Page 157 of Puck & Her Blades

I feel honored to watch them play tonight like this.

It makes my eyes burn with tears to be amongst so many fans and to know the secret: This is their swansong.

If they win, none of them will be playing this game that they love so much again in this arena.

They’re at the top of their game — putting on a mesmerizing performance tonight — and it’ll be their last.

They’re walking away from it for the sake of love.

Yet no matter how well they’re playing, they’ve only just stopped the opposing team from tipping this in their favor, and there’s only a minute left of play.

Fuck, this is going to be close.

My pulse is pounding, and I’m shaking.

Inside, I’m screaming and cheering.

If this is my final mascot appearance, however, I better not break the magic and keep the number one rule.

I can’t be a rebel all the time, right?

Well, I can.

Yet I’m trying to get better at this undercover stuff and right now, the focus needs to be on the players.

I can do my part in our plan, even if Cygnus keeps having to nudge me to remind me.

I’m hot, sweaty, and I have an itch at the base of my back that I haven’t been able to scratch for the last hour because of this huge puck outfit.

Yet I’m glad for it because I’ve been able to hide behind the costume’s permanent fake smile.

The fans and cameras are watching Cygnus and me because right now, we’re also the news story, and I wouldn’t be able to hold it together as well as Cygnus is.

Sometimes, masks can help us.

Sick with nerves, I edge closer to Cygnus.

He doesn’t look away from the ice, watching as Zev passes to Asher. “Yes, come on.”

He still slips his hand into mine, possessively.

I stiffen at the flurry of photographs and then relax, realizing that the move was calculated by Cygnus.

If we don’t win this match, then we’re going to need as much public sympathy on our side as possible to help protect us.

My heart is thumping in my chest. I hardly dare draw in a breath.

Cygnus’ bright eyes shine in the light.

The air is potent with hyped up Alpha pheromones.

I thought that the night I skated out onto the rink in the World Figure Skating Championship was the biggest of my life.

But I was wrong.

Because this night is.

It’s when I have a chance to free myself by exorcising the ghost, which has haunted me.

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