I smiled. “Hey, someone has to be.”
I bumped my hand against Thystle’s, encouraging him to sit with me. He had a special seat in the front, but Alaric had claimed a few seats in the same row for us. We took our spots and watched Muzo’s passionate attempt at karaoke. When it was over, he leapt off the stage with an ecstatic expression.
“Did you guys see that? I was awesome, right?” he asked.
“You were quite a sound to behold,” Alaric remarked in the most neutral way possible.
On the other hand, Poppy was genuinely awestruck. “Muzo, you were amazing! I didn’t know you could sing so well!”
Muzo grinned as he plopped next to him. “Idopractice in the shower every day.”
Poppy nodded. “I can tell!”
I smiled at their wholesome interaction. This is what friendship was supposed to be—supportive and kind. Not how Vani and Keaux treated me that day.
“All right, who’s next?” Gaius announced on stage. He gestured to the front row. “Any takers?”
Alaric nudged me with his elbow. “It’s your time to shine.”
I was surprised at his sudden show of support. “Alaric...”
He rolled his eyes. “What? You think I’m some hater who wants you to fail? Go do your thing.”
“Yeah, go Matteo!” Muzo cheered.
Poppy fidgeted in his seat. “I can’t wait to hear you!”
Uplifted by their support, I stood and faced the stage. It loomed like a great beast, beckoning me.
I exhaled. The next time I drew a breath, it wasn’t as Matteo, but as Aquila.
A trance came over me. It was the same magic that transformed me between man and eagle, but this was an inner shift. I bolted and leapt onto the stage, bypassing the stairs, and grabbed the mic from Gaius. I ran a hand roughly through my hair, ruffling it and letting it fall into Aquila’s signature wild style.
I didn’t have Aquila’s makeup, costume, or musical backup. But I didn’t need it. All I required was a willing audience, the microphone in my hand, and the front row gazing supportively up at me.
Especially Thystle. Just like I’d shifted, so did he. He edged forward in his seat, his hopeful amethyst eyes sparkling brighter than any jewel. He looked like a teenager again, the same 17-year-old Thystle fawning over his Aquila poster. He was clearly obsessed, but that obsession was seeded by pure passion and love—the kind only a fated mate could give.
The crowd sensed something had changed. They fell silent and tense in anticipation. As I gazed across the small sea of people, all my performing experience flooded back to me. My senses blasted into overdrive. My blood surged hot. My skin prickled with an electric current. My whole body was a crackling live wire.
“Chromatimaeus Island,” I said gruffly into the mic. “Are you ready?”
From the corner of my eye, I saw Gaius and the AV kobolds exchanging a confused glance. I hadn’t told them which backtrack I wanted yet.
I didn’t need to. One look into Thystle’s eyes told me he already knew.
My mate stood and said, “TalonStorm.Destiny Rises.”
A second later, the drums and bass kicked in. A familiar shiver rippled through my body. As the instrumentals built to the first lyric, I felt high.
Oh, yeah. I missed this feeling.
Twenty
Thystle
Ten years.
That’s how long I waited for this moment.
