Chapter 19 Back off!
Out of breath, calves on fire, I huffed and puffed as I padded up the steep wall on tiptoes.
First, this vibrating underwear was more than a bother, and had me glancing at the clock over and over.
How had I not realized earlier that those men were up to something? It’s been just two days, but this was so in character.
The Dragon came up with the wicked idea. Hale followed along, amused by it all.
However, the vibrations did not explain my current abysmal performance at workouts. The sudden buzzes did not last long enough to leave me this breathless.
So why was I breathless?
“Miss Grunder.” Coach’s voice reached me from the foot of the wall.
My head jerked back. Startled.
And it all happened at once. My foot slipped. I gasped, reaching for a handhold, but my body careened past it, falling.
My life flashed before my eyes, just before Kade caught me. He had been standing at the foot of the wall the whole time.
“Thank you.” I giggled nervously. My cheeks burned in embarrassment that I would get lightheaded from simple warm-ups.
“Walk with me.” Coach gave me a careful look, his clean-shaven head reflective under the bright studio lights as his eyes traveled from my head to toes.
He turned away, and I fell in steps beside him.
My heart was still pounding from fright at that near-accident. And my belly lurched at the thought that Gianna had gone on to tell him all about my new relationship with the Hearthrown Alphas.
But I promised I would get Lucia out before the weekend. Wasn’t that enough for her?
“How are you feeling?” Coach asked.
“Excellent!” I responded immediately.
He shook his head then, a fatherly smile crossing his face.
“You understand there’s no hurry to get back to practice. You can pull out of the other smaller acts, focus on resting a couple of weeks, and then resume training for only the Grand Ascension.”
My heart stopped. Was this his polite way of disqualifying me?
“I’m Okay, coach, I promise. I only got lightheaded back there because I turned around too quickly.”
He halted in the middle of the studio.
“I am worried about you. Another person would have died from that accident at the ceremony. You need to rest,” he paused. “I’m telling you this because I am about to give my approval for Celeste to take your place on the EuroTour.”
“No,” I gasped. “Please no.” My voice wavered. “I worked so hard for that. I can do it, I promise.”
“Miss Grunder.” He cut me off, “You and your partner have not even gotten four of your routines down pat.”
“I will spend extra hours at the academy,” I said with a confidence I did not feel at all.
My time, my life, none of it was mine anymore. I had two husbands to please, and despite their own busy schedules, I doubted they would leave me untouched for too long. Not after all the things that had happened since the Dragon moved me to their home, slung over his shoulder.
My cheeks burned at the memory, and Coach’s eyes widened in concern.
“Hey, you look like you’re about to pass out.”
Before I could speak, he grabbed my arm and hurried me out to the balcony. Staring out at the city, I inhaled deeply, unable to meet his eyes.
It was better he went on thinking I was unwell than him having the faintest idea of the images flashing through my mind right now.
“I’ll work harder. I promise, I can handle it,” I said out loud.
The Grand Ascension was my one wish when the Hearthrown Alphas asked me to make one. They had to understand that to win the tournament, I needed to spend a lot of time at the academy.
Coach stared at me for a long second while my heart pounded, waiting for his response.
Anything he said right now was final.
“Ok.”
My knees shook because the buzz was back, an intense zzz across my pussy, and I was now feeling the beginning of something I had never felt before.
Something I hadn’t even felt this morning pressed between both men on that shower bench.
“I’ll be watching you though. If I notice you cannot handle it, we will stop immediately.”
“Thank you,” I tilted my head, desperate for him to leave already so I could be alone.
He returned the nod, and left me alone on the balcony. Bitting down hard on my lip. I turned around to grab the railing.
The vibrations stopped.
My vision cleared again, and panting, I looked up to stare out at the large Hollywood sign in the distance.
Hale. Hale was my best bet.
He would understand.
A shiver ran through me at the thought of how the Dragon would react to such a request. He constantly looked like he was on the edge of breathing fire.
“Shouldn’t you be more scared of heights now?”
I spun around, “Is that a threat?”
