Rowena plucked at the hem of her pink dress as another ambulance drove away from the parking lot of the auditorium. Jeremiah stood next to her, apologizing.

"I'm sorry, Rowena. I don't know what came over me. I didn't mean to poison anyone. Well, maybe just Angelina." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Pageants make me crazy."

Rowena shrugged. "I understand what happens when a person loses their mind. It's why I take anger management classes. Luckily, no one accused you of poisoning the contestants except Sylvia. I'm not sure why she didn't turn you in to the coppers."

Jeremiah nodded. "I think it was because Angelina didn't get sick. For some reason, she really wants her to win. It's unfair!"

"I just really wanted to participate in the talent section. You worked so hard to teach me to dance, Jeremiah."

He hugged her from the side. "I'm sorry."

"Rowena!" Abby came running toward them, waving her arms. "I tried calling you, but you didn't pick up. I was worried you were one of the poisoned contestants. I forced Cross to stay in the auditorium with Selig."

"Yes, I'm fine." Rowena grimaced. "Sorry, I didn't pick up. I must've left my phone backstage. I'll need to go back there and get it before I leave."

"Leave? The pageant isn't over." Abby looked from Rowena to Jeremiah in confusion. "You look okay but are you feeling sick again?"

Rowena jerked her thumb at Sylvia. "Our assistant manager disqualified me."

To their left, Rolando was tugging at his hair, staring at the ambulance. Next to him, Sylvia held her arms across her chest, shaking her head.

"Why?" Abby looked on as the last contestant was being hauled into another ambulance. "Please tell me it doesn't have anything to do with the contestants who got sick? Raven and Bubbles announced the pageant was on an intermission before the talent portion starts."

"I bet your manager is worried about the film crews," Jeremiah said. "Even if it's a small broadcast, they can't have dead air."

Abby nodded. "That explains why Raven is onstage telling knock-knock jokes. It's a disaster. The woman laughs like a hyena and has no sense of humor."

"Let's grab my phone and leave," Rowena suggested. "I don't want to watch Angelina win the crown."

Jeremiah cursed under his breath. He turned to Rowena and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Don't worry. I'll make sure she doesn't win."

"Jeremiah, don't you dare poison her too," Rowena hissed. "She's crazy. I can't promise she won't retaliate."

"Don't worry. This time, I won't get caught."

He winked before she could stop him.

"You're not going to run after him?" Abby asked.

Rowena pointed to her shoes. "Not in these heels. Besides, Angelina is a shifter. I doubt Jeremiah will be able to trick her. Why were you trying to call me?"

Abby squealed. "Selig thinks there may be a break in Gina's case. They may be able to prove she didn't kill Karen. He got a phone call from the detective handling the case. Isn't that great news?"

Rowena smiled and jumped at Abby in excitement, hugging her. "That's the best news tonight. I mean, I'm pretty sure the fairies had something to do with it, but I just want to see Gina free."

"Let's head back in and grab your phone," Abby said, pointing to the auditorium.

Rowena turned to see Sylvia staring at them with narrowed eyes.

"Let's take the back door so we don't have to run into Sylvia. I'm afraid she's going to fire me on the spot."

They walked around the building and came across piles of boxes and two large dumpsters. Rowena held her hand up to stop Abby from going forward and pressed a finger to her lips, letting Abby know to be quiet. Abby gave her a confused look but nodded.

Rowena lifted her finger to point to the back of Queen Daisy's head. Her profile was hidden behind one of the dumpsters.

"I told you I did not want Raven and Bubbles participating in this farce of a pageant!"

Abby's eyes widened. "That's King Giles," she mouthed.

"I don't understand why you're so upset," Queen Daisy said with a sigh. "It's not like they're displaying their magic to the humans."

"Anything could go wrong!" King Giles insisted. "They are broadcasting this on television. The last thing we need is for humans to know of our existance."

"What are you so afraid of, Giles?" Queen Diasy asked. "If given a chance, we could obliterate all the humans. They killed my brother, remember? They deserve to die."

"They didn't kill--" King Giles let loose a frustrated growl. "Daisy, your brother died after we married. That was years ago. You're still upset about it?"

"Of course I am! He was my brother. I know you didn't care for him since he objected to our union but he was my only sibling."

"Ridiculous woman!"

"I am not ridiculous. I will avenge my brother whether you like it or not."

"Do not threaten me, woman. I am King and my word rules. The humans are not to know of our existance. If they find out, we'll be responsible and the people from PUN will prosecute us."

"I thought you were the king. You're afraid of the Paranormal United Nations?" Daisy scoffed.

"Every group of paranormal beings will come after us. It isn't worth the trouble. For the last time, forget your brother. Raven and Bubbles better not make a mistake or you will regret it, madam."

Daisy laughed. "What will you do, Giles? Kill me? I'm your queen."

"You're also replaceable." He stepped forward and pushed past her to enter the auditoriums backdoor.

Rowena and Abby watched as the queen spat out a curse and followed him.

"The rumors must be true," Abby said.

"What rumors?"

"We mentioned it to you the night we visited Magic Meadows. King Giles is known for having a bad temper. After the queen's brother tried to object to their marriage, he had him decapitated.  There's a rumor he tried to make it seem as though the queen's brother was involved with some human criminals.  The queen clearly thinks the humans killed her brother but her husband is the real murderer."

"How could she not know?" Rowena asked in disbelief.

Abby shrugged. "I'm not sure but he just said he'd kill her so maybe she does know? It seems as though she hates humans though."

Rowena shook her head. "Honestly, I'm too tired to think about the royal fairy family and their problems. Let's get my phone and get out of here."

