Chapter 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Prima Ballet Theater, Sanctum
“ T he Rose vs Slipper Ballet Contest is finally here.” I look around myself at the backstage of the Prima Ballet Theater in wonder. I’m back here again but this time, as the first Omega principal. Plus, the first to take part in this event. “The last few days of rehearsal have been grueling, but Silas has been incredible. He came through on his promises and truly managed to get his dancers working with ours.”
Swan adjusts my elaborate silver and crystal headdress. “Except, it’s not a contest anymore. This is how to lead a revolution from within. Olivia, the Dance Master, Dimitri…none of them will see it coming.”
Despite my nerves, I grin. “And everybody involved kept the secret. Miss Katerina tried to break us, then transform us into hard versions of herself: ruthless and competitive. She believes that the world is separated into winners and losers, who are battling against each other. Silas’ dancers, however, are loyal to him because he’s protected them for years.”
“And mine are loyal because I’m the brave hero who steals alcohol and chocolate for them.”
I attempt not to laugh as I reply, “More likely they fancy your tight ass in these costumes, Feathers.”
“That too.” Swan winks. “Plus, I am the best Beta dancer of my generation.”
“And the humblest.”
“Did I mention that I’m partnered with the best Omega dancer?” Swan lowers his forehead to mine, meeting my gaze fiercely. The air is electric with tension. “And that we’re about to make history together?”
I gently kiss him. “Did I mention how grateful I am to my mentor, who’s always believed in me?”
“ You saved me, my Queen. You’re my fated. Now that we’ve found our pack, I believe that we can achieve anything.”
My heart soars.
Finally, excitement rushes through me, overtaking the nerves.
I can sense the nerves from the rest of my men through the bond, however, along with their exhilaration.
Tonight is the most important of our lives.
I wrinkle my nose at the unique smell of the theater: dust burning in the footlights, the musty scent of velvet seats, and greasepaint.
Swan and I are dressed in matching, flowing white outfits. Swan’s hair is entwined with purple roses. It looks beautiful. His makeup is shimmering and gold, whereas mine is pale and silver.
I’m wearing a Cinders emblem over my heart, whereas Swan has the Romeo one.
I’ll be playing Nova in this performance, and Swan will be Felix.
It’s uniquely painful to be performing not with my mom but as her. When we started working out ideas for this production, it took immense bravery for both Swan and me to get over what it truly meant to step into the ghostly role of people who we’d loved and lost.
Yet it’s also the greatest honor in the world.
My stomach churns.
The costumes are floaty with gorgeous feathery, full sleeves that hang in fluttery ribbons to our waists.
When we pirouette, they’ll fly around us like wings.
I touch my glass slipper necklace for luck.
I may need it.
I peek out at the luxurious theater and the gleaming boards of the stage.
The purple velvet stage curtains are closed.
Two vast glistening cages stand at the corners of the stage. One is entwined by roses, and the other glitters with hundreds of glass slippers.
Six of our friends in the Romeos, including Mary and Thiago, are stretching and readying to take up poses in the rose cage.
They’re dressed in dramatic golden outfits, makeup, and headdresses like they’re caged golden swans.
Mary shoots me a quick thumbs up.
I pull back, giving her a thumbs up in return.
Swan drops his arm around my shoulders, reveling in being able to publicly show our affection in a way that we never could before.
He’s allowed to be cocky about it.
Swan salutes at Thiago, who’s looking like he may vomit with nerves.
Thiago straightens his shoulders with a determined nod.
I hope that his ankle holds. But it wouldn’t have felt right to do this without Swan’s friend.
Tonight belongs to every member of the Romeo academy, as much as to us. Mary and Thiago deserve to be on this stage in the same way that we do as principals.
I hope that after today, the new company will reflect that attitude.
The glass slipper cage is filled with six dancers from the Cinders company. I have to admit that they’re good. They’re not as technically proficient as we’re trained to be in the Romeo academy, but they dance with a heart and emotion that is beaten out of us.
