Page 9 of Dramatic AF
Jayden’s lips tilted into a knowing grin, his eyes sparkling in a way that had nothing to do with his tears. “I think I’ve got it now.” Instead of retreating back to his seat, however, he arched his neck and pressed a soft kiss to my cheek. “Thank you.”
Heat blossomed across my skin where his lips lingered, and I jerked, every muscle in my body tense and rigid. My vision dimmed, shadows creeping in at the edges, and a low-frequency whine buzzed in my ears.
Like the first time we’d met, my magic surged, swelling until I feared it would burst free. Pressure built in my temples as I battled to contain it, and I clenched my teeth against the stabbing pain.
“Trick?”
Soft, delicate fingers stroked my face, a soothing balm to the fire that burned just beneath my skin.
“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
The knot in my chest loosened, and the whine in my ears quieted.
“Keep talking,” I bit out, pressing his hand flat against my cheek and holding it there.
“Man, I’m really starving. Do you think the food will be here soon? Did you order soup? I could really go for some soup right now. I’m also still annoyed that you wouldn’t let me have bubble tea.”
The pressure in my head eased, and the innate magic that flowed through my veins settled, receding back to its natural state. My vision cleared, and I blinked a few times before finally meeting his concerned gaze.
“I’ll get you bubble tea for lunch tomorrow.”
“I’m going to hold you to that because I won’t be able to think about anything else until I get it.”
I chuckled at his mock irritation and tilted my head, nuzzling against his palm. “I promise you’ll get your tea.”
“Better?” he asked.
I nodded. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, but I didn’t really do anything.”
“Trust me, you did.”
It didn’t make sense how he could be both the poisonandthe antidote, but that seemed to be the case. If I had any sense, I’d stay away from him, at least until I figured out why he caused my magic to glitch.
Sighing, I rubbed against his hand again.
Not only did I lack the desire to put distance between us, but I was pretty sure I no longer had the capability.
four
~ Jayden ~
Asopeningnightloomedcloser, rehearsals became longer, more frequent, and painstakingly detailed.
And way more chaotic.
While the cast zeroed in on problem scenes and tone tweaks, everyone else busied themselves with last-minute adjustments.
The tech teams conducted daily checks for everything from lighting to audio. The set design crew worked long hours to make the stage feel immersive for the audience while also ensuring the safety of the actors.
Costume designers could be found wandering around backstage, fabrics draped over their shoulders and pins trapped between their lips while they muttered to themselves.
For the magical effects team, they couldn’t prepare their spells beforehand and leave them like the props department. Instead, much like the cast, they had to practice every day, paying particular attention to timing.
And with barely more than a week until the premier, things would only become more intense as nerves spiked and tensions rose.
Petty, meaningless squabbles had already started breaking out all over the set. Not ten minutes ago, the director had snapped at me for crying wrong. Whatever the hell that meant.
