Page 331 of Blackwood

The crowd is buzzing. No one’s sitting. Every flash from every phone screen catches like lightning on Bella’s red top and all I can do is stare at her.

The announcer steps up with the envelope.

“Don’t stall. Just say it. Say it, dude.” I mumble under my breath.

“In third place… representing the Caldera School of the Performing Arts…”

Bella’s arms tighten around Ellie and Haley. The three of them rock slightly on their feet, locked together like war-sisters on the edge of legend.

My heart’s pounding.

“And in first place, headed to Paris, France for Worlds…”

A pause.

The longest fucking pause of my life.

“…Wexley University’s The Trifecta!”

Ellie screams first. Bella tackles her. Haley grabs them both. They drop to the floor in a tangle of leather, shrieking and laughing and crying. Javi launches from the wings like a damn missile, colliding with them in a full-body hug, yelling something about diva angels sent from choreography heaven. Rico’s right behind him, half sobbing, half fixing Ellie’s top mid-celebration.

Cade fists my shirt and pulls me in, hard. I grab his jaw. His mouth crashes into mine. Hot. Desperate. Triumphant.

When we break, breathless, Cade grins against my lips. “Well, babe,” he pants, “looks like we’re flying to Worlds.”

I snort. “With Sky Daddy.”

He groans. “God help us all.”

We start to move toward the stage, shoving past the crowd of dancers and parents. Security tries to block us at the edge of the stage, but before I can lay the fucker out, Bella sees us coming and screams.

“LET THEM UP!”

Knox is already one step ahead, tossing a badge and yelling something about VIP clearance. Within seconds, we’re onstage. Bella launches herself at me, arms around my neck, legs around my waist.

“We did it!” she yells, tears streaking her face.

I spin her. “Damn right we did, baby.”

Chapter 86

BELLA

NOX

76 Days Since Daddy’s Death

We’re going to Worlds. Ellie is dancing. Josh and I are dancing. And most importantly, The Trifecta is dancing. I still can’t believe it. In just a couple months we are going to be dancing our hearts out in freaking Paris, France.Like, the Eiffel Tower, crepes, leather jackets, hot baguette boys,Paris.

The last few days have been complete and utter chaos.We flew home straight after the win, high on adrenaline and victory. We turned the private jet into a sky-high party. I’m talking glow sticks, champagne, playlist battles, and Rico threatening that if anyone spilled on his vintage fur coat one more time, he’d jump… midair.

Sky Daddy Eric strolled out of the cockpit halfway through the flight, shirt half unbuttoned, tequila in one hand, aviators still on. He grinned at the cabin like we were all his adoring fans.

“Relax, kids. We’re on autopilot. This baby practically flies herself.”

Cade glanced up, face blanching. “Eric, that’s not exactly comforting.”

Eric only winked, leaning over to blow me a tequila-soaked kiss. “Come on, Picasso. Don’t be so uptight. You made it to Worlds. Live a little.”