Page 26 of Last Resort

Estrya grinned. “That still leaves a lot of leeway.”

“Zip it, madame host.”

They sat and laughed. Poppy talked about living as an Elite omega and hiding from everyone. Estrya smiled softly, and Poppy knew that she had one of the rough lives.

Poppy reached out, touched the other omega’s hand, and saw the past. “Oh. Right. Yeah, that would do it. I am so sorry for your fight.”

“Oh, you are the time one. Right.”

Poppy shrugged. “Yup.”

Estrya grinned. “There is at least one more of us here, aside from Win. She’s doing the incidental music and the main vocals for the promo videos.”

“Who is she?”

“You will know when she comes ripping into the space. She’s a lot when she’s excited. It doesn’t happen often.” Estrya chuckled. “I think she’s actually having fun.”

Poppy smiled. “Fun is a good thing. How long are the guys going to be in there?”

Estrya lifted her finger again, and the sound of island music and drums filled the air. “Almost done.”

The music stopped, and Myro and Breen came out, sweaty. Illu looked around and grinned at Poppy. “You are up next.”

Estrya grinned and gestured to the small table with the chairs. “You are up, gentlemen.”

Poppy walked into the dance space that smelled mightily of overheated alpha and looked at Illu. “You did that on purpose.”

Illu shrugged. “I don’t know what you are referring to. Now, do you want to do something fast or slow? This will be the final challenge for you.”

“Fast.”

Illu laughed. “Right. Let’s do this.”

Poppy looked at her, watched her, and ignored the stationary cameras in the corners. Everything she did from the ferry until she went home was going to be recorded.

Dance basics came with the pearly skin. Illu just had to finetune her.

They worked at it for half an hour, and Illu was grinning. “This is going to be a lot of fun. You will practice again in two days, and then this is the challenge for the last day. Thanks for coming this soon. It means I can get some betting in.” The older woman rubbed her hands together.

“You haven’t met the other teams.”

“Poppy, some folks love dance, some folks live for dance, but youaredance. Just like Narro. He’s a fun one to watch.”

“Well, I am glad that this is sorted. It’s one thing off the list.” Poppy stretched and spun, smiling as her skirt flared out. She really enjoyed that part. Her inner five-year-old just loved to play with skirts as long as she remembered not to lift them over her head. That would be dangerous.

“Thank you very much for the instruction, Illu. It was helpful.” She bowed and skipped to the door, pausing when she got there and slowly walking outside. No one got to see her having fun until she chose the moment. She thought of the cameras... or until the dailies were seen.

She walked out and looked at the interview. Both Breen and Myro slowly smiled as she walked into their line of sight.

She glanced at Thera, who did a slow pan toward her, and she smiled and shook her head.

Estrya beckoned to her with a tiny movement, so Poppy played along and walked up to the gathered elves and stood between Breen and Myro, one hand on each shoulder. “So, guys, did you spill your guts? Give her the rocket formula? Maybe your secret recipe for cupcakes?”

They were both quiet, and she realized that she was still sweaty. Oh, boy. They were in the same kind of ambience that she had soaked in in the dance studio.

She slowly removed her hands from their bare shoulders and said, “I believe that is enough for now. I am going to head to the square and get the singing portion of the game over.” She eased away and walked past the camera with a swing in her hips.

There was laughter, and she soon felt the warmth of them at her back. A quick glance confirmed it. Thera stood straight, and Orc was taking the tripod and camera.

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