Page 87 of Teach Me to Fly

Chapter 30

Reign

Istand outside of Imperium, half-shielded behind a marble column. Behind me, Wendy shifts, her heels pressing softly on the stone. She’s holding her phone up, quietly recording everything, just like I told her to. She owes Angelique after the shit she pulled. It was this or get kicked out of Imperium for good.

Angelique wipes her mouth with the back of her hand and pushes herself to her feet. Her back is still to Alec, shoulders trembling, and she doesn’t know we’re here. She doesn’t know I’ve been watching her like a hawk since the second she ran from the ballroom.

My father mentioned Alec’s name a few days ago—some bullshit about a surprise guest. I didn’t think the bastard would show, but the moment I saw him in the crowd after our performance, I knew.

I knew he’d come for her.

I knew I’d finally get the chance to burn him to the fucking ground.

“Beautiful performance tonight,” Alec says, his toneeasy. “You dance better than your understudy at Big Apple ever could. So much emotion.”

Angelique turns to face him now, and he takes a step closer while she instinctively takes one back. I can see the fear in how her body trembles before him and it makes me clench my hands into fists, wanting to run out there and beat the shit out of him already.

“I was heartbroken when I heard you left the company,” he goes on. “You had this spark. A true star quality.”

“Stay away from me,” she hisses, voice shaking, but Alec keeps walking forward.

He rips off his mask and tosses it to the gravel, and I see the twisted, hungry expression on his face as he stares at her before lunging forward and grabbing her arm.

“You look fucking sexy in that dress,” he growls, inches from her face. “Reign doesn’t deserve to dance next to what’s mine.”

His eyes narrow as he stares at her, his teeth bared. “Did you let him fuck you, too?” he spits.

She jerks her arm, trying to get away, but he tightens his grip, and she screams, a panicked sound that makes my whole body go still.

“I never let you fuck me,” she snarls, shaking. “Now let me go!”

He shoves her backward, causing her to fall onto the gravel path with a cry that rips me in two, and time stops, my vision going black at the edges, as I watch him unbuckle his belt and pull his dick out.

“Still trying to tell me what to do,” he seethes. “Looks like you need another lesson in shutting your fucking mouth.”

Another lesson, the words echo in my head.

“Film everything,” I hiss at Wendy, sprinting towards them.

I reach them within seconds, the rage in my chest burning hotter than anything I’ve ever felt. Angelique’s on the ground, trying to crawl backward, her hands shaking too hard to push herself up. Her eyes meet mine for a split second and I swear, she’s never looked more scared.

My fist connects with the side of Alec’s face in a sickening crunch before he even realizes I’m there. He staggers sideways and hits the ground hard, spitting blood. Angelique scrambles to the edge of the path, hands over her mouth, but I don’t stop. I climb over him and start swinging.

“You think you can touch her?”

Crack.

“You think this is a game?”

Crack.

“You should be dead, you fucking coward.”

His nose breaks beneath my knuckles, blood spattering across my arm and tux, but I don’t give a fuck. I want him to feel the way he made her feel; powerless and small. But Angelique’s cries reach me again, somewhere in the fog.

“Reign—Reign, stop, please—” Her voice cracks on the last word, and that’s the only thing that makes me pause.

My hands are shaking, covered in blood, and my chest heaves as I stare down at Alec. He’s barely conscious, gasping, his face an unrecognizable mess of crimson and bruises. I grab him by the collar and haul him upright so that he’s facing Wendy as she films him, pressing my forearm into his throat until he gags. He tries to look away, but I shake him hard.

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