Page 69 of Dance of Madness

Laz makes a face. “Fair. Okay, marry Eric. Who are you fucking?”

She shrugs lightly. “Beast.Obviously.”

Bane chuckles. Laz rolls his eyes. Evie and I glance at each other and nod firmly.

“Facts,” Evelina blurts. “Like, no contest.”

“Wait, seriously?” Laz looks perplexed. “The big hairy monster?”

“Uh,yeah?” I giggle. “I mean, we’re talking about getting railed, not romance or marriage or whatever. Beastfor sureknows how to fuck up your shit.”

Evie laughs and turns red. Brooklyn fist-bumps me. “Atta girl.”

“And kill?” Laz sighs, clearly getting bored.

“Also easy,” Brooklyn says. “Scar.”

“Oooo, good one!” Evelina blurts.

“What?” Laz makes a face. “That’s bullshit. He's not a prince.”

“Is so!” Brooklyn throws back. “He’s Mufasa’s brother. Mufasa is the king, which makes Scar a prince. He’s also a dick and kills Mufasa, so he can go fuck himself.”

Bane nods thoughtfully. “She’s got a point.”

Laz rolls his eyes. “Bullshit. Human princes only.”

“Do I still get to bang Beast?” Brooklyn asks hopefully.

Laz exhales heavily. “I think I’m done with this.”

“Join the club,” Bane mutters.

We stop playing the game, but the conversation stays on the topic of Disney princes—specifically, which of them is the most toxic. Florian fromSnow Whitegets high marks for making out with an unconscious minor he finds in the woods. Aladdin gets a nod for all his lies about himself to trick Jasmine.

A participation award goes to Li Shang fromMulan—not for being toxic, but forvery obviouslybeing into men, and desperately trying to hide it from Mulan.

But even as I try to remain present in the conversation, my thoughts keep returning to the alarm bell going off in my head that cannot be ignored.

A very loud alarm bell named Nero.

Speaking of toxic…

I’ve been avoiding him. Not responding to his numerous text messages. I’m almost sure I saw him lurking in a blood-red Porsche outside the Mercury before rehearsal the other day. I hid out in the coffee shop across the street to avoid walking past him. Madame Kuzmina made me pay for my lateness with an extra round of brutal conditioning.

But still.

Worth it.

Because this has moved in aseriouslyinsane new direction.

He was in my room again. This time, he made sure there waszeroconfusion about whether I had dreamed it or not.

This time, he left evidence.

Sticky, dried evidence, all over my body and soaked into my panties and tank top.

He snuck in. He touched me again.

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