Page 100 of Resurgent

“Long enough that you’ll probably step on my toes!"

“I would never!” he gasps, already singing every word of “Sold” by John Michael Montgomery as he begins to move us around the dance floor like we’ve done so many times before.

Every spin, relaxes us a little more. Every loudly sung lyric brings a wave of laughter.

And when the last “Weee” plays through the speaker, I’m practically falling into his arms, exhausted and lighter than I’ve felt all night.

“Your not-date is waiting for his turn. Should we let the pitiful excuse—"

"Mattey—"

"Fiinnnee. I’ll be right back with some drinks.”

“Water, please!” I call after him as my hand is pulled into Theo's.

“You know this one?” he asks, glancing down at me as the opening beat shifts into something faster.

“Yeah…'Makin’ This Boy Go Crazy,’ right?”

His grin turns bright— “Yes, you are.”

I narrow my eyes at him immediately. “Don’t tell me you requested this just so you could say that.”

He doesn’t even try to lie. Just keeps smiling, clearly proud of himself, and I can’t help but laugh.

“Do you swing dance at least?” I ask, eager not to be awkwardly slow dancing to a song that's this fast pace.

“No, but I’m open to learning,” he says, immediately attempting to prove it by pushing me out and yanking me back in—far too confidently, and far far too hard—his timing completely off. His arm clips my head violently, and I'm nearly knocked to the ground, caught just as my balance falters.

“Sorry, maybe not my strong suit after all,” he blushes.

“Let’s start with a two-step, Big Guy,” I laugh.

Luckily, that keeps his attention, watching my feet to pick up the steps…then attempting, and failing, to match them to the song.

Once I convince him the music doesn’t matter and just to stick with me, we start to have fun. Him laughing at his own mistakes, and dipping me low when they’re so bad they can’t be covered up.

By the time the song ends, I think my friend might finally be back from whatever’s possessed him all evening, but as my dad approaches, he’s nowhere in sight…

Gone as if he hadn’t just been holding me…and so are all of my other friends.

“We need to talk,” my dad growls under his breath.

“No! I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“You sure about that?” he asks, fingers clamping bruisingly around my arm.

“I need you!” I call to Tyr down the bond, but there’s no time for Tyr to respond before whatever tincture coats my dad’s skin is absorbing into mine.

“Smile,” he orders quietly. “Then walk to the door behind you. Do not make a scene. Do not try to alert anyone.”

A chill races through my veins, then I’m consumed by horror as my body obeys, a smile cementing onto my face. Hypnonysis.

My feet move without permission.

I fight for control with each step, willing my body to come back to me—each denied command met with a sharp pain ricocheting through my head.

“Please,” I whisper silently down the fractured bond. “Please find me, Tyr.”