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  The vibrations under her hands indicated the low rumble of his growl. Their mouths met again, and this time she let her hands roam, feeling the ropes of muscles on his arms and abdomen, pressing into the softness of his tanned skin. She lightly followed the golden trail of hair that led to under his boxers, but his large hand stopped her.

  His face buried in her neck, Alex’s curls tickling her cheek, he shook his head, his breathing ragged from the uneven rise and fall of his wide chest.

  Not tonight, he signed without lifting his head. Not on a day when you felt such fear and saw such ugliness. He pressed a kiss to both of her hands, effectively keeping her from answering. Finally, he pulled away.

  I will take you. Those blue sparks flew again, and Leila couldn’t pinpoint where they came from. You deserve more than a quick lay when you’re dirty and exhausted. He paused, and this time she didn’t think his growl was one of pleasure. Not to mention, you’re scared for your life.

  He was right, on all counts.

  It didn’t mean she wanted him to be. Part of her wished he would ravish her here and now, wiping away the terrifying memories from today so only ones with him were left. She wanted to give him everything; there was no doubt in her mind.

  Leila nodded, albeit reluctantly. No, tonight wasn’t the night for that. But they didn’t have to stop yet. She leaned in, pressing against his chest as she stood on her toes for another kiss. This time, there was nothing frantic or rushed, but the gentle promise of more to come. It was in every kiss he pressed to her cheek and neck, and the gentle caress of his calloused hands over her bared breasts.

  It took Alex bodily pushing her into the bathroom, while she laughed, for her to untangle her hands from the soft curls at the base of his neck and drag her mouth from his.

  You’re going to kill me, woman, he signed before shutting the door in her face.

  She was so pleased with herself that she grinned the entire time she showered, her smile growing when she realized he’d bought all the brands she’d told him she liked, small details she’d mentioned in passing what seemed like ages ago. It was far more comforting than it should have been, using her normal conditioner under a waterfall shower so large it was bigger than hers and Mary’s bedroom two years prior.

  There was even a hairdryer in the cabinet under his sink, next to a set of the pins she liked to use to put her hair in a bun for rehearsals. She halfway dried her hair after combing it just so it wouldn’t still be damp when she woke up in the morning for work. She wouldn’t let fear get in the way of her job, especially not so close to their performance dates.

  Sometime while she’d been behind the almost opaque textured glass that enclosed Alex’s shower, he’d laid one of his shirts on the counter next to the sink. It was a soft, with a Chicago Cub on the front. Once she pulled it on, she vacated the bathroom and snuggled in bed. Without looking at her, Alex stalked inside for his turn, his jaw clenched.

  Leila smiled; she wasn’t the only one who thought that if they got their hands on each other again, sleep wouldn’t come for either of them tonight.

  Later, when she was drifting somewhere between sleep and her racing thoughts, Alex crawled into bed, pulling her flush against his front. Hardly gaining consciousness, she turned in his arms to face him.

  “Don’t ever disappear on me again,” she said in the most intimidating snarl she could muster. It was overly dark for signing. Hopefully her voice wasn’t warped-sounding, since she couldn’t hear herself speak. But this was important enough for her to take that risk. She was beginning to understand that leaving her had been his attempt to protect her from what he was—an extremely powerful warlock—and also from the other warlocks who were now a part of his life. His somewhat understandable reasoning aside, she couldn’t bear the thought of him leaving her again. That fear gnawed at her now, showing her a future of her waking up in an empty bed, never to see Alex again. Wetness filled her eyes, but she blinked it back.

  I don’t know that will happen.

  She also didn’t know it wouldn’t.

  With her piece said, she bit him on the cord of his neck. It couldn’t have been too painful, since his erection twitched against her leg.

  There was no way to see or hear his response, so she merely turned back around and enjoyed the sensation of him nuzzling against her neck, his shadow of a beard lightly scraping against her skin. As she finally fell asleep, his strong arms brought the warmest, safest blanket she’d ever rested with.

