Page 11 of Encore
Arden was last, and I had no idea what he would say. He did that sexy glower thing he was famous for, but he didn’t seem angry about being there or what the others were saying about me.
“Most of you know my policy about not dating dancers. I’ve been firm on this until Beyla walked through that door. Not only am I breaking that rule, but my gryphon is also happy to join any coven she asks us to. Now, we made a little something for her.”
Arden was willing to share and deal with the fact that witches weren’t monogamous? And that extended past whatever was going on with Arden and Bevan? That was a gift in and of itself, and I hadn’t even watched the rest of the video.
The screen went black, and when it lit up again, the four of them were posed in the center of the studio. A cover of Leonard Cohen’sHallelujahby KD Lang started playing. Someone had been paying attention. It was on my playlist when I was doing gentle stretching to warm up because I loved that cover.
The guys started dancing, and they really were amazing dancers. They must have worked on this together because the choreography played to their strengths. All four guys were powerful. Between the twopas de deuxI’d done with Bevan and Nicolai and dancing Damita with them, we’d done some insane lifts together. I was never stressing about them dropping me, and I felt perfectly safe up in the air.
They were partnering with each other now, and that was something. Partner work required a lot of trust, and until recently, Arden, Nicolai, and Merlin couldn’t stand each other. Nicolai and Merlin made a net with their arms. Arden fell into it, and they threw him into the air. Since he was a gryphon, he always had this fantastic airtime.
Arden landed like a cat right next to Bevan. He wrapped his arms around Bevan and spun him around. And then passionately kissed him in the middle of a video that was rapidly going viral. Arden didn’t announce he was breaking his no dancer rule for Bevan, too, when they talked, but it was pretty obvious now. It was hot as hell.
“Did he tell you he was going to kiss Bevan like that on this video?” I asked Nyx.
“No, but it’s not a huge shocker. Marsden really shit on Bevan until this role. He’d miscast Julian over Bevan and only put Bevan on stage if the role required a man in drag. Bevan deserves just as much fame as those three assholes. Probably more.
“Julian rode Bellatrix’s coattails to lead roles, and his fans liked him because everything he did or said was permanently attached to her. Marsden capitalized on that and gave him leads over Bevan, who is the better person and a much better dancer.
“Arden just took out an insurance policy in case Marsden doesn’t do the right thing if we pull this ballet off. Horny Arden fans who think they will be the one to tame him are going to be super curious about Bevan now. When they see him on stage, they will demand more of him because he’s awesome. They’re going to love him just as much as we all do. Marsden will have to get over this whole shit on Bevan thing and give him leads and solos.”
“Even if Madame Lucinda hadn’t asked me to stay and partner with him and Bevan decided to adopt me, justlookat him. If I had never spoken to Bevan this entire time, or he ended up being a total dick to me, he’s still an amazing dancer. If Marsden prefers social media likes over raw talent, he doesn’t need to be running a ballet company.”
“Um, hello? Bellatrix bought a gun to rehearsal because she thought she could get away with it. He definitely doesn’t need to be let loose around us delicate children. Have you forgotten Santiago and the entire reason you are here? Marsden is trying to do a ballet that he knows kills people.”
“Good point. I kind of forgot why I was here for a minute.”
“Shit. Sorry. That was the whole point of them making this video, and I had to ruin it.”
I grabbed Nyx and hugged her.
“You didn’t do a damned thing.”
Just then, Marsden sent out another alert to the company. Mother fucker. He justhadto try to insert himself in my happy place. Marsden didn’t even mention Bellatrix. He hadn’t in any of his alerts.
“Dancers, check out the amazing promo video the four male leads did forThe Sugar Skull Girl.We’ll be announcing it to the world at the gala. It’s going to be the biggest gala we’ve ever thrown, so dress appropriately.”
“Is he serious?” Nyx said. “This ballet and Marsden weren’t even a surprise fart when they came up with this. This was all for you.”
Someone started pounding on the door. I already knew Nyx had given Arden a key, and he just let himself in. No one ever really knocked since I started living here and everyone seemed surprised Madame Lucinda showed up.
“Are you expecting someone?”
“No,” Nyx said. “This is my safe space, and everyone knows better. Stay here.”
Nyx came back holding a garment bag and scowling at it.
“Marsden decided to dress you for the gala like you’re his ballerina doll and not a grown-ass adult who has opinions on what they wear.”
I really did have opinions on my clothes, but I was also dead-ass broke and didn’t bring any dresses with me.
“My first check from the bureau hasn’t come in yet. Marsden agreed to cover most of my living expenses, and I have a per diem, but it doesn’t exactly cover party dresses. I didn’t bring one with me because I don’t own any.”
“I’d show up in jeans and a tank out of spite because of Bellatrix.”
I unzipped the garment bag. I was seriously ready to hex Marsden seven ways to Sunday, but he had excellent taste in dresses. I'd definitely wear this if I had to be caught dead in formalwear. It was soft, simple, and didn’t have a single ruffle on it.
“Oh, fuck. That’s from a Lavinia Diablo collection that isn’t available to the public yet. You should spite wear jeans and let me wear that because her clothes cost way more than I get paid.”
