“I thought it would be.” Danica nodded. She glanced over her shoulder to where Theo stood. Some silent conversation seemed to pass between them before Danica turned back to them. The next time she spoke, her voice was so low, they had to lean close to hear her. “I’ve heard more teams and council members talk about the two of you than they’ve ever talked about me. And they love to hate me.”
Cricket nodded. “It comes with the name unfortunately. My father has a lot of enemies and influence.”
“Well, it’s best to be careful out there. As someone who participated in a race where everyone was out to kill us, don’t take the threat likely. There are those who will sacrifice everything for a little bit of vengeance. And with whatever the Fortress Runestone is on the line, I’m sure tensions will be high. Arden tried to explain it me but other than knowing it’s important, I didn’t follow much else.”
“From what I understand,” Radley replied. “It protects a large area and places a barrier around that area that someone with nefarious plans cannot cross.”
Danica’s face twisted. “Now see. Why couldn’t Arden just say that? The vamp went on and on about the history and never once explained what it did.” Danica shook her head and smiled. “Either way, I look forward to seeing you race. Be safe out there.”
“Thank you, Lady Dyers.”
Danica snorted. “Just Danica. I’m not so great with titles. From what I hear, you’re not either.” She winked. “Oh, and when you go out on that track, you have three sponsors.” Danica turned to leave but Cricket was still stuck on her words.
“Wait!” Cricket exclaimed. “Three sponsors?”
Danica grinned. “I’m a firm supporter of women fighting for their dreams, of those fighting the system. I know why you’re racing, Lady Snapdragon, and I support it. Therefore, I, Danica Dyers, Councilmember, am sponsoring the fae team in this race.” Her eyes tracked the crowd until they landed on King Yophiel and Arden. “You also have the support of the Vampire King of the Northern Sect. I’m sure you can guess the third.” Danica’s eyes danced over to Theo St. Munic again and she winked at the wizard.
Cricket nearly choked. “The King of the Vamps is sponsoring me.” She blinked. “The High Wizard is sponsoring me!”
Danica chuckled. “We believe in you, Cricket Snapdragon. May your speed leave all the others in the dust.” She glanced at Radley. “Take care of her, would ya?”
Radley inclined his head and the human woman turned away and split the crowd as if she was more than the human body she’d been born into. Something about her was greater, bigger than her mortality, and that only made Cricket like her more.
“What a badass,” Cricket breathed. She looked up at Radley. “What just happened?”
“It appears we’ve been favored by the High Wizard, the Vampire King, and Danica Dyers, a legend in her own right.” Radley stared after her. “She knows our dynamic. I saw the knowledge in her eyes.”
“But how?” Cricket croaked. “I don’t understand.”
He shrugged. “Perhaps, it’s better not to question it. We should embrace it, and know we have a few more benefits during the race.”
“But the other teams will—”
“Would you like to dance with me?” Radley interrupted, looking down at her.
“What?” She blinked at him. “You can dance?”
The wolf scowled at her. “Of course I can dance. I’m not a heathen.”
“But we have targets on our backs. Should we be parading around in front of everyone?”
Radley met her eyes and though he kept his fire hidden away, she could sense it there beneath his skin. “Tomorrow, we’ll worry about the other teams. Tonight, I just want to dance with the woman that outshines all others.”
Cricket blushed at his words, but after a moment of hesitation, she placed her hand in his. It was just in time for a slower song to come over the speakers and spread through the room.
Leading her onto the dance floor, Radley took up the proper position, one she didn’t realize him capable of. When they began to slowly swirl around the dance floor, she stared up at him in surprise.
“Don’t be so shocked,” he growled. “My mother taught me.”
Cricket giggled. “I’m afraid I underestimated you, Alpha Whiteclaw.”
As they moved around the dancefloor, as Cricket looked up into his eyes, she forgot there were a hundred cameras watching. She forgot there was even anyone else around them. It was as if they were the only two on the dancefloor, so absorbed were they in each other. Dangerous. What they were doing was dangerous. If anyone realized that she’d given her heart away without meaning to, they were in far more danger than just being killed in the Games. Somewhere in this crowd, her father was watching. The whole world was watching, but for once, Cricket didn’t care.
She was no longer worried about being forced to marry a stranger. She was no longer terrified of that future. Cricket was more worried that the wolf in front of her would disappear after this. Closing her eyes as they moved, it was almost easy to imagine they were different people, that they could choose their own futures. When she closed her eyes, she didn’t see some nameless person at the altar anymore. She saw the wolf before her, waiting at the end of the aisle.
It was a dangerous thing to want. A fae and a wolf? It wasn’t done. Her father would never allow it.
But it didn’t stop Cricket from dreaming. It didn’t stop her from holding him just a little bit tighter.