Darren's POV
I watched the crowd surround her, congratulatory words filtering through the noise. The music picked up again, and a few dancers walked in, taking the now-empty stage.
They wore a bright mix of red and white, their feet bare and their faces covered with masks. I focused my attention on them, their performance keeping me rooted in the hall. In the corner of my eye, I noticed Balthazar walk off, grunting in annoyance with each step he took. Aside from me, he was the least excited to be here.
I would have turned down the invitation, but I was getting desperate. Colt's words ensnared me, and I actually thought that Jason had a good plan sitting on his table. Instead, he didn't exceed my expectations of him, showing me how cunning and deceptive he was. An hour later, the dancers left the stage, the music dying down. In seconds, the whispers got louder. I found a spot with some silence, grabbing a bottle off the table as I kept to myself.
