Page 209 of Juliet & Her Romeos

Katerina becomes as white as a sheet.

Her knees buckle, and she clutches at the wall.

I nod at Swan.

Together, we toss the cane to Dimitri.

He catches it, then with a large smile, snaps it with a crack over his knee.

All of a sudden, the first beautiful piano chords start up behind me from the stage.

The performance is about to begin.

Dimitri’s lips twitch. “Break a leg.”

Swan laughs, thrumming with energy, as he drags me to the edge of the stage.

The lights go up.

The velvet curtains pull back.

It’s time.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Prima Ballet Theater, Sanctum

Ihold the pose with Swan in the center of the stage, as he kisses me.

This couldn’t be more public.

And this time, every member of the audience knows that we’re a bonded pack.

They know that our love is real.

There’s never been a bonded pair of principals before, let alone an Omega dancer.

I can hear the excited whispering and rustling of the audience.

The dancers in the cages hunch in exaggerated poses of captivity like they’re hanging in chains or are entangled in puppet strings.

Then Benedict’s score builds. It’s haunting and beautiful.

He’s an amazing composer.

This is Benedict’s dream come true, as much as it’s mine. An Omega is finally having their music heard. After thirty years, Benedict is no longer being silenced.

When Swan pulls back from the kiss, spinning me, my costume twirls out like wings.

Exhilaration races through me, as I throw back my head.

In the background, the Romeo cage breaks open.

Thiago falls to his knees and crawls to the edge like he alone can see our dance.

I’m facing Benedict now, who is lost in his own world on the piano. Vito’s still standing beside him. Ambrose is as well now, dressed in a matching tux to Vito’s but with golden satin lapels that make his hair look like spun gold.

Except, Ambrose is accompanying Benedict on his violin.

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