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Lilah dances center stage in the main auditorium. Her teacher coaches her through a routine.
I’d braced to watch her dance again, but I wasn’t expecting the pole.
No one warned me about the pole.
But Atlas is proof that a warning wouldn’t have helped.
He stares at her like he’s seeing his future, and every day, I doubt more and more it’s a future that includes my body in their pack.
I can’t look at Lilah and breathe.
I give her my back so I can give Atlas my report.
“What’d Hunter say?”
“Another climber.” I rub sweating palms against my slacks. “I’ll handle him tomorrow.”
If there’s a tomorrow.
Maybe Atlas hears the edge-of-a-cliff tone in my voice. “How was therapy?”
“Therapeutic.”
He hits me with the full force of his dominance, and even without the pack bond, that in-charge energy quiets the loudest volleys in my internal civil war. “Why don’t I believe you, Jett?”
“Don’t you have night classes? You’ll be late.”
He gives Lilah a wistful glance, but not wanting to disturb her time with her teacher, he silently slips away.
The music and her sensual movements try to draw me in, but I don’t allow myself to watch. Instead, I scan the auditorium.
The smell of the red velvet seats makes acidic memories boil inside, but I keep them at bay minute by minute.
Finally, her teacher claps. “You’re going to slay. But what are we doing about your costume?”
“I’ll grab something from the racks.” Lilah’s voice is deadpan, but it’s enough to rattle my bones.
“The theater department got a shipment of showgirl—”
“Hard no.”
I’m surviving their conversation until Evgenia’s words strike like a cattle prod. “Fine, fine, but check the prop room. I have veto rights if you pick another boring frock.”
“I’ll pick something good. It’s my night too, you know.”
“Finally. You deserve to shine.”
When Evgenia leaves, Lilah finally deigns to give me the attention I don’t deserve.
“Shadow Number Four,” she mumbles.
“I won’t get in your way.” I keep my gaze down.
Don’t deserve to look her in the eye.
“That’s what Number Two said.” Lilah whirls, parting the curtains to walk backstage.
I follow until I realize where she’s heading. The long hallway to the prop room.
