Strong hands grabbed my shoulders and steadied me.
“Sorry,” I sputtered, dipping my head as I moved to the side.
Both men moved swiftly.
They blocked my path.
Each wore gloves and a wolf head—one had emerald eyes and the other crystals—and they both towered above me in bespoke suits.
I swallowed thickly.
Suddenly, I wanted to sprint in the other direction. As fast as I could.
“I’m gonna go sit down.” I pushed my shoulders back and tried to convey authority.
Neither moved out of my way.
“No, you’re not,” said the man with the emerald-eyed mask. His voice was also modified.
I glanced around, desperately searching for Helen or my mentors.The room had gotten fuller, and it was impossible to see anything over the crush of bodies.
When I turned back, the men were inches away.
My stomach fluttered as they crowded my personal space. I had a bad feeling I knew who they were.
“We’re going to dance with you now,” one of them said.
It wasn’t a question.
It was a command.
Before I could take a breath, the man with the emerald eyes placed his hand in mine and fanned his other hand across my waist.
Butterflies fluttered.
The other man stepped behind me and grabbed the indent above my hips with both his hands.
The butterflies exploded, and I inhaled shakily.
This isn’t good.
They twirled me around before I could say or do anything.
With me pressed between them, they spun me around the ballroom like it was second nature. All I could do was hang on and let them lead.
We danced.
It was terrifying; it was exhilarating.
The orchestra switched to a softer song, and I exhaled with relief as the ringing in my ear dissipated.
Fingers pressed harder into the tops of my hips, and the hand holding mine clenched.
Both men took a step forward. They had already been extremely close to begin with.
Now we were pressed flush together.
It was obscene.
