PERFORMANCE

VELORA

Jaxton frowns, clearly searching for the right thing to say. Aveline isn’t someone you can brush off with a simple explanation, especially when she’s already looking for a reason to be suspicious.

“Remember you told me what happened to Vel…” He stops and rubs his forehead before correcting himself. “I mean, Velora.” His eyes briefly flick to me. “I just felt sorry for her.”

“Okay?” Aveline nods, but there's nothing satisfying about her expression. If anything, she looks more irritated.

I notice Jaxton shifting uncomfortably. He looks nervous, even though neither of us has done anything wrong. Why is he so uneasy around her?

“What do you want, Aveline?” I cut in before he can say anything else that might make things worse.

Her attention immediately snaps to me instantly. “What else? I want my dress.” She scoffs. “My Eryx will be here any minute to pick me up, and you're here boring someone else with your sob story.”

She rolls her eyes and glances back at Jaxton. He doesn't say anything.

Then Aveline looks at me again, something colder settling in her expression. “You know what? I think I agree with Mum. You clearly have too much free time. Always looking for someone to dump your unfortunate story on so you can try to seduce them too, right?”

My eyes widen. I barely have time to process her words before she adds bitterly, “Like you tried to steal my Eryx?”

My stomach drops. The accusation hits harder than the slap from earlier. She really said that. In front of someone else. Heat crawls up my neck and floods my face as my fingers tighten painfully around the hem of my dress. I force myself to swallow the thick ache already rising in my throat.

“I’ll get your dress,” I say quietly. My voice comes out flatter than I intend. “What else do you want?”

She folds her arms. “Whatever.” She rolls her eyes again. “Just go get my things. Some of us actually have a mate waiting for us.”

She turns on her heel and deliberately stomps out of my room like a princess who has just been deeply offended. I stand there for a long moment, staring at the empty doorway, before I finally let out the breath I’d been holding.

Nothing Aveline said should still hurt this much… but hearing her claim Eryx so casually cuts deeper than I want to admit. Ten minutes ago I was lost in thoughts of him, of his voice, his eyes, the way he had called my name sweetly. Now the reality that he will soon be standing beside her as her future mate feels too real and painful. I don’t know how to make the ache in my chest go away.

I turn to Jaxton. He’s still watching me, concern clear on his face. “Look, Vel—”

“Thank you, Jaxton.” I cut him off before he can finish. “I really appreciate you feeling sorry for me, but… I want you to leave now.”

I don't want his pity. And I certainly don't want to find out what kind of scheme he might be planning. Kindness from people connected to this family has never come without a price.

He sighs and slowly reaches into his pocket. He pulls out a small card and places it carefully on my bed. “I can help you,” he says, worry still clear in his voice. “If you change your mind and decide to see me tonight, just call me.”

I stare at the card but don't touch it. I don't answer him either.

After a moment, he gives me one last look before walking out, disappointment written all over his face. The door clicks quietly behind him. Deep down, I don't trust him. But if I'm being completely honest with myself, there's a tiny, exhausted part of me that wants to believe he means well. I just don't understand why. And right now, I don’t have the strength to find out.

***

ERYX

“You what?” Vesper echoes from the driver's seat as he rolls the car into the driveway.

There's a strange warmth moving beneath my skin, spreading slowly through me. It comes and goes in waves, leaving my muscles tense for reasons I can't explain. It really isn't Magnus. My wolf feels it too, but this isn't something he's causing. It's something else. Something I honestly can't fucking understand.

“Drive,” I say flatly. 

He frowns, still trying to process everything. “What you did was seriously messed up, dude. I thought we agreed you weren't going to fight him.”

“We didn't fight.” I glance at him. “I rejected Aveline. That's all.”

“That's the same thing, really.” His voice turns serious. “You rejected the daughter of his only friend. Then you stood there and challenged him in front of the man.”

He kills the engine and unbuckles his seat belt before turning fully toward me. “So what's your plan now? If you don't want Aveline, who are you going to choose?”

A small, involuntary smile pulls at the corner of my mouth before I can stop it. Vesper notices immediately. 

“Wait.” His eyes widen. “You're smiling?”

I say nothing.

“There's someone else, isn't there?”

I look away. I don't even know how to explain this without sounding insane. She's a girl I've known for less than a day, yet something about her has already gotten under my skin. Her scent still clings to the edges of my memory. The way my wolf rose the moment he caught it. That strange, insistent pull I’ve been feeling ever since. All of it would make me sound unhinged if I tried to put it into words.

Vesper continues staring at me. “I'm dying to know here, dude. Where the hell did you meet her? Is she beautiful?”

My mind immediately goes back to her. Fuck. She is. Soft curves, green eyes that tried so hard to look away from me, that quiet, trembling voice when she said my name. More beautiful than anyone I’ve ever let myself notice.

“Anyway.” I straighten my shirt, forcing the thought down. “I'm going to find her.”

His expression twists. “Hold on. You don't even know who the girl is?”

I frown.

“Eryx, please tell me this mystery girl at least has a name.”

“Velora.” The name leaves my mouth easily. I've already made sure I won't forget it.

Vesper blinks. “And an address?”

I look at him. “That's your job to find out.”

He nods slowly, then scoffs. “Really? You met her today, you don’t even know where she lives, and now I’m supposed to magically find someone without an address? Who does that?”

I don’t bother answering. Vesper stares at me again, this time, he's more confused. “She's at Ravenwood, isn't she?”

“I know.”

“And you're returning there.”

“Eventually.”

He gives me a look. “Then why the hell do you need her address?”

I don't answer… I'm not waiting that long to see her again. I open my door and step out and walk around to Vesper's side and pull the passenger door open.

He stares at me for a second before stepping out. “What is it now?”

I walk around him and get into the driver's seat. He watches me through the open door, clearly confused. I look up at him with a flat expression.

“I'm seeing Aveline.” Even saying her name irritates me. “I'm finishing what my father started.” A small, cold smirk pulls at my lips.

Vesper's expression drops instantly. “Come on, man.” He shakes his head slowly. “Seriously?” he says, raising his voice.

I don't give him the chance to say anything else. I slam the door shut. He immediately reaches for the handle, but I start the engine and reverse out of the driveway before he can get to me.

I leave him standing there as I speed out of the compound the strange warmth still pulsing under my skin like a second heartbeat.

I never want to return to Ravenwood. But for her, hell, I don't care.

I’m going to find her. But first, I have one last performance to finish.