Page 65 of Encore

“It doesn’t work like that!” she says with frustration. “You know what, I’m going to murder Jakub but not before I murder my sister first!”

Striding to the door, Chisty yanks it open before storming off down the hallway.

“Not sure I’d like to be in Grim’s shoes right now,” I say, hearing Christy hollering at Grim.

“She’s very strong willed, that’s for sure,” Cynthia says, laughing softly.

“Aren’t you worried they’ll kill each other?” I ask. “All bets are off in the cage. Weallknow that.”

Cynthia shakes her head. “I trust them both not to take it too far.”

I give her a look that tells her without words that I’m not sure I believe that given their history.

“Trust me, if they wanted to kill each other, they’ve had ample opportunities over the years. Believe it or not, they’re friends.”

“You certainly know them best,” I acknowledge. “I guess we should head back out there? Clancy and the girls will be performing soon. I don’t want to miss the show.”

Cynthia nods, but when I reach for the door, hauling it open she says, “Pen?”

“Yes?”

“I think maybe you’re—”

But her sentence is cut short when Clancy appears in the doorway, throwing her arms around me in a tight embrace. “There you are! Zayn’s been looking for you, the guy’s about to have a coronary.”

“I’ve not been gone that long,” I sigh into her curls.

Clancy chuckles. “Doesn’t stop him from worrying though.”

“I’m afraid the worrying is going to get a whole lot worse,” Cynthia mutters behind me.

Before I’m able to ask her what she meant by that, lightheadedness comes over me once again but this time black spots prick my vision.

“I don’t feel so…” I mutter, the end of my sentence lost to unconsciousness as my legs give way beneath me.

FOURTEEN

The Feels

PEN

“Pen, can you hear me?”

Zayn's face comes into view, worried and tense. He breathes out a relieved sigh as my eyes flutter open. "Thank fuck," he murmurs, squeezing my hand tight.

"What happened?" I query groggily, pushing upright with the help of Zayn, his arm sliding around my back as he eases me against the armrest of the sofa I'm lying on.

"Easy now," Cynthia says, placing a glass of water on the side table as she drops to her knees beside me. "Just give your body a moment to adjust. No sudden movements, okay?"

"I'm in Clancy's changing room," I reply uselessly, the faint thud of music and the roar of the audience penetrating the walls as Clancy and her dance troupe bring the house down.

"You fainted in her arms, luckily Zayn was just down the corridor and rushed to help. He brought you here."

"But I'm missing the show." I move to get up, but Zayn shakes his head, pressing his hand gently against my shoulder.

"Don't even think about it, Pen. You're staying put."

"But–"

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