“That’s life, Mia,” he said. “But as long as you trust us, you don’t have to live in fear.”

“I know,” I said, meaning it. “I could see it in their eyes. They won’t let anything happen to me.”

“No, they won’t.” He wound his arms around me and pulled me against his chest. “But more importantly, I won’t. I will not let anyone in this world harm a hair on your head. Do you understand me?”

Swallowing hard, I nodded. “Actually, I think I do.”

* * *

The dressing room sparkled with activity. The dancers swirled through the space, along with the scent of sweet perfume, pizza, and chocolate cake. They were filling up their stomachs before they took to the cages, and I joined in with great abandon. I hadn’t been able to stomach much at the restaurant.

“You look confused and concerned,” Priyanka said as she twisted my hair into an elaborate braid. “Everything alright with Az?”

“Not really,” I admitted, careful with my words. I wasn’t sure how much she knew about our relationship or our plans to save Serena from a supernatural serial killer tonight. “It all kind of started off as a…joke.”

“A meaningless fling,” she said with a knowing smile. “And let me guess. You’ve developed feelings.”

I flushed. “I don’t know if I’d say that.”

“And you don’t know if he feels the same.” She tightened the braid, spinning the strands together. “Az is difficult to read, so I understand how you might be confused.”

“It’s more complicated than that.” I sighed.

“Because you’re in a fake relationship?” She arched a brow when I shot her an anxious glance. Chuckling, she shook her head. “You forget. The most important thing to Az is loyalty. Every single person who works for him is in his circle of trust. He tells us everything, including what’s been going on with you.”

I should have known. Of course he wouldn’t have kept any of it to himself. These dancers were part of his family, same as his Legion. But if they knew about our fake relationship, then surely they knew about…

About me.

I pressed my lips together. “He’s really told you everything?”

“Most of it, I’m guessing.”

I closed my eyes. As understanding as he’d been about my past, I hated the idea he’d discussed it with anyone other than me. Those were my skeletons. Not his. My shadows. My nightmares.

“I wish he hadn’t done that,” I whispered.

Priyanka’s hands slowed. “Why is that, Mia?”

“Because some of that…it wasn’t his to share.”