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“You’re doing amazing,” he murmurs.

I nod, but my stomach knots tighter.

They disappear backstage, and I hover by the side wall, half-hidden by a massive velvet curtain. The chandeliers glow above me like moons. The whole place feels like another planet.

And then they start to play.

It’s one of the new songs – written in the nest, born of bond and breath and pain. And hearing it live, here, now…I feel everything. Every note. Every word. Every heartbeat they pour into the music.

They look atmewhen they sing. Not the crowd.

Just me.

My vision blurs. I clap as the last chord echoes. I’ve never felt prouder in my life.

And then it all shatters.

They come offstage glowing – flushed and grinning, buzzing with adrenaline. Blaise reaches me first and lifts me clean off the floor, spinning me in a giddy hug.

“You see that?” he pants, voice wild. “That was foryou.”

I barely have time to respond before?—

Flash.

The light blinds me.

“What the fuck?—?”

“Is this Honey?” a voice shouts. “Are you hiding her? Have you been lying this whole time?—”

Dane grabs me. Blaiselunges.

“Don’t!” Xar snarls, hauling him back with both arms. “Not here.”

The man’s camera dangles from one hand, a smug twist on his face.

Dane steps in front of me, voice low and lethal. “Delete it. Now. Before I make you regret being born.”

“Security!” someone calls, and within seconds, the man is dragged off within seconds, but it doesn’t matter. The damage is already done. My legs are shaking, my mouth dry, my pulse screaming.

“Evie.” Dane turns me in his arms. “You’re okay. You’re safe.”

“I— I ruined it,” I whisper. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have come?—”

“Stop,” Blaise snaps, face flushed with fury and fear. “This is not your fault.”

I’m shaking. Humiliated. Exposed.

“We should leave,” Xar says, already pulling us toward the rear exit.

The limo is waiting, sleek and dark and blessedly quiet. I curl up against Dane’s side, shaking too hard to pretend otherwise.

“I’m so sorry,” I whisper again.

“Don’t,” Blaise growls. “Don’t you dare apologise. You did nothing wrong, honeybee.”

“They’ll find out,” I whisper. “They’ll know who I am.”