Modern Romance June 2016 Books 5-8. Tara Pammi

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      How Mika loved her and as Anya turned she was perfection in his arms and he lifted her high with skilful hands that held her thigh.

      Roman cricked his neck.

      He was proud, so proud but also relieved when the interval arrived and drinks were very gratefully received.

      ‘I couldn’t have done it,’ Libby admitted as the women stood and chatted. ‘I’ve always been jealous and wondered whether, if I had pushed myself harder, I could have made it as far as Anya.’ She shook her head. ‘I couldn’t have. Anya is absolutely brilliant and Mika’s on fire tonight.’

      ‘He’s so hot,’ Rachel said.

      ‘He really is,’ Naomi agreed.

      Daniil gestured with his head to Roman and they pulled slightly aside from the group.

      ‘Are you planning something for Anya?’

      They were each other’s mirror. They might be a mirror that had broken many years ago but mirrors could break and still they reflected.

      ‘I have a ring,’ Roman said. ‘I actually had it made at the same time as Nadia’s cross. I was just waiting for the right time.’

      It was the right time, he was sure.

      And it was the right time to be back in his brother’s life.

      They were back. Roman had never been confirmed the elder, but that was their natural order and he could not have stood to have Daniil looking out for him.

      Or Anya.

      ‘Show me.’

      ‘No,’ Roman said. ‘Because then they’ll all come over.’

      They went outside and stood beneath the Firebird sign and lights, and Roman took the box out of his pocket. Daniil looked at the red stone.

      ‘When I went to have Nadia’s cross made I saw this stone. It was pale green then.’

      Daniil thought of Anya, all those years ago, peering at him as his cheek was repaired.

      Anya had belonged to his brother even then.

      It was not pale green now.

      It was a deep red.

      The stone was Alexandrite.

      Discovered in Russia, it was the most elusive and exquisite of stones. It changed colour and was known as Emerald by Day, Ruby by Night.

      As was Anya—ice by day, Firebird tonight.

      ‘Are you nervous about asking her?’ Daniil asked.

      ‘Nyet.’ Roman shook his head.

      ‘Liar...’

      ‘I’m not.’

      He wasn’t.

      They headed back inside and Daniil turned and saw Roman bend his head to the side a couple of times as they took the seat.

      ‘You are nervous,’ Daniil insisted.

      ‘Not about that. I can’t stand Mika...’ Roman admitted. ‘I thought they were just pretty boys in tights.’

      Daniil grinned as he realised the cause of his brother’s tension as they waited for the second act to start.

      * * *

      Anya was tense too.

      She had to be to perform.

      She bit into the chocolate treat and sucked in air, and then rolled the foil into a tiny ball.

      She was worried about the cleaners throwing it away so it went into the tiny glass case with the feather.

      She took a small drink and then touched up her lipstick and headed out.

      The orchestra teased and Anya closed her eyes and waited for her time to go on.

      The second act was somehow even more amazing. Anya gave it everything that she had.

      As she danced she wondered if it were possible to live a dancer’s life with Roman by her side. As Ivan lifted her she felt as if she was touching the sky—perhaps she could have it all.

      As the egg cracked open Anya felt as if her heart had opened too.

      And now she understood why she should dance for herself.

      Roman hadn’t been working his way back to her, he had worked his way to a better self.

      And finally he was here.

      * * *

      The applause was deafening.

      And she smiled as she heard him call out to her, ‘Bravo, beautiful woman!’

      Her eyes searched for him in the darkness but it was then that everything went black. She stood there, momentarily blinded, and closed her eyes.

      Then she opened them again, but everything was still black and Anya realised that she was about to faint.

      Ivan the prince caught her.

      But Roman could only see that Mika swept her into his arms.

      The crowd gasped as Tatania dramatically collapsed and was carried from the stage.

      The curtain hurriedly came down and a few moments later an announcement was made that Tatania was fine and had suffered a simple faint after giving her all for the audience.

      Roman was already backstage by the time the announcement was made and it was more than a simple faint because she lay pale and retching.

      The medics were not taking a chance with their star and an ambulance had already been called.

      Mika was holding her head and fanning her face and Roman wanted to rip his stupid feather cap off, but he just knelt down and checked for himself how she was.

      ‘I just need to go home and rest,’ Anya said.

      His was home.

      She had fainted after a performance before but tonight she was bundled into an ambulance with an oxygen mask over her face and there was a teeny stand-off between Mika and Roman about who went with her.

      ‘I’ve got this,’ Roman said, and climbed into the back.

      Had he, though? Anya thought.

      Surely now he would chastise her—would tell her that she needed to take better care of herself, that it had to stop.

      ‘It’s okay, baby,’ he said, and he took her hand.

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