Page 28 of Encore
“You’ll also get a look at a promising witch. When I saw Beyla Moonfall do the choreography forThe Sugar Skull Girl,I could tell you without hesitation that she was born to dance Damita. It was fate for her to come here when we did this ballet.
“The amount of chemistry between the five leads is so powerful when they are dancing together that it extends off stage, too.The Pis the oldest supernatural ballet company in the United States, but this will be a first for us. You will see a love story played out by a real live coven. That is all. Enjoy your night!”
This bitch right here. I knew Bevan and Beyla held a lot of stock in the whole fate thing, but Marsden was full of shit. Yeah, Beyla was perfect for this role, but let’s be honest. The bureau wouldn’t have sent an agent who just graduated academy undercover like this unless he promised Unseelie secrets.
And taking something beautiful like our coven and using it for publicity? I had so many reasons to punch that fucking fairy in the face, but that was the top one at the minute. I was going to do it. Fuck this gala and all the people here kissing his ass. I was going to break his fucking nose and knock him into that ridiculous cake on the table.
Beyla grabbed my arm.
“Dance with me. All of you.”
The music hadn’t started back up yet. My mate was so badass. That little speech upped my rage, and I really wanted to beat his ass in front of all these rich people.
Beyla led us all to the center of the floor and called for a tango.
Chapter25
Bevan
I’d been working my entire career for a role like this and being introduced to patrons at a gala. But unfortunately, Marsden ruined it. He said perfectly lovely things about me, but a coven was sacred. Ours was different and unique. I wasn’t just saying that because it was mine. It was unheard of for a gryphon to join a witch’s coven.
We were all ready to go throw down with Marsden. I was a pacifist, but I was prepared to hex him so hard. I knew Beyla wanted to as well, but she called for a tango. That was my girl. We were professional ballet dancers. Yeah, we could beat the shit out of someone when we needed to, but Beyla was throwing down a good old-fashioned dance battle.
We could all tango and improvise. Beyla slid down my body and ran her hand up my thigh on the way back up. Arden was pressed against her back as the three of us tangoed across the floor. I was totally crazy about both of these people.
Everyone had cleared the floor to watch us. Some people were taking photos or videos. When we got closer to Nicolai and Merlin, Beyla spun out of the cage of our arms and straight to Nicolai.
Nicolai wrapped his arm around her waist and gave her a deep dip. Beyla had this fantastically flexible back and worked that dip. Her hair brushed the floor before Nicolai snapped her back to his chest. Nicolai gave her a passionate kiss. Show off.
Nicolai and Merlin did a sexy little number with her before dancing her back to us. We were about to wrap things up. We had everyone in the gala in the palms of our hands, and then Marsden decided to ruin it. The urge to hex him was back, and Arden might hit him this time.
He stepped into our dance circle and broke the enchantment Beyla and I were weaving. We all just stopped and stared at him. Marsden used our coven for publicity, and then he tried to interrupt our tango? Was nothing sacred to him?
Marsden gave Beyla this deep bow.
“May I cut in?”
Arden let out a little growl and stepped forward. Beyla squeezed his hand and gave us a slight nod. I got what she was doing even if Arden hadn’t just yet. She was going to have Marsden all to herself for the duration of the dance. He couldn’t brush her off and walk away like he’d been doing in the studio, not after interrupting our tango.
He would have to sit there and answer all her questions until the song was over, or it would look bad to all the people he invited here tonight to donate money, and come see this ballet if we pulled it off.
We were so worried about what Marsden would say before he threw her to the wolves, but she was playing him like a master.
I absolutely adored this witch.
Chapter26
Beyla
There was a time sixteen-year-old me would have lost their shit to have been introduced as a new lead at a gala like this and havetheMarsden King cut in when everyone was watching and ask me to dance. If this had been a different life, a different ballet, and Marsden wasn’t downright infuriating, I might actually be enjoying this gala instead of wondering what kind of shitshow he was going to throw at me next.
This was actually nerve-wracking, and I suggested a tango because dance always allowed me to relax. I also needed to distract my guys so Marsden didn’t get beaten to a pulp and hexed with a few extra body parts.
He crashed my tango for some reason, but I could turn this around on him and use it for a bit of interrogation. I slipped my hand in his as he called for a waltz.
“You seem awfully sure this ballet is going to see a live audience considering we haven’t gotten to the scene in the ballet that officially kicks off the curse. You’ve been pushing us pretty hard to get there, but it seems like you’re jumping the gun. You brought me here to help you, but you aren’t helpingmeat all. I know you’re working with Santiago; I just don’t know where you are keeping him.”
“I meant what I said, Beyla. You were born to dance Damita. What is it but fate when I contact the Paranormal Investigation Bureau for a witch to go undercover and get a dancer of your caliber? Your talents are utterly being wasted apprehending criminals. You should stay when we pull off this ballet.”