They entered the backstage area when Abby turned to Rowena. "I'll let Cross know we're going to leave while you grab your phone."

Rowena watched her walk away before turning a corner, almost running into a stack of crates.

Queen Daisy and Bubbles stood a few feet away.

"Is everything ready?" Daisy asked.

Bubbles nodded. "Are you sure we should be doing this? What if it doesn't work?"

The fairy queen rolled her eyes. "It'll work. It has to work after what happened. Your screw up with that woman didn't leave us with a choice."

Bubbles bent her head in submission. "It wasn't our fault. We had no idea she was there at the time."

"Yes, well now she's made a fool of us fairies and thinks she can ask us of anything. This new plan has to work."

"What if someone dies?" Bubbles asked, biting her bottom lip.

"It'll be for a good cause. The king is waiting for me. Make sure everything goes according to plan," the queen ordered before marching away with Bubbles trailing behind her.

"What was that about?" Rowena muttered, taking a step forward.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the reject known as Rowena. I thought Sylvia kicked you out of the pageant for being ugly," Angelina sneered, stepping out of a dark corner.

"Ugh," Rowena groaned. "I thought I smelled something rancid. Turns out it was just you and your personality, Angelina."

"I'm reading my tarot cards for my talent portion. I plan to let Cross know he's with the wrong woman."

"Great idea! Too bad he won't believe you." Rowena tried to walk away but Angelina grabbed her arm.

"Don't walk away from me!" Her nails dug into Rowena's skin.

"Girl, you better let go before you regret it," Rowena warned.

Angelina laughed. "You can't do anything to me, human."

Rowena rolled her eyes. "Who talks like that? You don't refer to someone as a human unless you aren't a human. What if someone heard you?"

"I'm a shifter, remember? I would've heard them coming."

Rowena tilted her head to one side in confusion. "Then why didn't you hear Cross when he's right behind you?"

Angelina's eyes widened as she released Rowena's arm and spun around. Rowena moved quickly, shoving Angelina down and slamming her head against one of the wooden crates nearby. She continued slamming her head into the ground until Angelina stopped struggling.

"What's going on back here?" cried Jeremiah. He was holding a bottle of water. "I came back here to look for you and you're murdering Angelina. I thought I was in charge of getting her out of the pageant."

Rowena stared blankly at him for a moment. "You really show a new side of yourself when pageants are involved. I like it. Help me get some rope so we can tie her up. She can't win a pageant she doesn't compete in."

"Already have you covered," Jeremiah pulled some zip-ties from his pocket. "We should make her drink some of this water if we can." He held up a bottle of water. "It's the same solution the other contestants drank. It's guaranteed to make her become best friends with the toilet."

Rowena smiled.

Twenty minutes later, Rowena frowned while sitting on a wooden chair in a dark corner backstage. Sylvia leaned over her, hands on her hips.

"I don't know what you did, Flores, but you better not have ruined my plans," Sylvia snapped. "I only have two contestants left and we just announced the talent portion. What did you do with Angelina?"

Rowena's brow wrinkled in thought. "I'm not sure who that is."

"Don't lie to me!" Sylvia screeched.

"There she is!" Carmen called out pointing a finger at Rowena. Cross stood behind her.

"What is going on here?" he asked.

Rowena and Sylvia both turned to see Cross striding forward, dressed in black.

"You aren't allowed back here!" Sylvia protested.

Cross stepped in front of her, pulling Rowena up. "Nobody puts my baby in a corner."

"You can't be back here. Leave Rowena there. She's ruined everything!" Sylvia shouted.

"The talent section is starting. Wendy is performing and I'm up next," Carmen said. She turned to Rowena. "I know how hard you worked on your dance. You can take my spot."

"You can't do that!" Sylvia sputtered.

"You're giving up the contest for me?" Rowena asked in disbelief.

"Of course I am. You're family." Carmen grinned. "Hurry, we're running out of time!"

Carmen tugged Rowena to the sidestage.

"Wait, I can't do my talent sequence. Jeremiah isn't here," Rowena protested, trying to stop Carmen from pushing her onstage.

Rowena stumbled to the middle of the stage and a spotlight aimed itself at her. She took a deep breath, wondering if she should just walk offstage. She turned to do just that when the opening notes of Bill Medley's song, Time of My  Life, began playing.

The audience cheered as another spotlight snapped on focusing itself a smiling Cross. He beckoned her forward and she couldn't stop the smile from forming across her face.

He pulled her close as they re-enacted the choreography from one of her favorite films.

"How do you know these steps?" Rowena whispered as he dipped her.

"Jeremiah taught them to me. The plan was always to have me dance with you onstage tonight."

A few steps later, he lifted her before spinning her across the stage. The audience screamed in excitement and applause filled the auditorium. Cross kissed her hand and winked before jumping off the stage.

In the middle of the aisle he began dancing with Matt, Liam, Abby, his parents, and other shifters Rowena recognized from Howler. He reached out to Rowena when Jeremiah and Carmen came running forward to help lift her her off the stage. She ran forward and Cross lifted her into the air.

"I'm totally Jennifer Grey!" Rowena squealed, her words lost in the pandemonium of the crowd. As the song came to an end, Cross dipped Rowena before pressing his lips to hers.

Onstage, Angelina ran forward breaking free from her zip-ties. A red welt covered her forehead. She pointed at Rowena. "I'm going to kill you!" 

Before anyone noticed her, a loud explosion filled the air and the back wall of the auditorium came crumbling down. Angelina flew through the air, landing on the judge's table.

Someone shouted, "It's a bomb!"