Page 204 of Juliet & Her Romeos

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 andmake 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.”

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