A Dance with a Ghost

"No," Jaxon growled, his jaw clenched tight as he stared at me with disbelief. "Absolutely fucking not."

I'd just finished explaining my plan to dance with Landon to my bonds, and the reaction was exactly what I'd expected. Jaxon looked ready to punch through a wall, while the others weren't much better.

"It's a contemporary dance we choreographed together," I explained, keeping my voice steady despite the nerves fluttering in my stomach. "If he sees me performing it, he'll come to me. I know he will."

"You want to dance with your ex?" Rhys asked, his usual playful tone absent. "The same guy who broke your heart?"

I swallowed hard. "It's the fastest way to get his attention. The song is special to us... to our past."

Silas stepped closer, his eyes thoughtful behind his glasses. "What's the song?"

"Let Me Down Slowly by Alec Benjamin," I said quietly. The memory of practicing that routine with Landon in empty studios until our bodies ached still felt raw, even now.

"Hazel," Kaelen's deep voice cut through the tension. "Are you certain this is wise? You're asking us to watch while another man touches you."

I lifted my chin. "I'm asking you to trust me. This isn't about him or us or... whatever this is between all of us. It's about getting to Landon before Magnus Sterling does."

Ronan, who had been silent until now, surprised me by speaking up. "I trust you, Hazel."

The simple statement, coming from the shyest of my bonds, gave me courage. I reached for his hand and squeezed it gratefully.

"The routine has a catch at the end," I continued. "He'll have to come to me. It's muscle memory for him. And once I have him, I can get him somewhere quiet to explain."

"Explain what exactly?" Jaxon demanded, his eyes flashing dangerously. "That you're bonded to five guys now? That you're carrying my child?"

His words hit me like a physical blow. My hand instinctively moved to my stomach, still flat but sheltering our growing baby.

"No," I said firmly. "I'll tell him I'm in witness protection. That there are dangerous people after me. It's close enough to the truth."

Kaelen studied me with those penetrating blue eyes. "And you believe this misinformation will spread through his social circles? Create the cover story we need?"

I nodded. "Landon will feel responsible. He'll want to protect me, even from a distance. He'll make sure everyone believes whatever I tell him."

"I don't like it," Jaxon muttered, but some of the fight had left his voice.

"You don't have to like it," I said, softening my tone as I met his gaze. "But I need you to let me do this. All of you."

After a tense silence, Kaelen nodded. "I'll speak with the DJ. Stay together until then."

As he walked away, Silas moved to my side. "Are you sure you're okay with this? Dancing with him again after everything?"

The question made my chest ache. Was I okay with it? No, not really. But I needed to do it.

"It's just a dance," I lied, both to them and to myself.

Twenty minutes later, I stood alone at the edge of the dance floor, my heart hammering against my ribs. Kaelen had successfully convinced the DJ, probably with the help of compulsion. My bonds had reluctantly spread out around the perimeter of the floor, giving me space but keeping me in sight.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. The current song was winding down, and I knew what would come next. Part of me wanted to run, to hide from the memories this dance would bring back. But I stood my ground.

The first gentle notes of "Let Me Down Slowly" filtered through the speakers, and the crowd shifted, some people moving off the floor as the tempo changed dramatically from the previous upbeat track.

I stepped into the clearing center of the dance floor, my movements precise and deliberate as I began the choreography. Each step was muscle memory, each turn and extension telling the story of heartbreak and vulnerability we'd woven into the routine.

As I danced alone in the spotlight, I felt the eyes of my bonds on me—Jaxon's burning intensity, Rhys's concerned watchfulness, Silas's analytical gaze, Ronan's quiet support, and Kaelen's commanding presence. Their energy flowed through our bonds, strengthening me.

I spun into the part where Landon should enter, wondering if my gamble would pay off, when suddenly there he was—stepping out of the crowd as if summoned by the music itself. His eyes found mine, wide with surprise but instantly locked in. Without missing a beat, he stepped into his role, his body remembering what to do even as confusion played across his face.

"Swan?" he whispered as we moved in perfect synchronization.

The old nickname pierced me like a blade. I said nothing, focusing on the movement, on the story we were telling through our bodies. This dance had once been an expression of our love. Now it was a means to an end.

We moved together flawlessly, our bodies still remembering each other despite everything that had changed. When he lifted me, his hands firm and familiar on my waist, I felt a ghost of what we once had—not love anymore, but something bittersweet and nostalgic.

The crowd had formed a circle around us, phones raised to capture the unexpected performance. Perfect. This would spread exactly as I needed it to.

As the song reached its crescendo, I executed the final spin that would lead to the catch—the moment when I would fall backward, trusting him to catch me. I hesitated just a fraction, my new instincts screaming that I was surrounded by my true bonds, that I shouldn't be putting this trust in someone else.

But I committed to the fall, and Landon was there, catching me perfectly, his face inches from mine as he lowered me in a controlled dip, our eyes locked together.

"What the hell, Hazel?" he whispered, his expression a mix of awe and concern. "Everyone's been looking for you. Where have you been?"

The music ended, and applause erupted around us. I straightened quickly, grabbing his wrist.

"I need to talk to you," I said urgently. "Somewhere private. Now."

His eyes searched mine. "Are you in trouble? Is this about your mom?"

"Please," I insisted, pulling him toward the edge of the floor where fewer people could hear us. "I don't have much time."

Landon followed me, concern evident in every line of his face. I could feel my bonds watching, could practically taste their tension in the air.

"You disappear without a trace, and now you show up dancing our routine?" he demanded as I led him toward a quieter corner. "What's going on, Hazel? I've been worried sick."

"I'm in danger," I said, lowering my voice. "There are people after me. I had to go into hiding."

His eyes widened. "What people? What did you do?"

"It's not what I did," I said, thinking fast. "It's what I saw. I'm under protection now."

I glanced over his shoulder and saw Kaelen watching us, his face a mask of careful control. Jaxon was pacing nearby, barely containing himself.

"Listen to me," I continued, gripping Landon's arm. "If anyone asks about me, tell them I'm safe but you can't say more. Tell them I contacted you briefly to let you know I'm okay. Can you do that?"

He stared at me, confused. "Is this some kind of witness protection thing? Hazel, if you're in trouble, I can help you."

"You can't help me with this," I insisted. "The best thing you can do is spread the word that I'm safe. Please, trust me on this."

I started pulling him toward the exit, needing to get him somewhere we could talk properly, somewhere I could make him understand without revealing too much.

But Landon suddenly pulled his hand free, stopping in his tracks. "No. I'm not going anywhere until you explain what's really going on. Who are those guys who keep watching us? Are they with you?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could speak, there was a loud pop and every light in the club suddenly went out, plunging us into complete darkness.