They’re also wearing swan outfits but silver ones.
All the dancers glisten under the light like pretty toys off a Christmas tree.
The stage itself is a backlit background of glowing stars but also a bright moon.
I clench my hands, staring at the twinkling of the fake stars.
During the R & J Choosing of the Principals contest, I thought that only my Omega and Alpha parents would be looking down at me from the stars.
But now, I know that my Beta mom, Nova, is also up there.
I can never dance with her.
Never have her see me as a woman, dancing like she did on this stage.
But I can honor her memory.
Seek justice for her.
Dance and dance and dance and make her proud .
“Okay?” Swan murmurs.
I clench my jaw. “I’m ready to do this.”
“I’ve been ready for years.” Swan points across at the stage. “Bec’s handling this so far.”
“He has an emotional support Alpha.”
A glass piano, which is lit up by lights that make it look like it’s about to burst into flames, is set up on the left side of the stage. It’s facing away from the audience, which means that Benedict, who’s seated behind it on a stool, won’t need to look at anything but the star backdrop.
He’s also wearing headphones and sunglasses, narrowing his world to the piano in front of him. His hands are resting on the keys, and he’s determinedly not looking around but only at the piano in front of him.
His brunet curls are held back by forest green ribbons. He’s dressed in a velvet tux and cravats that match his ribbons.
He looks ethereal.
Vito is standing behind him with his hand resting on Benedict’s shoulder like he’s another barrier between the Omega and everybody else.
Vito’s long hair is slicked back. His blue eyes are lined with smoky Kohl.
He looks like fire and sin.
He’s dressed in a tux with satin crimson lapels. He even manages to make that look rock’n’roll.
“Fuck, that man’s sex on legs.” Swan licks his lips. “How come tattooed men look more fuckable, when they wear black tie?”
“Especially men with inked cocks.”
“Do we know enough of those to make that a rule?”
“That depends. Are you offering to…?”
“Only if the tattoo is your name.” Swan mouths at my bond mark. I shiver. Hell, he means that. Then he looks mischievously at me. “Would Amby…?”
“Not a chance.”
“That’s what we get for falling for an uber Alpha.”
“Where’s our uber Alpha now?”
“Amby’s as dressed up as Vito and he’s handling the critics and journalists who are in the audience. He’s even dragged that Traditional Beta, April Lavere from Alphas Today Magazine, to watch. He wants as much coverage as possible to make sure that this leads to major cultural change. The first Omega principal dancer, along with the symbolic mending of the rift between the two biggest dance companies, is big news. He’s also arranged for Jex, the movie director, to cover it in one of those short documentaries that he does for Netflix.”
My pulse skyrockets. “What the fuck? How?”
Jex who is bonded to the Champions? The Jex?
I blush at all the daydreams I’ve had about him since I was a teenager.
Swan smiles, knowingly.
Like I wasn’t nervous before…now, I’m going to be watched by one of my Omega idols and filmed by him.
“Our Little Snake,” Swan replies. “He said that he had connections. Then winked and added that maybe he had a secret past as a stunt double for Jex .”
“He hasn’t.”
“He definitely hasn’t.”
Dramatically, I lean closer to Swan and whisper, “Could Jex be…?”
I write a large R on his chest for resistance .
Swan smirks. “Here’s hoping.”
“Rebel actors.” Swan hums in thought. “Sexy or scary?”
“Both.”
“Do you know who else is in the audience?” Swan thrums with happiness. It’s like a sudden sun blast through the bond. “Link and his entire Saints pack accepted the invitation.”
I smile, pleased. “That’s great, Feathers.”
Swan looks down. “I wasn’t sure… I mean, he’s this badass bodyguard, and I’m—”
“ A fucking badass dancer .” I catch Swan’s gaze. “You survived this academy. You made sure that everybody else did too. And you became the principal.”
“A mesmerizing principal.”
“And there’s the Swan that I know and love.”
