Page 13 of Juliet & Her Romeos

Chills run down my spine.

It’s been awhile since anyone has mentioned Mom to me. I can’t help the hunger to hear about her.

But why is he talking about her in the past tense?

People say that I take after Mom with my curly, blond hair and striking lavender eyes.

I dance like her as well, all emotion and heart.

Mom was the best principal dancer in the Cinders. On the day that I was abandoned to the Romeos, however, she vanished.

I don’t know whether she was sold, sent to the cruel Omega Institute, or is being kept locked up somewhere.

I won’t let myself think that she was illegally trafficked.

I haven’t been able to solve the mystery and save her from inside the academy. We’re banned from the Internet and social media. This is the serious reason why I need to win the contest and escape from here.

It’s been my mission in life for four years.

Then I can save Mom, as well as myself.

It’s also why I’m so conflicted about falling for my enemy, Ambrose Romeo.

And the worst thing?

Ever since I came here, I’ve been controlled by threats to Mom. If I don’t behave or try to run, then what will happen to Mom?

“Your mom isn’t dancing now, is she?” Dimitri shoots me a nasty look. “Her Omega daughter shouldn’t be either. I’d have thought that you cared more about your mom’s safety than to break the rules like this.”

Tears spill onto my cheeks. I rush across the room, falling to my knees willingly this time.

I wince, as my knees hit the hard wooden floor.

“Where is she? Can I speak to her? Just one phone call?” I stare up at Dimitri, wiping the back of my hand across my cheeks, desperately trying to stop my tears. “I need to know that she’s okay.”

“Stop holding her mom over her,” Swan demands. “I’m the one who’s being rebellious. Just break my fucking legs.”

My heart leaps into my throat.

I know that Swan’s deliberately pulling Dimitri’s attention back onto himself. He’s been my protector, ever since we were partnered and he was named as my mentor.

The lowest status Beta with the freak Omega.

Tiny as I am, however, I’ll fight an Alpha, before I allow Dimitri to break my Beta’s legs.

Because Swan ismy Beta.

“But how could I have my fun torturing you in class, if I did that?” Dimitri arches his white brow.

Swan gives a forced laugh. “You’re so funny, Mr. Dimitri.”

“Who says that I’m joking?”

Swan becomes ashen. “Look, I’ve taken your correction and advice—”

“When do you take my advice?”

“Remember that time you told us to lie on our backs with our knees bent and open to the sides and then to imagine that someone was pulling our cocks straight toward our heels? That was great advice about what our pelvis should feel like the whole time that we’re dancing.”

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