Page 136 of Harley & Her Ferals

He’s dazzling.

River wound Feral’s paper roses between Laurent’s rose clips. He used them to bind Laurent’s hair in elaborate loops.

Feral then used his makeup for fights to turn Laurent into aDevil Omega.

I wanted to stop Feral, worrying what Dad would think about the transformation of his sweet Omega into a sinful creature with smoky eyes and heavy eyeliner.

I’d thought that Laurent couldn’t become any more beautiful.

I was wrong.

Laurent had only shaken his head at me, sitting obediently still for Feral.

“Feral needed to mark me,” Laurent explained, as we walked together down the stairs to the ball. “He knows thatyouare his. They all do. But River and Feral wanted to show me that I was theirs equally too.”

He blushed cutely.

Now, Laurent leans closer to whisper, “Just concentrate on letting me lead, while you follow. The one thing that I have to thank Mom for is the ballroom dance classes that I was drilled in since I was a kid. I’ve attended enough balls to be worthy to be seen with you in that dress.”

I swish the dress, and the tide of ruffles rustle. “And what a dress.”

“Here.” Laurent rests his hand on my shoulder. Only then do I realize that River has even painted his nails red. “Now, placeyour hand gently…gently, you’re not trying to choke me out in the octagon…on my shoulder. We can clasp our other hands together.”

Why I am suddenly so hot?

It’s warm in the ballroom, but my cheeks are flushed. Sweat is dripping down the back of my neck. My hair is sticking to my forehead.

Is it because of how close I am to Laurent?

How standing like this, I’m looking directly into his eyes?

How his typical guardedness is down because he’s teaching me?

Or because there’s an intimacy to this dancing, which means he’s looking at me with a tenderness that’s making talking difficult?

Breathing difficult?

“Now, follow how my feet move,” Laurent continues like he doesn’t know how much he’s affecting me. “There are only six steps. Imagine that they’re fight moves that your coach is teaching you. It’s not really different.”

When he puts it like that, it makes sense.

I grin, following his steps. “I’m getting it.”

“You are,” Laurent praises, waltzing smoothly around the room. “You’re doing excellently well.”

I glow at the praise.

What Omega wouldn’t?

Then I hear Allegra’s mean laugh, as she dances past me. “For someone who can’t dance.”

She is dancing with Vinnie.

Allegra is wearing a modest scarlet evening dress with ruby earrings.

She eyesmydress enviously.

I stumble, cringing.

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