Swan’s expression becomes more serious. “Amby has made sure that he’ll be sitting in the front row next to Laurent and his mom. Next to Olivia on the other side will be the only officials who Amby said he trusted, Sheriff Dante and his deputy from the Marshal pack. When she reacts — no matter what she does — they’ll be witnesses.”
“And they can follow Olivia, if she leaves the theater.”
“She will.”
Swan stretches, glancing at the stage. “Five minutes to go.”
I pale.
This is suddenly very real.
Swan instantly notices my shift in mood.
“Hey, we’ve got this. We’ll be on fire,” Swan snarls. “Let’s show everybody why Omegas and Betas should be allowed to dance together.”
Unexpectedly, Dimitri stalks through the shadows toward Swan and me.
Frightened, I glance over my shoulder toward the stage.
“Shit.” Swan drags me as close to the stage as we can go.
But Dimitri doesn’t stop.
His expression is thunderous.
This is the first time that I’ve seen Dimitri, since I was bonded, and he doesn’t appear to care that we’re now part of a powerful pack.
Dimitri’s military neat ice white hair and beard are gelled down. He’s wearing an ivory suit. His pale blue eyes are flaming with rage.
Swan bares his teeth, standing firmly in front of me. “Here to show your support?”
“More to hope that you break a leg.” Dimitri snatches Swan by the front of his flowing costume and slams him face first against the wall.
Swan groans.
My eyes widen in horror.
Dimitri’s not even hiding his brutality like he normally does in public.
What the hell is going on?
“Stop it.” I wrest at Dimitri’s arm, but it’s like dragging on a tree trunk.
I wildly look around for Vito, but he’s on the far side of the stage with his back to me.
We’re alone with this.
Swan and I need to stand up to Dimitri ourselves.
“Do you think that I’m an idiot?” Dimitri’s hand is shaking, as he keeps Swan’s face crushed against the wall. “Dancers bused out of the academy. Mom sidelined from meetings, while I’m no longer in charge of choreography. Is this some kind of takeover? Are you behind this because I…?”
“Beat me? Oh, like you’re doing right now ?” Swan snarls. “Keep threatening to break my legs? Tried to force me into a bond ?”
“I love you.” The words break from Dimitri in an agonized whisper. “Truly, deeply love you.”
It startles me enough to freeze me in place.
Dimitri becomes ashen like he wishes that he could take the words back. He drops Swan and steps away from him.
I shove past Dimitri, tracing my finger down Swan’s sharp cheekbone.
Dimitri looks shocked at how red Swan’s cheek is, despite the fact that he’s the one who made it that way. “You always make me do these things. I forget that you’re so much smaller than me. I didn’t mean to…”
“You never do.” Swan’s voice is hard.
“I love you,” Dimitri repeats like he’s only now realizing how much that’s true.
“You really take love hurts to another level,” Swan says. “I’ve learned that love is about happiness, protection, and care. It means that you’d do anything to keep them safe and smiling. It doesn’t mean bullying them to get their attention.”
Dimitri’s cheeks pink. “What’s it matter? You’re bonded. And it’s clear that you’re winding up to have Mom and me demoted. Or are you going to send us into exile?”
“Don’t you think that you deserve it?” I challenge.
Hell, I’ve waited all my life to be able to talk to an Alpha like this.
It feels fucking amazing.
“Deserve?” Dimitri rubs his hand over his beard. He looks broken. “Would any of us have been raised in this hellhole if that was true? Do it. Send me to Siberia. I’ve already lost the one thing that I loved. I have nothing left now.”
“I’m not a thing ,” Swan snarls. “You can’t own me.”
Dimitri looks confused. “The Romeos own all of us, even me. Does the virtuous Mr. Romeo pretend that isn’t true? I fucking hate hypocritical Alphas like him. I’ve dedicated my entire life to this academy. Do you think that I’m free?”
Bewildered, we stare at him.
“But you’re an Alpha,” I venture.
When Dimitri slams his fist into the wall, I wince. “Mom sold me to the academy as part of her contract. In the country we come from that’s permitted.”
Swan and I exchange a glance.
