Page 55 of Lover Forbidden (The Black Dagger Brotherhood #23)

we embrace who we truly are, and accept no other above ourselves.”

As thousands of voices repeated the words in the purple-draped ballroom, Lyric looked around. She and Dev were seated up in the front, and she had to admit that, however much she had written off this whole convention, when you were in the room with Valentina Disserte addressing this adoring crowd…

There was a sense that the woman was making a difference.

Up on the dais, Valentina strode with grace and confidence, long, shapely legs terminating in black stilettoes covering the distance easily. “We understand that any piece of ourselves that we receive from someone else’s praise can be taken from us.”

The crowd repeated the words, and a few of them got to their feet—which led to a rush of women standing and putting their hands up.

“We further understand that any piece of ourselves that might be removed from us by someone else’s criticism is rejected as unnecessary to our core being.”

The Marco Polo aping continued, the words that were spoken trailing across the screens mounted all around the room, as well as the top of the purple backdrop of the main stage, the chorus repeating what the choir leader laid out.

“We take up the space we claim, and we stand alone, for we are our own foundation, and therefore all we build is owned by ourselves and no one else.”

Even more people stood up. And more.

Until everyone in the event space was on their feet and leaning forward, eyes rapt on the stage, on the woman in purple.

Lyric glanced over at Dev. He was sitting back in his chair, having watched the whole thing with an absolute patience that impressed the hell out of her. She could only imagine what her brother or Shuli would be like in this situation, rolling their eyes or laughing under their breath in places.

Not Dev. He just stared at the woman and seemed to be listening to what she was saying.

Maybe the message would help the two of them. Somehow—

Oh, what the hell was she thinking with that. Truthfully, she hadn’t been surprised when she’d arrived and he wasn’t waiting for her around back. No, the surprise had been when he’d appeared at just the right moment.

Saving her again.

“—next three days, a journey of self-discovery and affirmation! Give yourselves a round of applause!”

As applause erupted, Lyric felt compelled to get to her feet and clap as well. Meanwhile, a convention photographer swooped in on the side and took a number of pictures, most of them looking up from a wide angle so that he could capture Valentina Disserte and the adoring audience in the one-shot.

So now what , Lyric wondered.

Off to the side, on the wings of the great room, Marcia was waiting with the rest of the event staff, no doubt mining the convention and the larger national tour schedule for opportunities with her other clients. This was actually a good thing—made it less of a waste of time for her.

When the photographer backed off, Lyric leaned down to Dev, who’d remained in his chair. “Sorry about all this. I really did think it was going to be an in-and-out.”

He shrugged, his eyes still on the stage. “It’s okay. I’m here for the ride.”

Just before she went to straighten, he turned to her—and their mouths came close together. As her breath caught, she stammered, “Ah… thanks. For understanding.”

“S’all good—”

Jenny, the assistant, appeared by the table. “Come with me, you guys. We need to get you backstage before the crush after dismissal.”

“Oh, sure.” Lyric swept her hair over her shoulder. “Of course—”

Dev stood up, dropping his napkin next to the dessert plate he hadn’t touched. She hadn’t eaten anything that had been presented, either. But like they’d come here for the food?

“Let’s go,” Jenny said. “Quick, quick, quick.”

As Valentina stepped out of sight with a final wave to the crowd, Jenny hurried things along the lineup of packed tables and then around the corner, to a split in the waterfall of purple bunting that was guarded by uniformed cops.

The two men nodded and let Jenny lead the way into a backstage area filled with sound boards, even more staffers, and all kinds of cords, lighting equipment, and extra chairs.

There was so much activity, people buzzing around and—

Marcia jumped in front of Lyric. “Wasn’t she wonderful !” Then she looked at Dev. “Aren’t you glad you decided to play savior in the middle of the street ? Not everybody gets this kind of access .”

With her pitchy voice and jazz hands, the woman helped Jenny herd them over to a build-out that had a purple door set in the center of a lot of black felted panels. The sign that hung front and center read “Valentina,” and another set of police officers were standing outside.

Jenny greeted the uniforms, and then the door was opening.

What wafted out was some kind of perfume with a grape-scented undertone. And then Lyric saw the woman herself across the gold and black reception room.

Okay… wow.

One thing that had become clear after a couple of years with the social media peddling set was that what you saw online wasn’t necessarily what you got in person.

Filters, plastic surgery, camera angles, and lighting made a huge difference.

