Page 102 of Heir of the Beast

She laughs, and I raise a brow. “You look like you’re naked.”

I try not to laugh and cover my mouth with my hand.

“Is this transparent?” Laura grabs some airy fabric, still giggling.

I close my eyes and cringe. “At this point, I am not sure. I think this color is called shameless.”

“At least the main parts are still a mystery.” She is laughing harder now.

I am laughing now and shake my head. “Here I thought I was picking the modest one. Our luck sucks.”

“Well, just don’t spread your legs.” That sends her off into another laughing frenzy as she holds her stomach.

I wipe a tear. “Oh, laugh it up. You look like a prudish ballerina that needs to be taken to the dark side by Grandpa Farts,” I deadpan.

We are laughing so hard, and I’m not even sure if the things we are saying are even funny. I don’t think they are, in fact. I think we both just lost our minds.

“Silence!”

We both clamp our mouths shut, and I hear Laura snorting through her muffled laughter. Brenda looks murderous, so I think quickly.

“Forgive us, this is just all very overwhelming.” Which is the truth. I need to wipe this stupid grin off my face before I get punched in the nose. Laura’s snorting isn’t helping.

She snarls, “The blonde princess is up next, you are ten minutes out. No funny business out there, or there will be punishments.” She eyes us both, then leaves.

That is sobering, actually.

Laura takes a breath and looks at me. “I might be leaving the game after this. If Eltson does not pick me, there is no reason for me to stay as a slave in this place.”

I look down. “You could be wrong about Apollo.”

“I’m not.” She shrugs.

This is weird, but I am feeling very depressed at the thought of her leaving. In the past few days, I have seen another side of Laura. She is just very misunderstood, and I never gave her a chance before.

I look away, willing my tears to stop, my eyes cramping. I feel her arms come around me as tears trickle down my face. I hug her back and say nothing. A friendship is formed, a bond that can never be broken.

It’s hard to explain the feeling of loss and loneliness at the thought of her leaving.

I hear Laura sniff, and she lets go with a weak smile. “Be strong. Apollo is worth it.”

I nod, wiping my eyes. “Nothing will be in vain as long as you do the bend and snap out there,” I joke, and try to pull myself together.

She rolls her eyes and grins. “Of course, there will be stunned silence after.”

I laugh.

She laughs weakly.

Then I see her leaving. I take a shaky breath and realize Apollo’s life depends on this, and I need to give my best performance no matter how horrified I am.

I close my eyes and pray that Eltson picks Laura, because I really do not want to see her leave just yet. I’ve never had a real friend in all my life, and I found one in the least likely of places.

I walk to where the stage is and peek through the curtains like the other girls were earlier. I shiver, hoping every male here dies a horrid death.

Laura is dancing gracefully but a little stiff, probably due to nerves. My heart goes out to her, to all these women. I’m seeing bids come in, and I suck in a breath.

My eyes scan the secret compartments where the bidders do their dark deeds. It reminds me of the movie ~Taken~, except for the fact that this seems more circus-like, with all the dancing and whatnot.

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