Deadly Dance

"Mama Val!"

"Sofia, Luna—"

"Your light," Sofia whispered. "It's all wrong."

"Two flames," Luna added. "Dancing together."

"Girls, we shouldn't—"

"Valentina!" Elena's voice cut through the ballroom. "Darling, you remember Madame Rousseau?"

"Of course."

The old instructor's eyes narrowed. "That Swan Lake performance when you were twelve..."

"You were quite demanding."

"Yet you never complained. Unlike that disaster with the broken toe shoe."

"Aunt Elena!" Luna's scream pierced the air. "The flowers are burning!"

Guests scattered from the smoking roses.

"Such dramatics." Nicolas's hand found my waist. "Dance with me."

"Not the best timing."

"You seem tense."

"Just watching our backs."

"Worried about my dance card?"

"More worried about the bullet with your name on it."

His steps faltered. "What do you know?"

"Less than I should. More than they think."

The orchestra's melody shifted.

"Something wrong?" Nicolas pulled me closer. "You've gone pale."

"Just warm—"

"The shadows!" Sofia's scream cut through the music. "They're eating everything!"

"Nicolas, move—"

The mirrors shattered. Security swarmed.

"What did you just do?" Nicolas's grip tightened.

"We need to leave. Now."

"Finally showing your true colors?" Elena's laugh echoed. "How fascinating."

"Get the twins," I said.

"Some secrets can't stay buried forever!" Elena called after us.

"The tunnels," Nicolas barked. "Clear a path."

"The bad shadows are following," Luna whispered against my neck.

"Keep your eyes closed, sweet girl."

"Val." Nicolas's voice hardened. "We need to talk."

"Not here—"

"When we're clear, you'll explain everything."

"It's complicated—"

"Try me, cara."

The wall exploded.

"Leaving so soon?" Elena stepped through the debris. "But we haven't had dessert."

"Your hospitality needs work."

"Oh, I don't know." Her smile turned cruel. "Things are about to get much more entertaining. Don't you agree... Isabella?"

Nicolas went still. "Isabella?"

"Romano," Elena clarified. "Though she's had quite the makeover since her death."

"Nicolas—"

"Don't." His voice cracked like a whip. "Just don't."

"The great Nicolas Salvatore," Elena laughed. "Falling for a dead woman in his wife's body."

"Shut up."

"Make me." Magic crackled between her fingers.

The first spell hit. Marble cracked.

"Not bad." Elena circled left. "But let's see how you handle this."

The binding melody filled the air.

"You know what's funny?" Elena's voice dripped poison. "He was starting to fall for you. The real you."

"Don't—"

"Poor, boring Valentina never stood a chance."

"Nicolas," I gasped. "Get out of here."

"Not happening."

"How sweet." Elena's magic pulsed darker. "He still wants to protect you."

"What I am," I snarled, "is tired of your games."

"Impossible—"

A gunshot cracked. Elena screamed.

Nicolas lowered his weapon. "Enough."

"You fool!" Elena clutched her bleeding hand. "You have no idea what she is!"

"No." His eyes locked on mine. "But I'm going to find out."

Footsteps thundered from both directions.

"This isn't over," Elena spat.

"It never is."

Silence stretched.

"The girls?" Nicolas's voice was carefully controlled.

"Safe."

"But you're not their mother."

"No."

"We're going to the compound. You'll tell me everything."

"I can't. The curse—"

"To hell with the curse." He stepped closer. "My wife is dead, and you're wearing her body. I deserve answers."

His security team burst in. Orders flew in rapid Italian.

Church bells tolled in the distance.

Time was running out.

"After you," Nicolas gestured to the waiting car. "Isabella."

The name hit like a bullet to the chest.

There was no going back now.

The game had changed.

And I was out of moves.

* * *

"Report." Nicolas's voice filled the car.

"Perimeter secured," his head of security answered. "The twins are safe."

"Elena?"

"Gone. We're tracking her."

"And the others?"

"Three confirmed Hunters. All escaped."

"Focus on the twins' security," I said. "Elena won't—"

"You don't give orders here." Nicolas's eyes met mine. "Not anymore."

"They're still my—" I stopped. "I still care about them."