  And she knew that, now, there would be a whole new reason she’d want to stay in bed in the mornings.

  But can I get used to this without my heart breaking again?

  Chapter 11

  GENTLE hands shook Leila awake by her shoulders. As soon as she pried her eyes open, the strobe lights of her alarm flashed impatiently, demanding for her to wake up. Normally it was enough to get her up in the mornings, but it wasn’t always effective. Sometimes, sleeping without hearing had its pitfalls—like loud alarm clocks having virtually no effect on her. So she’d set her alarm to simply flash, so it wouldn’t disturb her nearly nocturnal roommates.

  Luckily, Alex woke her before the alarm went off for too long. If she got ready now, she’d have plenty of time to get to rehearsal. Fear and embarrassment rose, but she shoved the feelings down. This company took a chance on her, and she didn’t want anyone to regret that. Despite the questions yesterday’s disappearance would bring, not to mention the kidnapping she’d endured, she couldn’t let it get in the way of her performance. She wouldn’t let it.

  It was an effort not to imagine how the other dancers would react to her abrupt exit from rehearsal yesterday. If she could dance without hearing, she’d have left her implants turned off so she couldn’t hear the whispers.

  Game face, Newman.

  Allowing herself one last moment to enjoy the circle of Alex’s arms, she pulled away to take out the clothes Wish had brought for her. In ten minutes, she was ready to go—her hair in an immovable knot on the top of her head, and her softest rehearsal gear acting as armor.

  When they arrived at the dance studio, having taken Alex’s previously beige car, which was now black with tinted windows, Raphael and Mary waited for them. The Alpha’s arm was curled tightly around his wife’s shoulders.

  “It’s a closed set,” Leila said apologetically. It was rare that outsiders intruded in their rehearsals, and then it was much earlier in the process. So close to their performance date, there was no way Derik would allow anyone to watch them practice.

  Raphael opened his mouth, but Mary stopped him with a paint-stained hand around his biceps.

  “Sebastian decided Full Moon wants to donate to the arts—enough that your dress rehearsal will be at the brewery,” she said, smiling.

  “Where we can ensure your safety, and that of all the other dancers,” Raphael added.

  So every werewolf in a hundred-mile radius will be there. Leila hid her grin as best she could, but the gleam in Alex’s eyes told her that she concealed nothing from him. It also told her he was in on this plan. Maybe he’d done more than just shower before going to bed last night.

  Generous to a fault, Leila didn’t doubt Sebastian donated enough to keep Derik happy for weeks.

  “Are you going to speak with them, or sign?” Mary asked curiously. Yesterday, she’d accepted Leila’s newfound voice without comment. Leila should have known that wouldn’t last.

  Mary also posed a great question. If Leila let herself slip, she’d not only hurt whoever she was talking to but likely everyone else in the room. At the same time, her lack of speech made communication difficult with everyone except Ursula. On instinct, she wanted to talk about it with Alex, Mary and Raphael, but this was her problem.

  She had to figure this out on her own.

  “I don’t know yet,” Leila whispered.

  No one else pressed her. Together, they went inside, where Leila made a beeline for the dressing room with Mary w
hile Alex and Raphael stood guard in the outer hall. Before leaving Alex’s house, Leila triple checked that she brought extra batteries for her cochlear implants. Now, she could see them inside her bag. It felt ridiculous, but the sight sent a wave of relief over her.

  It didn’t last.

  “I can’t believe she showed up,” Winnie murmured, exchanging a serious look with Claire, another dancer. Claire shook her head.

  Beside her, Mary squeezed her shoulder sympathetically, but said nothing. It would be difficult for her sister, but Mary wouldn’t try to fight Leila’s battles. Unless they keep talking like this.

  In that case, all bets were off.

  Luckily, there were a few more titters about Leila before conversation went to the ballet, the main focus. From what Leila could gather, Ursula won the role of Kitri, while Winnie moved to her part as Piccilia. Leila would still dance as Lady Dulcinea, which sounded perfect to her.

