Relief floods me, and I let out a contented sigh, cuddling into Joseph, and we quietly make our way back to the living room.
***
“So, how’d it go with Hux?” I ask as Colt and I climb into bed for the night. The house is finally quiet after our two visitors left.
He exhales and leans back against the headboard. “Yeah… good. We talked it through. Hux told me he loves Macy. Can you believe that?”
I chuckle and shake my head. “Maybe he needs to settle down. He has a family now, so why not make it official?”
“At first, I was against it,” Colt admits. “But then I thought, if Macy makes him happy, and I never want her in my life like that again, then why stop them? So I told him to go for it. My only hope is that she doesn’t screw him over.”
“I’m glad you two worked it out. The band needs that. You need that. And I know how much you love Hux, even if he’s a total dick sometimes.”
Colt smirks. “Hell yeah, heisa dick. But at least we’re on the same page now. He even told me he’ll be nicer to you from now on, seeing as he’s pretty sure you’re not going anywhere.”
I grin and lean over, kissing his shoulder. “Well, he’s right about that… I’m not going anywhere!”
Six Months Later
It’s been a few months since everything happened, and now the guys are officially kicking off their tour. Sia had her baby boy—an adorable bundle of chaos—and, believe it or not, Dingo is a surprisingly great father.
We’re all standing off to the side of the stage at their first concert back. Anna, Sia, Macy, and me. It’s Macy’s first time seeing them perform live, so we’re all secretly watching her—waiting to see if she reacts like we all did our first time or if she really does hate their music as she claimed.
The lights dim, and the crowd explodes in a wave of screams. Anna grabs my hand, her grin stretching ear to ear. This is always my favorite part—that pulse of anticipation just before the band takes over. Dingo kicks in with a heavy drum beat, and Sia squeals beside us, bouncing like a fangirl. Anna and I giggle, feeding off the excitement.
Next, Johnny walks out with his guitar, and Anna absolutely loses it, screaming and clapping like a teenager. It makes me laugh and cheer louder. Then comes Hux, swaggering out like he owns the place, and all eyes shift to Macy. She’s biting her lip, smiling, her body practically vibrating with energy, but she’s trying to hide it.
I catch Anna’s eye and smirk.
The band launches into their latest hit, and I swear I can feel the bass rip through my chest. I forgot how intense a12GUAGE-Slayedconcert really is. It’s not just sound, it’s a full-body experience.
Then, the spotlight hits center stage, and the crowd erupts like a bomb is going off. Colt rises through the floor, guitar in hand, spotlight blazing, looking every bit the rock god he is. I scream so loud my throat hurts, and jump up and down like I’ve never seen him perform before.
I don’t care if I look like a lunatic, I’m so damn proud of him. He starts to sing the opening lyrics, and his voice is pure sex, rolling over me like a heatwave. I sway with the rhythm, biting my lip because God, I want himright now. My panties are soaked, and if he weren’t so hell-bent on keeping me off the damn stage, I’d be up there dragging him into the wings to make him mine right then and there. But I know him, he’d lose his mind if anyone so much as looked at me naked.
The show keeps building, and when it’s Hux’s turn to solo, he crushes it. We all scream for him, and I glance over at Macy just in time to see her bounce up and down, fully caught in the moment. She realizes we’re watching her and freezes like she’s been caught doing something illegal. We burst out laughing. She glances back at Hux, and that soft smile returns to her lips as she crosses her arms over her chest, trying to reel it back in.
But we saw it.
That first taste.
That moment when the music takes over, and there’s no turning back.
She’s hooked, just like we all were.
It’s only the beginning. The first show is always just the start, but before long, Macy will be up here with us, screaming every lyric, dancing her heart out, and claiming her place in the sisterhood.
Once a Slayette, always a Slayette.
Epilogue
DEE
Twelve Years Later
“Dee, c’mon, you’re gonna miss it,” Colt calls from the music room.
“Hold your horses. I’m right here,” I reply, walking in with a plate of sandwiches and setting them on the table.