Keeping my eyes on her, I slowly edged away from the railings.
Celeste laughed, pearly white teeth flashing against her dark skin. Her perfect almond eyes slanted in loathing.
“Why are some of you big shots so damn greedy?” she scoffed. “You already won a spot on the Grand Ascension. Why can’t you leave the smaller tours to the rest of us?”
“What?” My brows lifted. Big shots? Coming from an Alpha’s daughter?
“I was training for the EuroTour even before I knew I would qualify for the tournament.”
“Changes nothing.” She snapped. "Back off!”
My lips parted without a sound. The bell rang then, and I gave her a long look before walking around her.
It was 2:00 pm.
I could feel her hateful glare following me as I headed for my locker on the row adjacent to the studio, scanned the door open and grabbed a pair of shorts from my personal belongings.
She stomped past me before I maneuvered my fingers and ripped the panties off, right there in the hallway, before pulling the shorts over my bodysuit.
I headed downstairs to the auditorium.
About two hundred ballerinas stood in the hall, outfits ranging from the simpler black bodysuits, to elaborate ballet dresses.
I slipped quietly to the back, stood at the highest stairs, and stared down at the stage where the Academy admins stood.
Mrs Barbara took a step forward, clutching her signature custom-sized tablet.
“It was a joy to witness your flawless performance at the audition. You’re all wonderful dancers.” She smiled politely.
That was it. Mrs Barbara only smiled before throwing a punch.
“However, the tours will return to normal scheduling. Miss Grunder has made a miraculous recovery.”
Immediately, murmurs spread around the crowd. Heads turned, searching the auditorium till the first person spotted me at the back. Soon, the entire hall was staring at me.
I gave a humble head tilt, smiling awkwardly in apology.
“With that being said,” Mrs Barbara continued. “The EuroTour is not for another month, but the South Korea vertical summit is next week. Chop, chop, head back to practice.”
More murmuring. A couple of dirty looks in my direction. And then the hall was empty.
Gianna stopped next to me with a bright smile. “It seems there’s more than one person who wouldn’t mind seeing you fall again.” She reached out to caress my arm. “Thread carefully, Sweet Lys.”
Balling my fists, my claws pierced into my palms from the effort of keeping my rage in check and holding Rhea back as I watched her walk away.
“Did she really do it?”
I spun around to find Kade behind me. “What?”
“Was Gianna really behind your fall?” He stretched his hand out, and I placed my hand in his.
“Of course not,” I responded as we headed for the door. “Why would you think that? She is my sister.”
It would be foolish to start airing my family’s dirty linen in public. Especially when my Beta parents were the richest in the city, and maybe the state.
The media would have a field day with such rumors.
Besides, Gianna was an explosive that was best handled with care.
In the studio, practice began in earnest. Coach had us begin with the group acts. Celeste, one of my veils in several acts, did not miss any opportunity to bump against me, kick me. Hard.
“What the hell is this?” Coach stopped the music finally.
He marched forward, red-faced. “Do you need some time off, Miss Rosamund?”
“I’m sorry, coach. It was a mistake.”
“I bet.” He scowled at her. Then he turned around.
“That’s enough for today. Let’s see the couples.” He gestured towards the stage. “Sterling and Grunder, go up first and then take the rest of the day off. It’s not a suggestion.”
I winced as Kade took my hand. Coach was really determined to see me get that rest.
My partner and I walked towards the stage while our other colleagues, about a dozen of them in our group, settled on the reflective studio floors to watch.
“Ready?” Kade placed both hands on my waist, and I nodded.
Music fired through the speakers just as the aerial silk dropped and Kade caught it. He swung into the air, forearm curled tightly around my waist.
When our feet touched the floor sometime later, Coach was grinning. Impressed. Everyone except Celeste stood up to clap.
We bowed, but as I raised my head, my vision blurred.
“Lys.” Kade whispered in alarm. “You’re bleeding.”
My eyes widened. I noticed it then. The warmth running down my nose.
Turning my back to everyone, I touched my face and pulled my hand back. Sure enough, bright red blood stared back at me.