Page 9 of Twilight Echoes
“I really want you to work with her and not only on technique. Be a mentor. Teach her everything you know about the numbers. The emotions. I want you to show her that you care, because I know you care about this company.”
He had her there. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Of course.”
“Did you do this with any of your understudies?”
“I did, and the first time, I hated it, but if that shifter had his way, he would have pushed me offstage, poisoned me, or sold me to the devil if it meant he got to be the lead male. He didn’t care about the other dancers. Or how we all worked together. He only cared about himself. That’s the difference between you and almost everyone else on that stage. Brandon picked a great group. But I need to know about Olivia.”
“Why?” She folded her arms across her chest and glared. “A few hours ago you said you weren’t replacing me. Has something changed?” She blinked. More dust. Seemed when she got angry, it came on thicker.
Good to know.
“No. But it’s my job to ensure she’s ready to step up if you only need a night off. And she’s not even close to being ready. And if she doesn’t have what it takes, then I need to bring in someone else next year because, at best, you have only a few years left.” He waved his hand through the dust and audibly sighed. “But don’t you think we need to talk about this stuff? Because it changes everything.”
Her heartbeat lurched to the back of her throat. Her father constantly reminded her of the legend and what it meant for their family. For the world. Being the youngest, she figured she had years. And there was always the possibility that some other royal witch family would have the honors. Only, that was wishful thinking. “I don’t see how me being part fairy has anything to do with it.” Saying the words out loud didn’t mean she accepted their meaning. However, she wasn’t sure there was any escaping it.
“Seriously? That’s how you want to play this.” He took her hand and pressed his warm lips against the back of her palm. “Ignoring the dust for a second. I believe you felt what happened nineteen years ago.”
“What on earth are you talking about? We danced. We were kids.”
“True.” He stood, stuffing his hands in his pockets, and leaned against his desk. “Believe me, I get how weird it is, especially for someone who isn’t a wolf. But I studied for another four months at that studio. While I was in the senior group, and you were with the juniors, you couldn’t get enough of me. I would see you come into the viewing area to watch me every day.”
“There wasn’t a dancer there who didn’t, and every young girl had a crush on you.” She waved her hand, wishing she hadn’t as more fairy particles floated through the air like a magic wand. “But I was five flipping years old. I didn’t even know what that meant.”
“Maybe not. And trust me when I say, knowing I imprinted on you before I came of age, well, that has made for one hell of an awkward dating life for me all these years, knowing that you were out there, waiting for me.”
“Now you’re being a conceited asshole.”
“Not really. It’s just how imprinting works,” he said. “Are you going to tell me that you’ve been spewing fairy dust for years?” He leaned closer. “And before you think about lying, I’m an alpha wolf, and now leader of my pack. I attend local Twilight Crossing Council meetings. I’m bound by paranormal and human laws to protect fairies, wolfairies, and now your sister’s twins. I know all about the Legend of the Fated Moons. The four pairings of royal witch fairies and wolves and those wolves imprinted on their mates when they were young.” He arched a brow. “It was all predicted in those stupid watcher bubbles, and now the Twilight Crossing Council is doing what they can to protect the future.”
Christ. He’d accepted pack leader and she’d yet to offer her condolences. That should have been the first thing she’d donethe second she stepped into his office. “Darrell, I literally just learned about your father. I’m so sorry. I know I was only a little girl, but I remember what a kind soul he was.” She smiled, hoping some of her healing powers would come through and ease Darrell’s aching heart. “He always took the time to talk to me, and he always brought me flowers after showcases.”
“In part because he always thought you special, even before he knew I’d imprinted,” Darrell said. “And thank you. I miss him terribly.”
“He was a good man.” A tightness filled her soul. It was deep and somewhat dark. It was as if a senseless black hole had opened inside her heart and sucked out all her blood.
Darrell nodded. “But now you’re using that to avoid what your fairy dust means for us.”
She jumped to her feet. “I’m sorry, but I don’t want that legend. And even if all that you're saying is true, I’m not ready to hang up my pointe shoes, settle down, and have a bunch of wizard and witch wolfairies. I’m way too young. I have a couple of good years left as principal. And then the world is still my oyster. This is all crazy talk. You’re good-looking. Actually, you’re sexy as hell, but I don’t even know you.”
“While I don’t want you rejecting me, I can’t say at thirty that I’m ready for that either, and perhaps it’s good that you’re fighting this and not accepting me right now because it all might not matter anyway.” He rubbed his temples. “I need you to do me a really big favor. It’s huge. Massive. But please, I need you to do it for me.”
“What is it?” She should have just said no, but she couldn’t deny the pull he had over her good sense. It was like she was driven to stand next to him or some such bullshit. And she wanted him to elaborate more on why he thought her pushing him away was a good idea. But verbalizing that question wouldmean she entertained the idea and that, she wasn’t ready to admit to herself.
“Can you tell me what my aura says?”
“That’s not my specialty.”
“But you are a witch, so you can see my aura.”
“I’m not an aura reader. That would be my sister Amanda.”
“But you can see them. Peer inside. Check them out, right?”
“Oh God, no. My father can look inside. So can Trask. And they could both see if someone tampered with any aspect of who you are at your core. My sister could, but she’s a little gun-shy after what happened with Jackson and nearly dying and all. Plus, now that her fate has been changed in this universe, her role with our coven is no longer that of a reader. She’d actually have to get Trask’s permission.” She covered her mouth. That information was forbidden to be shared. Trask’s visions for the future of the witch and wizard wolfairies were not clear. And they might not be until all the pairings were complete.
Shit. She did not want to be part of this plan.
