“Knees.”

The single word was quiet, but it cut through the low murmur of the crowd. He pointed to the thick black mat in the exact center of the main play floor. Spotlights had already been adjusted. People were forming a loose circle—some seated on the low couches, some standing with drinks in hand, all watching.

I sank to my knees on the mat. The lead attached to my collar rested loosely in his hand. He hadn’t taken the egg out. It sat heavy and still inside me, a constant reminder of how empty I suddenly felt without the vibration.

He walked a slow circle around me, letting everyone look....