28

I stiffened at that but forced myself to nod. “I am.”

He studied me for a few more moments, then gave a little shrug. “I’ll put your name in the running. That’s all I can promise.”

“But she can’t shift,” the female judge said, looking scandalized.

The mysterious man’s head jerked toward her, all good nature fleeing his face. “Did I ask your opinion? Did I even ask to hear your voice?” Ice dripped from every word.

The woman immediately bowed her head, her eyes locking on the desk. “No, sir. I’m sorry.”

Straightening his lapels, he turned back to me, the calm smile returning as though nothing had happened.

“As this season will have male alpha shifters competing for a single female, you will be the only woman on the show if you are chosen. Along with the entry f*e, you will be required to bring your own stylist. I recommend having someone picked out in case you are cast.” He glanced at my slovenly attire. “We don’t want our leading lady to look like a hobo.” He nodded toward the door. “That will be all, Miss Durst. You’ll hear from us by the end of the week.”

That was it? I’d made it to the next round? With how important this show was and how many people were auditioning, I really thought the audition would take at least an hour. I took it as a good sign that I’d only been in there for a few minutes. The psychic man’s tone told me he was serious about putting my name up for consideration. I couldn’t help but smile as I thanked him and headed for the door.

All the way out of the room and down the elevator, my heart beat rhythmically in my throat. I hadn’t felt excitement like this in days. I could only pray that the psychic wasn’t just getting my hopes up. I didn’t think I could survive another rejection.

Chapter 10

Wyatt

It had been two days since I found out Kira went to Fangmore City to audition for that fucking show. I’d headed straight there after stomping out of the house when her father had been so happy that she’d gone to audition. By the time I found the show’s offices, Kira was gone, and the auditions were over. I’d spent two hours stalking through the city, barely controlling my rage. I’m sure some people thought I was a raving lunatic hobo.

Back in the Eastern Wilds, Zoe had vanished. Kolton said she’d gone back to her place. Kira never went back home. I knew because I’d checked a dozen times. Kolton, tired of seeing me worry myself to death, finally admitted that Kira was bunking with Zoe.

I gritted my teeth. “You couldn’t have told me this sooner?”

Kolton slapped his laptop closed. “Well, I kinda thought you’d let it go. But you’re like a damned demon on a reliquary.”

“Where does Zoe live?” I asked, grabbing my jacket and walking toward the door.

Kolton’s eyes widened. “No way. Not a chance. If you show up on her doorstep, Zoe will know I told you. Have you ever been on a fae’s bad side? She’ll like…I don’t know…make my dick vanish or something.”

Heaving in a deep calming breath, I turned to my friend. “Fair enough. How about a general location? I can follow Kira’s scent from there. Deal?”

Kolton mulled that over. He was equally horrified by Kira’s decision, but being her brother, he understood that there was no way to change her mind—some kind of built-in social contract between siblings or something. I didn’t have that issue. She wasn’t my sister, and I didn’t think it was a lost cause.

“Fine,” Kolton finally said. “Zoe lives near her cosmetology shop. It’s on the corner of Scott Street and Howard Avenue. That’s all you get,” he added, holding up a warning finger. “If Zoe asks? I don’t know anything.”

“Yeah, yeah, got it. Thanks.”

“Hang on. I gotta ask you something,” Kolton said.

I looked over my shoulder warily. I had a feeling I knew what was coming. “Yeah?”

“Is there a reason you’re so hell-bent on finding my sister?”

There was a pause that went on for several seconds as I tried to figure out the best thing to say. Finally, I said, “Someone needs to. We have to make sure she’s okay. You know what she’s trying to do and how dangerous it is.”

He nodded. “I do. But there’s more going on here.” He eyed me with suspicion. “You two fight like cats and dogs. Of everyone she knows, you’re the person I thought would be least likely to be so concerned.”

“Listen,” I said as I headed toward the door, “it is what it is. If I don’t stop her, no one will. Who cares what happened before? I gotta go.”

Kolton looked like he was trying to figure something out, but I didn’t have time to deal with what he did or didn’t think. I needed to find Kira, talk some sense into her, and see if I could convince her to give up this crazy idea.

I found the shop fairly easily. Unfortunately, there were a ton of apartments nearby. I probably could have called in some favors with the council and gotten Zoe’s address, but I didn’t think that was a good idea. Zoe Helio was a known acquaintance of Kira’s, and Kira’s name was mud with the council right now.

If word got out that I was helping Kira, I could be in deep shit. And I needed my connections to stay clean if I was going to help Kira get out of the shit-storm she’d dropped herself into.

With nothing else to do, I stalked up and down the streets, trying to catch her scent or Zoe’s, though tracking a fae by scent alone was pointless. Their scent was too amorphous, changing with their emotions. I’d be walking in circles if I only had to go off Zoe’s scent.