When are you going to make your move on Alistair?" I kept my voice low so no one would overhear.

He tossed a cold fry at my head.

"Uh, never." He pursed his lips like I should know this.

"Why not?" I rested my elbows on the table.

"It's not like he's unaware of my interest. Besides, we work together. No one needs that on the set."

"Needs what? To see you happy and getting laid?"

He sighed. "That's just it. I don't want to just get laid."

My eyebrows shot up. "Who are you, and what have you done with my best friend?"

He threw another fry my way. "I'm serious. I like him. Really like him. You're aware of his reputation. He's not a relationship kind of guy. And we've got a solid friendship going on. I don't want to ruin that. Plus, from what I've heard, at the moment he's making his way through the unattached camera operators."

Huh, I wasn't aware of that. I knew he'd hooked up with a few of the grips, though. But I didn't know who he thought he was fooling. I saw how he looked at Rory. It wasn't only sexual, though he brought the heat. That vamp might not realize it yet, but he returned Rory's interest. They needed a little push. Or possibly a shove. I chewed on my lip considering how to do that.

"And what about you?" he asked, breaking into my scheming.

I blinked. "What about me?"

He picked up a handful of fries and brandished them menacingly. "Are you serious?"

I held up my hands. "Okay, okay, what do you want me to say?"

"Are you going to tell Kade you'd like to buy a cute little house with a white picket fence with him and 2.5 kids and a dog?"

"Keep your voice down." I scanned the tent to see if anyone had heard. No one paid us any attention. I leaned closer. "Why would I do that? He's got a girlfriend, remember? And he's straight. Not messing with that combo, no matter how much I'd like to see where things could go. Plus, he probably thinks I'm a cheater and only out for a good time."

"Break-ups happen, and I'm not sure he's as straight as he or you seem to assume. If anyone can tempt someone to the bi side, it's you. And he heard what I said to Hyde. No way he believes the rumors. He looks at you when you're not aware of it, and I'm telling you, that wolf wants to eat you up. You may be oblivious. I'm not."

"You and your rose-colored glasses. You've seen my costume. I'm supposed to embody desire. No one believes I'm actual relationship material. Hell, if I didn't know me, I'd think I was a cheater. Matt may be a snake, but he's a convincing one. Besides, Kade's dating a supermodel. I'm hot, though not that hot. She's also a wolf, and I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm not. Wolves only go for other wolves. And even if I could change his mind—which I can't—I'd never try to break up a happy couple. Well, except on film. Fucking with Poppy is becoming one of my favorite things. That's wrong, huh?"

"Not letting you change the subject. You like this guy. He's the first person you've shown interest in since you and Matt split."

"So what? It just means I'm recovering. There will be other guys. He's unavailable. And we're friends. I don't have a lot of those. And like you said, why would I risk ruining it?"

"Because you get stars in your eyes any time you see him."

"It's a crush—"

"Bullshit. You were with Matt for almost eight years, and you never looked at him the way you do Kade."

I gritted my teeth. So much for keeping my secret a secret. Did everyone see it? Did Kade? "It's just a physical attraction. I don't even understand it myself. It's as if my every nerve ending is attuned to him. I've never experienced anything like it. It almost freaks me out a little."

"Then do something about it. At least tell him. You can't let Matt ruin your future happiness."

"You're such a sap. Not everything is a fairy tale." I reached into my pocket, and yep, I pulled out the coin. I glared at Rory.

"I didn't prank you with that coin! I keep telling you, it's not me." Rory crossed his arms, a mulish set to his features.

"So, you've been giving it to Ali to do. With his vamp speed, I bet he plants it without me knowing." This had become a daily occurrence.

"I swear on my love of ‘The Elves' Cursed Coin' that I have nothing to do with it and have no idea how it keeps ending up in your pocket."

Huh. That was more binding than a bff pinkie swear. "Fine. I believe you. But I pulled it out because as long as you're talking romantic nonsense, I might as well ask my magic eight ball for its opinion."

"Magic eight ball? Seriously?"

"Ali claims it's magic, so why not?"

Rory snorted. "Yeah, I'm sure."

"Will Kade and I end up together?" I intoned in my best séance voice and tossed the coin in the air. I caught it. Dragon side up. I hadn't actually expected that. I figured it would land on the raven side since that pretty much summed up my luck with love. But I'd take it.

Rory tapped the coin. "Maybe that's telling you something?"

"That I have terrible taste? Because we all know how Matt turned out, and pining for a taken straight guy is a waste of time."

"So you admit you're pining."

