Page 38 of Teach Me to Fly

Reign finally releases my hand and crosses to the far end, lighting a cigarette in the open doorway. I watch the smoke curl into the rain outside as I stay quiet, waiting for him to speak first.

“I’m sorry you had to hear that,” he finally says, staring at me over his shoulder before looking back out at the pouring rain, taking another pull.

I take slow steps until I’m leaning on the frame opposite him. “It’s not like what Volkov said isn’t true,” I say, my voice quiet.

Reign growls in frustration, surprising me, and turns to face me fully. “EverythingVolkov said isn’t true.”

“Reign.” I sigh. “I was there. I saw how amazing Wendy is. She’s exactly what this production needs in an Odile.”

“This production wouldn’t exist without you,” he says.

He throws the barely smoked cigarette out into the rain and steps closer, inches from me now, causing my breath to hitch.

“I’m not dancing this without you,” he says, his tone deathly serious.

“Why?”

He falters, like I’ve caught him off guard. “Does it matter?”

“Yeah, actually. It does,” I reply. “Because surely you know that I can’t keep up with you, Reign. I’ll end up just another broken partner.”

He rears his head back like I’ve offended him. “Believe me when I say if I wanted to break you, I already would have.”

“Exactly! It’s so easy to do because we’re at two completely different levels. So why are you so set on having me as your partner when you can have someone that’s so much better than me?”

Instead of replying, he watches me like I’ve cracked open something he didn’t expect to find, and now he doesn’t know what to do with it.

“Forget it,” I mutter, stepping back, my voice tight. “Just… forget I said anything.”

I turn to go, but his hand wraps around my wrist, gently pulling me back.

“Tell me you won’t quit,” he says, low.

“What?” I turn to look at him.

His eyes lock on mine, clearer than I’ve ever seen them. “Don’t quit,” he says again, softer now. “Promise me you won’t.”

I don’t understand why it matters to him so much to be dancing with me, but I can tell he needs to hear me say it. I can feel it in the space between us, and for once, I don’t want to lie, or run, or hide.

“I promise,” I whisper.

His hand slips from my wrist, fingers lingering a second longer than they should. It’s almost nothing. Almost. But it feels like everything.

“I should go,” I say, clearing my throat and stepping back like I’ve touched something hot. “I’ll, uhm… I’ll see you in an hour. With Terry.”

I turn and walk away, not stopping until I’m back inside, the door shutting behind me, and my pulse still thrumming in my ears.

Chapter 12

Reign

“Angelique, I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure of meeting you yet. My name is Terry Baker and I’m the choreographer for this season's Swan Lake production.”

Terry takes Angelique’s hand and kisses the back of it. He’s a world-renowned choreographer, originally from Australia, and he costs Imperium an exceptional amount of money to keep around. But he’s worth every penny, because there hasn’t been a single production that he’s worked on that hasn’t taken my breath away.

He’s also my closest friend.

Angelique stiffens the minute he touches her, but she forces a polite smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Terry,” she says.

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