Page 17 of Free for Adventure

“An alpha.”

“Is he a specific kind? Is he a shifter?”

Kek cocked his head and whispered the identity in her ear.

Hara nodded. “Thanks. The suspense was killing me. Do you know who the marks belong to?”

“A ray, a waterfall, and butterflies? Of course. I am the king. I am supposed to know.”

“Will you tell me?”

He tapped her nose. “No. You will tell her, and then, she will avoid them. Then, no one wins.”

“It isn’t a game.”

“It is the oldest game of all. I am not going to let her cheat.”

“Who are you to decide.”

“Treasure, I am the king. You keep forgetting.”

Hara wrinkled her nose. “I don’t forget. I ignore it.”

He chuckled. “Would you care to dance?”

“I definitely would. You are getting better every time.”

“I have a good dance partner.”

She smirked. “I wasn’t talking about dancing.”

Kek laughed, and they headed to the dance floor that was sparsely occupied by couples.

Hara was really enjoying date night.

* * * *

The musician tried to keep her on the stage, but she hopped to the ground and sprinted to Ohno. “Okay. Fun’s over. I want to go back to my room.”

Ohno blinked. “You sang beautifully.”

“Great. Thanks. I want to go now.” She clenched her jaw to keep the whine from coming out.

“Why?”

“People saw me. They are never supposed to see or hear me.”

“Can you calm down?”

She shook her head violently.

Violet came up and grinned. “See? That wasn’t so bad.”

Amby looked at her, and she must have looked terrified because Violet moved to soothe her. “It’s okay, baby. Calm down. Calm. Breathe. You did it. You sang. Nothing happened. You weren’t hurt. No one attacked you.”

Ohno rubbed her arms, and that seemed to ease something because she shuddered and felt the bands around her chest relax.

Violet looked at her and then at the alpha behind her. “Let him comfort you, Amby.”