Dishearten is a spicy, dark-gray romance inspired by Alice in Wonderland, and Book 2 in the Frayed Satin Series, interconnected standalones giving classic ballets dark and twisty HEAs. Preorder today! Releasing June 26, 2026.
New to the series? Start with Book 1, Unveil, a dark Swan Lake retelling where the ‘villain’ steals the girl. Or jump into the first generation with Rouge, a Moulin Rouge x Romeo & Juliet remix.
PS: This is a spicy romance that explores dark themes and should only be read by 18+ mature audiences. Reader discretion is advised.
Not caught up yet? Click here, and don't miss a single chapter! or
Trigger warnings: ROUGH DRAFT + SUBJECT TO CHANGE—aka DON’T GET ATTACHED Y’ALL… harsh language, violence depicted, sexual descriptions, a flashback has been redacted for triggering content that will be in the final book
Copyright © 2026 by Greer Rivers. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations for social media promotion on behalf of Greer Rivers. No part of this book may be used or uploaded to train Generative AI. AKA: Pls don’t steal or copy! It’s not nice and hurts authors’ feelings!
Dishearten Chapter 9
Lucy
My heart flutters like a stressed-out hummingbird as I peel off my falsies in the warped locker mirror.
What a freaking night. Everything went completely wrong.
First, I had the bright idea to perform in a booth for the first time and take the hot stranger I’m trying to sus out with me to do it instead of just Mirror him on the floor like normal. Then I freaked out on said stranger, nearly having a panic attack.
I was supposed to gain intel from him. We don’t receive a lot of true strangers in the Rabbit Hole. Usually they come with a friend, or Mariposa or Castle’s already been notified who they are before they ever step foot inside.
This one, though? A complete mystery. And for the first time since I coming to The Rabbit Hole, I got absolutely nothing out of a target.
His brother’s friend being in a coma is horrible, sure, but it’s not useful to Castle or me. Honestly, though, thank God it had nothing to do with the Troisgarde. Finding out something like that would’ve been devastating to my psyche and my resolve.
As it is, since I’m gone, no one can get hurt because of me. I’ve gathered bits and pieces of information that had to do with the Troisgarde tangentially, but nothing about my friends or family. Which means Luna’s still safe, all things considered, and still off the grid. Brylie’s okay too. She flew to Italy the day I left, so I wouldn’t hear about her anyway, especially since her family isn’t just part of our syndicate. If news about the extremely protective and private Luciano mafia ever made its way into The Rabbit Hole, then things will have gone terribly, terribly wrong—yet another person I love taken from this world forever kind of wrong.
I don’t think any of us could come back from that. We’ve already lost so much…
The thought strangles my throat and burns my eyes. I grab a baby wipe and scrub at my makeup before I can catch myself tearing up in the mirror.
Later. Feel later.
I’ve cried too damn much these past six months, and I’m sick and tired of it. The only time I really let myself do it anymore is in the water. The ocean has been my favorite spot recently. The freezing cold makes me forget what I’m upset about for a few minutes, and the saltwater blends with the tears anyway.
So I’m not crying now. I refuse. My eyes are only red and watery because I’m rubbing them hard, taking off my mascara and shadow. Not because I’m feeling defeated after hiding from my family for so long and missing them so much it physically hurts.
I’m glad they’re safe, but how are they actually doing? Does Luna like Appalachia? She’s loved the mountains all her life and always wanted to live there. Is she happy? Is Brylie upset she couldn’t finish out her senior year at Bordeaux Conservatory?
Heck, I even miss Nox. He didn’t go to Bordeaux with us, but is he still going to go to grad school? That was his plan before everything happened. Before Benoit.
And then there’s my parents…
I cough and quickly rifle through my bag for… something. Anything to keep myself from choking on a sob.
I know they know I’m safe. It’s why I’ve left the McKennon playing cards everywhere I’ve been. A breadcrumb trail telling them I’m okay. But do they hate me for leaving? Do they understand why I couldn’t stay?
My fingers wrap around something cylindrical, and the second I pull it free, I drop it with a gasp and scramble backward.
The syringe.
I forgot I tossed it into my bag when I came into the dressing room. Forgot I even had it when I ran from the Hatter after I danced…
“Dance for me, Lucy girl.”