Except Valentina was even more resplendent in person.

There was just an aura around the woman that made it seem as if she were in a spotlight that followed her—and what do you know, Lyric wasn’t alone in the starstruck.

A ring of adoring people surrounded Valentina, and the interesting thing was, she actually seemed to see them all.

As opposed to most influencers, who tended to skate over others with their eyes and affect, R2E’s leader seemed to truly connect—

The crowd abruptly parted and the woman of the hour looked over.

It was the oddest thing. A sudden stillness overtook Valentina’s animation as she stared at Lyric and then Dev, her head slowly tilting to the side as she considered them—after which she seemed to snap out of whatever it was to come forward.

“Lyric, of Lyrically Dressed.” The smile was broad and welcoming. And now she looked at Dev. “And… you know, I could swear I’ve seen you somewhere before.”

“Oh, you have ,” Marcia chimed in. “From the news . He saved her life in the middle of Market Street the other night. Hi, I’m Marcia , Lyric’s rep.”

As the manager shoved out her hand, there was a perfunctory shake. Then again, the self-promotion was a little much.

Valentina smiled at Dev. “You saved her life. How noble of you.”

Lyric glanced over at him. He was staring at Valentina, rather like she was an exotic bird at a zoo. He probably thought she was insanely beautiful—because hello, she was—and didn’t that come with an unwarranted sting of jealousy.

“And you!” Valentina pivoted back to Lyric. “I am so sorry I couldn’t meet you beforehand. My schedule is not my own. Thank you for coming backstage now.”

“You are very inspirational.” Lyric laughed in a short burst. “Okay, I suppose that’s a stupid comment.”

“It’s not.” The woman grew serious. “It’s my goal, the reason I do everything, so I truly appreciate you saying that.

All I want to do is reach women, and give them the support I wish I’d had earlier in my life.

We need our power most when we feel lost or we’re at a crossroads, and that is when it can elude us.

What I do is try to help the individual see that everything they need is right here. ”

She pointed a red-tipped finger at her own sternum, and it was so strange. Everything seemed to fade away, the noise, the other people, their very location. In this respect, the moment was not unlike being up in the Sanctuary, a weightlessness creating a buoyancy in Lyric’s bones—

It just was so true. It was just… exactly what Lyric had been struggling with.

“You’re right,” she said hoarsely. Then she laughed again to cover up her emotions. “You know, I kind of feel like this was meant to be.”

“Meeting me?”

“Yes.”

“You’re at a transition in your life?” Valentina reached out and put her hand on Lyric’s shoulder. “Tell me. What’s going on.”

A sizzle of energy passed between them, the earnest compassion coming with a charge that made it feel of vital importance.

The stuff of destiny.

“I want…”

She thought of Allhan, and the way Uncle Vishous had looked at her with respect, the kind that was fully adult, shared between equals. She wanted to be seen like that again, by the ones who mattered. She did not want to be on the roof while others—

“Fight.”

As the word was spoken on a loud-and-clear, Lyric came back to attention. “I’m… sorry?”

“You must learn to fight,” the woman said in a voice that didn’t carry. “You have been beautiful all your life, but that’s not who you are meant to be. Fight .”

The moment stretched out between them.

Until it reached some terminal point of elasticity and snapped back into place.

Valentina laughed easily as she removed her hand. “I just have that instinct about you. And I’m never wrong about these things. You might say… I have a second sight. Is it time for some postable pictures now?”

The question was posed with a casual inflection, but it was an order nonetheless, and people responded as such, rushing forward even though they ultimately didn’t do anything.

It was only the photographer who’d been working the main event who was needed, and as soon as he appeared, Valentina stepped in close.

The woman looked over. “Do you have a brother?”

Lyric’s brows popped. “Yes—yes, I do.”

“You know, sometimes those of shared blood can be tremendous resources.” Valentina gave her a little squeeze. “Of course, that’s not always the case. But, I don’t know, something tells me he might be able to help you—smile.”

The flashbulb went off a number of times in a row, leaving bald spots in her vision.

“And now,” the beautiful woman said, “if you don’t mind, I’d love you to go with Jenny. There are a number of VIPs with big followings who’d just die to get your picture with them? It’ll be good for you because they’ll cross-promote your brand and socials.”

In a daze, Lyric nodded. And then remembered. “Oh, but what about—”

“Your friend can stay here. It’s no problem whatsoever.”