Page 22 of In Shadows We Dance

Her cheeks flush, and she forces a weak smile. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Sure you do.” My voice is soft, casual, but she’s already leaning back in her chair, looking for an escape route. “I’m sure it’s quite the story you’re spinning. What is it this time? Threats? Violence? Or something more creative?”

Her eyes widen, mask cracking just enough to confirm my suspicions. My smile is all teeth.

“Don’t worry. I’m not here to interfere with your … opinions. I just thought I’d say hello.”

She glances at Ileana, who’s been silent this whole time. I follow Lottie’s gaze, turning my attention to her.

“Am I interrupting something, Ballerina?”

She stiffens at the nickname. “Don’t call me that.”

“Oh, but it suits you. Doesn’t it, Lottie?”

Lottie looks between us, clearly torn between staying and fleeing. I don’t give her the chance to decide.

“Run along, Lottie.” My tone is dismissive, deepening the red in her cheeks. “I’m sure you’ve got more important things to do.”

She hesitates for a moment, looking at Ileana again, but she doesn’t meet Lottie’s eyes. With a mumbled excuse, Lottie gathers her things and leaves, footsteps hurried as she disappears down the nearest aisle.

I take the seat she vacated, leaning back in the chair as I study the girl opposite me. She doesn’t look at me, fingers still stroking the edge of the book. I get the distinct impression she’s not as unaffected as she’s pretending to be.

“Making friends, are we?” I break the silence.

“Why do you care?” She doesn’t look at me.

I laugh quietly. “Care? That’s a strong word. Let’s say I’m curious.”

“Well, don’t be.” She sits up straighter. “Whatever you think you know, you’re wrong.”

“I don’t think so. IknowI’m right. Like … how Lottie isn’t half as brave as she pretends to be. Or how you aren’t sure you believe a single word she said to you.”

She doesn’t respond. Instead, she picks up the book, turning it over in her hands like it’s the most interesting thing in the room.

“You’re not going to tell me to leave?”

“Would it work?” Her voice is quiet, but there’s an edge to it that makes me smile.

“No. But I might have respected the effort.”

She finally looks at me. “You enjoy this, don’t you? Pushing people until they break.”

I tilt my head, considering her words. “Usually, yes. But this isn’t about breaking you. It’s about finding out why you hide so much.”

For a moment her mask slips, then her face goes back to that carefully blank expression. But it’s enough to make my smile widen.

“You’re not invisible anymore, Ileana.” I stand up. “Better get used to it.”

Without waiting for a response, I turn and leave.

The rest of the day crawls by. I don’t have any more classes with Ileana, so I hang around until I see her leave, then make sure she sees me drive out of the parking lot in the opposite direction.

Three blocks away, I park and walk back. The thrill of the hunt thrums in my veins, but my friends are right—I am treating her differently from our usual games.

But this isn’t about breaking someone for fun. It’s about possession. About claiming what’s been hiding in plain sight for too long. About making a claim.

The dance studio windows are dark when I approach, but faintstrains of music reach me. Strings, something classical.

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