"No more than you are." I gave him a cheeky smile.

"Then we're both screwed."

"Or unfortunately not, as the case may be."

Two days later, I stood in the woods, shivering and cursing my life choices. I hated rain. At least when I was shirtless and running around in forty-degree temperatures. After this scene I'd be spending a lot of time in a shelter under one of the huge heat lamps, if I didn't die from hypothermia first. They'd given me a tiny cloak that was more a sexy shawl than anything to keep me warm. It basically covered my shoulders and nipples and not much else.

We were supposed to be surrounding our enemies and taking them by surprise. The makeup and costuming department had outdone themselves on the goblin-like creatures we were about to fight—though they were all nice and dry under a shelter with a heat lamp.

Yes, I was feeling bitter.

While we'd go through the motions of battling the goblins for the film, a lot of this scene would be CGI, since Kade was supposed to shift into a dragon. I'd watched him earlier as he slowed down his shift to his wolf so they could use some of the footage to have his metamorphosis look more natural.

I shouldn't admit this, but while the shift looked painful, the result had me panting like I'd run a race. There was something so primal seeing him go from a man to a beast. When he glanced my way, his eyes glowed a blinding gold, and I had to walk away so he wouldn't see my erection. My costume didn't hide much. This lust was inconvenient, though I could handle it. Barely. It was everything else that threw me. He was . . . a good person. Dependable, talented, driven, and said exactly what he meant. After Matt's cloying charm, Kade was a refreshing breath of air.

Rory wasn't wrong when he said I wanted a lot more than sex. Ugh, this crush was so annoying!

I waited on Jabril's command to run from my starting marker—again—toward a clearing where we'd engage the enemy. We didn't even have horses for this scene since we were supposed to be sneaking up on the goblins. At least Bruce was bedded down and warm in his stable and not out in this miserable drizzle.

I jogged in place as Jabril spoke with one of his assistants. Hurry up! I'd already done the run three times. Where was a stand-in when I needed one? Jabril was a fucking sadist. He insisted I do one more take. My nipples were going to freeze and fall off at this rate. I'd had to have my makeup touched up twice already, and they'd taken a blow dryer to my hair so that I wouldn't look like a drowned rat. Just an artfully drenched one.

When I shook my head to keep water from dripping onto my face, something fell from my hair and hit my boot.

The coin. Raven side up. I groaned. How fitting. I was tempted to leave it but bent and stuffed it into the top of my boot. This pranking was getting ridiculous. Was hair and makeup in on the joke now?

When Jabril gave me the signal, I took off like the hounds of hell were on my heels. I kept up my pace, brandishing a recurve bow. I'd pretend to shoot a few prop arrows, then trade it for a short sword that was strapped to my quiver. It was awkward as fuck to grab the sword, so I'd practiced until the motion was practically second nature. I'd gone over the scene with one of the fight coordinators, and I did a decent job with a sword, though nothing like I could use the bow and arrow.

When I was halfway to the ending marker, a cacophony of raven calls rose from the nearby trees. A whoosh, and then a dozen ravens dove at me, so close I felt the flutter of their wings. One scraped talons across my shoulder. I dropped the bow and threw up my hands to protect my face. They kept coming. I sprinted away from the path as they tore at my hair and arms. I vaguely heard Jabril yell, but my only thought was to get away.

I broke into a clearing, and the birds followed. I sped up, my blood pounding in my ears. What the fuck? Why were they attacking?

A huge stag ran directly into my path, his antlers lowered in an aggressive stance. I skidded to a stop, almost impaling myself on the tines. The birds squawked and fled for the trees. Oh, fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck. Frying pan, meet fire.

I stood stock still, afraid any movement would cause him to gore me. I should try soothing words, but my tongue was glued to the roof of my mouth, and I couldn't think of a single thing to say, anyway.

The stag slowly lifted his head. He had the largest rack I'd ever seen. One tine even had a scrap of bright orange fabric trailing from it like a tiny victory flag. Oh, wow. Old George. The thirty point. He wasn't just a legend. He held my gaze, his eyes expressive and wise beyond what an animal's should be. And like that, my heart rate slowed. He wasn't here to hurt me. Don't know how I knew. But I knew.

We continued staring. It felt like an hour though was probably only seconds. He kicked at the grass behind him. The ground fell away. What the hell?

He ambled to the side and looked over his shoulder, like I should come see. So, I did. A pit. With spikes at the bottom. My gaze shot to his again.

"T-Thank you."

He bent a front knee. Bowing? Straightening, he fled into the brush and was gone.