  Zach’s name came up more than once, but she ignored the way the name sent an electric jolt of fear through her. Instead, she focused on tying her pointe shoes. To her surprise, no one said a word about Mary; although, her relaxed position against the wall didn’t draw attention.

  Once everyone was in the dance studio standing next to the barre, Derik addressed the group.

  “We have some visitors today,” he began. His eyes were lined in a little more kohl than usual, and he wore dress pants with his tight cotton shirt instead of his usual sweats. “Meet Mary, Raphael, and Alexandre, representatives of Full Moon Brewery, one of our newest donors.” He spoke about Full Moon and how it has a history of benefitting the city’s culture—which was true—before Derik moved on to more serious business.

  “While I received contact from Leila about her absence yesterday,” he continued, offering her the hint of a smile, “I’ve heard nothing from Zachary. So Clint, you’ll play Basilio, and Melanie, Gamache.”

  No one spoke while Derik reassigned so many roles that Leila pitied everyone who took on something new yesterday, just for it to change again today. By the time he finished, Raphael was grimacing, and Alex’s eyebrows rose up to his hairline. They stood on opposite sides of the room, out of the way but in position to guard both entrances. Mary stood on the other side of the door from Raphael, her eyes wide.

  Ballet’s no joke. Leila learned that the first time she was yelled at in front of a room full of dancers and became used to it before her first performance. Dancers either toughened up to meet the challenge or chose to stop dancing.

  Derik clapped his hands, and the piano music for warmup exercises began. Leila moved through them and into practice for the ballet without glancing at her family, whose gazes burned in different spots on her skin. At lunch, after her performance earned her no comments from Derik or his assistant, Erin, she moved for Mary but was intercepted by Winnie.

  Alex and Raphael had disappeared an hour ago.

  “Zach left here at the same time as you yesterday,” she said in a sharp, biting voice that barely managed not to carry across the rehearsal space where they’d been working on a piece where Don Quixote was dreaming about professing his love for Lady Dulcinea. “Where did he go? Why did he not show up today?”

  Winnie was leading her in the direction opposite the kitchens and eating space, toward the costume closet. Mary’s voice saved her from having to answer—so far she hadn’t had to speak at all, and Leila wanted to keep it that way as long as she could.

  “Raphael picked up Green Goddess for us, and Alex said he’s going to eat yours if you don’t hurry up, Leila!” Mary called.

  Her gray eyes narrowed, but Winnie moved out of Leila’s way when she changed direction, having given none of the answers that Winnie wanted. What was she going to do, tell Zach’s friend that he drugged and kidnapped her with full intent to kill? Or worse, would she tell Winnie Zach was dead, by Alex’s hand, and get him sent to prison?

  Really, there was nothing to say to her.

  “What did she want?” Mary asked, glancing at the redheaded dancer over her shoulder.

  “She wanted to know about Zach,” Leila murmured quietly, hiding her mouth with her hand.

  At lunch, she, Alex, Mary and Raphael took a seat on benches outside of the dance studio where no other dancers were eating. All Leila heard was the crunch of cars driving away, most likely someone rushing to get a quick meal before the hour was up.

  “I didn’t find anything suspicious around the building.” Alex took a bite out of a sweet potato biscuit. “There’s no weapons or explosives here, barring tools like a knife or crowbar. My spell didn’t even detect chemicals except for whatever you keep in the makeup cabinet.”

  There were probably some pretty serious chemicals there, but since they’d be on her face in a matter of days—Leila pushed the unpleasant thought from her mind.

  “You looked good.” Raphael nodded over his sandwich, and Mary grinned.

  “You looked unreal,” Alex said seriously, throwing something green at Raphael. “Beautiful.”

  Putting her head on his shoulder, Leila sighed, her worries over Winnie and Zach draining away.

  “Thank you for being here,” she told them earnestly. Not once had she been afraid today, and it was all because they cared so much to spend hours watching over her.

