The memory of our bodies in every rise and fall of the melody.
My entire soul goes molten and I can’t look at him. I can’t breathe. Lord above, but I can’t process any of this.
The band bursts in like a stampede.
“Sweet Ballykissangels, does anyone knock around here?”
Jude, the bassist, shouts, “BRO, IS THIS THE THING SHE DID TO YOU YESTERDAY?”
Bishop, the drummer, clutches his chest. “It’s unreal. It’s intoxicating. It’s—oh my God, Ruby, this is you?”
King, the guitarist, mutters, “I knew it. I fucking knew she was a muse.”
I expect Zane to lose his shit, to roar at his bandmates to get the fuck out because I’m naked under the sheets. But he just…beams. “I know.”
I cover my face with both hands. “This can’t be happening.”
“It is,” Zane says simply.
A new wave of notifications hits.
I’m crying???? SIREN IS EVERYTHING
Whoever she is I want to thank her
Saint Sin finally sounds human
Others:
Who is this barista slut?
She’s using him for clout
She ruined Riot Saints
She needs to get out of his life. Who’s up for making that happen?
I feel the blood drain from my head as my throat tightens.
Zane sees it and his expression changes, goes darker, sharper, lethal as he reads the messages over my shoulder. “No one touches you,” he growls. “No one talks about you like that. I’ll shut this entire fandom down before I let them hurt you.”
“Zane—”
“No.” He cups my jaw, tilting my face up so I’m forced to meet his eyes. “You’re not alone anymore. Not ever.”
I start to shake my head but he drops his forehead to mine, his thumb brushing back and forth across my bottom lip.
“I’ll protect you, Ruby. I swear it,” he whispers. “From them. From the noise. From the entire fucking world if I have to.”
I swallow hard. “Zane… they’re your fans.”
“Not anymore,” he says simply. “Not if they come for you.”
Oh God. I pull back and look into his eyes. See that he means it.
Mama Draven opens the door again, sighing dreamily. “The frequencies are escalating. I knew the siren would do this.”
Zane rolls his eyes. “Not now, Mom.”
