Page 205 of Juliet & Her Romeos

“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 fromAlphas 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?TheJex?

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 asecret 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 forresistance.

Swan smirks. “Here’s hoping.”

“Rebel actors.” Swan hums in thought. “Sexy or scary?”

---