r

nto the freezing a

r

y sound in the arena was the low hum of the cooling generator

at his clipboard and correct his mistake. I waite

did

out to claim Oliver, dropped limply to her side. The elegant, untouchable queen

e, her eyes widening in disbe

impossibly heavy, gluing me to the solid i

Sloane

alf the skaters flinch. She spun back

echoing off the high steel rafters. "I am the reigning champion! I took this division to Nationa

voice," Marcus war

tely seeking his backup. She grabbed his arm, her manicured nails digging i

aze away from Marcus

. His posture remained relaxed, unfazed by the meltdown happening right next to him. Instead, his gold-fleck

ad k

h force. He had teased me

y we shouldn't move in together. In fact,

s coming and he hadn

er surged through my chest, overriding the dull throb in my right ankle.

halt right in front of Marcus. The spra

Marcus

er," I interrupted, my v

t care. "I am on a probationary return for the singles developmental bracket. You gave me until Fri

rd. He didn't flinch at my outburst. He simply lifted t

, gesturing wildly to the empty ice behind me. "You can

dly. "The medical and technical staff pulled your tracking metrics

h dropped

ailed,

the air straight

enty percent," Marcus continued, his voice p

peed has dropped significantly. You are hesitating on your landings. The boa

the world tilting

The risk of permanent injury is too high. The only way the board agreed to keep you on this roster

is dark eyes locking onto m

ia. You skate Pairs with Goldsmith, or

he walls felt shrinki

y shattered ankle past its limits, just to be told I wasn't enough. Just to be told m

background, her skates stamping against the ice. "My par

ow fell over me, blocking out t

m. He stopped mere inches from me, his broad shoulders bloc

hard, sculpted lines, his jaw tight as he looked down at

e lifted his right hand

nd, Aria,"

with a dark authority I had

heart hammering against my r

ted the way my pulse betrayed me every time he stepped this clo

gaze burning into mine. "O

ng I had fought for was resting right there in his outstretched hand. If I s

body trembling with a mix of

and slapped my h

could even brace myself, he yanked my arm, pulling me forcefully forward. My skates scrape

wn, his lips brushing

world, partner,