"Like you cared about my wife?"

"That's not fair."

"Fair?" He laughed without humor. "You're wearing my dead wife's body."

"I didn't choose this."

"Then who did?"

I stayed silent.

"That's what I thought." He turned to the window. "Take us home."

The compound loomed ahead.

I was walking into the lion's den.

"Sir." A guard opened the compound door. "The twins are asking for their mother."

"Their mother is dead," Nicolas said. "Tell them—"

"Please." I touched his arm. "Let me see them."

"Why should I?"

"Because they can sense what I am."

His eyes narrowed. "And what exactly are you?"

"Someone who would die to protect them."

"Like Valentina did?"

"Nicolas—"

"Boss." Another guard approached. "Elena's car was spotted heading toward Constantine territory."

"Track it."

"And sir? Mr. Romano called."

My heart stopped. "What did he want?"

"That's not your concern," Nicolas said.

"He's my father."

"Your dead father."

"The twins," I pressed. "Please."

He studied me for a long moment. "Five minutes."

The panic room door opened to small bodies hurtling forward.

"Mama!" Sofia grabbed my hand. "Your light's still dancing."

"Is that bad?" I asked.

Luna shook her head. "It's brighter now. Like fire and stars."

"Smart girls." I knelt between them. "What else do you see?"

"The shadows are gone," Sofia said.

"But Aunt Elena's darkness wanted to eat Papa," Luna added.

"You stopped it," Sofia touched my cheek. "With your fire."

"Did I scare you?"

Both girls shook their heads.

"You're still our mama," Luna said firmly.

"Just... more," Sofia finished.

Tears burned my eyes. "I love you both. So much."

"Time's up." Nicolas stood in the doorway.

The twins clung tighter.

"Don't let the shadows take her," Luna pleaded.

Nicolas's jaw tightened. "Go with Maria. Now."

I watched them leave, taking pieces of my heart with them.

"My office." Nicolas turned away. "Don't make me drag you."

The familiar room felt different now. Colder.

"Sit."

"I prefer to stand."

"That wasn't a request." His voice could cut glass.

I sat.

"Start talking."

"I can't."

"Try harder."

"There are rules—"

"Rules?" He slammed his hands on the desk. "My wife is dead. My children think you're their mother. Elena just tried to kill us both. To hell with the rules."

"If I tell you, I'll die. For real this time."

"And if you don't?"

"The same, probably."

He ran a hand through his hair. "Who are you? Really?"

"You know who I am."

"Isabella Romano. Adrian Constantine's dead fiancée."

"Ex-fiancée. He killed me."

"Convenient."

"Not for me."

His laugh was bitter. "So what? You just... borrowed my wife's body?"

"She was already gone."

"And that makes it better?"

"No." I met his eyes. "Nothing makes this better."

"The twins see something in you."

"They see the truth."

"Which is?"

"That I'm trying to protect them. To protect you."

"From what?"

"Everything." I stood. "Elena. Adrian. My father. Take your pick."

"Why should I believe you?"

"Because Valentina did."

He went still. "What?"

"She knew. About Adrian, about me. She was gathering evidence when they killed her."

"Lies."

"Check her old office. Behind the third panel on the left wall. She kept everything there."

His phone buzzed. "What?"

"Sir," a guard's voice crackled. "We found something in Mrs. Salvatore's office."

Nicolas's eyes locked on mine.

"Hold it secure. No one touches it."

He hung up. "If you're lying—"

"I'm not."

"The twins trust you."

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I love them. Like she did."

"And me?"

My heart stopped.

"That's different."

"Why?"

"Because I'm not pretending with you."

The temperature in the room dropped.

"Sir?" A guard knocked. "Mr. Romano is here."

"Perfect timing." Nicolas smiled without warmth. "Let's see what daddy dearest has to say."

"Nicolas, please—"

"You wanted to protect us?" He opened the door. "Prove it."

My father's footsteps echoed down the hall.

Game on.

The clock was ticking.

And this time, I wasn't playing to win.

I was playing to survive.

* * *

"Isabella." My father's voice hadn't changed. "Or should I say... Valentina?"

The office door closed with a final click.

Time to face my demons.

Both old and new.

And the lion knew I was an imposter.