When they arrived at the club, Ava was surprised to bypass the long line out front, the bouncers smiling and nodding at Ry, Jackson, and Diana as they passed. Once inside, Ry led them to a table near the stage. The band had already begun playing, something hard and fast blaring through the building. As soon as they reached the table, the group began to go their separate ways.

Blake followed Jackson onto the dance floor, smiling and talking animatedly as they left, Jackson leaning down to listen to him better. Ava watched warily. Blake had a bad habit of falling for guys that didn’t deserve him, something his twin had complained frequently about. She hoped Jackson would be a new change of pace.

There was a light tug on Ava’s shirt and she turned to face Camilla, jolted from her thoughts. Camilla looked around the room, eyes wide, before meeting Ava’s gaze.

“Now what?” she asked, hands curled in the pockets of her white leather jacket. Her eyes darted around quickly, checking out every corner of the building.

“Now we dance,” Ava said, grinning. She waved a hand towards where a crowd had already gathered, flailing limbs and people shouting, a fun time in the making. Camilla frowned at the crowd.

“I’ll pass,” she said cooly. “It’s not really my thing,” she added. “You can go on without me, though.”

“Nope, not going without you,” Ava replied cheekily. “Come on, it’ll be fun.” Camilla eyes her distrustfully, and Ava grinned at her again.

“Why do you need me to come with you?” Camilla asked, frowning at the crowd again. “Can’t dance alone?”

“I can, but where’s the fun in that?” Ava responded, tugging on Camilla’s hand. “I promise, you’ll have fun.” Camilla sighed before cracking a smile and allowing Ava to pull her towards the dance floor.

“Fine, for a little bit,” Camilla said, laughing when Ava pretended not to hear.

Once they were on the dance floor, Ava let her body move to the beat, watching Camilla bop awkwardly for a few moments before she began to dance too. It wasn’t perfect, but she had an unusual grace to her movements, unlike anyone else on the dance floor. She was mesmerizing. Ava couldn’t take her eyes off her.

***

Camilla looked up to find Ava’s eyes on her, molten gold searing into her soul. Camilla smiled, happy to get a grin in reply, followed by Ava sliding closer to ask if she’s having a good time.

“Surprisingly,” Camilla said, laughing. “What about you?” Ava grinned and nodded, pulling Camilla deeper into the crowd. Camilla just let herself be pulled, let herself lose herself in the music. By the time the band paused, she’d completely lost track of how long they’d been on the dance floor.

“Hey everyone,” the lead singer called. “Hope you’re having a good time. Also hope you don’t mind, this next song is gonna be a little bit slower. Kaylie, babe, this one’s for you!”

Camilla watched as he switched guitars and began playing, the soft notes of an acoustic spilling through the speakers. This song was so much slower most of the crowd left, though some people paired off to slow dance. Camilla looked at Ava, expecting her to be walking off the dance floor already, surprised to find her standing still as a statue.

“We leaving?” Camilla asked, toying with strands of her hair. Ava paused, staring at her for a moment, before smirking and bowing dramatically.

“May I have this dance?” she asked, a hand held out, gold painted nails shining in the dim lights. Camilla stared at her slim, mocha fingers just a moment too long. “Sorry,” Ava said, beginning to withdraw her hand.”

“No, wait,” Camilla said, reaching out to take her hand, smiling. “I’d love to.” Ava’s smile was bright enough to light up the entire room, and something in it took Camilla’s breath away. Maybe it was her nerves about being so close to the thing - the person - she was raised to kill.

Ava pulled her into a dance, leading Camilla through the steps with practiced ease, and Camilla let herself be swept away by the music and the moment. For just a moment, she forgot why she was there. For just a moment, she forgot that her family wanted nothing more than to kill the girl smiling at her.

***

Layla watched the shifter place her hands on her twin and sneered. She felt the revulsion rising in her throat imagining letting any of those monsters that close to her. It was almost disgusting how dedicated her sister was.

Layla started to turn away, unable to watch anymore, but stopped when she saw the smile on Camilla’s face, beautiful despite the vicious, ugly scars on her cheek. Layla hadn’t seen that smile in years, not since that first fateful battle. Layla had made sure her sister never smiled, had gone out of her way to make sure she had no reason to. She didn’t deserve to, not when she was so weak, so useless. Seeing that smile returned by the shifter bitch didn’t sit well with Layla. Who did she think she was?

Perhaps someone needed to remind those monsters that they weren’t welcome. Someone needed to teach them how to fear.