Page 54 of The Soulmate Bakery

‘Raven asked,’ Orion said shortly, and his gaze was flinty. ‘Let’s go.’

I bristled at the order. He was Raven’s brother, not mine. I wanted to retort but, behind me, Silas coughed. I turned around to apologize for Orion’s brutish behaviour, but the werewolf stepped around me, sticking out a hand for Orion to shake. The dragon shifter looked at it like Silas had offered him a wet fish to hold. I glared daggers at Orion, waiting for him to stop being such a jerk.

As the moment stretched, Silas dropped his hand but soldiered on. ‘Silas Moon,’ he introduced himself. ‘It’s so nice to meet Maya’s brother.’

My ears perked up at the hard edge to his tone. I’d never heard anything more than softness or laughter in Silas’s voice before. I watched the encounter unfold from the sidelines, not entirely sure what was going on.

Orion’s gaze narrowed on him, and I suddenly felt a charge run through the air. ‘I’m not her brother. Reverie’s a witch, you know.’

I mean, he was right. You’d have to be a sightless faerie to not notice Orion and I were clearly not related.

‘Right, sorry,’ Silas replied, like he’d known that all along. ‘I just assumed you know, with your whole overprotective vibe … Either way, nice to meet you …’ he trailed off.

‘Orion.’

Silas clicked his fingers. ‘Orion, I’ll try to remember that,’ he said, but it sounded like it was the last thing on his long list of things to do. Then he turned back to me. His attention felt like the morning sun grazing the dew-dappled grass. ‘Maya.’ Even my name sounded nicer in his voice. ‘Text me later, yeah?’

I nodded, and the smile on my lips lingered until Silas was a safe distance away. Once he was out of sight, I turned to Orion, fury coursing through me.

‘Have you lost your mind?’ I demanded. From behind him, Sofia and Raven watched the two of us like we were in a tennis match. ‘That’s Silas Moon, remember?’

‘I remember,’ Orion said, disinterestedly.

‘Seriously, what were you thinking? You’re supposed to be helping me,’ I exclaimed.

He pushed himself up and off the car, stepping closer. He glanced over my shoulder, and a smug smirk played over his mouth.

‘He needed a little competition. I promise you, Maya, he’s going to be a hundred times more interested now, trust me. He’s already looked back twice.’

I stared at him, my mouth gaping like a fish. Because surely, surely, Orion wasn’t suggesting Silas was going to be jealous … over him.

‘What were two talking about anyway?’ Orion continued, as if nothing had just happened.

The reminder of our conversation brought my dilemma back to the forefront of my mind. I had to find a venue. It wasn’t negotiable. My burgeoning love story with Silas depended on it.

Places where I could throw the party buzzed through my mind but were all quickly discarded. I needed somewhere no one would report back to my mother. Somewhere that would impress everyone.

Sofia’s voice floated through my head: Orion always seems to be there when you need him.

I looked up at him, desperation plastered all over my face.

‘What?’ Orion asked, with an edge to his voice, like he already knew I was going to ask him something he’d hate.

‘Don’t say no,’ I coaxed. ‘But I need to host a party, and I need you to help me find a venue.’

I waited for him to shut me down. But, instead, he started to smile.

Not his regular smile. Not his smirk. But that slow, sweet spread of something a little roguish.

‘Not to worry, Reverie,’ Orion said, his jewelled eyes glinting. ‘I know just the place.’

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

‘I’m not going down that hole.’

‘Just slide down.’

‘You slide down!’