Chapter 226

Audrey & Third Person

Audrey

I held my arm up to shield my face from the onslaught of flashing cameras.

“Look this way, Silver Star!”

“Another kiss for the newspaper!”

“Over here!”

Somewhere through the haze of lights and voices, I felt a warm hand gently tug my hand away from my eyes. “It’s alright,” Edwin’s voice rippled through my mind, instantly soothing me. Just smile and let them get their pictures and they’ll go away.”

I nodded and did as he said, and sure enough, the cameras stopped flashing within a few moments. But I couldn’t help but feel dazed as I watched them scurry away, like I was on display in a museum. And as if the staring earlier wasn’t bad enough, it was even worse now.

“Sorry,” Edwin said, letting out a deep sigh. “I guess I should have thought of that possibility before kissing you in front of everyone.”

“No. It’s alright.” I managed a watery smile. “I’d rather you kiss me than not. But I think I need a few moments.”

“Of course.” Edwin released his grip on my waist and I pulled away, pushing through the crowd. I located the sign for the bathrooms at the back of the dance hall and began heading in that direction, just needing a few minutes to gather myself.

It was just cameras, I knew; but it was just… a lot tonight. Since we’d been working on spreading the rumors that I’d shifted, wasn’t just a shadow anymore. People recognized me. Revered me, in their own way.

And that also meant that they seemed to think I didn’t need space. That I didn’t deserve privacy.

I hoped that Edwin was right-that the news would grow old soon and people would stop staring and whispering and taking pictures.

But I’d also lived long enough in this world to know how celebrities were treated by the paparazzi, always having to hide their faces and avoid going out in public. Not that I liked thinking of myself as a ‘celebrity’, but… was that my future? Being on display? Constantly?

Shaking my head at my overactive thoughts, I pushed the rest of my way through the crowd. I just needed some water and some air, that was all.

I didn’t make it far, however, before I felt a cold hand wrap around my wrist.

“Silver Star.”

I turned, eyes wide, to see Stella towering over me once more-only this time, her cold gaze was almost… pleading

I said, moving to pull my wrist away from her

her grip only tightened, “I have back pain,”

out, not really sure what she was getting at

Chapter 226

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eyes narrowed. “You can heal me, can’t you?” she ground out. “You’ve shifted. I assume you’ve

pain. But I couldn’t heal her, or anyone

don’t think it’s a good time for me

+5.

mood to let me go. “You must be a little liar, then,” she hissed, yanking me toward her. My feet tangled in the

worked

as usual,” Stella growled before

Hard.

arms windmilling through the air. Suddenly, there was a

fell silent as I groaned, sitting up to see that the waiter was soaked in wine and champagne and the hardwood was covered in

widened. “I’m so

“Audrey! What happened!”

Edwin rushing toward the mess, a worried look on his face. “I’m fine,” I managed, climbing to my knees and

interrupted, pointing her finger at me. “I asked her

turn beet red. Somewhere in the distance, the rest of the attendees were oblivious to the

through the Mindlink. “I think she knows we’re

face darkened. “I’ll

to me like you

with barely contained rage.

happened because I wasn’t here,” Edwin said, helping the waiter to his feet now.

before nodding and smoothing down his stained uniform. “She was

let out a sigh of relief and instead said in the calmest voice I could manage, “It was all a misunderstanding.”

and he nodded quickly.

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help him pick up the broken glass, ignoring his protests. Stella must have slipped away in anger at some point, because when I stood and placed the shards on the tray,

need to respond for him to know that I really did

column was soothing against my

“She knows.”

you. There’s no way

be comforting, did nothing to soothe me. “I can tell, Edwin. She knows. And I think she might

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