Ambrose has already decided that as soon as we gain control of the academy, we’re firing Katerina and Dimitri.
But it looks more like we’re freeing Dimitri.
He’s still an Alphahole who I won’t forgive for how he’s treated Swan. But I understand him more now. He’s a captive, under the control of Ambrose’s mom and Katerina.
He’s been alone without a pack or healthy models of how one should work.
He’s fucked up.
“Hate him or not,” I narrow my eyes, “Amby is fair. Look, the performance is about to begin. Why not go and watch it?”
Dimitri’s eyes glitter with tears. “Take my home, job, and life . But at least I get to watch you dance one last time, right?”
“ Love? ” Miss Katerina sneers, rapping her cane on the floor. Dimitri jumps as sharply as I do. “You weak waste of a knot.”
Katerina prowls toward us down the wing of the stage.
Dimitri looks as scared of his mom, as I am of Olivia.
Yet to my shock, he determinedly stands in front of Swan, before glancing over his shoulder.
“ Anything to keep them safe and smiling, ” Dimitri says like each memorized word is precious to him.
Swan blinks, unsure how to react.
Dimitri turns back to Katerina, straightening his shoulders. “It doesn’t matter. They’re bonded to the CEO. We need to leave them to put on a spellbinding performance.”
“I expect nothing less.” Katerina raises her cane. “But you, on the other hand, have disappointed me.”
She swings the cane, cracking it down across Dimitri’s face.
I gasp, and Swan cusses.
But Dimitri doesn’t even yell out like he’s used to it.
Instead, he staggers, raising his hand to the bleeding welt on his cheek.
Yet he doesn’t move from his position in front of Swan.
He widens his stance. “I’ve always known that.”
Katerina glances past Dimitri at me. “Juliet has potential. Real potential. And this Beta who you talk about loving, as if that word isn’t poison…” She bares her teeth at Swan. “…Has ruined her.”
“Love isn’t poison.” I touch my bond marks, each in turn. I tingle as I feel the connection to my mates. “It’s the blood in your veins — life .”
“You’re living in a delusion, all of you,” Katerina barks. “Dimitri, you’ve truly turned into your father. Aren’t you ashamed?”
Dimitri flinches. “Yes, finally I am. I wish that it hadn’t taken me this long. Aren’t you?”
Katerina’s pheromones stink of burned coffee. She raises her cane again.
Dimitri doesn’t move, as if he’s been trained the same as us dancers, in the face of Katerina’s cruel treatment.
Swan and I, however, don’t hesitate.
This is an Omega and Beta revolution.
We’re no longer scared of Alphas or this Dance Master.
Together, we dive around Katerina and snatch the cane. Katerina is so shocked that her hold loosens enough for us to drag the stick away from her.
As if it’s a trophy, Swan and I hold aloft the cane.
“Ah ha! The cane of power,” Swan says, cockily. “We’re now the King and Queen of Ballet.”
Katerina reddens, launching herself toward us, but Dimitri places his strong hand on her shoulder and shoves her backward.
“Never again, Mom,” he says, quietly.
Katerina stares up at her giant of a son, as if only just realizing that he’s become an adult who has grown to twice her size. “How dare you? I’m your Head Alpha—”
“Actually, according to the contract that you signed to sell me as a baby, Olivia is my Head Alpha,” Dimitri replies. “Since I’m already fucked, this is me officially telling you that I’m no longer obeying you. And maybe I am like my dad, but it seems to me that you’ve turned into him too.”
Katerina becomes as white as a sheet.
Her knees buckle, and she clutches at the wall.
I nod at Swan.
Together, we toss the cane to Dimitri.
He catches it, then with a large smile, snaps it with a crack over his knee.
All of a sudden, the first beautiful piano chords start up behind me from the stage.
The performance is about to begin.
Dimitri’s lips twitch. “Break a leg.”
Swan laughs, thrumming with energy, as he drags me to the edge of the stage.
The lights go up.
The velvet curtains pull back.
It’s time.