Page 202 of Juliet & Her Romeos

I wince, as Silvanus lets out anoomph.He falls to his knees and clutches his crotch.

“So worththis.” Swan kicks Silvanus in the ass, tumbling him forward.

I bend over, flicking my cousin’s ear. “Definitely.”

When I glance round at Ambrose, he’s smiling.

The shadows lift from the bond.

“That was three,” Silvanus grumbles.

“Then it makes up for the fact that you normally beat me up three against one.” Ambrose slicks his hair back, looking immaculate in comparison to my cousin, who’s a gasping mess on the floor.

Silvanus waves a shaky hand. “Fair.” Then he sits up with a grin, despite the blood that’s dribbling down his chin. “Fun’s over. Now we’re even.”

“Hardly.”

“Well, we can work together without calling each otherbitch. That’s progress. You do have another mission, right? Freeing my aunt?”

I freeze.

Shit, I haven’t worked out how to tell Silvanus this.

Silvanus doesn’t have a mom. He was close to Nova.

“Silas,” I say, taking his hand, “this is the reason that Amby has taken way too many personal risks for me. It’s why we’re talking to you now. I’m so fucking sorry, but Jacob and Olivia murdered Mom, when they took me captive. I can tell you the whole story, but we don’t have any evidence, only the fact that Amby witnessed it. They threatened his life and mine. It’s why he was exiled to England.”

Silas collapses forward away from me, hiding his face in his hands.

I know that he doesn’t want Ambrose to see his tears like they’re a weakness.

Hurriedly, I twist around to sit in front of Silvanus and block the other’s view of him.

He needs privacy.

I hate that he had to find out like this. But there’s no good way to tell him and no time.

“Silas,” I wrap my arms around his neck. “I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry…?” When Silvanus raises his head, his eyelashes are wet. “I’m the one who failed to protect both Nova and you. Why can’t we just make the killers confess?”

“Do you think that Jacob would? Or an Alpha likemy mom?” Ambrose replies. “Even with a knife at her throat, she wouldn’t. And any forced confession would be just that, forced and inadmissible.”

“Then we find other evidence like the murder weapon or the…” Silvanus fumbles over the word, but I know that it’sbody.

He doesn’t know that there are two yet.

“What about we don’t force a confession,” Vito says, slowly, “although I bet that my Alpha enforcer sisters may be skilled enough to, but instead, make Olivia think that we know more than we do. Freak her out. She’s smart, right? But the murder was still done in a rage by Jacob. The bodies must have been hurriedly buried likely on academy grounds. It’s remote, private property, and almost no outsiders are allowed there. They probably thought that it was ideal. How can we unsettle Olivia enough to make her return and lead us to the evidence that’ll buryher?”

“I have an idea.” I bite my lip. If my fated mates are risk takers, then why can’t I take a risk as well? “Since our families are no longer feuding, what if we break with tradition at the contest and don’t compete but, as a surprise, dance together? Romeos and Cinders united. That will create a huge stir.”

Silvanus licks over his bloodied canines. “Fuck, it’ll shake up everybody across the companies, the town, and the industry.”

“It will be a new age.” Swan’s eyes glow. “Burn the old and fly out with flaming wings reborn.”

“Poetic but also,” Ambrose’s expression darkens, “Mom will be furious. She’ll know that I’ve broken her rules within the company about both the contest and the Cinders company. She’ll be watching the dance more intently than ever. What if we give her a performance of a lifetime? One that’ll fuck with her head. It’ll have a hidden meaning but only to the murderer. Whatever happens, I won’t let her harm my pack after the dance. If we can rehearse something together secretly…”

“If you can get the dancers out of the academy,” Swan replies, “then I’ll give you a list of those who are loyal to me and will keep this secret for my sake.”

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