  The rest of the day went without a hitch. Raphael was called away on pack business, but Mary stayed behind with Alex, watching Leila and everyone around them every bit as closely as Alex did. Leila wasn’t always up to dance, so she could see their concern during her breaks, like two guardian angels taking her under their wings.

  She hoped they knew she’d do the same for them and would do whatever it took to keep Mary out of harm’s way too. She didn’t forget for a second that Mary was in just as much danger as she was from the senator and his men. Seeing her here, whole, was all that kept her from worrying that hired humans had somehow found her and tried to hurt her the same way they’d gone after Leila.

  “Tell me about Zach now.” Winnie took her arm this time, her almost-pointed nails digging into Leila’s skin. The other dancer hadn’t even been in the last piece Leila practiced, ending her day. All she wanted was to shower and change into normal shoes.

  “Actually, Full Moon has a few questions for her about this company,” Alex said in his friendliest voice. Leila recognized the fury in his eyes only because she knew him. Claws protruded from his hidden fingertips.

  “I wouldn’t bother.” Winnie released her grip on Leila to point. “She doesn’t speak, which will make it very difficult for you to understand her.” She scowled at Leila. “I don’t know why I bothered trying to talk to you.” Interest lit her face, practically transforming her before Leila’s eyes from someone who resembled a grimacing ghoul, to a very pretty dancer with both her hand and chest stuck out.

  “Winnie Pratis. If you need some questions about this company answered, I’m your girl.”

  Alex didn’t bat an eye, but his eyelids did droop slightly, as if he were bored. “She’s my girl. My everything, really.” He took Leila’s hand, offering her a too-intimate smile. “But don’t worry, I don’t find her difficult to understand at all.”

  They left, both of them grinning despite Winnie’s murmured, “Gold-digger.”

  Leila quickly ducked into the dressing room, Alex at the door, and finally changed into street shoes. Once she tugged on a light cotton pullover, she was good to go. She could change into regular clothes later.

  They met with Mary outside of the studio as Leila was pulling pins from her hair and storing them in her bag. With a little help from her sister, who pulled free a couple of pins Leila hadn’t caught, her hair had fallen down her back in waves by the time they reached Alex’s car.

  My batteries.

  The entire time she’d been stuffing pins in the smallest pocket of her bag, she hadn’t seen her replacement batteries, whose pack was large enough to be visible even when she wasn’t using the main compartment of
her oversized dance bag. Instead of sitting in the passenger seat, she dumped out the contents save her hairpins, which were zipped in place.

  Stretch bands, toe protectors, extra tights, ribbons, and a needle and thread spilled onto the leather seat while her water bottle rolled to the floorboard. There were no batteries in sight.

  “What are you looking for?” Mary leaned over, inspecting the mess Leila made.

  “Batteries,” Alex answered for her, his voice low, feral. It gentled when he reached out for Leila, caressing her nylon-covered knee. “I saw you look for those batteries at least five times this morning, and each time they were exactly where they should be.”

  “And now they’re gone,” Leila murmured. “Someone knows the combination to my locker.” Because she knew they were in her bag when she’d stored it before the day’s rehearsals began.

  “Maybe you should take a few sick days,” Mary ventured while Leila collected her things and took her seat. “Someone’s out to get you if they’re stealing so you can’t hear.”

  “Again,” Leila whispered, leaning her head back against the headrest. She covered her face with her hands. “Maybe the batteries hadn’t fallen from my bag yesterday, after all.” She paused, ran her fingers through her hair until the last tangles were untied from each other. “What if they were stolen then too?”

  The car stopped at a crosswalk, and Alex brushed the back of her neck with his fingers, anchoring her. “Someone was working with Zach,” he said, so calmly it was truly terrifying. Goose bumps rose on her skin, but not out of fear for herself. Whoever did this, if they were smart, should run for their lives.

  Whoever she was. “It had to have been a woman.” Leila nodded. “No men go into the women’s locker room.” As the light turned for Alex to go, a child crossed the street, running as fast as she could to catch up with a group of children who’d already crossed. Were those wings that flapped at her back, propelling her over the concrete slightly faster?